Fall Class Deadline Friday!

Dear Brethren and Friends:

Happy Deadline and Holiday Weekend Friday everyone!

Yes, the Fall Class Deadline has arrived. When I left the office last evening we had 81 Candidates for our Class. Valley Brother and Orator of Philadelphia Lodge of Perfection, Mike McKee, picked up two more at his Lodge's October Stated Meeting last night, so that gets us up to 83! Now I know I just mentioned a 14th Degree guy and I usually cap that off with a, "Calm down Cliff," as I know how excited my Illustrious Peer gets whenever I refer to Members of the 14th Degree, but as it is a Holiday weekend, I'll say, "Go for it Cliff!" Who am I to downsize his Holiday spirit?

Okay, so now we have 83 Candidates! Wait, not so fast. That's right I have another Brother coming in the office today to drop one off and Valley Brother and Master of Ceremonies of DeJoinville Council, Yasser Al-Khatib, messaged me that he had just put one in the mail, which gets us up to 84! WOW! If that doesn't get you in the Holiday spirit, I don't know what does!

I want to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this Class as large as it is. But, our work is far from done. We've got the numbers which is fantastic, but now we have to 'keep' them. Lets get these guys active and involved in our Valley, because that is truly where growth comes from. Each of you know how much our Valley has to offer, or we wouldn't be so enthusiastic about it. Share that feeling with our new Brothers. I've called this Class historic, but it's up to all of us to make that history realized.

Well, enough preaching. It's Friday! And a Holiday Friday to boot. Have a great Holiday Weekend everyone! If you haven't gotten your dinner reservations in yet, please do and spread the word to others.

Wait. What's that? What do I mean, "Holiday Weekend?" Oh come on now! All right, for those who don't know, this Sunday, is 13 October, the 238th Birthday of the Greatest Fighting Force the World has ever known, THE United States Navy!

Thursday, the day before the Deadline!

Dear Brethren and Friends:

Good morning and good Thursday everyone! It's going to be wet around here the next few days. Leaves are falling and roads are wet and you know what that means. Be careful!

As of right now I have 78 petitions processed, but I understand that there is one waiting in the Scottish Rite Office and two more are in the mail on their way to the Office, so if you're keeping up with me, we'll have at least 81 Candidates in the Fall Class!

Tomorrow, (reasonable facsimile of kettle drums time again) BUM, BUM, BUM, BUMMMMM, is DEADLINE DAY! So if you haven't gotten a Candidate yet, you're on the clock!

I spoke with Amy, the caterer yesterday. Seems she and I have a bit of a disagreement regarding when I turn in our counts to her. Traditionally we've given the Temple Caterer, our count on the Wednesday prior to the Friday meeting. She wants our count in on the Wednesday, the week before! So yesterday was technically our reservation deadline. I gave her an estimated count. Hopefully we'll be okay. But, this is your advance notice that in November our reservation deadline will be, Tuesday, November 5th. Please make a note of it. This information will also be in the November issue of The Double Eagle.

Have a great day everyone!

Wednesday Morning Update

Dear Brethren and Friends:

Good morning and good Wednesday everyone!

We're sitting at 77 Candidates for our Fall Class this morning with Friday's petition deadline looming. Will we reach 80 or more? Who knows, but the clock is ticking.

I noticed yesterday that our large Class is a little slow on the draw. Very few of our Candidates have called in to confirm their attendance. I know that deadline isn't until next week, but it would be nice to have some sort of early projection as to what our dinner count might look like. If you're a recommender, please contact your Candidate or Candidates and remind them to call in. Thank you.

Our Fall Reunion actually begins this evening. Yes, you read that right. Tonight is the first rehearsals for the 16th and 20th Degree Casts. If you're in one of these Casts, please do your very best to make the rehearsal. We have a lot of newbies in the Casts and it is important that we have good rehearsals.

Well, will today's mail (sounds like a great name for a men's clothier) have more petitions coming in? We'll see. The deadline approacheth. Tick. Tick. Tick.

Tuesday Mid-Morning Update!

Dear Brethren and Friends:

TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE: Okay for those of you already on your coffee break, take that sip and swallow it before reading this Update any further. Go ahead, I'll wait. Done? Good, and here we go. . .

Petitions Nos. 73, 74, 75, and 76 are here!

Thanks to Bros. Dan Scheetz and Gaetano Romano for their efforts! 

So now, Bro. Andrew Dobson has No. 77 and he'll be dropping that off at tomorrow night's Cast Rehearsals.

77, can you believe that? We're getting 'one day class' numbers without even having one! Who says that's the only way to insure a large Class? Leaves a little something to said about TRADITION!

Hey Mike McKee! 90 just might be doable Bro!

Deadline Week Update-Tuesday morning

Dear Brethren and Friends:

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday everyone!

Well, we're one day closer to DEADLINE Friday, and we have yet another Fall Class Candidate Count Update. As of last evening we have 72 Candidates for the Fall Class and we've already received Petition No. 1 for our 2014 Spring Class. WOW!

Then last night, Valley Brother and member of our Reception-Stewards Committee, Andrew Dobson, messaged me to let me know that he has Petition No. 73 in his hands! Way to go Bro. Andy!

Our Sovereign Prince, Bro. Jeffrey Lees, MSA is predicting 80, Bro. Mike McKee, Orator of Philadelphia Lodge of Perfection, is predicting 90, and we have one guy that seems to think 100 is possible with so few days left. I don't know about predictions. I predicted 70 and we've beaten that so, the question I have now is, DO WE HAVE YOUR CANDIDATE'S PETITION YET???

It's Deadline Week!

Good Morning everyone and welcome to DEADLINE Week! That's right. This Friday, 11 October is the deadline for Candidates to submit petitions for our Fall Class.

Speaking of our Fall Class, as of this past Friday we had 68 Candidates. Now I say 'had' as I had received telephone calls and emails from Brethren letting me know that more petitions were in the mail. This Class is going to be in the mid-70's or even higher.

Our Cast rehearsals begin this week as well. We have a number of first timers in our 16th and 20th Degree Casts. It's great to see newer members stepping up and getting involved. We always share that with every Class when they first join the Valley that opportunity for involvement is there and these Brethren are taking it. We're glad to have them on the team!

I know THE DOUBLE EAGLE says the deadline for dinner reservations is next Wednesday, 16 October, but I am asking everyone if possible to get yours in by Tuesday 15 October. The Masonic Temple's caterer is asking to have my count by Wednesday and as it appears we're going to have a large crowd your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Have a great week everyone. Yes, it's deadline week. Do you have a Candidate yet?

Dear Brethren and friends:

Just about everyday I post something 'blog-like' on the Valley's Facebook group, "Valley of Philadelphia, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite-Members Only!" which means if you do not have a Facebook account or you are not a member of our group, you are missing these posts which contain information regarding our Reunions and other events, along with some mild quirkiness.

Now, I understand that social media isn't for everyone. So beginning tomorrow, 7 October 2013 my Facebook group posts will be shared here.

Stay tuned!

Sincere fraternal regards,

Steven Morrison, 33
Valley Secretary