Thank you to Linda Egnaczyk for the photos...
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Calendar
November 2024 Nov 04 AASR Trustees 6:15 p.m. / Executive Committee 7:00 p.m. on ZOOM Nov 11 Veterans Recognition Event Social 6:00 p.m. / Dinner 6:30 p.m. / Program 7:30 p.m. Nov 28 Happy Thanksgiving December 2024 Dec 02 Executive Committee 7:00 p.m. on ZOOM Dec 09 Holiday Celebration with the Ladies Social 6:00 p.m. / Dinner 6:30 p.m. / Program 7:30 p.m. Dec 25 Merry Christmas Dec 27 Friday Holiday Luncheon at Twin Trees III Restaurant 11:45 a.m. Consistory Sublime Princes, Trunk or Treat! This edition of The WORD should arrive just before Halloween, so this is a last minute appeal to decorate your trunk and come down to Memorial Masonic Temple for our first Trunk or Treat Event. The goal is for our Valley to participate more in local community events. This event will go on whether we have 4 or 40 trunks decorated, but obviously the more the merrier. Please come out and support this event. Try to arrive by about 4:30 PM to allow time to decorate your trunk. We are scheduling the event for 5:00 PM to 7ish...ending to depend on the volume of kids stopping by for treats. In the event of foul weather we will move inside. Donations of candy to hand out to the kids would also be appreciated. Membership! Membership! Membership! I don’t want to sound like a broken record (boy that’s dating myself!), but growing our membership is the key to success in our pursuit of the Valley or Excellence Award. I’m not one to pursue an Award for the sake of getting an Award. The VoE is actually a roadmap to having a successful Valley, and in that respect it is important that we keep our eyes on the prize and continue working toward receiving this award. We did well in all other categories over the last Scottish Rite Year, but our failure to meet the membership goal sacrificed too many points to qualify for the Award. Membership is everyone’s responsibility! If you enjoy your membership in Scottish Rite, why not share that experience with a Brother from your Lodge or another Masonic friend? There are numerous opportunities throughout the year to bring your Masonic friends to non-tiled Valley events. Our schedule in November is intentionally light. Families spending time packing away all the summer and Halloween paraphernalia, putting up holiday decorations, making travel (or hosting) plans for Thanksgiving and the December holidays should take precedence over Masonic Activities. In an effort to avoid interfering with family plans we have scheduled only one event for November...our Veterans Recognition Event. Our guest speaker for the evening will be RW and MI Donald Kunego, Past Grand Master of Cryptic Masons in New York and chairman of the Military Outreach Committee of the Grand Lodge of NY. MI Kunego is an engaging speaker and I am sure that he will have an inspiring message for us. I encourage everyone to make an effort to attend this event. Our program, prior to hearing from MI Kunego, will be a version of an Empty Chair Degree to honor and recall those Brothers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the country. Mark your calendars now for our December Holiday Events. Our Holiday party with our Ladies will be on December 9th and our Holiday Luncheon will be at Twin Trees III on December 27th. I also want to plant a bug in everyone’s ear to be open to the idea of participating in our live degrees. The 14° , 17° and at least a portion of the 32° will be done live in Spring 2025. I would very much like to see us do the full 32 nd Degree live. In a related venture, the Knights of St. Andrew are looking to bring back December’s Rose, a Masonic Play written by Carl H. Claudy. Originally titled “A Rose Upon the Alter” the play is set in 1939 in a lodge suffering financial difficulties, not unlike many lodges today. The Valley of Syracuse presented this play in years past. It is unique in that the cast is seated among the audience in a Lodge Room. Participating in live degrees and/or December’s Rose is a great way to enjoy some camaraderie with your Brethren. Enjoy your Thanksgiving with Family and Friends. I look forward to greeting everyone at our Valley events. Fraternally, Ill. William H. Toth II, 33° MSA Commander in Chief Chapter No News Received… Joseph W. Flanagan, 32° Most Wise Master. Council To me, one of the most impactful and iconic symbols in Freemasonry is the Sword & Trowel. Nehemiah 4:15-17 states "...everyone with one of his hands wrought in work, and with the other hand held a weapon." The trowel most commonly symbolizes the "spreading of the cement of brotherly love" while emphasizing the need for unity, understanding and mutual support. Society, across the world, has created such an immense atmosphere of