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ROTC AMERICANISM AWARD PRESENTED BY ANCIENT ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE, N.M.J., U.S.A.  Pictured from left to right is: Joseph Stabb, Ph.D., 32° - ROTC Faculty Advisor at SUNY Oswego; Ill. Garry Visconti, 33° MSA, Past Commander-In-Chief, Central City Bodies, A.A.S.R., Valley of Syracuse, NY: Cadet Joseph Farr, Class of 2021, SUNY Oswego; Cadet Zoe Garrison, Class of 2021, SUNY Oswego: D.B. Lawrence W. Egnaczyk, 32° MSA, Commander-In-Chief, Central City Bodies, A.A.S.R., Valley of Syracuse, NY (5/19/2020 – Oswego, NY) – Cadet Zoe Garrison, of Oswego, NY, and Cadet Joseph Farr, of Watertown, NY, have been awarded the ROTC Americanism Award for 2020 from the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A. Cadet Garrison and Cadet Farr are both junior wellness management majors and Army ROTC at SUNY Oswego. The award recognizes second- and third-year cadets enrolled in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) who are outstanding in their class academically and in character. Three recognitions are awarded: a certificate; a medal engraved with the Scottish Rite double-headed eagle, ROTC Education, and Americanism; and a ribbon to wear along with the medal when wearing the ROTC uniform. In order to be eligible for this recognition, the cadet must:
For more information about ROTC at SUNY Oswego, visit https://www.oswego.edu/extended-learning/rotc For more information about Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, visit https://scottishritenmj.org/  Calendar
June 2020 The Central City Bodies, A.A.S.R. Valley of Syracuse is closed. We must abide by the Grand Master’s Proclamation issued May 5, 2020 cancelling all Masonic gatherings in NY State thru June 7, 2020. We will reopen when those who govern our actions approve. Summer 2020 The Family Life Picnic scheduled for August 1, 2020 at the Cicero American Legion Post is cancelled. No comments to make regarding the Syracuse Mets Baseball event in August. Very doubtful this event will happen. The next meetings and events planned for the Valley of Syracuse will be in September 2020. Formal notices for all future events will be forthcoming from the Valley office in the future. Watch for the September 2020 WORD Consistory Greetings, I hope this article finds you and your families in good health. This will be our last Word article before we take our summer break. I am hopeful that we will be able to resume some form of Masonic events in the fall. As most of you have anticipated most of the Scottish Rite events scheduled for the summer have been cancelled or pushed back to next summer. New dates for these events will be forth coming. Many thanks to Jim and Sharon Swan and Sharon Fox for doing what they can to help keep some of the crucial work of the office operating while maintaining social distancing and required safety precautions. The Executive Meeting was held on May 4 th via a Zoom meeting. I thank all who were able to participate. It was great to see the Body heads and Trustees and have the ability to take care of the business at hand thank you Jim Swan for setting this up for us. Our next Zoom Executive meeting is scheduled for June 1, 2020. Technology can be a great tool when it works properly. We held a teleconference via phone with D.B. Carl Klossner, 32*MSA, C.I.C. of the Valley of Utica, Jim Swan and myself. We discussed the possibility of resuming our joint degree work if we can meet again to confer degrees in the fall. More information will be sent out as restrictions ease up. I have been looking forward to the Thursday Night at the Rite degree programs. To keep the degree secure, you must log into the Supreme Council Member Center (https://scottishritenmj.org/login) to view the presentation on Thursday evening. If you do not have an account, you can easily create one. You need your date of birth and your member number. Once logged on you will be able to see these wonderful video degrees and they will instruct you on how you can get credit for your passport. T.P.M. Terry Byard has the link in his article. New Scottish Rite Brothers going through your degrees can log on also, but you must have seen the 4th Degree and get your membership number from our Valley secretary. If any of our Brothers or their families is in need of assistance do not hesitate to contact me at the numbers listed below or e-mail me. May the Great Architect of the Universe Bless and protect you. Fraternally, D.B. Lawrence W. Egnaczyk, 32° MSA Commander in Chief Chapter No News Received Henry R. Havener, 32° DSA Most Wise Master Council Greetings Sovereign Princes. Hope you all are doing OK and keeping safe along with your families. While there are no meetings going on, the Executive Committee, Trustees and body heads are all working very hard on trying to get events either cancelled or rescheduled for later dates. The office staff continues to ensure that bills are paid and that all appropriate reports to Supreme Council are being sent. One interesting thing that I am enjoying is “Thursday Nite at The Rite”. This is a Supreme Council program where you can watch a selected videotaped degree presentation on the website and then have your information sent electronically to the Valley for credit on your passport. Go to https://scottishritenmj.org/ and sign up for access to the member center