Hermes – Moving Lodge and Chapter Admin Into the 21st Century

Brethren,

As we prepare for a return to our meetings sometime later this year, our brethren at Great Queen Street have been busy, developing a new software package to assist our busy Secretaries.

This new package is called Hermes and is a web-based programme that interacts with the existing Adelphi database that has been used by United Grand Lodge and the Province for many years.

Hermes will enable Secretaries to perform the majority of what is presently paper based tasks online, directly updating the Adelphi database. Hermes will assist and guide Secretaries through their administration tasks to ensure all records and requests are in order.

To facilitate the implementation of Hermes, a Provincial Steering Group has been formed and is already working to ensure a smooth roll out. As chairman of this group, I am delighted to say we have some very experienced brethren and companions working together to ensure consistency of approach between the Craft and the Holy Royal Arch.

The roll out programme will be supported by one team with two specialist ‘champions’, one for the Craft and one for the HRA, to assist with those areas of difference in terminology or approach. For the Craft this will be WBro Simon Key who has been working in the Provincial Office for the last two years and as our Provincial Webmaster, his day job is as an IT Professional, so he is well qualified to assist. He will be supported by the Provincial Grand Secretary, WBro William Diggins.

Any questions in the first instance in relation to Hermes should be sent via the Provincial Office.

The roll out of this new system will be managed in stages. Secretaries will be asked to ensure all their data and their members information is current and as up to date as possible. If you have moved house, changed your phone number or email address please ensure you let your Lodge Secretary know as soon as possible also keeping them updated with any future changes. This will ensure you are kept informed of everything that is going on within your own Lodge, and also at Provincial and National levels.

Please assist your Secretary by sending him any changes or anything you think you may have not sent him in the past. If they do chase you for information, please do respond positively and quickly as they may have many Brethren’s details to update and will be being chased by the Provincial Office, who will in turn be being chased by UGLE.

Secretaries will be receiving further details and all the necessary training in the new system, to ensure a smooth roll out and implementation of this exciting new initiative, which will make everyone’s life much easier and ensure all data and communications are kept as up to date as possible.

Thank you in advance for your assistance and cooperation with this matter.

WBro Mark Constant PJGD

Assistant Provincial Grand Master
Northants & Hunts Hermes Steering Group Chairman