Our Fall 2011 Reunion continues this Friday evening, October 21, 2011 with the Special Convocation of DeJoinville Council, Princes of Jerusalem and the Special Assembly of Kilwinning Chapter of Rose Croix.
The Degrees to be conferred upon the members of our 2011 Fall Class, the "Ill. Thomas K. Sturgeon, 33, Right Worshipful Grand Master of Pennsylvania Class," include the 15th Degree, Knight of the East and the 18th Degree, Knight of Rose Croix.
We have some new faces in the Degree Casts this time. Come on out and support not only our new Class but also those Brethren that are taking part in the work. It's going to be a great night!
The evening begins with dinner at 6:00 P.M. in the Grand Banquet Room. We'll be having the buffet again with a Roast Pork carving station. A fish and a chicken entree will be available on the buffet as well. We tried the buffet for the first time last month and so far so good. We got everyone their meals in a timely manner and got the evening off to a good start, so here we go again in October.
The Ladies Auxiliary will be having "Movie Night," complete with popcorn while we are conferring Degrees. Be sure to bring your lady along for what sounds like a fun evening.
The reservation deadline for Friday's meal is this Wednesday, October 19th. Call the Scottish Rite Office at 215-563-1814, email, phila.aasr@juno.com or you can post your reservation on the event page of the Valley's Facebook group if you are a member of the group. Remember, all non-reserved dinners now cost $25 per person. Don't let this happen to you!
Don't forget the big event on Friday, October 28, 2011! "A Toast to Reading" benefits our Children's Dyslexia Center. The William Penn Inn will again host this annual fund raising affair that supports the wonderful work being done at the Center. Individual tickets cost $75 per person. For more information please visit A Toast To Reading.
Our Fall Reunion concludes on Friday evening, November 4, 2011, Please note this change of date from our usual third Friday night.
That evening Benjamin Franklin Consistory will hold its Special Rendezvous and we have two very special guests joining us for the evening. Our Fall Class honoree, Ill. Thomas K. Sturgeon, 33, Right Worshipful Grand Master and Active Member of the Supreme Council for Pennsylvania will be with us as well as our Active and now Deputy for Pennsylvania, Ill. Russell W. Baker, 33. Be sure to come out and greet our Grand Master as he makes one of his last appearances as Grand Master and be sure to congratulate our Friend and Brother Russ on his new appointment. We're all very happy for him.
The Ladies Auxiliary will have a visit from former First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. Should be interesting!
The Degrees to be presented that evening are the 27th Degree, Knight of Jerusalem (SCOTTISH RITE PASSPORT ALERT!), the 31st Degree, Knight Aspirant, and the 32nd Degree, Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret. We'll have a few new faces in the 27th Degree as well. Come on out and congratulate our Valley Brethren on their next step in Scottish Rite!
Saturday, November 5, 2011 will be the day of two great events supporting our Children's Dyslexia Center. One of which will be the "A Toast To Reading," book sale at Barnes and Noble. From Saturday, November 5th through Thursday, November 10th if you use the ID Code -10531267 at a Barnes and Noble store our Center will receive 20% of your purchase price. If you purchase online at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ our Center will receive 10% of the purchase price unless you make a purchase for your NOOK reader, for which the Center will receive 5% of the cost. If you're doing some holiday shopping you can give two gifts, one to that special someone by purchasing them a book and one to the kids at our Center.
And if you're making your Thanksgiving plans, you can also order cheescakes from THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY through Barnes and Noble and yes, 20% will go to our Center. Now doesn't that sound just delicious?
Also on Saturday, November 5th, the Masonic Blood Donor Club will be holding a Blood Drive at the Tacony Masonic Temple to support our Children's Dyslexia Center.
For every pint of blood donated, the Center will receive $10. If you are a Pennsylvania Mason and are not a member of the Blood Club, this is a GREAT opportunity for you. You can donate a pint of blood, which gains you, your wife and your taxable dependents, membership in the Blood Club and support our Center.
Anyone who is eligible to donate blood, can donate at this Blood Drive, they do not have to be a Mason or a Club Member. If you cannot donate blood and want to become a Blood Club member, you can get a substitute donor.
Please give both of these events your support. Our Center needs your assistance to keep its mission of helping kids affected by dyslexia going forward.
I've been asked to pass on the following: On Sunday, November 6, 2011 Covenant United Methodist Church, in Springfield, Delaware County, will be holding their All Saints Day service at 10:30 A.M. They will remember and light candles in memory of every church member lost during the past year. One of those members is our beloved Illustrious Brother, Armando M. Duran, 33. If you are able to attend, please do. Armando's memory will live for many years in the Valley of Philadelphia for all lives he touched as a Recommender, and those of us who came to know him as a friend and a Brother.
November 18th is the first day of our next Family Life event, "Christmas in Hershey." Tickets are $5 per person for Valley members and their families. Each ticket includes $5 worth of "Hershey Bucks," for you to use in the Park's many shops.
"Christmas in Hershey" runs from November 18th until December 31st. As we do not have a particular day for the event, you can choose the day and spend a leisurely day of fun during the holiday season with your family and friends from the Valley of Philadelphia!
We had been waiting on the tickets, but I am happy to announce that they are now available in the Scottish Rite Office and they are going fast. If you want to go, send your check made payable to "Scottish Rite Bodies," to the Scottish Rite Office, Masonic Temple, One North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2520, TODAY!
Our Fall activities will round up on Friday, December 16th, when we have our Holiday Celebration Dinner at the Radisson Hotel Philadelphia Northeast, 2400 Old Lincoln Highway at US Route 1.
The evening will begin at 6:00 P.M. with the Social Hour featuring two cash bars as well as the "Chinese Auction" and Silent Auction to benefit the Children's Dyslexia Center.
The Radisson's delicious Continental Buffet follows at 7:00 P.M. More information will be available soon, but plan now to be with us!
Well that will do it for this edition. If you're coming Friday night I'll see you then. Don't forget to make your dinner reservations!
May the Grand Architect continue to watch over all of you and your families.
Sincere fraternal regards,
Steven A. Morrison, 33
Valley Secretary
