Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Dear Brethren and Friends:

Good Morning and welcome to Reunion Week Tuesday!

Okay first question. Do you have a dinner reservation made yet? You do? Good. Thanks. Now the second question. How about all those guys you usually sit with at dinner and during the meeting? Or and more importantly, how about your Candidate? Remember this a new experience for him. Do they have their reservations made yet? Not sure? Can you do me a big favor and check with them? I'd appreciate it and that would help me to smooth what is appearing to be a bit of a bumpy road with the new Caterer. I know with a group our size that that there would be some glitches and the like the first time out, but with a Class this big, and with our usual large attendance, it could be a lot easier for all parties concerned if we have everyone's cooperation. Thanks!

As I said, we have a large Class, but would you believe the line is already forming for the 2014 Spring Class? It is! I've spoken to a number of Brethren that are very interested in becoming Scottish Rite Masons, but cannot do it this Fall. They've agreed to petition now and go into our queue for the Spring. Remember, I sent out 434 petitions to prospects. We've got 88 Candidates in this Class. That means that there are still a lot (hey, it's too early to do the math! Excuse me.) of possible Candidates out there. I sent an introductory letter and a petition to newly raised (between January and June 2013) Master Masons in Districts A, B, C, D, E, 6, 8, and 36. Chances are one or more of those guys are in your Lodge. Talk to him. Ask him if he got the petition and if he has any questions, and let him know that you'd be very happy to assist him. You never know, we could very well repeat this success in the Spring. Lets keep it going!

Well I have a busy day ahead. You're going to call in your reservation, if you haven't already, and so are your buddies, and of course your Candidate's going to call too. I'll be there waiting to hear from you and them! 215-563-1814.

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Monday, October 14, 2013

Dear Brethren and Friends:

In fourteen hundred and ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue, and since I don't know the rest of that poem, he discovered, Ameri. . .the Dominican Republic! For those of you who have this Holiday off, have a good one!

While we're on the subject of 'discoveries,' 88 Philadelphia region Master Masons will discover "Pennsylvania Freemasonry's Best Kept Secret." this Friday when they become members of the Valley of Philadelphia.

Yes, after Friday's deadline we officially have 88 Candidates in the "Supreme Council, NMJ 200th Anniversary Class." The coveted, 'Class Predictor Award' goes out to our Sovereign Prince. Bro.
Jeffrey Lees, MSA, who wins it for being the closest without going over. Sorry, Bro. Mike McKee, you were two short of your prediction. Bro. Jeff, enjoy your award, which is nothing more than bragging rights, so settle down everyone.

Now on to more serious issues. If you haven't called in yet for your dinner reservations please do so now! Our new caterer is has shortened our deadline without telling me about it, initially. I have complained to the Superintendent and he has assured me that he will speak with the caterer, but your assistance now will be greatly appreciated. If you know of any other Brethren who cannot read these words as they're not members of our group or subscribers to my blog, please contact them and tell them to call in as well. I would like to have everyone in the count by this time tomorrow morning if possible. Also MANY of our Candidates have not checked in yet. If you're a recommender, it is your DUTY to insure that your Candidate has called in. I
have begun calling the Candidates myself, but your assistance would be a great help.

This Wednesday is the last rehearsal for our Casts prior to Friday's Degree work. Good luck and Thank you again to all of our first timers. To those of you who haven't decided to get involved in YOUR Valley yet, keep an eye on our Casts this Friday, it may inspire you!

Have a great Monday everyone. I will be busy putting the final touches on the November issue of The Double Eagle, which goes to print tomorrow and hopefully answering the telephone and taking the final dinner reservations!

Friday, October 11, 2013

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, October 10, 2013

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, October 9, 2013

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, October 8, 2013

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???