july-september 2012
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Valley of Newport News July-September 2012 newsletterTRANSCRIPT
July - September 2012
Volume 1, Issue 12 Valley of Newport News, Orient of Virginia, AASR
October 2013
The Valley of Newport News
Scottish Rite
100th Year Anniversary
Celebration
Be a part of your Valley’s 100th Anniversary Celebration. Do your part in helping the Valley
plan and coordinate the activities associated with this event.
Contact Ill. Dave Burkus if you are able to help.
Valley Personal Representative Message Ill. Clifford A. Parker,
Inside this Issue
Page 2 - Valley Rep Message
Page 3 -Upcoming Activities
Page 4 -“From the Secretary’s Desk”
Page 5 -Venerable Master’s Message
- Knights of St. Andrew
Page 6 - 2012 Orient of Virginia
Conference Information
Page 7 - 2012 Regional Conference
Sincerely & Fraternally,
Skip Parker
Page 2
Office Help Wanted
Are you retired?
Are you looking for new avenues of excitement?
The Newport News Scottish Rite is looking for individuals to assist
in our office daily operations each morning from 9 to 12 PM. You
must be skilled in Microsoft OFFICE (Word, Excel, Outlook, and
Access).
We are open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Duties include responding to public inquiries, tracking maintenance
and repair work, ordering supplies, facilities scheduling, etc.
If you are interested in helping out contact the Scottish Rite Office at
599-6617.
Brethren,
Well, Summer has certainly jumped up and slapped us at the end of June. We’ve been very
fortunate to have such a delightful Spring, but it might have felt a little better if the HEAT had
eased its way on to us.
Summer finds us preparing for our Fall Reunion. Now is the time to approach your Masonic
friends and associates about becoming a new Scottish Rite Mason. The degrees will be conferred
the last weekend in October.
We expect the event to be well attended by all of the Scottish
Rite in our area as well as visiting brethren from other
jurisdictions. Please plan on taking your Lady to dinner on
the 3rd Friday of each month. The cost is expected to be $7
per person.
Brethren, the heat has arrived so please be careful during
the summer months.
Please mark your calendars for the new Scottish Rite Friday night dinners beginning in July. The
3rd Friday of each month we will sponsor a fund-raising dinner at the Scottish Rite. All proceeds
will go toward our planned 100th Anniversary Celebration in October 2013. The Grand
Commander, Ill. Ronald Seale will be in attendance as well as our Sovereign Grand Inspector
General, Ill. James D. Cole.
Valley of Newport News
Ill. James D. Cole, 33º Sovereign Grand Inspector General of Virginia
Ill. Clifford A. Parker, IGH Personal Representative of the SGIG in Virginia
Ill. Adrian L. “Pete” Eure, IGH Secretary for the Valley of Newport News
Ill. Danny O. Belott, IGH Assist. Secretary for Valley of Newport News
Ill. Gerald E. Burks, IGH Treasurer for the Valley of Newport News
Bro. Harold C. Joyner, KCCH Almoner for the Valley of Newport News
Ill. Jack L. Smith, IGH Chairman of the Trustees
Newport News Lodge of Perfection
Ill. Jimmy C. Willis, IGH Venerable Master
Newport News Chapter of Rose Croix
Bro. Rickey R. Johnson, KCCH Wise Master
Newport News Council of Kadosh
Ill. George F. Black, IGH Commander
Newport News Consistory
Ill. Danny O. Belott, IGH Master of Kadosh
Knights of St. Andrew
Bro. R. Vincent Mundie, 32º Venerable Master
Chartered October 12, 1912
Upcoming Activities
July 20 - Valley of Newport News
Friday Night Dinner 5-7pm
July 24 - Knights of St. Andrew
Stated Meeting 7:00pm
July 25 - Valley of Newport News
Stated Meeting 7:30pm
August 17 - Valley of Newport News
Friday Night Dinner 5-7pm
August 22 - Valley of Newport News
Stated Meeting 7:30pm
September 8 - Valley of Newport News
Spaghetti Dinner 5-7pm
September 21-22 - Scottish Rite Conference
Orient of Virginia in Lynchburg
September 25 - Knights of St. Andrew
Stated Meeting 7:00pm
September 26 - Valley of Newport News
Stated Meeting 7:30pm (dinner at 6:30pm)
Our stated meetings are held on the fourth
Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm. A
deliciously prepared Dutch Treat dinner is
served at 6:30pm prior to all meetings w/e of
July & August. The Ladies of the Scottish
Rite meet at all meetings w/e of the July &
August Stated meetings.