division and hatred. We, as Freemasons, need to remain at the forefront of creating harmony amongst all mankind. While the Trowel emphasizes our relationship with other men, the Sword is just as commonly referenced as being symbolic of the Word of God or also commonly, the Sacred Volume of Law. If we are to use it as our "rule and guide" in life then it would stand to reason that we need to sharpen the Sword. To sharpen the sword suggests the need to study and apply the lessons taught within that Sacred Volume. In Scottish Rite Masonry-NMJ, the 15th Degree-Knight of the East & 16th Degree-Prince of Jerusalem are referred to as being "historical degrees." Historically the two degrees reference the liberation from Babylon and the rebuilding of the Temple of Solomon. The core values presented in these degrees are Integrity through loyalty to conviction and fidelity to duty, and devotion to truth through Reverence to God. October 28th the Valley of Syracuse will host presentations of both the 15° and 16°. Michael A. Miller, 32° Sovereign Prince Lodge Greetings Brothers! I am happy to report that the 4° and 11° in September went well, we initiated three new bothers into the Scottish Rite with Past Grand Master Jeffery Williamson, our class sponsor, in attendance. As we are about to go through October, we will have our awards recognition night as well as conferring the 15° and 16°. A truly exciting time in the Scottish Rite this fall. Watching, and being a part of these degrees is a great experience to be had by all. I can also report that our Walk for the Children’s Dyslexia Center went well raising what I am told to be over $8,000. for the center. As I may have mentioned before, my wife has personal experience seeing the truly amazing results of the work done at this center, it is a wonderful resource for these kids. Please remember we will be having our Veterans Recognition night on November 11th , social starts at 6pm, dinner at 6:30 with the program to follow. Also, it is my hope that you take the opportunity during this Thanksgiving to spend time with your families and relax. Yes, Thanksgiving is about the Turkey, Stuffing, Apple pie etc. It is also about the Pilgrims and the very origins of this country and how the government works. The Mayflower Compact signed on the ship before they all came ashore, agreeing to work together as one body under rules of self-governance is widely considered the first document binding together the people of this land, that came after the indigenous people. Most important, however, is the opportunity in our society where people still travel from their normal everyday lives to be together as a family and be thankful for what they have, and the loved ones around them. Peace and happiness be with you brothers, and Happy Thanksgiving. Sincerely & Fraternally, Eric Driscoll, 32° Thrice Potent Master Hospitaler In distress are Heather Scarson with Cancer, Bill Toth is having some issues, Steve Maddox is continuing with his recovery. We pray for healing on these Brothers and Sister. We need to keep our Brothers and Sisters in the hurricane areas in our prayers. If you want to make donations you can donate to them through the Hospitaler Fund marking it for the Hurricane relief. Please keep the Valley informed of anyone in distress so we know. The office staff is great at getting out cards. I hope you all have a great Masonic Year. Ill. Garry Visconti, 33° MSA [email protected] (315) 529-1936 Welcome to My World Notes from the Children’s Dyslexia Center CNY One month of tutoring has passed quickly at the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Central New York. The eleven first-year students have learned the routine and have begun to feel more comfortable coming to the center and with their tutors. The eight second-year students continue to work hard learning the strategies that will help them be successful. Observations of our tutors in training both Practitioners 1 and 2 have begun and it is amazing to watch them put into practice what they have learned during their Saturday training sessions. The dedication of our Practitioners and all our tutors is incredible! Many of our trainees and newer tutors stay at the center hours after the students have gone home to work on their lesson plans. Our two trainees that are working on their Mentor/Supervisor certification have completed their first observations of tutors, providing them with feedback as well as learning about the everyday workings of the center. New applications continue to arrive at the center for families looking for help for their children struggling to learn to read. As each application is processed those children that are accepted are added to our never-ending waitlist. As we prepare for the Thanksgiving break, I reflect