Dear Brethren and Friends: 

Congratulations go out to the High Priest of DeJoinville Council, Princes of Jerusalem, and our Valley's Wardrobe Director, Russell Combs, who will receive the Meritorious Service Award (MSA) at the 2015 Annual Meeting at Seven Springs, next July!

Bro. Russ along with another Brother from our Valley were elected to receive the Award at yesterday's Annual Meeting.

At this time I cannot announce the other Brother's name as he has not been notified personally yet.

Way to go Russ!

Just to let everyone know, I recently gave the Valley's website a face lift. If you're on there and you're looking for the Valley calendar, the tab for it is in the upper right hand corner of the site. The tab reads "Our Events." Click on that and the calendar will open for you. Once opened you can now click on the actual event to get more information.

I'm using a new off site calendar maker called Tockify. It's free for the any of you web designers out there. I like it.

Also if you're one of the blog followers, the link for that can now be found under the "Contact Us" tab.

www.philascottishrite.org

Hey, did I mention that Valley Family Summer Picnic tickets are flying out of the office lately? They are.

Folks are excited about our Valley picnic, well some folks anyway. I won't name names but a certain Valley Brother, tells me that he, doesn't "do picnics." So, he's going to miss out on all the fun.

But you don't have to! The picnic is scheduled for Saturday, 26 July, from noon to 5 PM at the picnic grove at Canstatter, 9130 Academy Road in NE Philadelphia. EASILY accessible from I-95!

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for folks 12 and under. Make your check payable to "Scottish Rite Bodies" and put it in the mail today to the Scottish Rite Office, Masonic Temple, One North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2520.

If you're thinking "I'll just show up and get my tickets the day of the picnic," THINK AGAIN. There will be NO, NONE, NADA, tickets available at the picnic. They must be purchased in advance. Your Master Mason friend can come for FREE but he must have a ticket! Call the Scottish Rite Office to order his. His family can come too for the regular price.

Our above mentioned Brother is going to miss out on the picnic Lunch and Dinner, the fellowship and the fun, but again, YOU DON'T HAVE TO!

Just wanted to let everyone know that our recent Valley T-shirt sale to benefit the Valley's Almoner Fund raised a grand total of $672.98!

If you bought one of the shirts, wear it proudly because it not only represents our Valley, but your good works in our Valley!

Thanks!

We will have another shirt campaign in the Fall. Stay tuned!

So, do you have your tickets yet?

This is going to be a fun day, but you already know that. I've been telling you that for weeks now.

So, why haven't you ordered your tickets? They're not expensive. Tell me where else are you going to go to get TWO meals for $15?

Come on, you know you want to be there. If you're thinking now that you don't, you might regret it afterwards when everyone who does are telling you what a great time they had.

Don't be that guy that says, "I wish I had." Don't miss it. Don't make us miss you. Order your tickets today!

$15 for adults, $10 for 12 and under. 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.

Oh and don't forget, your Masonic friend can come for free. All he needs to pay for is his family. But, he, like you must have his tickets in advance.

Will we see you there? I hope so.

Dear Brethren and Friends: 

There's only 18 Days remaining until the Valley's Family Summer Picnic at the Canstatter. This is a rain or shine event.

The picnic happens on Saturday, 26 July. It begins a 12 PM and wraps up at 5 PM. We have both lunch and dinner being served for the low cost of $15 for adults and $10 for those 12 and under. It's in the nice, SHADED, picnic grove at the Canstatter. If you've ever been there you know the food there is GREAT.

The Rainbow girls are coming and they're going to be running games for the kids all day. Our Sovereign Prince/Picnic Master, Tom Wible has arranged for some entertainment and he's planning on some games for the big kids (yeah, that's you) too.

All you need to bring is a table cover. If you want you can bring your lawn chairs and a favorite board or card game.

You can also bring along your Master Mason friend for FREE! That's right he's free and he's under no obligation to petition the Valley, but he will be introduced to our Membership Team. His family is welcome to come along for the regular price. They must have their tickets in advance.

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. Any questions, concerns or comments, please call 215-563-1814.

This is going to be a fantastic Valley day. Don't miss it!

Good Morning and Great Monday everyone!

Well it's here. This Saturday is the Pennsylvania Council of Deliberation's Annual Meeting. This year's meeting is at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center in the 'sweetest place on Earth.'

All Valley Elected Officers, Past Presiding Officers, 33rds and MSA's are Members of the Council and have received a notice for the meeting from the Council and if able should try to attend the meeting. Valley Members who are not who are not Council members are welcome to attend the meeting as well.

The meeting begins at 1:30 PM and is presided over by the Deputy for Pennsylvania, the Valley of Philadelphia's 'Best Friend,' Ill. Russell W. Baker, 33.

Following the meeting is the Annual Banquet, at which time two of our Brothers, Past Sovereign Prince and current Hospitaler of Benjamin Franklin Consistory, Steve Bradley, 32 and our Valley's Makeup Director and member of the Reception-Stewards Committee, Norman Greene,32, will receive the Meritorious Service Award! In order to attend the Banquet you must have purchased tickets from the Council office. At this point I would imagine it is probably too late to order tickets, but if you wish to try, give me a call in the Valley Office today at 215-563-1814 and I will give you the Council's phone number and you can call and try to purchase tickets if you want. If you have a Valley Directory, the Council's number is in there on the 'Freemasonry in Pennsylvania' page.

