PDDGHP Meeting

Tonight we had a meeting of the PDDGHPs in the 3rd District and had a very good representation at our meeting held in Miamisburg at TJ Chumpps with around 10-12 PDDGHPs present. MEC George Shell and MEC Steve Duncan were both in attendance. They reserved the whole back room for us and ate dinner and a few items but mainly socialized as this is our meeting in which we also invited the ladies to attend.

Corwin-Webb #205 Chapter Inspection

Today I headed up to Cleveland for the Mark Master Chapter Inspection in Brecksville. They did a very nice job of the ritual work and the High Priest was EC Eddie Jones who was a DeMolay State Master Councilor while I was Executive Officer for DeMolay. Our Grand High Priest, MEC Jeff Addis, and several of his appointed Grand Officers were also present. They had 2 candidates on the evening and even got to do the alternate lecture on one candidate. Overall, it was a good evening with really good refreshments to send us on our way home which was nice for me and the 3+ hour drive home.

John Rhodes Sr. Viewing

Today was the viewing for a Past District Deputy Grand Master and Past Thrice Potent Master of the Valley of Dayton. He also served for many years helping out the Grand Lodge. John's son, John Rhodes Jr., and I served in the Lodge of Perfection Line at the same time. He was a Dentist by profession and is his son and grandson. John Sr. lived in Florida for several years after retiring from his dental practice but had moved back to Ohio a few years back due to some health issue for him and his wife Lois. Anyone who worked with John Sr. would have remembered him as he was a "tell it like it is" type of guy but always did everything with a gusto to improve it.

Shrine Bobbies Comedy Night

Tonight I went to an event which was purely social in nature and involved several non-members who all bought tickets for the event. The Bobbies held their annual comedy night in which they also invited the public. They had four very good comics and entertained everyone in the audience. While their material was adult oriented, it still didn't contain much of the foul language which many on TV feel is necessary to be funny. The headline act for the evening was the former mayor of Fairborn, who has been there before, but every time has a different set of jokes he is telling. He even got a few shots in on Past Master, Past High Priest and Past Potentate, Scott Lipps, who now sits as an Ohio Congressman. I would estimate the crowd at around 200 and it appeared all in attendance enjoyed themselves.

Scottish Rite - Hal McCoy program

The Scottish Rite this evening held a special program to give members the opportunity to bring potential members down to a program in which Hall of Fame sports writer for the Cincinnati Reds, Hal McCoy, spoke about his years of covering the Red's and many of their best known managers and players. He had many stories to relate including some not in his recently released books about his life as a Red's sportswriter. He also answered questions for quite a while on anything the audience wanted to talk about. Despite not actually having a candidate to bring with me, it was a very enjoyable evening.

KYCH Meeting

Well sometimes best laid plans are changed as yesterday I had planned to go to Warren for their Chapter Inspection but when I went to the other house learned the heat, which we had fixed a couple of weeks back, was out again so I had to get the space heaters back out and turn them on since the temperature is once again dropping. Tonight was the Miami Valley KYCH meeting and our District Deputy Prior MWB Norm Mick was present in addition to our Past Prior Lynn Chadbourne. We had a good turnout as every seat in the area assigned to us was taken, All four York Rite groups were well represented with past and present Grand officers from each in attendance. We met at Houston's Restaurant with the ladies near Mason Ohio. As normal when I eat there, I got the frog legs, Our speaker for the evening was Wendy Sproul from Adopt America. Luckily, the weather didn't get too bad as it was cold and raining outside but didn't seem to be icing on the road.

Trowel Chapter #70 Inspection

Tonight, I journeyed down to Jackson Ohio for Chapter Inspection in the Mark Master Degree in the 5th District. Their Guest Inspector was MEC Keith O'Dell which is I guess the only way they don't keep him busy doing ritual work for them at an Inspection. MEC Jean Justice and REC Ryan Adams, Grand Master of the 2nd Veil, along with REC Dan Smith, Grand Principal Sojourner, were also present. Their High Priest was REC Jeff Humble, Grand Necrologist. They had some assistance from several of the Chapters but still got the job done tonight albeit on a pro-tem candidate. I was also able to get on the road and head home so I would make it before midnight.

Fort Miami-Calumet Chapter #191 Inspection

Tonight in the Toledo area was the Past Master Inspection for Fort Miami-Calumet Chapter. Our immediate Past Grand Master Rob Rill is from the Chapter and was present in addition to REC Keith Green who is Grand King. They did an outstanding job at the Inspection including one person who it was his first time to do a major part. It is the home Chapter of the DDGHP for the 8th District so he had a guest inspector this evening, PDDGHP Dave Kevorkian.

Grand Chapter Planning

Today I met with the General Chairman for 2020 Grand Chapter and our District Advisor, REC Greg Clatterbuck, to discuss plans for the 2019 GHP Reception and all the events leading up to and including Grand Chapter 2020. We discussed several options and some very good new ideas were introduced. As we spoke our goal is to keep with traditions but also work to move things forward. The Grand Chapter venue for 2020 has already been signed at the Great Wolf Lodge near Mason and we have determined the location for the 2019 GHP reception but need to finalized a few details. 

Three Event Day

This morning stated out with the Annual meeting for our Jesters where we ate, fellowshiped and appointed/elected new officers. After that meeting, I headed down to our Commandery Inspection at Valley in Miamisburg. Since I was a little late and my knee was hurting, I didn't spend the time going home to get my uniform since I knew I would not be able to march. They had a fairly good turnout of members and visitors and our candidate was the High Priest of the Chapter in Miamisburg. With little time to spare, I headed home and picked up Pam so we could attend the Worshipful Master Recognition night sponsored by the Dayton Scottish Rite. It was announced we had nearly 50 Worshipful Masters in attendance and after a great dinner and entertainment each received a recognition pin from the Grand Master for their year of service.