Norfolk Scottish Rite Bodies POST OFFICE BOX 9407 NORFOLK, VIRGINIA 23505 Return Service Requested UPCOMING EVENTS PAGE 15 Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Norfolk, VA Permit No. 508 Scottish Rite Mirror To the Glory of the Grand Architect of the Universe Vol. 87 Norfolk, Virginia July December 2018 July 19 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 7:00 PM Feast of the Consistory Meeting conducted by the Consistory Officers Business casual dress Aug 16 7:00 PM Bring A Friend Night Meeting conducted by the Chapter Rose Croix Officers Business casual dress Sept 20 7:00 PM Honoring Teachers of the Year Open meeting, business casual, no caps Reception to follow Oct 18 6:15 PM Dinner 7:00 PM Feast of Tishri Meeting conducted by the Lodge of Perfection Officers Jackets and ties for our dress Nov 15 6:15 PM Dinner 7:00 PM Personal Representative & VMAP reports Meeting conducted by the Council of Kadosh Officers Jackets and ties for our dress Dec 20 7:00 PM Annual Business & Election of Officer Jackets and ties for our dress Jan 13 7:00 PM Open Installation of Officers Officers tux & caps Members & guests business casual, no caps Reception to follow
PAGE 2 SCOTTISH RITE MIRROR JULY DECEMBER 2018 The Scottish Rite Mirror -NOTICE- All Members Mentioned in the Mirror are of the Thirty-Second Degree, unless otherwise specified. ILL. JAMES DEAN COLE, 33 Lt. Grand Commander Of the Supreme Council and Sovereign Grand Inspector General for the Orient of Virginia of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern Jurisdiction, USA ILL. CLIFFORD ALAN PARKER, 33 Orient Representative of the S.G.I.G. in Virginia ILL. PHILIP JAY TAYLOR, SR., 33 Norfolk Valley Personal Representative of the S.G.I.G. in Virginia NORFOLK LODGE OF PERFECTION Larry Dale Bateman, KCCH...Venerable Master NORFOLK CHAPTER OF ROSE CROIX Robert Paul Kaylor, KCCH....Wise Master. NORFOLK COUNCIL OF KADOSH Sandall Lee Shockey, KCCH......Commander NORFOLK CONSISTORY ILL. Michael Scott, 33....Master of Kadosh Ill. Phillip J. Taylor, Sr, 33....Director of Work Samuel Grant Welty. KCCH.....Director of Ceremonies Ill. Phillip L. Williams, Jr.,, 33..........Secretary ILL. Carlton Lee Gill, Jr., 33..Treasurer PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING TELEPHONE NUMBERS SCOTTISH RITE OFFICE:..... 489-1076 (Office Days/Hours: Mon/Tue/Thurs 10 am 2 pm) Masonic Temple:..423-8866 Venerable Master -(Ill. Phillip Lewis Williams, Jr 33 )... 588-8750 Secretary - (Ill. T. Dudley Myers, 33 ).... 857-7341 Almoner - (Ill. Shepherd Wayne McClenny 33 ).... 436-9925 Chairman Sunshine Committee - ( Ralph Michael Clark, KCCH)..588-0399 Chairman Hospital Equipment Committee - (Gary Gouge, 32 ).423-8866 Chairman Membership Committee - (Ill. Frederick R. Dixon Jr.,33 )...362-1143 PAGE 11 SCOTTISH RITE MIRROR JULY DECEMBER NORFOLK SCOTTISH RITE SAUSAGE FUND RAISER OCTOBER 6, 2018 ORDER FORM HOME MADE SAUSAGE, PACKAGED IN ONE POUND CONTAINER. YOUR CHOICE OF EITHER SPICY OR MILD. PLEASE MAKE YOUR SELECTION AND RETURN YOUR ORDER ON THE FORM BELOW I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER THE FOLLOWING: LB (s) of SPICY SAUSAGE @ $5.00 dollars per pound = $ LB (s) of PLAIN SAUSAGE @ $5.00 dollars per pound =$ Name Address City / State Phone Make check payable to NORFOLK SCOTTISH RITE PLEASE SEND IN ORDER BY SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 QUESTIONS; CALL: Walter (Dink) Pope @ 757-237-1907 or Terry Bledsoe @ 757-589-8210. Sausage Pickup Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Norfolk Scottish Rite Temple 7001 GRANBY STREET NORFOLK, VIRGINIA