Editor: Bro. J. Richard Rawls, KCCH Asst. Ed.: Ill. David A. Burkus, IGH
Offices: 65 Saunders Rd.
Newport News, VA 23601 Phone: 757 599 6617
Fax: 757 599 0021
Email: [email protected]
Please support your Blue Lodge, your
Scottish Rite and all other Masonic Bodies
you are a member of.
They all need your support.
Page 3
Special Notice Please be advised ….This is
the last printed version of the
Valley Newsletter you will
receive unless you contact the
Secretary requesting a
p r i n t ed v er s i o n . T h e
Newsletter will be electronic
beginning with the October -
December 2012 Edition.
From the Secretary’s Desk Ill. Adrian L. Eure, IGH
Brother Ernest Borgnine 33o Grand Cross
Ill. Adrian "Pete" Eure, IGH
Secretary
Page 4
Freemason Network: www.FreemasonNetwork.net
Update your Scottish Rite Information: http://update.scottishrite.org
Pay your dues online: https://secure.scottishrite.org/OnlineDuesPayment/DuesPayment1.asp Valley of Newport News: http://newportnewsscottishrite.org
Orient of Virginia: http://www.orientofvirginia.org
Half the year is gone and we have many things to do!! We will be traveling to Lynchburg for the Scottish
Rite Conference of Virginia (September 21 & 22). Ill. Brother Lonnie Godfrey, 33º IGH, President of the
Conference is busy at work getting ready for another excellent Conference. We have received correspondence
from Brother Godfrey and we wish him and the Scottish Rite Conference of Virginia “a big success”!! We will
be having our Fall Reunion in October (October 26 &27). We need candidates!! Please, ask a Mason to
become a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies. I have petitions available in my office.
To all Brothers of the Newport News Scottish Rite – PLEASE LOOK AT YOUR DUES CARD – IT
MUST SAY 2012!! We are trying to keep up with our expenses and pay our bills. We need the dues to operate
our building, especially during the summer months, when our dues are at their lowest. We have 200 members
who have not paid their 2012 dues. We also have many who have not paid their 2011 dues. 200 members equal
$20,000.00 that the Newport News Scottish Rite does not have to pay our bills. Please, look at your dues card
and make sure is says 2012. If you have any questions about your dues, or maybe you misplaced your dues
notice, or maybe you did not receive your dues notice, please call the Valley of Newport News Scottish Rite
Office (757-599-6617) and let this secretary help you get your dues up to date!!!
God Bless and enjoy the rest of your summer!!! Hope to see you at our Scottish Rite Stated Meetings!!!
Brother Ernest Borgnine passed away to the Celestial Heavens above on July 8, 2012. Many of us remember
him as the Academy Award winning actor who was featured in numerous Hollywood films, starred in
the highly-rated TV comedy, "McHale's Navy" (all the more appropriate as Bro. Borgnine was a WWII Navy
veteran) and held the distinction of being the earliest living Oscar recipient, Best Actor for "Marty" in 1955.
What you may not know is that Bro. Ernest Borgnine was an active member of the Craft. He was a 33o Scottish
Rite Mason in the Southern Jurisdiction and the recipient of the Grand Cross. Brother Borgnine was proud to be
a Mason and mentioned it in his autobiography. His Masonic honors were many and his donated hours for
Masonic causes were also legion.
Brother Borgnine carried a dual membership with Hollywood Lodge No. 355 Tarzana, California and Abingdon
Lodge No. 48 Abingdon, Virginia, where he was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in 1950. In
2000, he received his 50-year pin from the Grand Lodge of Virginia. He joined the Scottish Rite in the Valley of
Los Angeles in 1964, received the KCCH in 1979, was coroneted a 33o Inspector General Honorary in 1983 and
received the Grand Cross of the Court of Honour in 1991. Brother Borgnine was active in his Lodge and very
public about his membership in the Craft.
Venerable Master’s Message Ill. Jimmy C. Willis, IGH
Knights of St. Andrew R. Vincent Mundie 32o, Venerable Master
Fraternally Sir Knight R. Vincent Mundie, Venerable Master
Page 5
Fraternally,
Jimmy C. Willis
Venerable Master
The Annual Feast of Bannockburn held on June 26th was well attended. Thanks to all Sir Knights and ladies who
came out and I hope you enjoyed the meal. A huge thank you to our cooks, Sir Knight Nick Raffaele and Rt. Wor.
John M. Yoksza, who prepared and served a five-course meal for the Feast. A special presentation on the Battle
of Bannockburn by Sir Knight John Roger Ward was well received and appreciated.
Our next Stated Meeting of the Knights Commander of St. Andrew is scheduled for Tuesday July 24th. Dress
will be casual (Glengarry hat, black Knights shirt, and gray slacks). All Sir Knights are especially urged to attend
this meeting. We will be balloting on the ratification of out By-Laws providing that we have a Quorum present. A
Quorum constitutes 50% plus 1 of our Active membership. Without the attendance and support of our Active
Members at this meeting we will be unable to vote to ratify the By-Laws.
Future Newport News Scottish Rite Stated meetings will be held on July 25 and August 22. Sir Knights are
needed to meet and greet. Please plan to be at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center by 6:50pm. Dress will be casual
(Glengarry hat, black Knights shirt, gray slacks).
The Knights Commander of St. Andrew will also be helping with the Scottish Rite dinner fundraisers to be held
on the 3rd Friday of each month from 5:00 to 7:00pm at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center. We will also support the
scheduled spaghetti dinner on Saturday September 8th.
The Knights Commander of St. Andrew Stated meeting for September will be held on the 25th at 7:00pm. Dress
will be full uniform (Glengarry hat, white shirt, Tartan tie, gray slacks, and navy blue coat). The Newport News
Scottish Rite Stated meeting for the month of September will be held on the 26th. Sir Knights are needed to meet
and greet. Plan to be at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center by 6:00pm. Dress will be full uniform (Glengarry hat,
white shirt, Tartan tie, gray slacks, and navy blue coat).
Brethren,
Summer is definitely here and I hope everyone has plenty of air conditioning. My message is short this
time around as I would like to simply thank all of the Brethren that help make the Valley of Newport News a
successful Valley. The Knights of St. Andrew should be thanked by all of us as they support all of the Valley
activities. The office staff, the kitchen staff, our various committees and our degree teams all do great work.
Please take the time to thank them for all that they do to make the Valley of Newport News Scottish Rite
great. I look forward to seeing you all at our upcoming Stated Meetings.
Orient of Virginia Scottish Rite Conference- September 21 - 22, 2012
Page 6
Holiday Inn-Lynchburg, VA
2012 Conference President:
Illustrious Lonnie L. Godfrey, 33˚ IGH
Valley Vice-Presidents:
Brother William M. Keyser, KCCH (Roanoke)
Illustrious Carlton L. Gill, Jr., 33˚ IGH (Norfolk)
Illustrious Larry Alexander, 33˚ IGH (Alexandria)
Illustrious David E. Amstutz, 33˚ IGH (Richmond)
Brother Foy A. Greenwood, Jr., KCCH (Portsmouth)
Brother T. Keith Rice, KCCH (Danville)
Illustrious George A. Hollingsworth III, 33˚ IGH (Newport News)
Secretary/Treasurer:
Illustrious William F. Perdue, 33˚ IGH, PGM
Honorary President:
Illustrious James D. Cole, 33˚ SGIG, PGM
Mark your calendars and plan to attend. See Ill. George Hollingsworth or
the Valley Secretary for more information.