on how truly blessed we are to be able to provide tutoring services for children in our community. This would not be possible without the continued support and generosity of many. I am profoundly grateful! Marianne Jones, Director Email: [email protected] Mail- Children’s Dyslexia Center- CNY PO Box 638 Oriskany, NY 13424 Member’s Annual Dues Notices By the time you receive the November WORD you will have received (we hope) your 2025 Central City Bodies, A.A.S.R. Member’s Annual Dues Notice mailed to you from Supreme Council. There is a nominal dues amount increase for 2025 as result of the four years annual Member’s Dues increase plan approved in 2023. Please pay your 2025 Member’s Dues prior to January 30, 2025. NOTE: 2025 Member’s Dues notices were delayed coming from Supreme Council. You should have received your invoice by now. Please contact the Valley office if you have any questions (315) 452-7976 about your invoice. Happy Thanksgiving Family Celebrations are important to all of us. Thanksgiving is a festive time for Families to gather together to give thanks and blessings for the bounty we all enjoy. Many college students are home for their first break from studies. Parents and Grandparents gather around the “Harvest Table” with their families for the traditional Thanksgiving Feast. The Valley Office Staff: Mrs. Sharon Fox, Mrs. Sharon Swan, and Jim Swan, Valley Secretary, on behalf of all Central City Bodies, A.A.S.R. Officers and Members in the Valley of Syracuse wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. May peace and goodwill be the toast of this special Day. Please take care when you travel to be with your families and have a safe Holiday. Happy Thanksgiving to all, The Office Scholarship Information Supreme Council Abbott Scholarship and NY Scottish Rite Financial Education Financial Assistance applications are scheduled to be available online prior to the end of November 2024. Information received to date indicates one application for both scholarships will be used again this year. The exact due date for the next year’s submittals is not confirmed to date. I suggest you plan to complete your applications and submit them to the Valley of Syracuse office no later than March 15, 2025. Watch the articles in the WORD from the Valley “subject 2025-2026 Scholarships” or go online to answer your questions Web site addresses to contact: www.nysccottishritemasons.org or www. syr-aasr.org Be prepared! Office FAX Number Changed The office has installed a new telephone system. As a part of the new system the telephone number to contact the Facsimile Machine in the Valley of Syracuse Office is changed from 315-452-9679 to 315 214-8009. Please contact the office at 315-452-7976 if you have any questions or require assistance contacting the office using the facsimile machine. Assistance Needed! D. B. Gerald Hoag, 32° MSA is having health issues requiring him to step down as our four bodies Tyler. This is a key position for each tyled meeting, required to be present for each tyled meeting requiring the meeting to be held in the Lodge Room (Cathedral) Please contact Bill Toth, Carl Fahrenkrug, or Jim Swan if you are interested in assuming this position. The need is immediate. What does the Tyler do for each meeting? Guards the Outer door; Sets out the officer’s aprons and jewels for each meeting putting each at the correct Officer’s Station; Sets out the Bible, Square, Compasses and Delta for each meeting; Assists in the Robing Room when requested. Please contact one of the three individuals above if you are interested. Jim Swan Valley Secretary It's that time again!!! The Knights of St. Andrew present 2025 BURNS SUPPER on Saturday, January 18th, 2025 at Coleman's Irish Pub,100 South Lowell Avenue, Syracuse, NY A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems and a famous Freemason. The suppers are normally held on or near the poet's birthday, 25 January, sometimes also known as Robert Burns Day or Burns Night, although they may in principle be held at any time of the year. Burns suppers are most common in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but occur wherever there are Burns Clubs, Scottish Societies, Masonic Lodges, expatriate Scots, or aficionados of Burns' poetry. Social Time will begin at 5:00 PM. Dinner will be buffet style and cost will be $47.00 per person. Wives/significant others/guests are invited. This event is open to all but seating is limited so make your reservation now! Kilts and other Tartan clothing are encouraged!!! Please consider joining us for a fun filled evening! Just print & fill out the registration flyer below and make your check out to the Central City Bodies AASR and mail to Richard Powell. Be sure to write "KSA Burns Supper" in the memo area of your check. 
