Hello, My Brothers all:

As previously indicated, we are planning for a spring and fall reunion. This past weekend we held a planning meeting with Degree Masters and support committees to ensure we are ready to welcome new Master Masons into the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, in the Valley of Orlando on the 10th and 11th of April. I would request that each Degree Master of degrees conferred at our Spring Reunion, please start now preparing and having rehearsal(s) to ensure we are raising the bar and delivering a quality experience to those Master Masons who have chosen to join us. Also, please let Ill. Keith know the names of your degree team members so he can ensure our reunion book is up to date.

Our March stated meeting will start with dinner at 6:30 p.m. followed by an open meeting at 7:30 p.m. which will be our Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal, where we will remember and honor those Brothers who have served our fraternity, more especially the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, and were called to the Celestial Lodge above during the 2020 year.

So that you can mark your calendars, the April 23rd mtg meeting will be an open meeting with updated Double Eagle award presentations. The May 28th meeting will be tyled with the Council of Kadosh conducting the meeting. To cap off the first six months of the year, our June 25th meeting will be open and feature “The Ring Ceremony” and the official visit of our Deputy Ill. Rick Hoover, 33°. Our Valley Trustee will have a detailed article in a future edition of the eNews concerning events for the June 25th visit from our Deputy.

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 March/April edition and those that will follow.

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!”