Dear Brethren and Friends:

One step closer to the start of the Reunion!

This evening in Gothic Hall, the 7th and 22nd Degrees hold their FINAL rehearsals.

The 22nd Degree Cast will rehearse at 6:30PM followed by the 7th Degree Cast at 7:30PM

Parking is in the Convention Center Parking Facility, 1324 Arch Street and as always, the dress code for the Masonic Temple is coat and tie.

To both Casts: Have a great rehearsal. We're all looking forward to your presentations on Friday night.

Brethren: I took a number of phone calls in the office today in which I had to turn Brethren away from making a dinner reservation for Friday evening's meal.

Needless to say those Brethren were not happy when I told them that they were of course welcome to come to the meeting but not the dinner.

To be fair, yes in the past our reservation deadline was always the Wednesday of the meeting week. That changed when Edgemont Caterers was awarded the contract to provide food at the Masonic Temple. Originally Edgemont wanted our reservations in 10 days prior to the meeting. I argued that policy wouldn't work for us as our Petition Deadline had always been the week before the meeting. They relented and allowed us to extend our deadline to the same date.

That date is advertised in THE DOUBLE EAGLE. Every Valley member gets a copy of that. You know well in advance of the when the deadline is. You have the option of sending in a paid reservation, calling it in, emailing it in or using our Facebook group to make a reservation. Waiting until after the deadline is neglect and will not do anything for you.

Please know that beginning next month, the reservation deadline will be a day earlier as I have to let Caterer know that same day we were closing our reservation and we have had a number of Brethren call after the reservations have closed. I will still add an extra 10 reservations for those that might not get their reservation in a timely fashion.

I always provide the dinner information with at least 3 to 2 1/2 weeks to go before the deadline. Which gives the membership plenty of time to make a reservation in advance.

Thank you for your understanding and your continued expected cooperation.

Dear Brethren and Friends:

Good Morning Everyone! Happy Monday and welcome to Deadline Week!

Yes, that's right this coming Friday, 13 March is your LAST CHANCE to get your dinner reservations in for next Friday's dinner and for your Candidate to petition our Spring Class! If you don't have a Candidate yet, you've got work to do and not much time left to do it!

This evening our 4th Degree Cast holds their first rehearsal prior to next Friday's conferral. We have a number of 'newbies' in this Cast. THANK YOU to them for stepping up and volunteering. Hopefully this will be a GREAT first experience for them and the start of a lifetime of involvement in the Valley!

The rehearsal starts at 7PM in Gothic Hall. Parking is at the Convention Center Parking Facility, 1324 Arch Street and as always, coat and tie is the dress code for the Masonic Temple.

Have a GREAT Monday everyone and an even better week ahead!

Get a Candidate!

Dear Brethren and Friends:

If you've ever wanted a Valley of Philadelphia golf/polo shirt, we have GREAT NEWS for you!

These shirts are available in both the 32nd or 33rd Degree so that every Valley member can purchase one! They come in variety of colors and sizes, with or without a pocket and you have have your name embroidered on it as well.

Please visit: http://store.dryheatembroidery.com/valley-of-philadelphia-masons-polo-shirt.html  to order your shirt!

Dear Brethren and Friends:

Good Morning everyone and welcome to Tuesday!

Through the 'miracle' of rest, plenty of fluids (mostly tea and Theraflu), I am alive and well this morning and am ready to negotiate the ice coating the sidewalks and streets between my humble abode and the Ardsley train station! Take that, flu-like thing! Schools are opening 2 hours late, so I think I'll play it safe and leave a little later too.

Parts are out to those that will serve in our Casts this coming Spring, but there's still a place for YOU to get involved. Yes, yes there is! We're always in need of guys to help out with the Stage crew and with the Wardrobe Committee. Especially at the end of the night. Our Wardrobe guys can always use a hand putting the costumes away and if more volunteered to help out, drum roll please, the work would get done quicker! So if you're looking to be involved, please consider these opportunities.

If you're more interested in Cast work and didn't get a part this time around, let me or our Director of Work, Ill. Phil Janusz, 33 MSA know of your interest and we will be sure to get you started this coming Fall.

Our Spring Reunion is just around the corner and so is so many other things in happening in our Valley.

For instance:

Sunday, April 26th- Our Annual Memorial Service at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes) Church. The Service starts at 3PM and a complimentary dinner follows, BUT, yes there really always is one, Reservations Are Required!

Saturday, May 9th-The Valley's Annual, 'You don't have to be an Officer' Officer's Training Conference! It's returning to the Jenkintown Masonic Temple (443 York Road) again this year. Fellowship, that's masonic talk for Coffee and Donuts begins at 0730AM and the Conference kicks off at 8:30AM. You need to register your attendance for this, but it is well worth your time and, you're outta there at NOON!

Friday, May 15th-Our MOST IMPORTANT gathering of the year, our Annual Meeting! This is the night we elect, appoint and install those who will serve in our four officer lines, approve our annual budget, recognize our 50+ year members, present Abbott Scholarship checks, present jewels to our outgoing presiding officers and so much more! It's an open event so even the ladies and your Masonic friends are welcome to attend too!

Sunday, June 28th- We're going back across the river for yet another Valley Family Day at Campbell's Field! Picnic, Baseball, Family Fun! Order your tickets NOW. I'm going, you going?

Saturday, July 11th-The Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Council of Deliberation at the Seven Springs Resort in the beautiful Laurel Highlands. A gaggle of us, will be traveling out there to see Valley Bros. Mike Bauerle and Russ Combs receive their Meritorious Service Award, plus we'll be there to support our 'Best Friend' Ill. Russ Baker, 33 host his last meeting as Commander-in-Chief of Pennsylvania. Valley Council members will receive their notice in the mail from the Council office, BUT, yes there it is again, all and any Valley members are welcome to attend!

Saturday, August 1st- The Valley's 2nd Annual Family Summer Picnic in the picnic grove at Canstatters! We had a small but dedicated group there last year and we had a GREAT time! There were games for the kids, yes of all ages, good food, both Lunch and Dinner too! Watch THE DOUBLE EAGLE for ticket info for this beginning with the March 2015 issue. I'm going. You going?

Friday, October 2nd-'Scottish Rite Night at Lodge No. 9' Our Membership Team is ready, willing and able to come to YOUR Lodge too to present their FUN and INTERACTIVE program on the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite and the Valley of Philadelphia. Interested? Call the Office for details 215-563-1814.

Whew! Never let it be said that the Valley of Philadelphia doesn't have 'it' going on!

It's icy out there this morning, be careful!

Dear Brethren and Friends:

Good Morning Everyone!

They say it's cloudy out there in Punxy this morning. Old Phil did see his shadow this morning. 6 more weeks of winter. Let it Go Phil!

Be careful out there as you head to work or wherever you may be going to. It's supposed to get real cold this afternoon so all this rain will no doubt leave ice everywhere on your way home tonight.

Well regardless of what the Groundrat said, Spring is indeed on its way and with it comes our Spring Reunion! Degree rituals have and are going out, rehearsals are booked, the 4th Degree Cast has kicked-off, albeit after a winter weather delay, but; yes there's always a but, WE NEED CANDIDATES!!!!!

Lets get to work Brothers!

Dear Brethren and Friends:

We had a small but good group of Brethren show up for the 4th Cast Kick-off last night.

Parts were distributed and the Cast is on its way. If you volunteered but were not able to make the meeting, I will mail your part to you today.

Thanks to everyone who attended last evening and to all who will participate.