Hello, My Brothers all:

I would like to start off by sharing with you the guidelines for a new Membership Initiative titled “Sign 3, Get One Free!” In this initiative, if a Valley agrees to participate by waiving the dues of any member of the Valley who signs as top line signer on three (3) or more petitions in a calendar year (we have agreed), that brother’s (i.e. the signer’s) dues, including the Supreme Council’s per capita, will be waived in the following year. Only the per capita will be waived by the Supreme Council. Please think it through and take advantage of the benefit to you of participating in the “Sign 3, Get One Free.”

Mark your calendars for the May 28th meeting. It will be a tyled meeting with the officers of the Council of Kadosh conducting the meeting. We will be presenting service awards, and I will offer a short presentation on the strategic vision, in moving forward, that was presented to myself, Ill. Keith and our Treasurer at a recent A.A.S.R. Zoom workshop. Dinner will start at 6:30 p.m., followed by our meeting at 7:30 p.m.

To cap off the first six months of the year, our June 25th meeting will be open and feature “The Ring Ceremony” to officially welcome those Brothers who joined us by way of our Spring Reunion. We will also conduct the “Knighting Ceremony” of those new 32° Master of the Royal Secret who desire to join and be knighted a member of the Knights of Saint Andrew. Additionally, we will also enjoy the official visit of our Deputy, Ill. Rick Hoover, 33°, and a program presented by Kirsten and Kim from our Central Florida Clinic. Our Valley Trustee will have an article in a future edition of the eNews concerning events for the June 25th visit. If you were holding your donation to the Scottish Rite Foundation of Florida, U.S.A. Inc. I am confident that our Deputy would be pleased to receive it from you during his visit

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.

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 enhancements have been made such as a section on “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. I just received the May/June edition, and learned that the Honorable Ill. S. Brent Morris, 33°, GC. Will be retiring. While I did not know Ill. Brent well, I did have the pleasure of making his acquaintance when he made a visit to the Valley several years ago, and then again at a past visit to the House of the Temple. It didn’t take long to know he was someone you would be pleased to call your friend, as well as your brother. Ill. Brother Morris, while sad to see you go, on behalf of myself and the members of the Valley of Orlando, thank you for your many years of service, and as we said in the US Navy, may you be blessed with “fair winds and following seas!” Don’t forget the SR Journal can also be received electronically. Just visit your app store online and type in Scottish Rite Journal.

(ed. Note – Ill. Brent and I worked together at Ft. Meade at the NSA. I consider him a dear friend and brother and I personally want to wish him well in his retirement as editor. Ill. Brent was sitting in the East when I received the Mark and Past Master Degrees in the Laurel MD [Zerubbabel] Royal Arch Chapter. And I joined The Philalethes Society when he was Executive Secretary.)

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!”