Hello, My Brothers All:

I am concerned and need your assistance… since our relocation from our previous facility at 1485 Grand Rd, to our new home located at 1495 Grand Rd, we have seen a decline in membership attendance at our regular monthly meetings. Our relocation to a smaller facility doesn’t mean there is not enough room for you, as the dining room can seat 150, and the lodge room has seen as many as 150+ in attendance for meetings and special events. The parking lot has 74 parking places and can handle up to 150 vehicles with the overflow parking that is available. One of Winter Park’s finest dining establishments looks forward to preparing delicious meals before each meeting, and this team of brothers and ladies put in a full day to make it happen, with a few of the brothers in the kitchen taking a day off work to be there to assist. My Brothers, what I am trying to say is we are open and would welcome your attendance as a participating member of the Valley of Orlando! If there is anything you would like to see at our public meetings such as a guest speaker, or a particular topic covered, please let Keith or I know. It is your Valley and what you would like is what we will make every effort to provide. Plus, the fraternal fellowship we experience at each gathering that brings us together is priceless.

Our next big event is our Spring Reunion taking place on the 14th and 15th of April. The Degree Teams are making last-minute adjustments; the support groups are readying their teams to ensure we have the necessary props and costumes for each degree we confer, and the class instructors are reviewing the information we share with our new candidates attending the reunion. The Class Instructors are examining degree overviews, and summaries are ensuring each degree communicated at the Spring Reunion is chock full of information, allowing these new brothers to gain knowledge and a clear understanding of Scottish Rite Freemasonry by close of the reunion on Sunday the 15th at 5:30 PM. Every Valley member, whether participating, or just visiting for a few hours, is encouraged to have breakfast or lunch, watch a degree or two, and reunite with those brothers you might not have seen in a while.

The point I am getting to in the last couple of paragraphs is that your attendance is what allows you to realize the personal growth and fellowship Freemasonry can provide. If you do not participate, you are missing out on the experience of Freemasonry. Participation is the means by which we realize membership growth and personal development.

A reminder: Degree Masters, contact your degree teams and hold a few rehearsals to ensure the degree conferral is at the level of quality we have strived to achieve. All the various support groups (i.e., the stage crew, sound and lights, costumes, class instructors, and the many others that make our reunions successful) make sure you are prepared for a busy weekend and are organized to ensure success. Food preparation is an integral part of the reunion experience, and I know that Ill:. Bro:. Paul and his team will be ready. Making sure we create a quality experience for those Master Masons who have petitioned the Scottish Rite, and in particular, our Valley is essential and deserves nothing less than the best we can provide.

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!”