How to Claim the Crowd Jewel

How to Win it (in summary)

• You must attend the holding lodge with a minimum of a qualifying team.
• The contest for the trophy is restricted to lodges belonging to the three Fylde coast Groups (Blackpool, North Fylde and South Fylde Groups).
• Lodges of Installed Masters are excluded from the competition but are still obviously encouraged to visit.
• The holders are responsible for the care and safety of the Crowd Jewel while it is in their possession and ensuring that it is passed on in all its shining glory.
• The Crowd Jewel cannot be donated to other lodges and is only won through competing.
• Where more than one qualifying team is present the qualifying team with the most members wins the trophy.

Definition of a qualifying team

• The minimum for a qualifying team must be the serving Worshipful Master, any Past Master  and any other brother regardless of rank.
• A visiting team MUST book in with the holders for the meeting AND the Festive Board, as the aim of the jewel is to promote visiting and also help charity; we feel it is important to attend both the meeting and the festive board.

Tiebreaker (in the event of one)

In the event of a tie, lots will be drawn; using appropriate amounts of paper for the number of visiting lodges with a qualifying team of equal size (one with a “W” marked on it, the others being left blank).

• The Worshipful Master of each qualifying team shall draw one lot each with the one drawing the lot marked with a “W” being the winner.
• The lots will be issued and drawn in order of Lodge Number starting with the oldest (lowest number).

Handling of dual membership (brethren who are members of multiple lodges)

You always visit as a member of your mother lodge (initiated into), you cannot be classed as part of a qualifying team to any lodge you are a member of, the only exception to this rule being the current Worshipful Master of a lodge that is not his mother lodge.

If a brother is a member of more than one lodge that sends a qualifying team, he will be adjudged to be a member of his mother lodge’s qualifying team or in the even of neither lodge being his mother lodge he will be adjudged to be a member of the team representing the lodge he joined first.