PAGE 10 SCOTTISH RITE MIRROR JULY DECEMBER 2018 FROM THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE Hello, Thanks for giving me a few minutes of your time. I know about 20% of our valley members. That 20% represents the brothers holding offices, serving on committees, degree team members, and those that attend our meetings. That leaves 80% of our Valley membership that I do not know! It is tough being your Personal Representative, when I do not know what your expectations are from your membership in our Valley. One fact I do know about all of our current members, is that you value your membership enough to continue to pay your dues. If you are a part of the 80% of our membership that I have not met, let me say, THANK YOU! You are the major funding source for all our Valley accomplishes. Without you, there would be no Norfolk Valley. You support the Scottish Rite Childhood Speech and Language Center at ODU. You support six graduate students scholarships every year. You have helped thousands of children overcome obstacles that would have prevented them from having a full life. You support the presentation of Scottish Rite medals to outstanding cadets in the ROTC programs in several community high schools. You support many of our national programs. You support the maintenance of over one million dollars worth of paraphernalia, regalia, stage curtains and sound system necessary for the conferral of degrees on our new members. Your support also helps keep the big doors open of this Masonic building on Granby Street. Brothers, I want each one of you to know, that as your Personal Representative, I am committed to making each one of our experiences in the Rite valuable, meaningful and satisfying. My ears and mind are open to any and all communications. philtaylor.norfolkvalleypr@gmail.com Peace from our home to yours, Phil T. PAGE 3 SCOTTISH RITE MIRROR JULY DECEMBER 2018 The Norfolk Valley Scottish Rite Stated Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 7 PM in the Scottish Rite Room of the Norfolk Masonic Temple, 7001 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23505, Dinner is served at 6:15 PM. (Check the Calendar for dates dinner will be served) Contact Willie Salih at (757) 497-8345 for reservations on the Tuesday before the meeting. ACACIA GUILD MEMBERSHIP My good brothers of the Norfolk Valley I wanted to share something new with you before it comes out at the CTC next weekend. It is the Acacia Guild. Membership will be tax deductible as allowed by law, and each new member will receive an Acacia Guild award which is a purple collar with a sterling silver jewel which you can wear to Scottish Rite meetings. 50% of your gift will go to the Scottish Rite Foundation (Rite Care, scholarships, etc.) and the other 50% to the House of the Temple. Membership is $1000 per year, but here is the cool thing- you can do this in installments of $83.33 per month. If you are unable to renew, you can still wear the medal. How about it? Who will join me in membership? Joel Bundy Orient Development Chair, Virginia If you have any questions, let me know, or you can call the Supreme Council Development Office @ 866-448-3773
PAGE 4 SCOTTISH RITE MIRROR JULY DECEMBER 2018 REUNION DATES The reunion dates have been set by Brother Bill. 3 days in Nov. Wed 11/28, Thurs. 11/29, Fri 11/30 Meet at 5:30 Degrees at 5:45 PM HAUNTED HOUSE TEMPLE COMMITTEE Brethren, Ill. Phil Taylor is looking for an energetic volunteer to be our Scottish Rite representative for the Haunted Temple Committee. Please let me know if you re interested. No costume required...unless of course you really want to! Phil Williams General Secretary MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Here is a three step process to improve Scottish Rite membership in general and our Valley in particular. It has a high probability of success and don t be a stickler for details. I know Step 3 has three parts. Step 1: Ask for petitions and fees from all Masons not of the Norfolk Valley. Step 2: Submit same to the Norfolk Valley Secretary. Step 3: Evaluate results, revise your approach if necessary and repeat the process. Are there any questions? If not, take care of yourselves and I hope to see you next with a petition and fee in hand. PS: We still need membership representatives (Ambassadors) for Bayside and Virginia Beach lodges; and a new Membership Chairman in December 2018. Fraternally, FRD, 33 IGH Membership Chairman PAGE 9 