so you can view the degrees. They are very well done and a pleasure to watch. You are all in my prayers every day. God bless you all, Freemasons, our military and this great country. James McNeal, 32º DSA Sovereign Prince Lodge Greetings Princes. As of this writing we are all still in the fight against COID19! It is with our deepest prayers that you and your families all are faring well and learning new ways to cope with the virus and social isolation. We just received a new Edict from the Grand Master extending the postponement of all Masonic Activities until 7 June 2020. However, we have also received State and Federal guidance that the impact of the virus is on the downward curve. Hopefully, we will begin the actions to return to normalcy soon. Perhaps by the time this article is published we will be a little freer to enjoy the summer and our favorite activities. On the Masonic front, many new lectures, meetings, and presentations have been happening virtually to spread the brotherly love and keep our fraternity relevant during these trying times. Of particular interest is the “Thursday Night at the Rite” series hosted by the Supreme Council. Every Thursday night at 7 and 9 PM there is a virtual Degree Watch Party, by video, on the Member Center of the AASR NMJ website AND members receive credit for the degrees!!! See https://scottishritenmj.org/member-center for more details. In addition to the above, the Valleys Executive Committee has met VIA Zoom (A digital video conferencing application) to discuss business, valley activities, and the way ahead when social restrictions are lifted. Unfortunately, with the recommendation of the Body Heads, we have decided to cancel the Family Life Outing ahead of time for the health and safety of our members. However, are working out a plan for continuing the Degree Work for our newest candidates in conjunction with the Valley of Utica. In closing this month’s article, I wanted to give special recognition to Ill. Jim Swan and his wife. Thru it all they have worked tirelessly from home to ensure the day to day business of the Valley, Dyslexia Center, Memorial Center, and the COD stay on track and working like a fine oiled machine. I can think of no finer example of a Masonic Family for us to aspire to. The next time you see them Please let them know how much they are appreciated for ALL they do for us!!! My fellow Princes, May the Great Architect continue to be with us all during these trying times. Stay well and Stay Healthy until we meet again. Terry A. Byard, 32° DSA Thrice Potent Master Welcome to My World Notes from the Children’s Dyslexia Center CNY Greetings to all from more than 6’ away. We are all surviving and, believe it or not, some of us are working more hours than normal. Who would have believed that I could become proficient in on-line interaction and tutoring??? There are several other tutors who chose to continue with the on-line process and after many hours of training and practice we have been tutoring the children (almost half) who chose to complete their year with the on-line process. It has not always been easy or totally successful (some children, like mine, are working on a phone) but we have persevered and the children seem happy to ‘see us” from afar. Gineal and I work two days a week at the Center (we do a lot of ‘yelling’ down the hall) getting all the things that need to be done and have to be done at the Center. WE are working on all of the end-of-year reports and when they are done we will schedule end-of-year meetings (via Zoom) with the second year families whose children will not be returning in the fall. We are also recruiting scholars for next year’s training program. We have one applicant accepted, another sending in their application and four or five people more who will be attending an information session (via Zoom) the beginning of June. We are a bit like the mailman- things go on at the Center no matter. We send our best to you and yours! Continued Thanks for your support! Stay Safe, Stay Well, Stay Sane. Linda L. Martin, Director Email- lmartin@cdcinc.org Phone- (315) 736-0574 Mail- Children’s Dyslexia Center- CNY PO Box 638 Oriskany, NY 13424 Knights of St. Andrew’s Bannockburn Banquet Unfortunately, along with many other events, due to COVID-19, we have cancelled our Bannockburn Banquet scheduled for June 6th at the Brae Loch Inn in Cazenovia. The Bannockburn Banquet commemorates the Battle of Bannockburn of June 1314. It was a Scottish victory by King of Scots, Robert the Bruce, against the army of King Edward II of England in the First War of Scottish Independence. Legend has it that a band of Knights Templar assisted the Bruce in achieving this victory. Like Robert the Bruce, we will be victorious over the Corona Virus and we WILL meet again. If things open up, we will try to set up an alternative event in the fall at the Brae Loch, perhaps for St. Andrew’s Day. We will return there next June to hold the Bannockburn Banquet. In the meantime, you have plenty of time to get yourself a kilt, perhaps in the Universal Freemasons tartan, now available at usakilts.com. Valley Officers The Valley office announces the 2020-2021 Valley of Syracuse Officers were appointed by the Illustrious Deputy. The Valley’s Annual Meeting, Election of Officers and formal installation will take place in September. Due to the unusual circumstances we