by W Bro Bimal Kantaria

R W The District Grand Master and Brethren.  As mentioned earlier by the District Grand Master, it is my distinct pleasure to introduce the 9th Freemasons Conference to all of you.  To begin with, may I, on behalf of the Brethren of Kenya, express our grateful appreciation to the R W The District Grand Master for the opportunity to host the 9th Freemasons Conference.  We are fully aware of the high standards set by the previous Conferences and we are confident that we will not only match those high standards but surpass them.

The Conference is to be held from Thursday 25th September 2008 to Sunday 28th September 2008 at the Leisure Lodge Resort on the south coast of Mombasa.

The Resort has a state of the art conference facility with a seating capacity for 600, 200 luxury rooms and 7 swimming pools. Over the years, the Resort has successfully hosted similar conferences and social events. The Resort has extensive entertainment facilities including a modern fitness centre, health spas, tennis courts, water sports including a diving school, volleyball, table tennis tables and a casino. For golfers there is an 18-hole championship golf course with a driving range, putting green, golf carts and a clubhouse. For a comprehensive view of the facilities at the Leisure Lodge Resort, I urge you to visit their excellent website at http://www.leisurelodgeresort.com. Also arrangements are in hand to incorporate information about the 9th FMC on the District Website http://www.dgleastafrica.org

The District Grand Master has directed that this be a family-oriented Conference and accordingly the committee has planned a full and diverse program for ladies and children. Just to mention a few of these, a swimming competition and other team sports and for the not so athletic, talks on beauty therapy and financial planning. It is our earnest desire that the Conference should be a family affair and we will make every effort to encourage participation of our ladies and children.

We are fully aware that cost of the Conference must be affordable and that economic options are available for transport and accommodation. We are confident that we should be able to offer a value for money package to you. Subsidized road transport is also being looked into. We will of course provide free transfers from and to the airport for brethren traveling by air.

It is also our intention to make significant contributions to deserving non denominational charities and invite high-ranking national dignitaries during the presentations in order to generate positive publicity for Freemasonry. For this purpose, with the help of the District Grand Secretary, we will establish a 9th FMC Charity Fund. Various suitable projects are being reviewed that we can fund and will be announced in due course. It is our sincere wish that all Lodges in the District contribute towards this Fund.

We will be making available invitation letters and registration forms early next year.

Brethren, I am confident that we will get full support from every member in the District and I can promise you that it will be a most enjoyable family get-together for Masons and their families. Your presence and support at the Conference will go a long way in promoting Freemasonry in the District.

Brethren let me introduce to you the members of the Organising Committee in Nairobi: -

• 1. W Bro Bimal Kantaria – Chairman
• 2. W Bro Gurinder S Ghataura – Secretary
• 4. W Bro Jitesh Upadhyay
• 5. Bro Zul Mamujee
• 6. W Bro Jude Loveday
• 7. Bro Pervez Cockar
• 8. Bro Anish Harania
• 9. Bro Karim Teja
• 10. W Bro Rajeev Medeiratta
• 11. W Bro Anjan Harkhani-DGM’s representative

Additionally, the DGM has appointed the following as members of the Mombasa Organising Committee:-

• 1. W Bro Mukesh Sanghvi
• 2. W Bro Jitendra C Shah
• 3. Bro Shaheed Sheikh
• 4. Bro Paresh Shah
• 5. Bro Jinal Shah
• 6. Bro Ketan Moolraj

The Conference Organising Committee members are available to answer any questions either before or after the banquet.