March 2011 News

Calendar

Mar 7 Executive Committee 7:00 p.m.
Rehearse 14° “Grand Elect Mason”

Mar 14 Lodge of perfection 7:30 p.m.
Confer 14° “Grand Elect Mason”

Mar 16 CNY 32nd Degree Masonic Learning Center
Board of Governors 12:00 Noon
Corporation Trustees Meeting to follow

Mar 21 Consistory rehearsal
26° “Prince of Mercy” 7:00 p.m.

Mar 24 Deadline to submit 2011 Scholarship applications
Contact the office to obtain forms or if you have questions

Mar 26 Council Princes of Jerusalem /Chapter of Rose Croix
Confer 2 Degrees
16° “Prince of Jerusalem”
18° “Knight of the Rose Croix of H.R.D.M.

Mar 28 Executive Committee 7:00 p.m.

Apr 4 Rehearsal Feast of the Pascal Lamb and 26° 6:30 p.m.

Apr 11 Feast of the Pascal Lamb 7:00 p.m.

Apr 16 Consistory 9:00 a.m.
Confer 26°, 31°, 32° in Utica


Consistory

I would like to express my appreciation to Brother Allan Ferguson for the find job he has done in presenting, for the first time, “The Last Full Measure”. I congratulate all those who participated.

We have a full plate of exciting programs in March beginning with the conferral of the 14th degree on March 14th. Saturday, March 16th, we join the Valleys of Utica and Norwood for the conferral of the 16th and 18th degrees at our Masonic Memorial Center.
 
Also, please note April 11th on your calendar for our annual “Feast of the Pascal Lamb”.

If you are wondering how you might get more involved with your Valley, please don’t hesitate to ask one of our Body heads or call Jim Swan, Acting Secretary at 315-452-7976.

Sandy Samson


Chapter of Rose Croix

A good “thank you” always has a place in Masonic conversation. I thank the Brothers who put on “The Last Full Measure” at our February 21 gathering. Their excellent work always makes me feel proud to be a Scottish Rite Mason.

The Chapter of Rose Croix will confer the 18th Degree on Saturday, March 26, after the Council of Princes of Jerusalem confers the 16th Degree. Bro. Lawrence Egnaczyk, our Chapter’s Senior Warden, will direct this degree. I thank Larry for putting the time and effort into organizing this degree because it involves men of three different Valleys: Norwood, Syracuse and Utica. Working together in this way demonstrates the unity of Brothers. (For more on unity, check the Great of Light of Freemasonry, Psalm 133, the reading used for our First Degree as Masons.)

Finally, the Chapter is preparing for the Feast of the Paschal Lamb in April. The officers decided months ago they will present the Feast as the elected and appointed line of Rose Croix. This draws from a tradition the Chapter’s officers carried on in the past. Masons are men who value tradition, but traditions like this emphasize our obligations to serve the Craft, the Rite and the world. Keep up the good work! Effort like this strengthens every Body in the Valley.

Allan Ferguson



Council Princes of Jerusalem

Brethren,

Greetings from the Council Princes of Jerusalem.

February did continue winter from where January left off. However, the “Work” continued. The Trustees Meeting with the representative from Manning and Napier in attendance was held on the 7th of February wherein he presented an updated report on the Valley's investment portfolio. Directly following that presentation, the monthly Executive Committee Meeting was convened and the on-going business of the Valley was critiqued and discussed. The financial reports, Profit & Loss and the Balance Sheet, were presented by the Valley Treasurer. Upcoming degree presentation planning status for the month of March was critiqued. The continuing efforts on the Mentoring and Membership programs were discussed. Hospitalar report was presented. These, plus other subjects of concern to the Valley operations: charitable functions supported, future special meetings/events, office secretarial issues, etc., are regularly on the agenda for discussion that are germane to the timing of the Executive Committee Meeting being held. I include the preceding information as some in the Valley may wonder what the works of the Executive Committee may entail. Reference the schedule for the month of March, come and witness the degrees to be presented and hope that March actually does “go out like a lamb”.