are dealing with at this time the new officers, at the direction of the Illustrious Deputy, assumed their new positions effective May 18, 2020. On behalf of the Valley’s membership I extend my utmost appreciation to the retiring officers for all of their efforts this past year. Our event attendance was excellent and several very nice events were held. The Valley was having a very good year at the direction of the four Body heads. Terry Byard, Thrice Potent Master, Jim McNeal, Sovereign Prince and Larry Egnaczyk Commander-In-Chief are continuing to serve in their current positions as Heads of Bodies for 2020-2021. Henry Havener, Most Wise Master has retired and is replaced by Gary Hamburg as Most Wise Master in Chapter of Rose Croix. Our future Valley events and meetings schedule is uncertain as we move forward. The leadership team has a potential calendar and schedule of vents prepared for this coming September. Details will be shared as we move forward and how and when we can meet is finalized. The 32° “Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret” is scheduled to be conferred September 12, 2020 on the current class of new Scottish Riters at the Masonic Center in North Syracuse. Final plans for this event are dependent upon any meeting restrictions remaining in place at that time. Additional administration changes in managing a member’s records at Supreme Council are taking place. Most important of these changes is the direct impact it will have on the Membership of Scottish Rite. A proposal to change the schedule of collecting Member’s Annual Dues has been approved and adopted to implement in August 2020. Annual dues invoices will be issued in August each year. Members will have the ability to manage their information in the new MDS 2020 System. Your Valley office staff has been introduced to this new system. Detailed Training and learning how to use the new system is coming when it goes online in a few weeks. Ill∴ James D. Swan, Jr., 33° Valley Secretary Scottish Rite Education Scottish Rite Education and knowledge growth continues for the members of the Valleys of Syracuse and Norwood during COVID-19 Pandemic. During these unusual times the Supreme Council is providing Thursday evening at the Scottish Rite Degrees. It is particularly gratifying to learn of the ever growing number of our Scottish Rite Members taking advantage of the Thursday evening at the Degrees program. I received a report today (May 8, 2020) from Supreme Council confirming some very interesting statistics about the interest in the Degrees for Scottish Rite. As the old saying goes, “if you formulate a solid program” your members will attend and enjoy each event. For the month of April 2020 fifty-eight (58) Scottish Riters from the Valleys of Syracuse and Norwood registered their attendance on Thursday evening at the Degrees. There were one hundred and twenty-eight (128) recorded sign ins for the eight (8) events. Total degrees observed for the eight (8) presentations was one hundred and fifty-five (155). We do not know how many watched the degrees presentations without registering their attendance. If you watched the 4° “The Builder” presentation Thursday April 2, 2020 please send me an e-mail message confirming your attendance at that event. codnysecjs@twcny.rr.com The membership team at Supreme Council and your Valley office are making every effort to make certain that every degree attended is properly recorded in your Scottish Rite membership records. Supreme Council issued notice this program is planned to continue thru the month of June 2020. Continue to watch each week and please continue to register your attendance. If you have any questions please e-mail codnysecjs@twcny.rr.com or contact me by phone (315) 458-1539. The Valley office will now be shuttered thru June 7, 2020 by the Grand Master’s latest Edict. Ill∴ James D. Swan, Jr., 33° Valley Secretary Calendar
May 2020 The Central City Bodies, A.A.S.R. Valley of Syracuse is closed until further notice. We must abide by the Grand Master’s Proclamation issued April 2, 2020 cancelling all Masonic gatherings thru May 15, 2020. We will reopen when those who govern our actions approve. As result of the COVID – 19 virus Pandemic all of the regularly scheduled events scheduled in the Valley of Syracuse for the month of MAY 2020 are cancelled or postponed. Degree conferrals scheduled for April and May 2020 will be rescheduled into the Fall of 2020. (Plan for September and October) A proposal to conduct the Guard’s Club Meeting and Dinner, Four Bodies Annual Meeting and installation of the 2020-2021 all in one evening in either May or June 2020 is being discussed with the Executive committee with an announcement forthcoming when appropriate. June 2020 Scheduled events to be announced Watch for the June 2020 WORD Consistory Greetings, What an unexpected turn of events for our Nation and the World in general. As many of you already know all Masonic activities in the jurisdiction or The Grand Lodge of the State of New York have been postponed by proclamation of the M:. W:. William Sardone through May 15th 2020. It is possible that this could be extended further, only time will tell. Scottish Rite events in the N.M.J. are also postponed until further notice. I had the opportunity to read T.P.M. Terry Byards article before it went to print. Terry could not have been more eloquent in his