DeMolay Grand Conclave, 7.16.11

Ohio DeMolay held its Grand Conclave at Kent State University this past weekend.   Kent State is only about 50 miles from home so Julia and I were on our way about 8:30 AM.








The conclave was held in the Student Center which is very nice and works extremely well for the event.   The first conclave that I attended was here at Kent.   There was one major difference this year.   The first was also Freshman Orientation day.  What a crowd and no place to park.  This year there was plenty of parking and no crowding.

The day opened with the conferral of the Legion of Honor, both active and honorary.   This is one of the finest pieces of ritual that I have the pleasure of seeing.  Dad Jeff Shaw presided and did a fantastic job.  

The entire cast of the degree is to be commended for the good work that was done.








One of the nice things was that the heads of Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter, Grand Council, Grand Commander and Priory were all in attendance.   I believe this is the only time it happened at a youth groups Grand Session this year.  It was great to see.







The new holders of the Legion of Honor, both active and honorary.










After the Legion of Honor ceremony there was a period of introduction.   All groups that were in attendance were introduced and the head of the body or her/his representative was asked to say a few words.  Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter, Grand Council, Grand Commandery and Priory all gave monetary donations.

After all the introductions were adjourned to another room for lunch and a heck of a lunch it was.  We had a really nice salad, mashed red skin potatoes, peas and prime rib.   That is a heck of a lot more lunch than most of use needed.  Oh, I forgot the pie after dinner.

The day was very nice, every thing seemed to go as planned for the young men and I think everyone was impressed with this Youth Group.   I know I was.  

'til the next time.

Pictures are courtesy of Paula Lively.    Thank you Paula.

Lodi Sweet Corn Festival, 7.15.11

Harrisville Lodge #137 is in Lodi about 12 miles from home and is the second Symbolic Lodge I belong to.  It has a very active Ways and Means Committee and selling food at the Lodi Sweet Corn Festival is one of those activities.   The festival runs Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and there will be well over 100 dozen ears of corn sold.   The only day I could help was Friday so off I went.   Folks the last time I husked corn like I did was about 50 years ago when I was living next to Grandpa and Grandma on the farm.   WB Tom Crosky and I husked corn, along with a few others like we knew what we were doing.  Tom had even made husking pegs, which 99 out of 100 people who read this blog have never heard of..  I thought Tom and I were doing a pretty good job of getting the silk off the ears but the Brother running the show really wanted it all off.   I told one person if we left a little silk on each year it could be used for dental floss.   That idea was not received very well.

Next to the sweet corn booth the Lodi Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star was selling lemonade.   They had the biggest lemons I had ever seen.  They had an assembly line going.   One lady put ice in the cup, one put sugar in the cup, one squeezed a whole lemon in the cup and put 1/2 of the lemon in with the juice and finally a measured amount of water was added.   I had one cup while husking corn and took two home for Julia and I.

One of the Brothers from Harrisville Lodge was taking pictures and I hope to get some from him.   If I do, I'll add them to this post.

'til the next time.

The Third 70-Year Service Award, 6,11

Today I had the pleasure of presenting Companion Carl W. Anderson a 70-year award.   Carl also received a 65-year award form the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite.



MEC Dale Ray, Grand Secretary & Ill. Bro. Dewey Jenkins



Carl is a member of Portage Chapter 202 in Barberton and the Valley of Akron.   He is living in a Senior Living Facility called "The Merriman" on Merriman road in Akron.  He is 97 years old and sharp as a tack.   He does have trouble walking and vision problems.   When I went up to him, he said he didn't know my name but that I was from Wadsworth Chapter.   As soon as I told him my last name he knew my first name.

  There was  a good number of friends and Brothers in attendance for the presentation.



Ill. Brother John Stevens and his wife





Ill. Bros. Easterling and Seabeck with Bro. Anderson

 The presentation of the Scottish Rite service award was by Ill. Brother James F. Easterling, Jr..   Ill. Bro. Easterling is the Deputy's Representative for the Valley of Akron and the Senior Grand Warden of Grand Lodge of Ohio.

After the A.A.S.R. presentation, I presented Carl with his 70-year Grand Chapter plaque.

 It was a hot, rainy day and look at the number of Brothers that were in attendance for the presentations!  It truly shows the respect that the Brothers have for Bro. Carl.

Presenting 50-plus service awards is one of the greatest joys you have as Grand High Priest.   Today was even a little bit more special as I have known Bro. Anderson ever since I joined the fraternity. 

'til the next time.

7th District GHP's Reception, 6.10

 Well the final Grand High Priest's Reception is over.   Sunday, 6.10, the 7th District had a pig roast at a farm just outside of Findlay.   This is the 4th time that I have attended this pig roast and it was just a much fun as the other three times.

It starts with a roast pig dinner that includes pork, baked beans, a couple of pasta salads, potato salad, veggie plate and dessert.    The dessert was a special treat.   Home made ice cream with red raspberries in it.  Really good!

 The dinner was served by Kohel's personnel as a charity function. They did a great job and there was more than enough to eat.  All of it was good.

