The 150th Anniversary Celebration for the Valley of Syracuse was a resounding success! Thanks to everyone who helped out along the way. Check out the photos at http://www.syr-aasr.org/1/post/2012/05/150th-anniversary-photos.html 
1 Comment The most important thing I do as Commander-in-Chief is keep first things first. The first thing I have to say is “thank you,” and the list of thank yous is long. Ill. Jim Swan designed and sent invitations, received the reservations, ordered shirts, pins and meals and worked overtime to make sure everything happened on time and in good order. Well done, Brother Secretary! Ill. Rick Powell worked with Bro. Swan to create the program book which I hope will bring back memories as we prepare for the 175th anniversary of the Valley. Ill. John Fuller gets my deepest thanks and respect for all the points of Masonic etiquette he brought to our celebration. My fellow committee members, Bros. Carl Fahrenkrug, Bill Fergerson, Allan Ferguson, Gary Hartman, and Bob Tyrell spent months working together with Bro. Swan and me creating this event. Thank you for giving up your evenings and putting your energy into this event. Degree directors and cast members, men from the “arch of steel,” Brothers who brought in new Sublime Princes, those who filled the sidelines, bought an ad or did anything small or large to make this celebration happen--THANK YOU. The biggest thank you, however, belongs to the new Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret. You helped us celebrate 150 years of Scottish Rite Freemasonry by starting the Valley on the path for the next 150 years. You earned the notice and respect of Sovereign Grand Commander McNaughton, Deputy Grand Master Sullivan, Deputy for New York Peter Samiec and all our dignitaries from the Northern Jurisdiction of Scottish Rite. We look to you to work with us in the quarries and on the great cathedrals of Scottish Rite service. Now, to our schedule for the month. The Guard’s Club will meet for dinner at 6:30 PM on May 14. The Guard’s Club, for those who do not know, consists of the men who put on the degrees and carry out the regular tasks of the Valley. Joining the Guards Club is as easy as saying “I’ll do that . . .” when someone asks. The Valley’s annual meeting will follow the dinner. May 21 brings the installation of officers for the Lodge of Perfection, Council of Princes of Jerusalem and Chapter of Rose Croix at 7:30 PM. Please make an effort to support your Brothers helping lead this Valley forward. One last word: I will attend Grand Lodge this year to see our Sovereign Grand Commander receive the highest award the Grand Lodge of New York confers. Our celebration for 150 years serves as the introduction 200th anniversary of Northern Jurisdiction Scottish Rite work in 2013. The best things in life keep on going . . . Ill. Lynwood Bennerson, 33° Commander-in- Chief Many Brethren were on hand in Utica on March 24th for the conferral of the 15th, 16th & 18th Degrees. The Valleys of Syracuse, Utica and Norwood all contributed to a very successful day. Information sent from Supreme Council to register for 2012 Supreme Council Session in Cleveland contains an incorrect address to register online. Please use: www.supremecouncil.org Follow the prompts and you will be able to register and make room reservations for your hotel. If you have a problem registering contact Marie D'Amore at Supreme Council. Her phone number is 800-814-1432 x 3311 It May Have Been Cold and White Outside But There Was Plenty of Warmth and Color Inside..... The Amherst Male Glee Club is one of the top-rated choral groups in the country and stages the only fully-produced musical variety show between NYC and Cleveland. The AMGC visited the weekly "6:29 Dinner Program" at the Valley of Buffalo last Friday evening to present a preview of their acclaimed "Red Blazer Varieties." After the usual delicious catered dinner, the crowd of 90 Scottish Rite members, guests and families enjoyed a rousing program of Broadway, patriotic, spiritual, and modern music. From ancient Gregorian chants to Coldplay's latest hit "Fix You," the listeners had a real treat. As always in Buffalo, there are friends and connections - the white-haired gentleman is a close friend of the Deputy's Representative, and the black-haired young man nearest the camera is a Past Master of one of the local Lodges. A fine time was enjoyed by all present. 
The Valley of the Hudson is very happy to present the January-February 2012 edition of their newsletter, "The Tracing Board". Covered in this edition are messages from the Body Heads, an update on the Valley Unification with the Valley of Middletown, birthdays and events. Click on the link below to download. 