SCOTTISH RITE MIRROR JULY DECEMBER 2018 THE SECRETARY SEZ (Cont.) Brethren, your 2019 Dues will increase to $138.00. No one likes to see the increases, but the reality is we re an aged fraternity with declining membership due to deaths and other factors. The new dues structure includes the following: Valley Dues - $19.60 Supreme Council Per Capita - $28.00 Norfolk Scottish Rite Foundation - $2.50 Virginia Scottish Rite Foundation - $7.00 Scottish Rite Conference of Virginia - $0.75 George Washington Masonic Mem. Assoc. $0.15 Masonic Temple Corporation - $80.00 Total - $138.00 The increases are for: 1. $2 increase in our Valley Dues, which brings it up close to the already approved amount of $20 as stated in our By-Laws. 2. A $12 increase in the Masonic Temple Assessment, which was voted on and approved at the April meeting of the Masonic Temple Corporation Board. This was necessary due to declining membership, increased cost in maintaining the building and grounds, and to complete some much-needed maintenance and repairs as identified by the Temple House Committee. 3. Also a $4 balance increase to the Supreme Council Per Capita increase of $10 as approved in 2015 by the Supreme Council, to be spread over a five-year span. If you have any questions concerning the increases, please feel free to give me a call! Phil
PAGE 8 SCOTTISH RITE MIRROR JULY DECEMBER 2018 THE SECRETARY SEZ Brethren were off to a great start this year with some subtle changes in our meeting format, communications, and programs. I hope the excitement and enthusiasm continues! If you have suggestions on how we can improve your Scottish Rite experience, please contact me or our Personal Representative, Ill. Philip J. Taylor, Sr. Please enjoy your summer and be safe. I look forward to a productive fall and winter! Congratulations to our new Masters of the Royal Secret! Brother Ariel Ilano Alcantara, 32, Naomi Lodge #87 Brother Timothy Wayne Barringer, 32, Berkley Lodge #167 Brother Charles Brandon Consolvo, Sr., 32, Oceanview Lodge #335 Brother Edward Marshell Dodson, Jr., 32, Oceanview Lodge #335 Brother Auburn Earl Garrett, 32, Guardian Lodge, #53, Fallon, NV Brother Kevin August Gilbert, 32, Berkley Lodge #167 Brother Esamuel Carnel Tutt, 32, Army and Navy Lodge #306 We look forward to your active participation in the Valley! Also, congratulations to our 25-year and 50-year Veterans for 2018. I hope this makes for a memorable milestone in your masonic career! ~~~~~~ Hope to see you at a meeting soon! Phil W. Shut-In's If you know of any ill or shut in brothers or family members, please contact our Sunshine Committee. Ill. Ralph Michael Clark, 33 757-289-6532 PAGE 5 SCOTTISH RITE MIRROR JULY DECEMBER 2018 PARAPHERNALIA COMMITTEE As Summer is upon us and the weather starts to turn warm, family, friends, and Brethren look to relaxation and vacation. Your Paraphernalia Committee wishes each of you a safe and enjoyable Summer. The Chairman of the Paraphernalia would ask any Brother who would like to join the Paraphernalia to please see Ill. Ralph Clark, or Brother Chris Minter, or Brother Michael Johnstone, or Brother Sam Welty. We would like to have three team of four Brothers to setup and breakdown each degree during the Reunions. That's a team of four brothers for each room we use during the reunions. This would give all concerned a better understanding of the degree setup and what it takes to make the Reunion a GREAT experience for all. Please consider volunteering to assist with the Paraphernalia Committee. The current member of the Paraphernalia Committee are: Ill. Ralph M. Clark 33 Gregory T. Gustafson 32 - Chairman Christopher L. Minter 32, KCCH Michael Johnstone 32, KCCH Samuel G. Welty 32, KCCH Melvin D. Fortson 32 Eric Anderson 32 David Wilson 32 Sincerely and Fraternally, Ralph M. Clark, 33