After the dinner the District awards were given out.

REC Bob Blankenhorn was presented a check for the Royal Arch Foundation.  The Foundation and Grand Chapter thank the District for the support.

 A representative of Adopt American was in attendance alone with one of the family and their children.  

The District Ladies are putting together a cook book that will sell for $10.  This is a new fund raiser to go along with the sausage sales that they have been doing for years.

The District gave Julia two gifts.   First monetary gift that will go to Western Reserve Masonic Community's dementia unit fund and secondly a Santa Claus ornament.  Julia now has well over 100 Santas.  I was also given a monetary gift that will go Julia and the dementia fund.   Thanks to the generosity of the Districts Julia will give well over $1,000 to the fund.

After giving me a few minutes to talk we were on to the white elephant auction.    Bags and boxes were lined up with unknown contents for the auction.   It is fun to buy a "pig in a poke" with the money going to the District's charity.  I only bought one thing and it turned out to be a bag of golf balls.  Since I don't golf I put it back on the auction block and it brought another $40.

The auctioneer was MEC Jim McDonald.   Now Jim took his hat off and turned his back.   I got the hat and auctioned it off.   We got $13 for a slightly used and sweaty hat!


The last thing auctioned was a box wrapped in paper that had pictures from the year on it.   This is put together by Tom  Zeigler and is usually brings a pretty good price.   Unfortunately it was bought by my wife.



As I said, this was the last reception.   Julia and I have enjoyed them a great deal.   I honestly can say that we did not have a bad meal at any of them.   We meet a lot of new people and saw a lot of old friends.  Yes it was a lot of traveling but I have enjoyed every mile.  We wish to thank each District, every Companion and every Lady for the courtesies shown us and friendships made and strengthened.

'til the next time.

Rainbow for Girls Grand Assembly, 6.7.11

On Thursday, 6.7.11, Bill Stratton and I headed to Gambier, Ohio.   This is the home of Kenyon College and the site of this year's Grand Assembly of Rainbow for Girls.   It is just east of Mt. Vernon. We got there way too early so we went just north of Mt. Vernon on route 3 to an ice cream store that I started visiting in 1959.   Route 3 was the way from home to Columbus prior to I-71 and I found this place on one of my trips back to Ohio State.   I've been stopping there every time I go through Mt. Vernon ever since.

After our chocolate malts, Bill and I went on to Kenyon College.  It is a beautiful campus with some really wonderful buildings.   The Grand Assembly was held in the Athletic Center.    I have been here twice for Job's Daughters.    I took a couple pictures prior to Grand Assembly knowing that since the bible is open during the meeting no pictures would be permitted.

 This is the picture of the west.  I really like the theme.












This is the east and as you can see is really decorated nicely.











I'm not sure exactly what time Grand Assembly opened because they put all the "distinguished " guests together in an auditorium waiting to be introduced.   Rainbow Dignitaries were: Mrs Linda-Lee Morris, Supreme Worthy Advisor and Mrs. Janice Morris, Supreme Deputy in Ohio.  the heads of O.E.S. and all the York Rite bodies were in attendance along with a representative of Scottish Rite.   Most Worshipful Brother Bradford A. Goebel was also present.  

The Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star presented scholarships to approximately 10 young ladies and MWM Steve Krekus also presented a scholarship.  I am proud to say that Bethany MacMillian from Medina Rainbow Assembly,  received an O.E.S. scholarship as well as the one presented by MWB Krekus. Congratulations Bethany!

It should be noted that one service project was Honor Flight.  The girls collected over $23,000 which is enough for two flights of veterans going to Washington D.C. to visit the various veterans' memorials.

The floor work at the opening and closing could only be classified as excellent.   The girls in their white dress looked great and they knew precisely what to do.

Every girl in attendance should be proud to be a member of this beautiful order.

'til the next time.

Another 70-Year Service Award

Friday, 7.1, headed for Waverly to meet Excellent Companions Dale Exline and Brian Thompson.  From there we were off to, for me at least, parts unknown.  We first went to Portsmith which turns out to be the yellow barrel capitol of southern Ohio.   From there we went on the Wheelerburg to present a 70-Year Service Award to Companion Kellis G. Smith.   Now for those who don't know where Wheelerburg is, it is on the Ohio River 211 miles from Medina.   EC Smith is a member of Trowel Chapter #70 in Jackson but is presently staying at his son's.   He will be 93 in a couple of months.   He and EC Exline got into a discussion about people they both knew in Jackson and I believe both of them knew everybody!

Excellent Companion Smith was a joy to meet and talk to.   He told us about jobs he had held and places he had lived.  He also let us know that his son and daughter are twins but that the son was 16 minutes older. Julia took the attached pictures.

Companion Smith and me

 There are many enjoyable things about being Grand High Priest but presenting 50-year and up service awards is probably one of the highlights.  This one was no exception.  It is so nice to present 70-year award to a Companion as spry as EC Smith is.

EC Exline, Companion Smith and me



A Proud 70-year member.

