Hello, My Brothers all:

Let me start this article by encouraging you and your lady to attend our February meeting which will start with dinner at 6:30 p.m. followed by an open meeting at 7:30 p.m. We will start by welcoming our newest 32° “Masters of The Royal Secret” who joined us at our Fall Reunion. Their ladies are invited to join them for dinner and this special evening. Following this hearty welcome, we will present Double Eagle Awards to those brothers who are active participating members of our Valley and are regular attendees at meetings, reunions, and other events. We will welcome newly installed Worshipful Masters from within the 4 districts that are served by the Valley or Orlando, and will close the evening by knighting those “Masters of The Royal Secret” who desire to become members of the Knights of Saint Andrew (KSA). It will be a busy evening and we look forward to seeing those of you who are comfortable with coming out to join us. This is also a perfect time to bring a Brother who has thought about joining so they can see some of what we offer here in the Valley. So that we can ensure meals for those who will be attending this Feb mtg, please RSVP to Ill. Keith via eMail at: GenSecOrl@gmail.com; or call him at the Valley office 407-657-4550 and let him know you are attending and how many will be coming with you.

As indicted in the previous edition of the eNews, we are planning for a spring and fall reunion. To the Degree Masters, if your degree is conferred in the spring, please start now in planning, preparing, and having rehearsals to ensure we are raising the bar and delivering a quality experience to those Master Masons who have chosen to join us. Let us make this a reunion experience they will remember as they reflect on how their Scottish Rite journey began.

We continue taking advantage of technology and the regular utilization of the Zoom Video Conference for Executive Committee meetings and will also utilize Zoom for the Master Craftsman study group that is starting up. Please do not wait, if you are interested in participating in this monthly study group, please contact Ill. Keith at the Valley office via GenSecOrl@gmail.com or 407-657-4550. He will ensure you are added to the mailing list and will receive all invites. Participating in a study group will not only enhance the Master Craftsman experience for each individual, but will also start the building of a fraternal friendship between those brothers who participate.

A quick reminder – Ill. James D. Cole, Grand Commander of the Southern Jurisdiction, extended the courtesy of providing your dues card with your dues notice, fully expecting that you would make your dues payment without additional notice. This is just a reminder that if you have not paid your 2021 dues, please do so. It would be greatly appreciated as this is the largest source of income for our Valley.

Before I close, I again encourage you to read the Scottish Rite Journal when received. The Grand Commanders article always contains a message and call to action. Several improvements have been made such as “Bible Study for Freemasons,” a story of a historic figure from the past, “Chips from the Quarry,” and other articles and stories I hope you will find informative and educational. Check it out in the January/February edition and those that will follow.

One last reminder. The Grand Commander extended the courtesy of providing your dues card with your dues notice, fully expecting that you would make this payment without additional notice. This is just a reminder that if you have not paid your 2021 dues please do so. It would be greatly appreciated as this is the largest source of income for our Valley.

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.  We want to ensure that what we are enjoying today will be reliable for those who will follow. Simply stated – “We lead the way today, so those who follow us can lead the way tomorrow!”  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 make them feel!”