heartfelt message which I hope we all will take the time and reflect on the things that are most important to us during this time of uncertainty. I wish I could announce when the Valley of Syracuse will resume its activities, but at the time this article will be sent to print I am unable. I hope our Masonic Families are able to endure this time in our history and we can meet again soon. I am wishing you all good health to you and your families. If anyone is in need of essential food or supplies and cannot get out to the store please contact me at the numbers listed below or e-mail me. May the Great Architect of the Universe Bless and protect you. Fraternally, D.B. Lawrence W. Egnaczyk, 32° MSA Commander in Chief Chapter No News Received Henry R. Havener, 32° DSA Most Wise Master Council Greetings Sovereign Princes. With everything going on there are obviously no events to be writing about at this time. What I would like to do is make a suggestion and that is that while you are quarantined at home why not reach out to some of your Brothers via email or phone and let them know you are thinking about them? Sometimes a sincere “hi, how you doing?” can make a person’s day. Being shut in does not mean being alone. In that spirit I would like to let each of you reading this know that if you need anything, even if it is just to talk, get a hold of me and I will be glad to help. My Brothers, I want you all, and all of your loved ones, to be safe so that when we get back to meeting again we can all see each other, smile and say “it’s good to see you”. You are all in my prayers every day. God bless you all, Freemasons, our military and this great country. James McNeal, 32º DSA Sovereign Prince Lodge Greetings Princes. Wow, how the world has changed since my last writing!!! The officers of the Lodge of Perfection and I truly wish the very best of health and perseverance to you and your families. May the hands of the Great Architect be upon us all in these trying times!! Many of us are out of work, feeling isolated, practicing social distancing and worried about the health of ourselves and Families. In addition, we are unable to meet in our Lodges and Valleys to enjoy face to face interaction with our Brethren. It can become truly overwhelming with despair ……………if we let it! Although struggling like all of us, I choose to focus on the positive! For me it has been a time of great reflection on my life, Family and the beauty of our beloved Fraternity. Home isolation has allowed me to deeply contemplate the many blessings the fraternity and the power of the Great Architect has bestowed upon me. It has allowed me to spend more quality time with my wife and video chat with kids and grandkids while reflecting on the blessing of family. Spend more time reading and reflecting on Masonic Literature. I have seen and participated in true acts of kindness, compassion, and concern for the health and welfare of elderly members of the Fraternity. I have seen the blessing of Leadership in our Fraternity, abiding by governmental guidance, adapting to an ever changing and stressful environment that threatens our way of life. The blessings of Great innovation in Social Media and other means of keeping in touch with each other. I know that by these and the glory of God all great struggles make us stronger and more resilient. I have faith, my Brethren, that by the time this is published we will be thru the worst of COVID19, my prayers are that we WILL make it thru these trying times, get back to our Masonic way of life and maybe be better Masons in the process. Terry A. Byard, 32° DSA Thrice Potent Master Welcome to My World Notes from the Children’s Dyslexia Center CNY We do appear to have a totally different view of ourselves and the world these days. I thank goodness for our faith and the support of all of you who share in this wonderful “brotherhood of man” (and woman). Nothing is normal for us at the Center. Immediately after the GALA we “shut down” when the schools closed. Gineal and I were initially planning on getting things cleaned and sorted (hundreds of old files and children’s folders await) and made plans to work at the Center Tues. and Thurs. and from home the rest of the time. We are making it a point to connect by email and letter with all of our families and tutors every week to let them know that we are still here and thinking of them. We try to keep them updated with new educational on-line opportunities and encourage them to help their child keep up with the skill they have learned at the Center. You may have heard that Lexington has afforded us the opportunity to do On-Line tutoring which half of our tutors and families have chosen to take advantage of. To be honest- I am working more hours per day than ever before. I am not the most computer savvy person, but I am doing my best to bring myself up-to-speed on the new technology and how we can use it for our children. Should the world be able to return to ‘more normal’ we will go back to tutoring at the Center, but until then, it is a “Whole New World.” We are in hopes of initiating our program this coming week, having given the children time to be settled in their home- schooling routines and us to get more proficient. We have 5 tutors and 10 children participating in the on-line program. That us about half of each from our “normal” numbers. We send our best to you and yours