THE RITE RECORDER Valley of Cincinnati www.32masons.com April 2015 The Rite Stuff to Lead Family Picnic at Stricker s Grove Telling Your Scottish Rite Story Riverboat Dinner Cruise
THE RITE RECORDER Volume 71 No. 9 Cincinnati Masonic Center 317 East Fifth Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 3399 513-421 3579 800-561 3579 Fax: 513-562 2661 Web: www.32masons.com EDITOR Ben P. Rosenfield, 32º benr@32masons.com BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chairman K. Douglas Akers, 32º Members at Large Donald E. Hoffman, 33º William M. Judd II, 32º Jeffrey P. Waltz, 33º Dwight D. Wilson, 33º PRESIDING OFFICERS Gibulum Lodge of Perfection L. John Lasonczyk, 32º Do You Have the Rite Stuff? A message from Ill. Bro. M. Todd McIntosh, 33º, Active Member of the Supreme Council As a member of the Valley of Cincinnati, have you ever thought about expanding your Scottish Rite experience beyond the lessons of our degrees and the attendance at our programs? Do you have the desire to become a leader among great men? Does fulfilling the Masonic calling to be of service to our fellow men find fertile ground in the idea of becoming an officer of the Valley of Cincinnati? My experience as an officer of the Valley of Cincinnati has been one of my most fulfilling Masonic experiences. Yet, often the path to leadership in the Valley is unknown to those that are eager to serve and who are possessed of the skills and determination it takes to bring our Valley into the next generation. Being an officer means sincere devotion of one s time and talent to the Valley. As in Blue Lodge, it can take several dedicated years to become a presiding officer. But that time is filled with the excitement of placing your mark alongside your brothers on the ashlars which will build our future and the fulfillment that comes from inspiring our members, our brothers with the value and vision of our Rite and our Valley. As one progresses through any one of the four officer lines of the Valley, they are an integral part of the team responsible for the development and execution of our annual programming and the presentation of the moral and social lessons embodied in our degrees. Through regular attendance and participation at our stated meetings, an officer has their thumb on the pulse of the Valley. As an elected officer, you will adopt a state-wide presence as a member of the Ohio Council of Deliberation. As a presiding officer, among other duties, you will sit as a member of the Board of Trustees whose charge it is to safeguard the custody, management and preservation of our significant assets. Through the presentation of our lessons to the newly initiated, the position offers you a heightened awareness of our most worthy tenets. In common service, you will meet like-minded Masons, from throughout our Valley, who will join with you in bringing the future of our Valley into reality. As an officer, your personality, intelligence and allegiance would be representative of the high ideals of our order. I would like to hear from you if you find this opportunity interesting. Please understand that my invitation is not an invitation to immediately join the ranks of the officers of our Valley, but I am seeking to meet brothers who hear the call of the work at hand. E-mail me at tmcintosh@32masons.com. Let me know why you think you would make a good chief and leader in our grand army. Dalcho Council, Princes of Jerusalem Richard J. Shields, 32º Cincinnati Chapter of Rose Croix Douglas A. Sunnenberg 32º Ohio Consistory Daniel G. Bainum, 32º EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Robert W. Dumford, 33º rdumford@32masons.com FRATERNAL SECRETARY Michael A. Himes, 33º mhimes@32masons.com TREASURER David A. Girmann, 32º ASSISTANT TREASURER Michael P. Doyle, 32º TYLER Keith L. Clepper, 32º THE SUPREME COUNCIL Deputy for the State of Ohio Douglas N. Kaylor, 33º Active Members, Resident in Cincinnati M. Todd McIntosh, 33º William R. Powers, Jr., 33º Sovereign Grand Commander John Wm. McNaughton, 33º Active Members at Large Robert O. Ralston, 33º, P.S.G.C. Active Member Emeritus Alfred E. Rice, 33º
You, your family, and your friends are in for a delightful day as the Valley of Cincinnati hosts a picnic at Stricker s Grove on May 31, 2015. Get ready to enjoy an 18-hole mini-golf course, arcade games, roller coasters, skee-ball, horseshoe pits, a baseball diamond, and lots more at this fun-filled program. You ll be comfortable in the park s air-conditioned hall. It opens at noon and closes at 8:00 p.m. The rides operate from 1:00-4:00 p.m. and 5:00-8:00 p.m. You can hit the buffet for dinner from 3:00-5:30 p.m., and you can gobble up goodies from the concession stand, including popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones, and soft drinks, courtesy of the Valley of Cincinnati. The entire day of fun is yours for $7.50 per person! Children younger than two years of age get in for free. Tickets are now on sale at 32masons.com, or you may use the order form on this page. Please note that no orders will be accepted after May 22, 2015. Stricker s Grove is a family-owned and operated, private amusement park. It is located at 11490 Hamilton-Cleves Rd., near Ross, OH, in Crosby Township, just north of Cincinnati. It s home to the Tornado and Teddy Bear roller coasters that are the only two wooden coasters in Hamilton County. For more information about Stricker s Grove, visit strickersgrove.com. FAMILY PICNIC MAY 31, 2015 No orders will be accepted after May 22, 2015. Cost is $7.50 per ticket, plus a $1 handling fee (first ticket only). Print Name: Member Number: Phone Number: Tickets required: Total amount enclosed: Make check payable to Valley of Cincinnati. Mail with this form to Family Picnic, 317 E. 5th St., Cincinnati, OH 45202-3399.
BEN P. ROSENFIELD, 32º You want your Scottish Rite experience to inspire a Brother to join the Valley of Cincinnati, but you re not entirely sure how to tell your story without sounding like a door-to-door salesman. Read on to discover a strategy that can you can use to make the conversation all about the prospective member. Focus on the second-person point of view A second-person narrative is all about you that is, the use of the personal pronoun you, instead of the first-person pronouns I or we. Using the pronoun you essentially compels you to make the story about the person to whom you re speaking. It prevents selfishness in storytelling. Using you enables you to convey the value of Scottish Rite membership to the prospective member in a meaningful way that speaks to him and addresses his needs. You ll find that the second-person point of view is the most important part of your communications with prospective members. First-person: I attended a great degree program last week in the Valley of Cincinnati. We really do awesome ritual work in an amazing, historical building! I think we have the best ritualists around, and I couldn t imagine missing one of our degree events. In this example, the speaker uses two first-person pronouns: I and we. Using these pronouns conveys a selfish tone. Using the secondperson you and your would make the benefits of the great program relatable to the Brother to whom you re speaking. The second-person point of view also allows you to demonstrate that you understand the Brother s needs and expectations. Second-person approach: You re into great ritual work, right? You d really enjoy the degree program that s coming up on April 11. You ll see some of the best degree work around, and you ll get a special tour of the historic Cincinnati Masonic Center. You can also get involved in the degrees once you re a member. You re sure to find something that delivers what you re expecting from your membership the Valley of Cincinnati. The second-person point of view dominates this example. It makes the listener the center of attention. It is unselfish. It proves to the listener that you know what he wants and that the Valley of Cincinnati can deliver. Focusing your choice of language on the listener keeps the listener on the hook. It answers the important question that he s asking in his mind or even directly to you: What s in it for me? Promote an experience You re not selling a product; you re promoting an experience. The Scottish Rite experience in the Valley of Cincinnati is not a commodity. In other words, it s not something a Brother can find anywhere. Combine that mindset with a second-person narrative, and you ll have a winner on your hands. Figuring out where to start can be a challenge. What matters most to you in Masonry and in the Scottish Rite? Make a list. Talk to other Scottish Rite Masons especially in your own Lodge about what they find important, make a list, and use what you learn to shake up your perspective about what matters to your Valley s members. (While you re at it, why not ask those Brothers in your Lodge to help you tell a great Scottish Rite story to other members of your Lodge?) Once you have a list of what you and your Brethren think makes up a great Scottish Rite experience, convert each list item into a second-person narrative that you can use when you approach a prospective member. Obviously, you ll want to commit your secondperson statements to memory and practice them. Let s say you re ready to ask a prospective member a very important question: What do you like most about Freemasonry? And let s say he gives you his top-three list: great degree work, socializing, and deep historical roots. You must be able to see the interests he shares for what they really are: his expectations of the Valley of Cincinnati and his desires for his Scottish Rite journey. The next step is to have a personal and meaningful conversation with your Brother about how he ll benefit from the value of membership in the Valley of Cincinnati, given the desires and expectations he s shared. Remember, the only personal pronoun to use is you. Here are some examples. Keep in mind that you ll need to tell these stories in your own voice, so that the communication sounds natural. Great degree work: You really had a memorable experience travelling through the three degrees in our Lodge. Great degree work matters to you. You ll find plenty of it in the Valley of Cincinnati, where dedicated Brothers will provide you with the compelling and impressive degree work that you deserve. Elaborate costumes, props, and scenery are a part of it, too. You ll come away with an experience that you will always remember.