Milo Peterson


Lodge of Perfection

Greetings from the LOP! This has been a long, rough winter, and I want to give much thanks and credit, to the cast of the Seventh Degree. They not only gave a
remarkable performance on February 28th, but they came out on three cold, snowy nights for rehearsals. Due to schedule conflicts, some cast members had to change roles after already have learned lines for a different part. So, this cast really came together to make this work. Again, I give them all my thanks! As this degree had not been done by the valley in ten years, I hope every member who needed it, got to see it.

With winter not yet over, I know the last thing we want to think about is next November. However, I want to remind all members to start thinking about candidates for the next Veteran's Program. Every year we award one Mason, and one Non-Mason. This person should not be someone who is just a great Mason, or military person, but someone who is involved in their community, helps others, and displays the characteristics that we strive for in Masonry.

With the spring coming up, there are many degrees, and other work to be done in  the Valley. All members, new and not-so-new, are encouraged to get involved. It is never too early, or too late, to start participating in Valley events and programs.

Many brother's have helped me, and the LOP this year, and it has not gone unnoticed. Thank you! And a sincere thank you to Gary Hartman - we could not have gotten this far without you.

Hope to see everyone at all the up-coming degrees.

Tom Santmyer


A New Name For Our Learning Center

Greetings from Central New York

As the headline indicates and the quote from Lexington below tells you, the Board of Governors has been discussing a new name to replace Central New York 32nd Degree Masonic Learning Center for Children.

“Each Board of Governors may now take the steps necessary to rename their individual Centers within the prescribed guidelines. The existing Corporate stationery is being redesigned and will be provided to each Center in late January or early February of 2011. The same redesign applies to our informational brochures and other paraphernalia. “

“I am also pleased to inform you that the Teddy Bear will continue to be the logo for the Corporation.”

At its January monthly board meeting, after much discussion, the board settled on the following: Children’s Dyslexia Center Central New York

However, questions were recently raised after seeing the article that is in the February Northern Light issue. See page 14 to see why. The article seems to contradict the prescribed guidelines each Learning Center was provided.

When clarification is made, we will use our new name. There may be a slight variation by the next news article. Stay tuned!

Hopefully you will be ready to prepare for the next Timothy O’Connor-Slater Walk for Dyslexia in September. We are organizing early and will be looking for help advertizing and gathering walkers in April-May. Look for our new design on the flyers and pamphlets.

Sincerely and fraternally

Steve Park
Chairman-Board of Governors


Notes from the CNY Learning Center

Welcome to My World

To all of our “sweethearts” out there- Happy Valentines and St. Patrick’s !!

It has been an interesting start of the New Year with weather and illness. Everyone is back but we keep getting interrupted, thanks to Mother Nature.

One of the major things that we do after the December holidays is our mid-year assessment which gives us an idea how well the children are retaining and using the phonemes (sounds), rules and tools that the tutors have been presented to them this year. This assessment is done on a program that we have on the computer and covers all the visual, auditory and tactile areas the children have been working on.

One of the nice things that happens is a graphic display (circles, with the goal to get as much as possible to the outside) and specific words and concepts written out that the child had difficulty with. This allows the child, tutor and family know exactly what areas the child needs some reinforcement in and what still needs to be presented.

Bryce, who I have been telling you about, did quite well on his assessment. He worked methodically and consistently mastering many areas. Though he still needs reinforcement in some areas, he did not require any materials that he has covered to be totally presented again in levels I, II, and III. Good job on his part and that of his tutor. We know he will continue to work hard as he progresses through level III and into level IV (we only have five levels!!)

We are looking forward to spring but know that the children and tutors will be working hard throughout the long winter to achieve their goals.

This only happens thanks to the fact that you are behind us all the way.

Linda Martin
Director