Please support the Orient of Virginia Scottish Rite by attending your Annual Scottish Rite Conference.
2012 Regional Scottish Rite Conference Patrick C. Murphrey, 32˚
Page 7
I recently had the honor to represent the Valley of Newport News at the 2012 Scottish Rite Leadership
Conference held in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore conference was the last of 3 conferences with the
others being held in San Diego, CA and St. Louis, MO.
The Leadership Conferences serve as a chance for members of the Scottish Rite to come together on a regional
level between Biennial Sessions. This Conference was for all Scottish Rite Masons, but I was honored to
attend in an additional capacity, that of Scottish Rite Fellow.
What is a Scottish Rite Fellow? The Scottish Rite Fellows program was developed by the Sovereign Grand
Commander as a way to engage a select group of “young” Scottish Rite Masons to encourage their leadership
potential. It also provides a forum for the Grand Commander to dialogue with “young” Scottish Rite Masons
about their experiences in their local Valleys and a chance to share best practices.
In Baltimore, about 25 of us Scottish Rite Fellows began our Conference experiences by spending a 2.5 hour
session with our Sovereign Grand Commander Ronald Seale. This session was an intimate and unique
opportunity to dialogue with and learn from each other and our Grand Commander. It forced each of us to look
deep inside and strive to discover how we can be of service of our individual Valleys.
The Conference continued with a General Session discussing current trends in membership and how we can
address many of these issues through the innovative yet not always intuitive “Brother to Brother” program.
The key point stressed was that membership/attendance issues are not solved through better
programming but through enhanced personal relationships. Our Brothers want to be with those who care
about them and want them to be there and be present.
We discussed the Strategic Plan in General Session and feedback on the Plan was solicited from all attendees
in Breakout Sessions. Other General Session topics included discussion about future initiatives of the Scottish
Rite including the recent successful “Celebration of the Craft” web-event. Breakout sessions were also
available on topics ranging from Social Media to Valley Financial Planning. These sessions were engaging,
informative, and educational. Present through them all was a friendly and familiar face: Virginia’s SGIG,
Illustrious and Most Worshipful James D. Cole.
The Conference ended with a presentation of the 4th Degree or Secret Master by the Valley of Baltimore. It
was an impressive and fitting way to conclude our gathering by reminding us of our own Scottish Rite
initiation by joining together as Brothers to participate in this Degree on live candidates. The Sovereign Grand
Commander commissioned us to go forth and spread the light of Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite into the
world.
The Scottish Rite Leadership Conference was a tremendous experience filled with many opportunities for
fellowship and Masonic education. I am grateful to the Valley of Newport News for your support and
particularly our Personal Representative, Illustrious and Most Worshipful Skip Parker who nominated me to
attend the Conference and serve as a Scottish Rite Fellow from our Valley.
Patrick Murphrey with Grand Commander Ronald Seale
Nonprofit Organization
U. S. Postage Paid
Newport News, Virginia
Permit No. 54 Valley of Newport News
Orient of Virginia
65 Saunders Road
Newport News, Virginia 23601
Return Service Requested
Our Departed
Brethren
Their spirit to God,
their memory in
our hearts.
Clarence Vernon Burton, III, 32o April 18, 2012
Robert Henry Ellis, Jr., 32o May 20, 2012
John Wells Rayfield , 32o
June 20, 2012
Mack Chelton Burcher, 32o
July 1, 2012