February 11th - 9:am Executive Board 24th - G. Washington Dinner (5:30 Social / 6:30 Dinner) 26th - Secretaries/Membership Roundtable for Blue Lodges March 10th – Executive Board Meeting at 9:am and BEACON newsletter deadline 18th –Valley of Binghamton sponsored Secretaries/Membership Round Table Conference 25th - Children’s Fun Day Zoo Mobile, Vets, pets, Fire Safety, Games, Car Safety, Music, Home Safety, Free Child ID and more… $2 entry donation per person . Hours are 11:am – 4:pm. Tasty snacks and Food available at a nominal fee. April 1st - Feast of the Paschal Lamb 8th – Happy Easter 14th - Executive Board Meeting at 9:am 28th - Stated Business Meeting - Spring Reunion – presentation of 5th, 16th, 17th, 31st/32nd degrees - Welcome to the Binghamton Reunion Alternative Program (During Reunion until Dinner) - Dinner (5:30 Social Hour/6:30 Dinner) May 12th - Executive Board Meeting at 9:am 18th - Stated Annual Meeting/Dinner/Installation with Ladies Program (5:30 Social Hour/6:30 Start) 20th - Valley of Binghamton sponsored Secretaries/Membership Round Table Conference June 9th -Executive Board Meeting at 9:am and BEACON newsletter Deadline On Saturday, January 28th, the Syracuse Knights of St. Andrew held their first Burns Supper at Coleman's Irish Pub. There were 43 in attendance, including Past Grand Master & Deputy for NY, M.'.W.'. & Ill.'. Bruce Widger, 33°. Folks arrived from all corners of the Valley of Syracuse area including from the north as far as Norwood and south form Cortland. The weather held out for us for the entire night! V.'.M.'. George Laird welcomed everyone and poems & toast were made by Marian Powell, Ill.'. Craig Cobb, 33°, Ill.'. Bruce Widger, 33°, Bro. Jack Dombrowski, 32° & his wife Betty, Rev. Bro. Stephen Maddox, 32° and Ill.'. Richard Powell, 33°. The Immortal Memory was done by D.B. Garret Wikoff, 32°, MSA and the music was provided by Rev. Bro. Allan Ferguson, 32°, DSA. All the haggis was eaten and every went home looking forward to next year's event. Scottish Rite Reunion Saturday, May 12, 2012 All Three (3) Valleys in New Jersey Location: Valley of Central Jersey, Bordentown Honoring New Jersey Past Grand Master’s 8:00 AM Registration will open (coffee, juice and Danish)8:50 AM All Three (3) Valleys Open each of the Four Bodies9:00 AM 4º - Master Traveler – Supreme Council Video 9º - Master of the Temple – Central Valley 8º - Intendant of the Building – Southern Valley Break – Question & Answers with Candidates 18º - Knights of Rose Croix of HRDM – Central Valley 19º - Brothers of the Trail – Northern Valley Lunch – Dining Room Past Grand Master’s Honored – Auditorium 32º - Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret – Southern Valley With assistance of Northern and Central Valleys 31º - Knight Aspirant – Northern Valley (2008 ritual) Closing Declaration Passport stamping – Dining Room This issue will focus on those areas that seem to need a little more help during the cold winter months. As a reminder of Table Settings four goals are to: 1) Reach out to our membership and ensure we are taking care of them. “THE FIRST MISSION OF OUR MEMBERSHIP is to ensure that we RETAIN those members that we already have…” 2) Develop ICE initiatives. 3) Develop new membership. And; 4) Collect and exchange ideas on how to do all of the above. Sometime during the last quarter century or so, it became the fashion for organizations to develop mission statements or visions. Good mission statements or visions will accomplish three goals: 1) focus on what is really important to that organization; 2) be easy for its members to remember and 3) resonate with those who are not members. Our Supreme Council recently announced their new Vision Statement: “We will strive to be a fraternity that fulfills our Masonic obligation to care for our members” How does this new vision statement stack up against those goals? 1) Does it focus on what is really important to the organization? Our focus could not be clearer. 2) Is it easy for our members to remember? It certainly should be. Caring for each other should be a part of each and every one of us. 3) Does it resonate with non-members of the organization? It will for those men who we would welcome as new friends and Brothers. So does this mean we can all sit back and say – “Vision in place; My work is done?” No. This is the time when we need to get busy. It is not the organization that makes any mission statement or vision work; it is the members of that organization. We all took the same obligation -- to care for each other and each others widows and orphans. It is up to us to make this vision more than just words. During this time of year and with our new vision in hand, what can we do during these cold winter months when many of us would rather stay in a warm home instead of traveling? Click below to download the Winter 2011 Edition of the NY CoD newsletter "Table Settings".
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