and Thank You for your continued support – all prayers grateful accepted. Stay Safe, Stay Well, Stay Sane. Linda L. Martin, Director Email- lmartin@cdcinc.org Phone- (315) 736-0574 Mail- Children’s Dyslexia Center- CNY PO Box 638 Oriskany, NY 13424 Feast of the Paschal Lamb During these very difficult times Central City Bodies AASR took the extraordinary steps to close the office while continuing to provide Scottish Rite information to our Valley Officers and Members from my home. The decision to cancel the 2020 Feast of the Paschal Lamb Ceremony scheduled for Saturday April 4, 2020 was a very difficult decision to make. This annual service is a special remembrance for our recently departed Scottish Rite members who have laid down their “Working Tools” of life and entered that “House not built with hands eternal to the Lord.” The Valley Office received notice during the period March 2019 thru February 2020 that the following members of Central City Bodies, A.A.S.R. passed away. May we all pause to reflect upon the memory and our thoughts of each of these loyal Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, 32° Scottish Rite Masons: Frank W. Allen Wallace V. Auser Duane E. Bailey Richard K. Barber Homer R. Conine Richard M. DenBleyker David B. Dibble Alan P. Farrington William A. Gessler Richard E. Green Robert E. Gustke Richard Heckathorn Fritz Hess Milton T. Jefferson Guenther Kolb Joseph Levinson Frank E. Lowther John P. Maurer Richard W. Moore William C. Pharoah Efrain “Frank” Rosa Ralph Rushworth George J. Schunck Christian E. Spaeth Theodore H. Tennant A. Graham Watts Kenneth C. Wheeler, Jr. 23 Psalm: The lord is my Shepherd; I Shall now want He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still Waters He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me in all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever Rest well my Princes secure in the knowledge that you lived the good life; served your Family and the Craft well; and your memory will forever be in our thoughts and minds. From the desk of Ill∴ James D. Swan, Jr., 33°, Valley Secretary Knights of St. Andrew’s Bannockburn Banquet COVID-19 NOTE: The following is reposted with the hope that we see a dramatic turn around from the situation we are experiencing in early April, when I write. My thinking is that, even if things improve, we may not be ready to resume activities by early June. Stay tuned... The Syracuse Knights of St. Andrew will hold its 2020 Bannockburn Banquet on Saturday, June 6th at the Brae Loch Inn, 5 Albany St, Cazenovia, NY 13035. The Bannockburn Banquet commemorates the Battle of Bannockburn of June 1314. It was a Scottish victory by King of Scots, Robert the Bruce, against the army of King Edward II of England in the First War of Scottish Independence. Legend has it that a band of Knights Templar assisted the Bruce in achieving this victory. Last year's Inaugural Banquet was a great success and the 2020 event should prove to be as well. Social Time will begin at 5:00 PM with the Whisky Tasting. Dinner will follow at 6:00 PM. Wives/significant others/guests are invited. This event is open to all! Make your reservations now! Cost is $45 per person. Reservations due by May 23rd, 2020. The Brae Loch Inn has rooms set aside for people coming to our event, there are not many so if interested, call the Brae Loch at (315) 655-3431, tell them that you are coming to the Scottish Rite/Knights of St. Andrew Dinner on June 6th and would like to reserve a room if any are left. Visit their website to see the rooms - https://www.braelochinn.com/ If interested in attending, please email Rick Powell (rjpowell@syr-aasr.org) for a reservation form. Once you receive it, fill it out and mail your check as described on the form. We hope that we will be able to welcome everyone to one of the Knights of St. Andrew's premier events and the unique Scottish atmosphere of the Brae Loch Inn. Stay safe...  Brother E. Oscar Alleyne, 33°, DrPH, MPH, has generously arranged a live information session for NMJ members with the Surgeon General of the United State, Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, on the Coronavirus.
The goal of the broadcast is to provide clear, truthful information to Brethren and their families as we confront the challenges posed by the virus in our homes and communities. Sovereign Grand Commander Glattly will also field a few questions on how Brothers can continue to connect with Brothers in their lodges and Valleys. The schedule is as follows: 7pm (ET) Introductions
To Join the Broadcast on Facebook The stream will begin at 7pm (ET) Simply go to the NMJ page at that time to view. You can find the page here. https://www.facebook.com/scottishritenmj/ If You Are Not on Facebook the Stream Will Be Recorded The stream will be recorded. The link will be sent to this email list as soon as it is available. The link will also be posted in the "What's Happening" section on the home page of the NMJ website. Looking forward to coming together as Brothers to connect and share this valuable information. NOTICE
ALL CENTRAL CITY BODIES A.A.S.R. MEETINGS, REHEARSALS, AND EVENTS CANCELLED MARCH 15, 2020 THRU APRIL 5, 2020 IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONTACT THE OFFICE 315-452-7976 / NY017@TWCNY.RR.COM THE OFFICE WILL REMAIN OPEN REGULAR HOURS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE |
