AMD Picnic

Tonight the Sovereign Master Greg Clatterbuck held a very nice picnic at his home. We had a very good turnout and some great food. We had the world's shortest meeting and then ate and had a nice evening of fellowship with the ladies being included. The weather cooperated and with a nice breeze it was perfect.

Chapter Planning Meeting

Tonight we held a meeting with the 3rd District Officers, DEO's and DDGHP's to discuss what their duties were and future activities to start improving participation. I was an extremely productive meeting with everyone showing up who was supposed to be in attendance and we discussed and planned several new ideas including a fun activity with the ladies and two membership related activities. The part I was most excited about was each group (Officers, DEO's & DDGHPs) actually indicated they wanted to plan another individual meeting to make sure they were able to maximize their effectiveness in helping out the District.

Toni Duncan's Mother Viewing

Tonight was the viewing for Toni Duncan's mother and we decided to go early as Pam had another activity later in the evening. We got there when it started and the parking lot was already full. Tomorrow is the funeral and the ladies of Valley Commandery are putting on a lunch after the funeral.

Cabiri Meeting

Tonight was our monthly Past Potentates meeting and we covered many topic in what I thought was a very productive meeting. It started out with a nice dinner and was supposed to be over in time for the Leadership meeting being held right afterwards. Unfortunately it ran long and I also missed the drill practice which was schedule to take place in Miamisburg right after this meeting.

GHP Reception 7th District

Today was the annual 7th District Hog Roast and Grand High Priest Reception held in Findlay Ohio at the LaRoche farm. This is always a fun event and well attended. In addition, they have an auction to support Adopt America each year and this year was no exception. The event is very casual and they always make several hundred dollars on the Charity Auction. In addition to our Grand High Priest Keith O'Dell, the Grand King Robert Blankenhorn was also present. 

 

DeMolay Conclave

The Ohio DeMolay Conclave was held over the past few days and I was able to attend several of their activities during Conclave. In addition to their regular business and several fun activities they also elected a new set of officers and their new State Master Councilor is Greg Fyffe. They also held the annual Legion of Honor Investiture and it reminded me of the day I received mine in 1988.

Sad Day

Today was the viewing and Masonic Services for Bill Mayberry Sr . Past Grand Master. MWB Mayberry was there many times during my journeys in Masonry including asking me to serve as a DEO and DDGM in Lodge. As a Past Thrice Potent Master of Gabriel Lodge of Perfection, he was the presiding officer when I joined Scottish Rite. MWB Mayberry always wanted to make everyone happy and while a rather quiet person would always have a nice word to say to you. He will be missed.

3rd District & 3rd Arch Picnic

Today was the joint picnic for the 3rd District and 3rd Arch and despite some bad weather before and lots of humidity, we had one of the best turnouts in the past few years. I planned on getting some pictures but with another storm heading our way, we focused on having dinner and some fellowship while quickly getting through announcements ... Which was good since as we were leaving it started pouring. Good thing we finished when we did.

Ormus Grotto Picnic

Today  our Monarch Keith Newton  held a family picnic and friendship night and place of our regular standard meeting. I thought we had a good turnout and it was a nice evening and we had members talking about things we could do to improve the Grotto and fun times we have had in the past. We had three  non-members present. We also had one of our older members who hasn't been able to come for several years who was in attendance and indicated he was going to try to start coming back again ... And why ... Because you got a personal invitation as did every member for the picnic.

DeMolay Scholarship Foundation Meeting

This afternoon the committee met to consider scholarships for the upcoming year.  It is always a very good day when you get to read the resumes of many of the youn DeMolay's and all the accomplishments that they have made while still maintaining good grades.  But it seems like all you ever hear is bad things about young people today and then you read about the community service , devotion to their church and Humanity in general it really does make you feel good  about what the organization does to help teach leadership and develop young men to good citizens.

Lima York Rite

Tonight in Lima the York Rite bodies which meet there at the temple got together to discuss potential strategies to improve membership and participation. MEC Duncan  along with MIC Buckingham, Campbell and RIC Terry  participated with several members of the York Rite  and got commitments from the members present would work with the grand bodies  to help ensure the long-term success in Lima. Hopefully several of the  ideas discussed will be implemented . It was nice that we had the meeting this evening while we still have members who are committed to making a difference at Lima.

Charlemagne Red Cross Constantaine

Today was the regular  meeting for our RCC group. We met at the Jones mansion in Findley Ohio.  We had a good turnout around 50 people and considering our max membership is 35 members sounds pretty good to me.  We had a good meal of a short meeting.  The funny part for me personally was last week when I put on my white dinner jacket there was a spot on so I took it to the cleaners to get the spot taken care of which they did. I was really careful during dinner to make sure nothing got on it and got all the way back home with it clean. As I got out of the car I must've bumped something on my sleeve and I get to take it back to get it cleaned again and hopefully they can get out the mark I put on it. 

Shrine Imperial

Last Thursday started the track to Houston Texas for the Shrine Imperial Session.   The first night we drove down to Nashville stayed  spending a few hours out on Broadway  while we were there. We then stopped  by to see  a guy working for me cute new kid  just born this month in Little Rock Arkansas. We then headed down to Bridge City Texas to visit Pam's relative who lost everything in a flood a couple years back. We took them a box of pictures  of their family growing up since they also lost all pictures. We then headed over to Houston for the session. After it was over we  stopped and spent a day in New Orleans before coming back home . Overall... a really fun trip.