I 

I can not close this post without telling a story.  EC Exline was raised in this neck of the woods so he told me to follow him and we would miss Portsmith and all the construction.   I followed him to Jackson.  From Wheelersburg to Jackson is probably 20 miles the way the crow flies but 40 miles by the way the road goes. Dale drives a van like he is in road race.   He straighten outs curves on roads that have 40 yard straight aways!   When he finally stopped to tell me the rest of the way to route 23, I told him the next time I followed him, I wanted to be the lead vehicle. 

This was a wonderful day.   Dry roads coming & going, met a grand gentleman, tried to be a NASCAR driver and had a nice meal on the way home.   I do want to thank Dale and Brian for setting up the presentation.

'til the next time.

17th District Awards Night

The 17th District held its Awards Night at the Cuyahoga Falls Masonic Temple on Wednesday, 6.29. 

 The 2010-2012 High Priest received their Past High Priest Certificates from REC Ross R. Black. Of the six, three were first time High Priests.

 The District Awards were handed out also.   This year the Awardee not only got a certificate, but received pen set with a keystone plaque as the base.

 It was not secret in the District, but REC Black did introduce both our new DDGHP and DEO.  In the picture form left to right are Fredrick "Rick" Memmer (new DDGHP to be) and Terry Regenos (DEO to be).

 There was a special award given at this meeting.  EC David A. Wiley, from Medina County Chapter #243, is the Governor of Cleveland York Rite College.   He and several other members of the College were in attendance ot present a "Gold Award.

The award went to Right Excellent Companion William Charles Young.  I believe this is the second time in the last month that I have seen Bill speechless and shocked.  The other was when Cuyahoga Falls Chapter made him an Honorary Member.  No Companion in the District is more deserving of this award that Bill.   Congratulations Bill!!!

The night ended with me receiving a pen set similar to that received by the Award recipients.   I was also given a large Keystone Plaque that the 17th District normally gives the Grand High Priest.   Mine was slightly different than the once given in previous years.    Companions of the 17th District signed the back.  I thanked the Companions for the gifts but especially for recognizing Julia a few minutes earlier.   Without her help and encouragement at times this past year would not have been nearly as enjoyable as it has been.   Thanks hon and I love you.

'til the next time.

Bucyrus Council and Chapter

Each year we have Councils and Chapters merge.    This year it looked like Bucyrus might lose both bodies. So on Tuesday, 6.28, Right Excellen Compannion Daryl Porter and I went to meeting of both bodies.

Right Excellent Companionn Herrick was there for the Council meeting and the meeting turned out to be an installation of officers.   This Council is not going to fold up its tent and go away.   They managed to get an officer corp together and they are going to keep working to revitalize the Council.   Congratulations to Bucyrus Council.

After Council meeting there was an informal Chapter meeting.  Bucyrus Chapter has 62 members and there were about a dozen in the meeting.  They have only held 1 meeting this year and that was its inspection which was done by the help of another Chapter in the District.  They did not have an election of officers for the coming Capitular year.   Most of the Companions were the same ones that were at the Council meeting and the outcome of this meeting was the same as Council's.    The Chapter is going to request a dispensation to hold an election in July.   Then it is going to try and bring the Chapter back to life.   I thanked them for having the courage to try and wished them the best of luck.   I am going to try my best to make the installation of officers in July.

Well it was an excellent evening.   Neither the Council or the Chapter is throwing in the towel.  

'til the next time.

Tasting Food for Grand Chapter

Monday, 6.27, Julia, John Miller and myself met MIGM Pat Lively, PIGM Bobby Campbell and PGIM and Grand Secretary of RS&M Merlyn Meredith at the Crown Plaza in Columbus.   The purpose was to taste the different meals that we could chose for our Grand Sessions.  This was we hopped to avoid have the same meals at our banquets.

The Crown Plaza personnel would bring out the different items for entry veggies and dessert and then split them between the 6 of us.  Most of the samples were quite good.  The only item that was rejected by all was a fish dish.   Council's banquet will be steak and Chapters will be a choice of pork chop or chicken.

After all the tasting we again walked around the hotel just to help finalize where different things would be set up, especially vendors.

The Crown Plaza has been very nice to work with and we expect to have fine Grand Sessions.

'til the next time.

3rd District Officers Installation

REC Nockengost was at the end of the line

On Saturday, 6.25, Julia, George, Bill and I headed for Fairborn for the District Wide Installation of Officers.   Each year the Grand Officers install their counterparts in the 3rd District.   The installation moves around from year to year.  This year it was very will attended.  We had buffet style dinner prior to the installation.  The meal was excellent.  There was stuffed chicken breasts, pot roast with carrotts and celery, mashed potato and lot more with assorted pies for dessert.

Mostly I'm going to post the pictures from the evening.   So here they are.





REC Bill Young getting enough to eat



REC Shell installing Kings.



REC Owens installing Scribes



REC Green installing 1st Viels

REC Young installed Guards and C.E.O.s

All in all this was a good night.   Plenty of really good food, a nice installation, good fellowship and dry roads coming and going.

'til the next time.