January 2011 News

Calendar

Jan. 3 AASR Trustees 6:15 p.m. / Executive Committee 6:30 p.m. / 4th Degree Rehearsal 8:00 p.m.

Jan. 10 Council Princes of Jerusalem 7:30 p.m. / Brother Bring A Brother Night: “College of Free Masonry” Program

Jan. 17 Central City Lodge of Perfection & Central City Council Princes of Jerusalem 7:30 p.m. / Confer 4th Degree

Jan. 19 CNY 32nd Degree Masonic Learning Center Board of Governors 12:00 Noon / Corporation Trustees Meeting to follow

Feb. 07 Executive Committee 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 21 Presidents Day with Family and Friends : “Last Full Measure” Program / Social 6:00 p.m. / Dinner 6:30 p.m. / Program 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 28 Central City Lodge of Perfection 7:30 p.m. / Confer 7th Degree



Consistory

My Brothers,
I hope you and your family had a great Holiday. The new year is upon us and we have an active trestle board. Brother Richard Powell has planned a Brother Bring a Brother evening where he will present a number of interesting tidbits of information regarding Scottish Rite Free Masonry. The program is scheduled for Monday, January 10th.

Petitions for membership are always welcome. So, please “talk up” our great Scottish Rite.
If you have not done so, please mark your calendar for Feb. 21st. The play “The Last Full Measure” will be presented for the first time in our Valley. More details to follow.

Our degrees are coming up. Please make every effort to attend and don’t forget your passports.

Sandy



Council

Brethren,

Greetings from the Council Princes of Jerusalem.

December and the hustle and bustle of the Holidays are behind us for another year. We shall now begin the Work for the New Year. As you can see on the schedule for this month is the quarterly meeting of the Trustees and the monthly meeting of the Executive Committee immediately thereafter to be held on January 3rd. Remember that all the Officers of the four Bodies should make the attempt to attend Executive Committee meetings. As you progress in your “line”, you should become aware of the proceedings that occur in this meeting.

On January 10th, the Brother Bring a Brother event will be held and the program to be presented will be informative. And, on January 17th the 4th Degree will be presented for those Masons that have chosen to begin their journey in the Scottish Rite. If at all possible, we should attend the 4th Degree presentation to demonstrate our support to the candidates.

Keep our military that is scattered around the entire world in your prayers. And let us hope that Old Man Winter does not start the new year off as he did the month of December!

Milo Peterson


Hospitaler

Brothers and Sublime Princes, We learn that prayer is the first Masonic thing we do when undertaking any great or little venture. The Hospitaler’s duties in part are to put a human face and voice to the Valley’s prayers. This month I ask you to include some brothers and their families and friends in your prayers as we all undertake our task in living the year of 2011.

The first brother I commend to your prayers is Bro. Don Stray and his wife Faye. Don has been an active Shriner–clown, driver, and goodwill ambassador for the Craft–until post-polio syndrome slowed him down. I first met Bro. Don many years ago, and his sense of humor and energy have always amazed me.

A brother few of you may know is Sherman Kumpf and his wife Barbara. Sherm was a member of the Valley of Cortland before it joined the Valley of Syracuse. Neither Sherm and Barbara are able to walk and their days are filled with medical challenges. A prayer to the Great Architect in their behalf would be most welcome.

Another brother we do not see in our Valley gatherings is a man I see every week in church, Bro. Izzie Woodford. (I know Izzie’s real name, but I have sworn to keep that as a Masonic secret.) Brother Izzie is well into his 90's, continues to climb the hill on his farm in DeRuyter and do as well as a man his age can. He thanks God–and we can thank God–that life continues to be pretty good for him.

Drop me a line by E-mail at ajferguson@odyssey.net when you meet a Brother and family member of our Valley who needs our prayers. The Craft has always sought to work together–we can certainly pray together, too.


Lodge of Perfection

Greetings.
We got hit with winter early this year, and I hope everyone is getting through it without to much difficulty. I also hope that everyone's holiday season went well! I would like to start out this month by recognizing, and thanking the LOP Officers.

Senior Warden Leon Bulriss, Junior Warden John Melnyczuk, and Capt. of the Guard Rolf Schwedes. These men have not only fulfilled the obligation of their office, but they volunteer, and step up and assist whenever needed. I do not say it enough, and I want them to know their efforts are known, and appreciated. Others have not met their obligations, and that too is noted. I also want to thank those who have stepped in when help was needed, so that we were able to complete our work.

I want to remind the cast of the forth degree that we are conferring the degree on Jan.17th, and we are looking forward to your continued good work with this degree.

LOP is also performing the seventh degree on Feb. 28th, 2011. We will be rehearsing on Jan. 24th, and 31st. Because this degree has not been done by the Valley in ten years, I would like the cast to start going over the script. All roles have been cast, and all cast members should have received your script. If you haven't, please contact me, and I will get you a copy. I would also like all cast members to double check your schedule, and if there are any conflicts with BOTH rehearsals, and degree date, please let me know.

I also want to thank the LOP mentor, Gary Hartman. His assistance has been invaluable, and is greatly appreciated.

Tom Santmyer


Abbott Scottish Rite Scholarships

In 1922, a college scholarship program was inaugurated with an initial appropriation from Supreme Council funds. In 1932, Leon M. Abbott bequeathed additional funds to establish an Education and Charity Fund. The first Abbott scholarship was awarded in 1951

For many years, the scholarships were presented to journalism students at selected universities throughout the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. In 1984, it was voted to expand the scholarship program by awarding grants to children and grandchildren of Scottish Rite members and to young people active in the youth groups affiliated with the Masonic fraternity. In 1985-86, the first academic year, funds were allocated for 68 scholarships.

ALL VALLEY OF SYRACUSE APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE VALLEY OF SYRACUSE OFFICE NO LATER THAN MARCH 24, 2011

Current 2011 applications are available on line at: http://www.scottishriteonline.org/ or from the Valley of Syracuse Business office.

Note: These directions MUST be followed without exception. Failure to follow these instructions will result in the rejection of your application.

All applicants MUST be completing one or more years of college study to be considered. Incoming college Freshmen students are not eligible for consideration in New York State.

Only application acceptable for use is the “Current 2011 scholarship Application”. Application forms from previous years will be rejected and will not be considered.

All applications must be received in the Valley of Syracuse office no later than March 24, 2011 to be considered.

All applications must be submitted in duplicate [two (2) copies of the entire package is required]

All applications must include two (2) copies of the following information: At least one confidential letter of recommendation, the most current college transcript and the most current copy of the FAFSA form.

Students must have a minimum G.P.A. of 2.75 to qualify for consideration.

Ill. James D. Swan. Jr., 33°, Valley Secretary


Recognition and Awards Nights Honors Valley Achievers

Following a delicious dinner served by Centerville Chapter #185; we all moved the evening’s festivities into our Lodge Room and the program for the evening was underway.This was the night for the Valley to recognize its achievers and Past and present leaders for their dedication to Scottish Rite.

Eleven Scottish Riters were recognized for fifty years and seventeen were recognized sixty years of membership in the Valley of Syracuse; can you believe one thousand and five hundred and ten years of Scottish Membership and experiences was represented by this group of Brothers.

Next group recognized were thirty new Scottish Rite members in our latest classes of new members. Patents of membership from Supreme Council were presented to the Brothers.
Our Valley is blessed with dedicated Brothers who lead our members each year. The Junior Past Thrice Potent Master; Adam A. Ferguson, 32° and Junior Past Most Wise Master Richard P. Freeman, 32° were presented certificates of appreciation and accomplishments for their years of service as Officers in the Valley.

Two Brothers were nominated to receive the Valley of Syracuse’s “Legion of Valor’ award in 2010. Our recipients for 2010 are Brothers Kevin M. Cobb, 32°, DSA and Richard R. Freeman, 32° received certificates of recognition for their years of dedication to their families and the Craft.

Two Brothers recognized by the Valley with election to receive the Valley of Syracuse Dedicated Service Award for 2010 were recognized next in our program. Brothers Milo J. Peterson, 32°DSA and Richard M. Torrey, 32° DSA were presented Blue Hats by their wives and the Commander-in-Chief Ill\ Sandy F. Samson, 33°.

We are extremely proud to have a new Honorary Member of Supreme Council coroneted this year in Philadelphia. PA. In recognition of this achievement Ill\ John R. Fuller, 33°, President of the Central City Thirty-third Degree Club presented the Thirty-Third Degree Jewel to Ill\ Lynwood J. Bennerson, 33°, Central City Consistory First lieutenant Commander.

Ill\ Peter J. Samiec, 33°, Active Member of Supreme Council was the key note speaker for the festivities of the evening.

See our Facebook Page for photos.

Ill. James D. Swan. Jr., 33°, Valley Secretary


Notes from the CNY Learning Center
Welcome to MY World

Wow- how time flies!!! We are nearing the end of the fall session of our program; the scholars have completed most of their classroom sessions but have the majority of their practicum ahead of them.

We had the pleasure of having Carin Illig, the director of the academic side of the Learning Centers at headquarters in Lexington, MA, visit us mid-November. She joined us for our Board Meeting and spent an evening and a day at the Center meeting with parents and staff and observing tutors and scholars. It was nice for the Board and staff to meet with her face to face and for her to see our Center in action. I will let you know the results of her “review” when we receive it.

Bryce continues to move forward in his progress. He has moved forward into level two and due to his age and grade, he is also working on what is considered Advanced Material which deals with grammar and word origins. His tutor has also been able to accommodate Bryce’s schedule which has allowed him to join the school's bowling team!
We know how important the reading is for our children but keeping grades that allow them to enter sports as well is another great accomplishment.

We wish you all a very blessed holiday

Linda Martin, Director