Calendar
October 2024 Oct 7 Executive Committee Meeting 7:00 p.m. Oct 21 Awards and Recognition Event Social 6:00 p.m. / Dinner 6:30 p.m. / Program Oct 28 Confer 15° & 16° 7:30 p.m. November 2024 Nov 04 Trustees (6:15 p.m.) & Executive Committee (7:00 p.m.) Zoom Meetings Nov 11 Veterans Recognition Event Social 6:00 p.m. / Dinner 6:30 p.m. / Program 7:30 p.m. Nov 28 Happy Thanksgiving Consistory Sublime Princes, Publication deadlines being what they are, I am writing this article prior to any of our September events. Nevertheless, our Kickoff event seems to be shaping up quite well. Special thanks to Dr. Tim Page who arranged for our guest speaker Ill. Randy Seiple who presented a program on the 133rd Psalm. We were also pleased to have MW and Ill. Jeffrey M. Williamson present with us at the kickoff event. MW Williamson is our class sponsor for the 2024 – 2025 class of candidates for Scottish Rite Freemasonry. Just a reminder, candidates can join the class at any point over the coming year. I have committed to adding a 4° Video to any scheduled Degree Night if we have a new candidate to join the class. Officers training was held on Sept. 23rd and the 2024 – 2025 class started their Scottish Rite journey with presentations of the 4° and 11° on Sept. 30th. October is my favorite month of the year. Warm sunny days provide the opportunity for a few late season motorcycle rides to enjoy the spectacular fall colors which grace our hillsides in the Northeastern US. It is also the time when we hold our annual Awards and Recognition Event. The glue that gives cohesiveness to our Valley comes from a broad range of outstanding Brothers who live Masonic ideals each day of their lives. It is appropriate that we take an evening to recognize the long and faithful service of some of those who have contributed so much to the success of this Valley. We have been informed that DB Richard Freeman and DB Avery Wheelock have been elected to receive the 33° at the Supreme Council Session in Indianapolis, Indiana in 2025. We hope you can be present with us at our Awards and Recognition Event on October 21st. Next up in October the Council Princes of Jerusalem will present the 15° and 16° on October 28th . The 15° will be live followed by a video presentation of the 16°. These are paired degrees and, in my opinion, they are best when witnessed together. I would also like to take a moment and encourage everyone to consider taking a part in one of our live degrees. We have parts available for all skill levels and interests...walk-on parts, one-liners, as well as assisting with props and in the robing room. Video degrees have their place, but live degrees offer the best opportunities for fellowship both at rehearsals and on opening night! At our Executive Committee Meeting on August 26th there was some discussion about making Scottish Rite more visible to the community. One of the suggestions was a “Trunk or Treat”. So, calling all Halloween fanatics! Bring your car, truck or SUV to the Memorial Masonic Temple parking lot and decorate your trunk (or truck bed) for Halloween on Thursday evening, October 31st 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Bring lots of candy for the kiddies and plan to have a good time. In the event of bad weather we will put some decorations in front of the building and have the candy and additional decorations in the lobby area. Mystery prize for best decorated vehicle(or inside display). This event was not included on your Scottish Rite schedule so please mark your calendar accordingly. Membership remains a top priority of the Valley. Our goal is once again 14 new 4° Members during this 2024 – 2025 year. If you are aware of any opportunities to speak about Scottish Rite at Lodge events, or in your districts, please speak to myself or any Valley Officers. I look forward to greeting everyone at our Valley events. Fraternally, Ill. William H. Toth II, 33° MSA Commander in Chief Chapter Greetings from Chapter of Rose Croix. We are looking forward to our live 18th Degree and Feast of the Pascal Lamb later this year. I hope that everyone reading this will be able to attend and that more than a few of you will be able to join the cast. In my last article, I discussed the important roles of Faith, Hope and Charity in the Rose Croix and I discussed the virtue of Faith. In this article, I would like to discuss Hope. In challenging times, when society faces uncertainty, hardship, and despair, hope becomes an essential source of strength. Hope offers a vision of better days ahead, helping individuals persevere through adversity and inspiring collective action toward positive change. Amid global crises—whether they be economic, social, environmental, or health-related—hope is the driving force that prevents us