Socializing: If you enjoy the fellowship of Freemasonry, you re really going to have a blast in the Valley of Cincinnati. You can participate in some of the events now, even though you re just learning about the benefits of membership. Like a lot of Masons, you love a good meal. You ll really be happy to strap on the feedbag at the next Valley of Cincinnati chili cookoff. You ll meet a lot of great guys and sample all kinds of chili. You can even bring your own recipe to share. You ll leave with a stuffed belly and new friends. Deep historical roots: Freemasonry is an unforgettable trip through history. You ll be interested to learn that the Scottish Rite is an important part of it. You want history? You can take a trip through more than 160 years of it in the Valley of Cincinnati. You ll experience the great degree work and the social programs you want in a unique, historical building, where you ll see an impressive timeline unfold before your eyes. All of it is built on a foundation of dedicated Brothers just like you. Your experience in the Valley of Cincinnati will include a treasure trove of historical artifacts, regalia, records, pictures, and more. As a matter of fact, you can have a tour of the historic Cincinnati Masonic Center before you consider your future in the Scottish Rite. You can even bring your family and friends along! Let s set up a tour at a time that works for you. Upcoming Events April 9 Stated Meeting The stated meeting of the four coordinate bodies, including officer nominations, will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the DeSilver Room at the Cincinnati Masonic Center. Business attire is appropriate. April 11 Spring Reunion Join us for the Spring 2015 Reunion and Cincinnati Reds Class. May 13 Breakfast Lecture Series Cincinnati City Manager Harry Black is the featured speaker. Complimentary breakfast is available at 7:45 a.m. The presentation begins at 8:10, followed by a Q&A session. The event ends by 9:00 a.m. May 14 Annual Meeting The annual meeting of the four coordinate bodies, including officer elections and installation, will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Scottish Rite Auditorium at the Cincinnati Masonic Center. Business attire. May 31 Family Picnic Noon to 8:00 p.m. at Stricker s Grove, 11490 Hamilton-Cleves Rd., near Ross, OH. Tickets are $7.50 per person. No charge for children two or younger. August 22 Riverboat Cruise Come aboard for music and a meal, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person. Why it works All three examples above contain three critical factors for successful communication with a prospective member. First, they demonstrate that you have listened to the prospective member. Second, they show without a doubt that you understand his needs and expectations. And third, they tell him that you re involved in the Scottish Rite and that your activity in the Valley of Cincinnati can help ensure that he has the best experience possible. Your investment will pay off Best case scenario: You signed the Blue Lodge petition for someone you ve known for a long time. You are his trusted friend and Brother. You ask him to join the Valley of Cincinnati, and you present him a petition. He agrees, and you sign the top line, saving the second line for another Brother with whom he has ties, or another member of your Blue Lodge. Unfortunately, you won t always have such an ideal situation on your hands. When you don t, it s imperative that you develop a relationship with the Brother so that you have equity in his Masonic path. This is something you should be doing with all new members of your Lodge, whether or not you ever discuss the Scottish Rite with them. The relationship-building phase allows you to find out what matters most to a Brother in life and in the fraternity. Over time, you ll be able to have a discussion with him about the Scottish Rite and present the values and benefits of joining and becoming active, because you ll actually understand his expectations. You ll then be able to tailor the story you tell to his needs. You ll also be able to share your own Scottish Rite experience with him in a way that still keeps the focus on him (remember the second-person narrative). Membership development truly does depend on you. So if you have the fortune of bringing an exceptional individual into the fraternity, be certain to invest the energy and time into his travels. Make a point to immerse him in the fraternal culture. Encourage him to participate in events that he will enjoy. He will feel special. He will feel valued. And, over time, he