Donations for Hurricane Victims in Florida
TO: Active Members, Deputies of the Supreme Council,
and Personal Representatives
FROM: Ronald A. Seale
RE: Donations for Hurricane Victims
in Florida
We are all aware of the recent devastation
in Florida as a result of this most active hurricane
season. To
aid the unfortunate victims of two back-to-back hurricanes,
and possibly another one on the way, causing extensive
damage and hardship in Florida, I appeal to you to send
donations from Almoner’s funds, Valley funds, and/or
personal funds to:
SCOTTISH RITE FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA
P.O. Box 5736
Winter Park, FL 32703-5736
All donations sent to the Foundation,
designated for the Hurricane Appeal, will be distributed
where the
need is greatest.
A donation of any size would help the
unfortunate hurricane victims during the difficult time
of recovery.
On behalf
of the Supreme Council, I am forwarding an initial
donation of $5,000.00 from the Scottish Rite Foundation,
S.J.,
U.S.A, Inc, to assist in the recovery efforts.
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Audiology Program Receives Grant
Founded by E. Claiborne Robins in 1957, the
Robins Foundation works to improve the lives and opportunities
of Virginians through grants to nonprofit organizations. Organizations
that serve at-risk youth are of particular interest to the
Foundation. In July, the Scottish Rite Childhood Language
Center at Richmond, Inc., received funding in the amount of
$25,000.00 from the Robins Foundation. This restricted grant
makes it possible for the Center to purchase Otoacoustic Emission
and Auditory Brainstem Evoked Response equipment for our Audiology
program. This very specialized equipment will enable us to
test virtually any child for hearing loss.
Hearing loss is the most commonly occurring
congenital birth defect in society today. Traditional
Audiological
testing requires children to actively respond to
auditory stimuli. Infants, young children, youngsters
with certain
communication disorders, cognitive limitations, behavioral
challenges or physical disabilities may not be capable
to responding in this manner. For these children,
traditional hearing testing is not plausible.
Otoacoustic Emission and Auditory Brainstem
Evoked Response equipment provides objective and quantifiable
measures
of hearing sensitivity by measuring the electrical
responses of the auditory system, as well as the
processes involving
the outer hair cells of the inner ear. The non-invasive
procedures are highly effective and will improve
our audiological testing capabilities immensely.
This gift will have a lasting impact on
our ability to diagnose hearing loss in children residing
in
Central Virginia. We wish to thank the Robins
Foundation for
their most generous and significant contribution
to our
program.
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Circus Saints and Sinners
The Circus Saints and Sinners Club of America,
Inc. was originally established to look after old and needy
circus performers. Although this is still part of their purpose,
the organization also strives to assist charitable causes
like the Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center at Richmond,
Inc., while promoting good fellowship and having fun. The
Circus Saints and Sinners have a long-standing history of
supporting the Center. Through a recent fund-raising event,
the Club was able to raise $2,550 to support our speech and
hearing program. A check was presented to our Board President,
James B. Wilkinson, 33°, Grand Cross, at the June meeting
of the Richmond Scottish Rite Bodies. The Circus Saints
and
Sinners have contributed over $47,000.00 for the Center to
date. That’s no clowning around! Thank you!
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SGC Seale Attends Supreme Assembly of
Rainbow
On July 26, 2004, Sovereign Grand Commander
Ronald A. Seale, 33°, made a special trip to Denver,
Colorado, to attend the annual Supreme Assembly of
the International
Order of Rainbow for Girls. Invited to speak during
the Assembly, he thanked Pauline Stonehocker, Grand
Worthy
Advisor, for her personal invitation to attend the
Supreme Assembly and reaffirmed his strong commitment
and that
of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, to supporting
all Masonic youth groups. Grand Commander Seale is
pictured above with the delegation of Rainbow girls
from his home
state of Louisiana.
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JROTC Awards in New Mexico
“Land of Enchantment” Scottish Rite Freemasons from the Orient of
New Mexico are pleased to report they have presented the Supreme Council’s
Education and Americanism JROTC Award (each with a medal, ribbon, and certificate)
to 28 worthy Cadets and one Senior ROTC Cadet during the 2003-04 academic
year.
Also, as part of the annual Americanism
and Education Program, the Valley of Santa Fe awarded
a scholarship, including air fare, to Air Force Cadet
Sean
Logan Wilson, Del Norte JROTC Unit, Del Norte High School, Albuquerque. Pictured
above,
Bro. Robert W. Zarn, 32°, Chairman, Americanism and Education Committee,
Orient of New Mexico, presents the award and airline ticket to Cadet Wilson who
is about to board a flight to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, to attend the Freedoms
Foundation’s Spirit of American Youth Leadership Conference at Valley Forge,
July 22-25, 2004.