from surrendering to despair. The teachings of the Scottish Rite, particularly the Rose Croix degree (the 18th Degree, Knight Rose Croix), provide profound insights into the nature of hope. In Freemasonry, the Rose Croix degree is symbolic of spiritual growth, renewal, and the triumph of truth over darkness. Through the imagery of the rose and the cross, this degree emphasizes that life is full of trials, but it is through facing these challenges that we find growth, purpose, and redemption. In the Rose Croix degree, the cross represents suffering and sacrifice, while the rose symbolizes beauty and resurrection. Together, they reflect the duality of existence: hardship intertwined with hope, and darkness with the promise of light. This duality speaks to the core of the human experience, where hope becomes the means by which we transcend suffering and find spiritual and personal renewal. Hope, in the context of the Rose Croix, is not merely a passive wish for better times. It is an active force that compels us to seek truth, pursue justice, and live by the values of compassion and love. In this way, hope becomes a call to action, urging us to make positive contributions to our communities, stand up for what is right, and strive for a more just and harmonious world. The Rose Croix degree also teaches that hope is the antidote to despair. In times of darkness, when individuals may experience their own "dark night of the soul," hope offers the promise of renewal and resurrection. It reminds us that despair, though painful, is not the end. With perseverance and faith, we can rise from our struggles stronger and wiser. In these difficult times, the need for hope is clear. Through the lens of the Scottish Rite Rose Croix, hope becomes both a guiding light and a powerful motivator, reminding us that, even in the face of adversity, better days are always possible. Joseph W. Flanagan, 32° Most Wise Master. Council In the NMJ, the Council of Princes of Jerusalem stands alone as the second of the four bodies and that comprises a complete Scottish Rite Valley. Often this body is known for conferring "the Historical Degrees" known as the 15°,Knight of the East and the 16°, Prince of Jerusalem. At the Scottish Rite, NMJ, The name of the body, Council of Princes of Jerusalem, refers to a character in the 16° degree who is given the title: Prince of Jerusalem. The two degrees of the Council of Princes of Jerusalem constitute an allegorical narrative that relays the story of a captive people who "wept beside the rivers of Babylon." The parable tells that when the people were liberated, they were tasked with building the Second Temple or rebuilding the original Temple of Solomon, which marauding Assyrians had destroyed. At the center of the story are the characters Daniel, Joshua, Zerubbabel, and his companions. Through these two degrees, the virtues of patience, courage, and fortitude are juxtaposed with disillusionment as the tale progresses along with the building of the Temple. The lessons of these historical degrees are drawn from the historical drama which transpired during the reigns of the Great Kings, Cyrus and Darius. The 15th degree, Knight of the East, teaches us to emulate Zerubbabel, who would not violate his obligations even when tempted. The philosophy woven through this allegory is that maintaining loyalty to conviction, fidelity to duty, and devotion to truth are the essences of integrity. Integrity is a Core Value demonstrated by the actions of the characters. In the 16th degree, Prince of Jerusalem, the court of King Darius contemplates what motivates a man. Through this story, we gain an understanding of a philosophy that states that devotion to truth surpasses secular motivations. The Scottish Rite Core Value emphasized here is Reverence for God. Michael A. Miller, 32° Sovereign Prince Lodge I write to you just before our kickoff meeting which will be held on September 9th . I am sure that once this article reaches you all we will have had a successful meeting, as well as a viewing of the 4° and 11° that came later in September. If you did not get a chance to go to these wonderful degrees, I urge you to do so next time. With these as well as all of our degrees, they are meant to be viewed many times throughout life to instill in our minds the lessons they teach. It is true, that there is nothing quite like a live degree, but there is great value to those shown on video with the full versions of the degrees, with all parts done with professional actors. Coming up on October 5th , the Dyslexia Learning Center walk-a-thon. I urge you all to attend if possible, or to support those walking as liberally as you are able. This is a wonderful cause with immediate true benefit to Children in our community. Later in the month we