If you are coming for the meeting and do not have or plan to get a room at the Lodge, we will have a hospitality room there and you're welcome to come hang out before and after the Council Meeting.

Congratulations again Bros. Norm and Steve! Looking forward to celebrating your well deserved Awards!

Don't forget our Valley's Family Summer Picnic on Saturday, 26 July at the Canstatter! Tickets are still available. We're going to have a great day, filled with fellowship, activities and games for the kiddos, and some for the adults as well. Lunch and Dinner will be served . Yes you read that right. TWO Meals! All for the low, low, low price, of $15 for Adults and $10 for those 12 and under! All you need to bring is a table cover, your lawn chairs if you don't want to sit at a picnic table all day, your favorite board or card games, and your SMILE.

Area Master Masons are welcome to come for FREE! That's right, FREE. They only need to pay for their families. Have you shared this information with a Masonic friend yet? I have two Master Masons coming. Did my part. Yep, I did. Not bragging, just saying.

The ONLY thing that can make this event better is having YOU and YOUR family there! 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!

Any questions or concerns about the picnic? Call me at 215-563-1814 and I'll be glad to answer them.

It's going to be a HOT one today. Don't forget to stay cool and hydrated, check on the elderly, little kids and pets.

Have a great week and I hope to see you with our Valley Delegation this Saturday in Hershey!

Dear Brethren and Friends:

I have to start this update by again asking you all to keep our Valley Brother, Andrew Dobson in your thoughts and prayers.

Bro. Andy is now in Neighborhood Hospice of Chester County Hospital, 400 Marshall Street, West Chester, PA. He is in Room No. 2403 and he has his cell phone if you wish to call him. Visitors are welcome, but you should plan to stay no longer than 15 as he gets tired very easy.

May the Grand Architect hear our prayers. Amen.

Supreme Council has announced a new benefit for Northern Masonic Jurisdiction Scottish Rite Masons and that is that they've teamed up with Alerus Financial to offer an exclusive IRA product for Scottish Rite members and their families.

Features of this product include;

Professionally managed Asset Allocation Models through Alerus Investment Advisors.

Access to low cost, no load, Institutional Share Class Mutual Funds from top Mutual Fund companies.

24/7 Online Account Access with no trading fees or sales loads.

Educational tools, newsletters, Dedicated Service Team and Financial Professionals.

Alerus Financial is a 12 billion dollar Financial Company with roots dating back to 1879.

You're invited to learn more about this exciting new member benefit, for your IRA rollover assets.

Start your rollover process at alerus.com/supremecouncil or call Alerus toll free at 800-433-1685 x6074.

By now you have or should have received your bill for your 2015 Scottish Rite Dues. For those that have already paid them, thank you for your prompt payment and more especially your continued support of our Valley.

Now, to review, you have received the bill for your 2015 Dues. Our Valley year starts on August 1st and ends on July 31st. Unlike in the past you did not receive a dues card with your bill as in February of 2012 the Supreme Council sent you and all NMJ Brethren a permanent Dues Card. If you did not receive one or lost yours, let me know I will happily order you another.

The word ASSESSMENT on your dues bill is not some diabolical conspiracy! It is simply your dues to the Supreme Council. Much like your Lodge must pay dues for you to the Grand Lodge, the Valley must pay dues to the Supreme Council as well. If you do not pay the $27 assessment/dues and pay only the $60 Valley Dues, YOU WILL BE SUSPENDED.

When I had the dues bills run we had an alarming number of Brethren that had not yet paid their 2014 Dues. They're now looking at bill for $174. If you are one of those Brethren and find that you cannot afford to pay that at one time, feel free to pay $87 now and $87 again next month. Just a suggestion. If the $87 dues are an issue and you sincerely wish to retain your Valley membership, give me a call, we can work out a plan to help you remain a member.

As I'm typing this the Right Worshipful Grand Master, Ill. Robert J. Bateman, 33, just walked into the Scottish Rite Office to pay his dues. Thank you Grand Master!

This Friday is Independence Day. I saw on the news the other day that in a recent poll a very surprising 60% of the folks polled claimed that they are not proud to be an American! Yes, that is sad news to hear. Personally, no matter how you may feel about the state of our government, our taxes, gas prices, or whatever, I believe, we live in the greatest nation in the world. Don't believe me? Take a trip outside her, and I don't mean to some beach resort in the islands. While in the service, I visited some "third world" locales and without going into detail, I will tell you this, at the end of that deployment, when I set foot on the pier the very first thing I did was hit my knees and kiss the ground. I know that sounds corny, but I did it. We are truly blessed to be Americans and we should all appreciate that. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but sometimes you just have to put it out there.

Have a safe holiday weekend everyone. Don't forget Bro. Andy. God Bless him, you, your families, our Troops, our Brethren, this wonderful fraternity, and the USA.