1st/8th District Grand High Priest Reception

Today was the 1st/8th District Grand High Priest Reception at the Browning Center in Waterville. REC Keith O'Dell Grand King and REC Keith Green Grand Principal Sojourner were both present in addition to Past Grand High Priest Wayne Dill. As this was a reception in honor of the Grand High Priest, MEC Bob Thomas and Donna were also present. We had a nice meal followed up by an awards presentation ceremony and some brief comments from the Grand High Priest. MEC Wayne Dill present his Dill Awards but after he was done the tables were turned and he was presented with his own super hero Dill Awards including a shirt, cape and his own mini me. I'm not sure though if we can stand two Wayne Dills....

2nd District Grand High Priest Reception

Well before I start in about the GHP Reception, I'll give a little update on the saga of the week. Mom went in the hospital Sunday released Tuesday and then after another episode Wednesday morning which caused another visit to the ER, they decided to put a heart monitor on her as they felt for sure it is a heart problem of some type and sent her home. They also recommended someone to be with her for around a week to make sure no more episodes occurred. So Thursday my sister took her back to the doctor so he could get the readout on the monitor and I would stay with her on Friday (so much for attending the Red Cross Constantine session on Friday). On Thursday evening a guy was to come to the house to give us an estimate before 8 PM for some work we need done and then I planned to head to Lodge. Well I waited and waited and he never showed up but by the time I figure out he wasn't coming it was too late to go to Lodge. Next came a potential for a major issue with a project I've been leading at work that had earlier int he day just been approved for production this weekend. I thought how could things get worse. I should not have thought that because on Friday the dishwasher and washer at my mother-in-laws house had a water leak problem which soaked every towel in the house trying to clean it up. So we shut off the water to both, took all the towels and put them in the dryer to dry them out to use again and what do you know the dryer would not work (I guess I know what I will be doing in the morning rather than attending the Red Cross Constantine session on Saturday). Maybe there is something to this Friday the 13th stuff. All that being said....we went to the Grand High Priest Reception for the 2nd Capitular District in St. Mary's Ohio tonight. Past Grand High Priests Robert Crabbs and Bill Purdy along with widow Susan Oliver of Honorary Past Grand High Priest Steve Oliver. We also had present Grand King Keith O'Dell. Grand Scribe Bob Blackenhorn and of course our Grand High Priest Bob Thomas. Oh and the problem at work turned out to be nothing big and for right now we are ready to go this weekend...I hope.

Helping Out With Transportation

Tonight I was helping out with transportation for the United Grand Imperial Council, Red Cross of Constantine being held in Dayton Ohio over the next few days. I had six persons to get from the airport over to the hotel in Fairborn. Luckily the group I was taking all were on the same flight, and as I learned from them, all were grouped together even though their reservations were all made independent of each other. One of the couples I picked up was from Puerto Rico. The flight was fairly close to being on time and we had fairly good traffic all the way from the airport to the hotel. Burch Zehner, is the head of the group this year and I'm glad I could help out Burch as he always has been a good supporter of the York Rite in Dayton.

Trinity Chapter Installation

Tonight my Chapter had an open installation and a nice dinner which preceded the installation. Over the past couple of years our Chapter has started getting more involved in the District and through the travel the Chapter is getting much more active. This year we had a new progressing High Priest, King and Scribe. We also have a Principal Sojourner, and Royal Arch Captain who I think will progress through the line. Our new High Priest is a good friend of mine EC Richard Poore. We served in Lodge as President (myself) and Vice President (Richard) of the District and District Deputy Grand Master (myself) and District Education Officer (Richard... he is also a PDDGM). Richard was also my Chaplain when I was Potentate of the Shrine. He started the year off right with great food for dinner, all the officers spots filled, music by our own Stan Brookins who played the organ at the open Installation, held an officers meeting, and passed out an information booklet on the year and then finished up with more food.

Well another sidetrack today

I was planning to attend a Shrine activity tonight but got a little sidetracked due to my mom's hospital visit. As I reported yesterday, we took her to the Hospital and they thought yesterday she had some heart issues and wanted to run some tests today. While they still have found nothing severe they are keeping here another night to run some new tests tomorrow as they still can't get her heart regulated and want to make sure they aren't missing any major issues. Mom is starting to get frustrated as she can't see why they are keeping her as she feels as if she is fine. Unless they find something big I'm fairly sure they will let her go home tomorrow though she might have to wear a monitor for a few days after leaving the hospital.... and mom's comment...why are they making such a big deal of nothing.

Ohio Masonic Home Day

Today was the Ohio Masonic Home Day and parade. I arrive early in the morning for the groundbreaking dedication and we marched from the Linder Center to the site of the new building. While the skies did not look great, they seemed to be holding off after some hard showers for a few minutes. When the ceremony was almost done it again opened up and started to pour. Luckily we were under a tent and still it seemed okay. When the was finally done it cleared up and we went up for pictures. After pictures it again opened up and really stated to pour and it poured and it poured. Finally they decided to call of the parade after most were in attendance for the parade. They probably made a good decision though as considering it was still raining at parade time...no one would have probably been on the parade route anyways. Later I attended my nephews graduation and unfortunately we had to take my mother to the emergency room with some heart issues. I think she is okay but interestingly I saw Alan Blevins (who I served with as Presiding Officer in Scottish Rite) there who now lives in Florida but was back in town for some graduation parties.

17th District Grand High Priest Reception

Today we headed north to just below Cleveland at Medina for the 17th District Grand High Priest Reception. We had to stop at a few places along the way Shulers in Springfield for some great bakery items, Grandpa's Cheese Barn for several goodies and then to the outlet mall for Pam to pick up a couple of new items for summer. Once we got there after a nice drive up, as per normal PGHP Jim Himmelright helped out in the kitchen with the meal with Julia and the Rainbow Girls of Medina and a few other helpers. There were plenty of distinguished guests present. Richard Amlung from Grand Council and Dave Snyder PGC from Commandery. We also had present from the Grand Chapter Line Ross Black Grand Royal Arch Captain, Grand Scribe Robert Blankenhorn, Grand Secretary Dale Ray and of course our Grand High Priest Robert Thomas and Donna. We were served a meal which should have left no one hungry and then several awards were presented to those who earned them during the year. The evening ended early after some words from our Grand High Priest. On a side note I was able to capture one picture which I will share to prove Bob is an idea man (Donna wanted to make sure no one confused it for a halo)

Ormus Grottto Stated Meeting

Tonight was the stated meeting for our Grotto. We discuss several dates and made plans to reinstitute some of the old programs/activities we were doing in the past. We also talked about getting new shirts for when we travel and tonight several persons were awarded their Enchanted Lanterns for donating at least $50 to the Humanitarian Fund. In total, $650 was donated this past month by our Grotto members.

Valley Commandery Stated Meeting

While it was only a stated meeting, tonight we had lots of things going on at and after the meeting. Past Grand Commander Burch Zehner was present along with Deputy Grand Commandery Tom Gault and Grand Standard Bearer Marty Trent. We had the presentation of two fifty year awards and both were present. The Mayor of Miamisburg Dick Church (who is also a Past Potentate of Antioch Shrine) and Bill Bowman who is a Past High Priest of Trinity Chapter. Both have been active in Masonry since joining and still continue to be active. Don Wilcox was also presented with a 25 year award as it seems they missed presenting this to him several years back. Afterwards we celebrated John Watkins 75th birthday who himself joined lodge 48 years ago and has been an officer in at least one body at the temple since joining including an officer in Commandery for over 40 years.

New Graduate

This weekend was insanely busy. From setting up for a Graduation Party, attending Graduation, the actual Graduation Party and the cleaning up...it was one very busy weekend. Laura is now officially a graduate of Miamisburg High School. I said I would not get emotional so I made sure I was not close to anyone else when she actually graduated so no one could tell ... did Dad actually get emotional at the sight of his baby graduating....