have our awards and recognition evening on October 21st starting at 6pm for social hour, followed by our conferring of the 15° and 16° on October 28th . Looking forward to seeing you soon Brothers! Sincerely & Fraternally, Eric Driscoll, 32° Thrice Potent Master Hospitaler Here we are with meetings going strong. Sad news Is that RW Alan Morgan Past Senior Grand Warden passed away in Nevada. Please keep this brother’s family in your prayers. In distress is Ill Garret Wikoff who is continuing to recover from his heart surgery, he has had a couple setbacks but is doing well. Also in distress are Heather Scarson with Cancer and Duane Crapser is continuing to recover from his surgery. We pray for healing on these brothers and sisters. Please keep the Valley informed of anyone in distress so we know. The office staff is great at getting out cards. I hope you all have a great Masonic Year. Ill. Garry Visconti, 33° MSA [email protected] (315) 529-1936 Welcome to My World Notes from the Children’s Dyslexia Center CNY October is an exciting time at the Central New York Children’s Dyslexia Center. The second-year students come in smiling and confident, knowing that they are in a place where they can continue to learn new strategies and be provided with the “tools” to help them overcome the challenges they have faced in the past in regard to reading, writing and spelling. The first-year students arrive nervously, not knowing what to expect. And then there are the new tutors and Practitioners who are nervous as well to meet their new students and take on the challenging task of helping them to overcome the challenges that they have faced. It is a learning experience for all. Our Practitioner 1 trainees continue to meet once a month at the center for Saturday training and are receiving the mentoring they need to learn the Level 1 and 2 curriculum and the techniques we use when working with the students. The Practitioner 2 trainees meet once a month on-line in a google classroom to continue their training, learning the Level 3, 4, and 5 curriculum and learning about the layers and origins of our language. We kick off October with our annual Walk-A-Thon at the Eastern Star campus and look forward in the upcoming months to our Utica Coffee and a Popcorn fundraiser. We thank those who have helped make these events successful in the past and hope we can continue to increase involvement so that we may keep on providing tutoring and training at CNY. Marianne Jones, Director Email: [email protected] Mail- Children’s Dyslexia Center- CNY PO Box 638 Oriskany, NY 13424 Awards and Recognition Evening Central City Bodies hosts the Annual Awards and Recognition event Monday evening October 21, 2024 with an evening starting with “Before Dinner Snacks” and social time starting at 6:00 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. with the Awards and Recognition program in the Lodge room at 7:30 p.m. This evening is open to our members, their families, and guests. You are encouraged to attend when many of our dedicated and hard working Scottish Rite Valley Officers and members will receive recognition that evening for the many tasks completed each year. We will be serving a Roasted Turkey Breast dinner for this event. Cost is $20.00 per person with pre reservations by October 15, 2024 required. Contact the Valley office (315) 452-7976 to make your reservations for dinner. Please make certain to inform us of any dietary restrictions or food allergies you may have. Dress code for the event is Valley Officers tuxedos with shirt and tie. Other members Smart business Dress with Jacket and tie. Ladies smart business dress. Additional information about this event will be coming to you in the next few weeks. Member’s Annual Dues Notices By the time you receive the September WORD you will have received your 2025 Central City Bodies, A.A.S.R. Member’s Annual Dues Notice mailed to you from Supreme Council. There is a nominal dues amount increase for 2025 as result of the four years annual Member’s Dues increase plan approved in 2023. Please pay your 2025 Member’s Dues prior to December 31, 2024. Please contact the Valley office if you have any questions (315) 452-7976 about your Invoice. Degree Cast Invitation The Central City Bodies are organizing the degrees casts for the planned live degrees and “Feast of the Paschal Lamb” to be presented during the 2024 – 2025 Scottish Rite year. Degrees and ceremony planned and the date they are scheduled to be presented live are: Monday October 28, 2024 Council Princes of Jerusalem confers the 15° “Knight of the East” Monday February 24, 2025 Chapter of Rose Croix confers the 18° “Knight of Rose Croix H.R.D.M.” Saturday March 22, 2025 Lodge of Perfection confers the 14° Grand Elect Mason”. Saturday March 22, 2025 Consistory confers the 32° “Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret” Saturday April 12, 2025 Chapter of Rose Croix presents “Feast of the Paschal Lamb” We are seeking members to be a part of the degree teams for these degrees and ceremony. Speaking and non-speaking participants are required for all of these degrees. What is required: 1. Learn speaking parts of the ritual; 2. Attend one or two rehearsals to make certain the floor work is coordinated; 3. Attend the degree presentation on the specified date. Contact the Valley office if you wish to participate. (315) 452-7976. 