Scottish Rite Thanksmas Dinner

Every year on Thanksgiving weekend the officers, past officers, and major 14th degree contributors get together for an annual party. Since it is between Thanksgiving and Christmas it is called the Thanksmas dinner and has been going on for around 30 years. Tonight was one of the largest turnouts in years and was held at the Yankee Trace Golf Course in Centerville. The Thrice Potent Master this year is Dave Buchheit who I appointed when I was Thrice Potent Master. I also caught a picture of our resident joker PTPM John Rhodes Jr. as he was telling one of his many jokes.

Rufus Putnam Chapter #108 Inspection

This morning was the chapter inspection for Rufus Putnam Chapter located in Beverley Ohio in the 13th District. (Beverley is located around an hour below Zanesville) Our Grand High Priest Robert Thomas was there along with the Grand Principal Sojourner REC Jeff Addis. Since the District Deputy Grand High Priest, REC Ken Finkle is from Rufus Putnam Chapter, REC Rodney Carr who is Grand Master of the 1st Veil and from the 13th District did the inspection. They have a very nice facility, provided a nice breakfast and did a fine job on the ritual work despite being a smaller more remote chapter. Luckily the Inspection moved right along so I could listen to the Ohio State Buckeye beat the team up north on my way home.

Galion Chapter #142 Inspection

Tonight was an inspection for Galion Chapter in the 10th District in the Mark Masters degree. MEC Robert Crabbs was present and help to post the colors. Our Grand Scribe REC Robert Blankenhorn was also present and helped out with the degree work for the evening as one of the overseers. He also did a nice job on the introductions even though some of the cards were missing for introductions. After the inspection we found out that the guy who did the main part for the degree has been doing it since around 1967 . REC Blankenhorn and I also talked about our common interest after the meeting...beagles. The best part was we got done to leave fairly early for the evening and hopefully will get home early as tomorrow morning will be an early one for the inspection in Beverly for Rufus Putnam Chapter in the 13th District.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and hope for many their day starts after 9AM and they are not headed to the massive sales. I on the other hand get to drop our daughter off at 7AM for a 5 mile run (Miamisburg Turkey Trot) and head over to fight the crowds for an item we want.....guess I would rather fight the crowds than be running outside 5 miles on Thanksgiving day....

Shrine Greeters Meeting

This evening was the Greeters meeting for the Shrine of which I am a member. Since the Trowel Chapter Inspection was postponed I decided to attend their meeting. We confirmed our by-laws changes, went over upcoming events and heard that the Imperial Officers are probably coming to our Greeters Christmas Party since they will be in town for a Membership Seminar. This is great news for us as the Imperial Potentate will probably be at our Christmas Party.

Spencerville #169 Chapter Inspection

Tonight I headed to Spencerville (which is outside of Lima) for their Chapter Inspection in the Most Excellent Master degree. This is the home Chapter of PGHP Bill Purdy and our current Grand Commander Dennis Hughes. With it being the week of Thanksgiving, a few of their "regulars" were out of town visiting relatives for the Holidays but the cast did a nice good with a little help from a couple of last minute fill-ins for a couple cast members who came up sick at the last minute. They had two candidates who have been traveling from Inspection to Inspection to get their degree work and will finish up at the Van Wert/Sidney Inspection in the Royal Arch on December 14th. I'm starting to see several Districts try this out and the good thing is the candidates seeem to be building a bond between them and are still returning to additional Inspections after they receive their Royal Arch Degree.

Thanksgiving Baskets & Our Anniversary & Schedule Change

I took Friday and Sunday off to prepare Thanksgiving Baskets for the needy, something which our family has been doing now for around 20 years through the Elks. One of our members is a minister at an intercity church in Dayton and definitely has plenty of folks who can use a little extra help. Sunday was also our Anniversary and we went to Carver's for a very nice dinner. The food is great there but to get the best you definitely pay a little more (but it is worth it for a special event....so I guess bologna this week for the rest of my meals). ALSO please note the Chapter Inspection Tuesday in Jackson Ohio at Trowel Chapter in the 5th District has been postponed.

Busy Day Again

This Saturday was definitely another busy day. It started out with me heading up to Bryan Ohio in the 1st Capitular District for Northwest #45 Chapter Inspection in the Past Master Degree. At first we were afraid of severe disaster as one of the persons who did a lead part had called the day before and said his health would not allow him to be there. Well they remembered to replace him in all but the Right Worshipful Master's part. Luckily the High Priest of Wauseon was present and had just presided a couple weeks back and did the part to save the day. After lunch, Bryan Council #101 performed the Royal Master Degree. Since many had other events they needed to go to soon after the Inspection was to be over, it started a little early but moved right along so I had time to actually head back home after the Council Inspection to pick up my wife and head to Dayton for the Grand Commander Denny Hughes Statewide Reception. The weather was nice on the way up though I did almost have a major issue when a lady in a SUV almost rear-ended me on the highway. she was really moving and I saw her almost do the same to two more cars after she swerved to miss me. A few miles up the road she apparently did hit someone and totalled her vehicle and the other vehicle. I heard later on the news that a cop clocked her doing 92 MPH around the time she passed me. Guess I was REALLY lucky. On the way back the wind kicked up and in really good cold.... Oh and I did see 9 wild turkeys trying to cross the road. Guess they were not aware next week is Thanksgiving or maybe they did and were leaving town because they knew it.

West Gate Council #129 Inspection

Tonight I headed to Columbus for a Council Inspection in the 5th Arch. West Gate had their Inspection in the Select Master Degree. MEC Don Lossaso is a member of this council and helped them out with some of the work for the evening as did the 5th Arch Inspector Grover Manning. The Arch Adjutant Mark Bruns did the Inspection. Also in attendance was the Grand Illustrious Master Robert Rinehart and the Deputy Grand Master Lynn Alexander. Past Grand Illustrious Master Rusty Eagle was also in attendance. It was also nice to see an old friend, Jerry Belt, who I served with as DDGM several years back. It also interesting that the Worshipful Master for Mt. Carmel Lodge and High Priest for Marysville Chapter were both present and I talk to for a while since I plan to attend both Inspections later this year.I also found out another guy I seem to run into every place I travel is Worshipful Master this year of Mechanicsburg Lodge so I'm going to try to add it to my list of Inspections to make as well.

Clark County 32 Club

Tonight I spoke at the Ohio Masonic Home on the symbolism behind the 14th degree in Scottish Rite. They had 4 persons present who were part of our last class just a couple weeks back. It must not have been too bad as one of the new candidates asked for a copy of the information (so I gave him the copy I used for the presentation). Overall they had a nice attendance and very good meal.