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Special Thirty-Third Degree Plaque
On September 7, 2004, Inspector James
D. Cole, 33° (left
above), SGIG in Virginia, visited with Grand Commander
Ronald A. Seale, 33°, to confer with him regarding
the Scottish Rite in the Old Dominion state and to present
him a unique bronze 33° rectangular 7”x5” plaque
and similar 4” circular plaque. Ill. George E.
Dewese, a dedicated Brother in the Valley of Roanoke,
Virginia, designed these plaques and had them specially
cast by a firm in Pennsylvania.
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Inland Empire of Southern California Holds Unity Reception
Dinner
Picture left to right in the photo above at the Inland
Empire of Southern California Reception Dinner are:
Bottom Row: Excellent Companion
Roy Acreman (Red Coat), High Priest_Keystone Chapter
#56; Stanley
Kaneen, 32°,
Master of Kadosh_Consistory; W.H. “Bill” Rogers,
33°, Venerable Master, Lodge of Perfection; Ill.
Allen B. Gresham, 33°, Personal Representative to
the SGIG in California, Valley of San Bernardino, and
PGM of Masons in California; Right Eminent Marshall F.
Parker (Blue Coat), KYCH, and PGC in California; Right
Excellent Companion Jose Fiss (Purple Coat), Deputy Grand
Master, Grand Council, Cryptic Masons of California.
Middle
Row: John W. Gebhardt, KCCH, Commander, Council of Kadosh;
Ill. Companion David Stiles (Purple Coat),
Ill. Master of Riverside Council #59, Cryptic Masons;
Ill. Melvin K. Tallon, 32°, General Treasurer of
All Bodies.
Top Row: Sir Knight James Mason
(Gray Coat), Commander, Riverside Commandery #28, Knights
Templar; S. Douglas
Lamb, KCCH, General Secretary of All Bodies; Glen W.
Harshman, KCCH, Wise Master, Chapter of Rose Croix; David
B. Murr (Blue Coat), KYCH, President, Inland Empire York
Rite Association; Bro. Charles Petty (Red Coat), member
of Riverside York Rite Bodies (serving as Chaplain);
Dennis L. Ward (Purple Coat), KYCH and KCCH; and Rickey
O. Ward (Purple Coat), KYCH and KCCH.
Photo by Ill. Fred Spears, 33°, Editor
Emeritus
For the third consecutive year, members of the Scottish
Rite Valley of San Bernardino and the Inland Empire York
Rite Association held a “Unity Reception” and
dinner on Saturday evening, August 7, 2004. This year,
members of the York Rite Bodies hosted members of the
Valley of San Bernardino Scottish Rite Bodies at McCallum
Masonic Center in Riverside. It was a great evening,
with many Scottish Rite and York Rite members and their
ladies in attendance. Bro. Ron Dacis, 32°, along
with his wife and crew, prepared an excellent dinner,
which was served by a large group of young ladies from
the Helen G. McCallum Rainbow for Girls Assembly #207.
Following
the delicious dinner, everyone retired to the second-floor
Lodge Room for a special program. Right
Eminent Sir Marshall F. Parker, 32°, introduced
visiting dignitaries, welcomed all Masons and their wives, and thanked everyone
for taking time on a hot summer evening to help celebrate the two Rites of Freemasonry.
He reiterated some remarks from the Unity Reception of 2003 on membership and
the responsibility each Mason has to bring new members into our Craft. Next,
he introduced the presiding Masters, Secretary, and Treasurer of the San Bernardino
Scottish Rite, who each made relevant comments supporting Freemasonry in general.
Allen B. Gresham, 33°, Personal Representative to the SGIG in California,
then congratulated all members present for helping to keep Freemasonry alive
and well in the Inland Empire. He stated that he knew many Masons present were
active members of both Rites and that this increased participation and support
were truly commendable. He also relayed that new membership is based on attraction
and emphasized how important it is for each Mason to set a good example while
out and about in the general public. Before closing, R.E. Sir Parker was pleased
to present certificates of appreciation to each presiding Scottish Rite Officer
in attendance.
Submitted by Joseph Coppinger, Jr., KCCH,
Editor
Valley of San Bernardino Newsletter
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