Hello, My Brothers All!

Let me start off with a big CONGRATULATIONS to the nine brothers named below. Under the instruction of our Director of Education, Ill:. Harry V. Eisenberg, 33° as an Adept of the College of the Consistory, each of these nine brothers completed the College of the Consistory – Valley of Orlando studies as a Student of the School of Enlightenment.

Ill:. Keith W. Albright, 33°; Bro:. Louis A. Dobles, 32°; Bro:. Anthony E. Edwards, 32°; Bro:. Charles G. Harper, 32°; Ill:. Chester A. King, 33°; Ill:. Joseph M. Leavitt, 33°; Bro:. Peter D. Remington, 32° KCCH; Bro:. Dominick F. Tesoriere, 32° KCCH; and Bro:. Randall E. White, 32° KCCH.

Recently I became acquainted with membership research prepared by the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction titled “The Path Forward.” The Special Report provides member survey results, and a synopsis is available on the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction website. Additionally, John Wm. McNaughton, the immediate past Sovereign Grand Commander of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the A.A.S.R. authored a book titled “Reclaiming the Soul of Freemasonry – Volume One” utilizing the research mentioned above. It is available in hardcopy, as well as digitally, on Amazon.com. I am still reading and digesting the research data and analysis, but for those of you who obtain a copy, I would love to hear your thoughts. You can share them with me in person, as our paths cross, or via email. As I shared in the graduation ceremony for our first class of the College of the Consistory – Valley of Orlando – reading is education; education is learning, and learning leads to understanding, and therein the essence of Freemasonry.

As mentioned in a previous article, the Valley Membership Achievement Project or VMAP will be driving our activities for the year. We are evaluating our success with VMAP initiatives for 2017 and preparing a detailed summary to the Supreme Council documenting our progress and highlighting those additions we have made. We are also finalizing plans for 2018 that will add one or two more items work toward continuous improvement of the Scottish Rite experience for our existing members, and particularly, for Master Masons who are not yet members of the Rite and desire to become Masters of the Royal Secret. We will share plans with the eNews as they become final, so watch for updates.

Recently, Ill:. George R. VanPelt Sr., our Director of Work, sent a letter of encouragement and reminder to all our Degree Masters that the essence of our two reunions is the conferral of all 29 degrees each year. The leadership of our Degree Masters, the consistency of our degree teams, and the quality of the work they share has a direct impact on the ability of a Master Mason to embrace and understand the lesson of each degree. Please know that the work of every brother, whether in the kitchen, setting the stage, ensuring costumes are ready, performing music, or in any other way provide a quality experience at a reunion, your support is much appreciated.

Until next time, remember the many things for which you are thankful! Be safe in your travels; “whisper wise counsel in the ear of an erring brother;” and respect the dignity of all, as it makes you and our fraternity stronger one action at a time. Thanks for your continued support and participation; and may the “Spirit of Fraternity” reign supreme within our “Valley of Orlando!”

Fraternally,
Ill:. Chester A. “Chet” King, 33°
Personal Representative

“People forget what you say, and forget what you do, but forever remember how you made them feel!”