PAGE 6 SCOTTISH RITE MIRROR JULY DECEMBER 2018 Valley Membership Achievement Project (VMAP) Who doesn t love a good rock power ballad? After a particularly tough day not too long ago, I decided to turn up the decibels in my car while driving home and listen to some 80 s hair-band rock. A little Bon Jovi, GNR and Skid Row, then Extreme. I had forgotten how much I loved that band, with their early funky metal sound. This song on the radio was their biggest hit, More than Words. Although clearly not about freemasonry, it does speak to the idea that sometimes words alone are not enough. It is how we act that is actually more important. Another way to think about this is to start with why as your guiding principle, think of the what as where you are going, then know that the how as the blueprint we follow to get there. For our Norfolk Valley, the how could be our Valley Membership Achievement Project (VMAP). Our what. In the Scottish Rite, we know what we are to do as an organization as it is written in our mission statement: It is the mission of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, to improve its members and enhance the communities in which they live by teaching and emulating the principles of Brotherly Love, Tolerance, Charity, and Truth while actively embracing high social, moral, and spiritual values including fellowship, compassion, and dedication to God, family and country. Our how. How we do this is demonstrated through our good works. Each of the 38 pages of the VMAP workbook shows us many action steps, goals, and milestones we can implement in our own Valley. It is about membership, education, engagement, our ritual, philanthropy, our public image, leadership, and the many organizations we have within our Valley. These are our commitments to our craft, to our Valley, and to each other. Our why? Simon Sinek emphasizes that we need to start with our why, because people don t buy what you do, they buy why you do it. What is our why? It involves our cause, our purpose, our raison d'être. Our beliefs are further exemplified with our entelechy and values as exemplified through our creed: human progress, liberty of thought, freedom of conscience, and the guarantee of equal rights to all people. We could spend hours extolling these virtues and how they are applicable to the community, but also to ourselves. Taken together this provides for a richer, fuller experience, and with love and compassion for each other, service to our fraternity, and the giving of ourselves to those in need, whether it be a child in Rite Care, the hopeful college student, or our extended family beset with disaster, as we were charged to consider last year in Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico. Our why is foundational in being able to fulfill our obligations we took after entering the West Gate, and to make us better men and brothers. Yes, it is more than words, it is why we should live those words we speak. Shalom, Joel Bundy, 32, KCCH, VMAP Chairman, Valley of Norfolk, Orient of Virginia PAGE 7 SCOTTISH RITE MIRROR JULY DECEMBER 2018 FROM THE WEBMASTER In this digital age, there are many tools at our disposal to let our members know what is going on in their Valley, and within Scottish Rite Masonry in general. We are working hard to make use of these tools and keep you informed. Here is a short list of what is available to you: Email: A mailing list that sends an email to all members. Phone List: A list of emails and phone numbers of officers and members, only available to the members of our Valley. Web Site: http://www.norfolkvalley.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norfolk valley Twitter: https://twitter.com/norfolkvalley Tumblr: http://norfolkvalley.tumblr.com Please join or follow us, if you make use of these social networks. If you wish to be added to the email list, or you have any comments or suggestions, please contact me at chris@norfolkvalley.com or (757) 479-0507. In addition, all of the lodges in our Valley have web sites, and most have Facebook pages as well. These are listed on the web site for your convenience. It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but rather, the one most responsive to change. -Darwin Christopher W. Douglas, 32 KCCH