Thinking Spring in January!

Dear Brethren and Friends:

Well, I hope the new year is treating you well so far. Hey, how can we complain we’re SNOW FREE!

Our Sovereign Prince, Bro. Steve Bradley, 32° has announced the Valley’s Spring bus trip. It will be on Sunday, March 25, 2012 and is headed to the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City.

All Valley members, their Ladies and Master Mason friends are welcome to participate in this outing. The buses, that’s right there’s two of them scheduled, will depart from LuLu Shriners, 5140 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting and Tacony Masonic Temple, 4400 Magee Avenue in NE Philadelphia at 9:00 A.M.

The cost per person (18 and older please and be sure to have a photo id with you) is $25 with the Casino giving you back $30 (read-FREE MONEY!!!). The buses will depart for home at 4:00 P.M.

Make your check payable to “Scottish Rite Bodies” and send it to the Scottish Rite Office, Masonic Temple, One North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2520. Be sure to put “Casino Trip” and your boarding location on your check’s memo line.

I received an update regarding the Abbott Scottish Rite Scholarships. According to our Deputy, Ill. Russell W. Baker, 33°, grandchildren are eligible to apply for the Scholarship if, the grandfather (who must be a Scottish Rite Mason in the Northern Jurisdiction) can claim the grandchild as a full dependent.

Abbott Scottish Rite Scholarship applications are available by writing (yes, your email is sufficient) to the Scottish Rite Office, Masonic Temple, One North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2520 or by email to phila.aasr@juno.com The Deadline for submitting applications is Friday, March 16, 2012.

Do you know what else happens on Friday, March 16^th? That’s right our Spring Reunion begins!  We have a LOT of WORK to do! As of today we have a grand total of 5 candidates for that Class.  I spoke to a few of the guys in my Lodge last week and I’ve got petitions coming in, which I need to follow up on.

Remember our Spring Class Honoree is our late Brother, Ill. Armando M. Duran, 33°. Armando was the first line signer for 33 Valley Members. We need to match his effort at the very least.  To best his 33 would be a spectacular tribute to our Brother’s memory. Lets get to work guys.  Five candidates is not acceptable, we can and have done better.

How about a challenge? Lets see if the Lodge of Perfection Line is truly greater than the Rose Croix Line as they proclaim. Can the 14° recommend more Candidates than the 18°? Or how about the Council Line challenging both the 14° and 18°? Don’t forget the Consistory. They have more Officers than the other three lines but can they get more Candidates?

As you know by now I always say it’s not a “successful” Class unless we have 20 or more Candidates, well with only 5 right now the task lies in front of us. Pick up your working tools Brethren and get the job done.

Valley Officers both Elected and Appointed as well as Committee Members are reminded to put the Annual Officers Training Conference on your calendar.  This year’s Conference is scheduled for Saturday, April  14, 2012 at the Tacony Masonic Temple, 4400 Magee Avenue in NE Philadelphia. Please visit http://www.philascottishrite.org/announceofficer_training.htm for more information.

Any Valley member that is desirous of getting more actively involved in the Valley are welcome and encouraged to attend the Conference. Call the Scottish Rite Office to register your attendance.

Don’t forget our Annual Memorial Service on Sunday, April 29, 2012 at the historic Gloria Dei (Old Swede’s ) Church, Columbus Blvd & Christian Streets in South Philadelphia.

The Service held to memorialize our Valley Brethren lost during the past year, is one of the most important events on our annual calendar. All Valley Officers, Elected and Appointed should plan to be there.

As always a complimentary dinner will follow the Service in the Church’s social hall. Reservations are required for the dinner. Be sure to call 215-563-1814 to reserve your dinners.

Tickets will be available soon for the Valley’s Family Day at Campbell’s Field. Once again we will have the picnic section of the ballpark for a great day of Atlantic League Baseball action featuring the Camden River Sharks vs the Somerset Patriots. Please click on over to http://www.philascottishrite.org/announcefamily_life.htm for more information.

Get these dates on your calendar now:

Friday, March 16^th-Spring Special Communication of Philadelphia Lodge of Perfection. 4° (DVD),8° and 14° presented

Sunday, March 25^th-Showboat Casino –Atlantic City Bus Trip

Saturday, April 14^th-Annual Officer’s Training Conference, Tacony Masonic Temple, 4400 Magee Avenue, NE Philadelphia

Friday, April 20^th-DeJoinville Council Princes of Jerusalem, Spring Special Convocation, Kilwinning Chapter of Rose Croix, Spring Special Assembly. 16° & 18° presented

Sunday, April 29^th-Annual Memorial Service, Gloria Dei Church, Columbus Blvd & Christian Street

Friday, May 11^th-Spring Special Rendezvous, Benjamin Franklin Consistory, 30° (Scottish Rite Passport ALERT!), 31° and 32° presented.

Friday, May 18^th-Annual Meeting of the Scottish Rite Bodies, recognition of our 50-year members, Election and Installation of Officers for Philadelphia Lodge of Perfection, DeJoinville Council, Princes of Jerusalem & Kilwinning Chapter of Rose Croix, plus 1 Trustee and 1 At-Large Member (33°) of the Executive Committee.

Sunday, June 3^rd-Valley of Philadelphia Family Day at Campell’s Field, Camden River Sharks vs  Somerset Patriots.

Well that will do it for this edition. May the Grand Architect continue to watch over all of you and your families.

Don’t forget to keep the prayers coming for Ill. Charles H. Myers. 33°.

Sincere fraternal regards,

Steven A. Morrison, 33°

Valley Secretary