will build a deep appreciation for the fraternity one that he ll want to share with others. Brother to Brother Program The leadership of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction and the leadership of the Valley of Cincinnati, agree that personal contact is the best way of keeping our membership involved with the activities of Scottish Rite Masonry, and to fulfill our commitment of caring for our Brothers. In keeping with this concept, the Valley of Cincinnati is going to institute a Brother to Brother calling program, where each member of our Valley will be called during the month of his birthday. The call can be a general greeting of birthday wishes, or it could be much more, depending on the participants. It may be a means of determining whether a Brother is in need of fraternal help, or perhaps he just is looking for conversation. You will be provided with a list of names and numbers each month. All you have to do is make the call. We need your help to make this possible. If you are interested in taking part in this program, please contact Michael A. Himes, 33º at the Scottish Rite office at 513-421-3579, ext. 1600, 800-561- 3579, ext. 1600, or mhimes@32masons.com. If he is not in the office, please leave a message. He will get in touch with you as soon as possible. Reminder: Museum Tour The National Museum of the United States Air Force is the official museum of the United States Air Force. Located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, just six miles northeast of Dayton, OH, the NMUSAF has one of the world s largest collections with more than 360 aircraft and missiles on display. Members of the Valley of Cincinnati and their families will be touring the museum on June 27, 2015. We ll see thousands of historical items and powerful exhibits that bring history to life and connect the Wright brothers legacy with today s stealth and precision technology await. Following our tour of the museum, we will travel as a group to a nearby restaurant to enjoy a meal together. Marion s Piazza in Centerville offers a family-friendly environment and has agreed to give our group discounted prices. It features a variety of food selections including pizza, pasta, salads, and hoagies to satisfy your appetite. Visit marionspiazza.com for more information or to plan your travels.
Your Brothers from the Valley of Cincinnati look forward to welcoming you aboard Celebrations Riverboats for a truly delightful time on August 22, 2015. You and your guest will enjoy dinner, a blues band, and outstanding fellowship in an intimate and relaxed atmosphere. Boarding for this adults-only riverboat cruise will begin at 5:30 p.m. The ship casts off by 6:00 p.m., and the cruise will end at approximately 9:00 p.m. The B Hatfield Blues Band will provide the entertainment. The event will ensure plenty of fun for everyone. Dinner, entertainment, and non-alcoholic drinks are included in the price. A cash bar will be available. Tickets are $30 per person. Please note that the deadline for reservations is August 10, 2015. No orders will be accepted after that date. Order online at 32masons.com or by mail with the order form on this page. For more information about Celebrations Riverboat Cruises, visit celebrationriverboats.com. RIVERBOAT CRUISE AUGUST 22, 2015 No orders will be accepted after Aug. 10, 2015. Cost is $30 per ticket, plus a $1 handling fee (first ticket only). Print Name: Member Number: Phone Number: Tickets required: Total amount enclosed: Make check payable to Valley of Cincinnati. Mail with this form to Riverboat Cruise, 317 E. 5th St., Cincinnati, OH 45202-3399.
This year s Ohio Council of Deliberation Golf Outing is on a new course, so watch your putts! The event is on Monday, June 29, 2015 at York Golf Club, 7459 N. High St., Columbus, OH 43235. The format is a four-man, best-ball scramble and features a shotgun start at noon, followed by a fine dinner. The cost for golf is $75.00 per person ($300.00 per foursome) and includes golf, the golf cart, dinner, and prizes. The registration deadline is June 19, 2015. Use the form below to get your foursome signed up. Bring your wife! Invite your buddies, even if they re not Masons! OCD Golf Outing June 29, 2015 Team Captain: Address: City: State: ZIP: Print Golfers Names and Circle Meal Selection (Chicken / Beef) C B C B C B C B Golf: $75 / person $300 per team Meal only ($20 / person) Total amount enclosed: Make checks payable to: Valley of Cambridge, AASR. Mail to: 925 Wheeling Ave., P.O. Box 1825, Cambridge, OH 43725-1825.
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