2025 Burns Supper Mark your calendars! The Burns Supper will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Details will be coming this month. Calendar
September 2024 Sep 09 Annual Fall Kick-off Event Social 6:00 p.m. / Dinner 6:30 p.m. / Program Sep 23 All Bodies Officer’s Meeting 7:30 p.m. Install remaining 2024 Officers / Officer’s Training & Information Meeting Sep 30 Confer 4° & 11° 7:30 p.m. Refreshments to follow October 2024 Oct 7 Executive Committee Meeting 7:00 p.m. Oct 21 Awards and Recognition Event Social 6:00 p.m. / Dinner 6:30 p.m. / Program Oct 28 Confer 15° & 16° 7:30 p.m. Consistory Sublime Princes, I would be remiss if I did not begin this article with a sincere “Thank you” to all the Sublime Princes and Brothers who have been so supportive to me during Diana’s final illness and and in the weeks following her funeral service. The cards, texts, phone calls and emails have been overwhelming at times, but I am slowly getting my thank you cards out and personally expressing my appreciation for the expressions of sympathy and support that have been extended to myself and family. In my opinion it is at times like this that our fraternity truly shines. I have quite literally heard from all corners of the state…Albany to Buffalo and NYC to Black River. I am truly humbled by the level of support and encouragement. I also feel compelled to apologize for being distracted over the last few months. Caring for Diana monopolized my time and the situation did not materially improve while I was arranging her funeral and attending to all the financial details which all seemed to require immediate attention. I am slowly establishing a new “normal” and will do my best to give our Valley the attention it deserves. Thank you for your patience as I make this adjustment. As I write this article we have had three Valley events over the summer months with the Valley Picnic still about 1 ½ weeks away. Our Motorcycle Ride to the Dyslexia Center was well attended. We had a number of riders from the Cicero American Legion Post who participated and who were very impressed by the work of the Dyslexia Center. Next up was Scottish Rite Night at the Syracuse Mets...also well attended. Everyone I spoke to had a great time. Unfortunately our 19° Adaptation could not be done as planned. We did meet on July 29th and substituted video presentations of the 8° and 28° before adjourning to the dining room for hot dogs and sauerkraut. Looking ahead to September, our Fall Kickoff and Brother Bring a Brother is happening on September 9th . Social Time at 6:00 PM with Dinner at 6:30 PM. This is an excellent opportunity to introduce one (or more) of your Lodge Brothers to Scottish Rite Freemasonry. We will be having a special presentation that evening by RW Randolph L. Seipel Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Indiana. More information on the program is contained in the Secretary’s column elsewhere on this page. Many thanks to Dr. Timothy Page for arranging for RW Seipel to be with us for this special program. Monday, September 23rd will be Officer’s Training for all 4 Bodies. We will also install any Officers who were unavailable to be installed in May. The meeting and training will begin at 7:30 PM and we will have light refreshments afterwards. Our 2024 – 2025 class will begin their Scottish Rite journey on September 30th when we confer the 4° and 11° by video. Lodge of Perfection will open at 7:30 PM and light refreshments will be available in the dining room following the Degree presentations. Our Class Sponsor for the 2024 – 2025 Class is GM Jeffrey M. Williamson. Get your petitions in to have your candidates be part of this class. As we start our fall schedule, it is not too early to start thinking of the Valley of Excellence Award and what we need to do to earn it. We have confirmation that our new member goal is once again 14 new 4° Scottish Riters, so let's talk up Scottish Rite at our Craft Lodges and generate some petitions. Once again, we will do a video 4° on any scheduled degree night if we have a new petition. This will allow our petitioners to start their journey shortly after submitting their petition, and no matter when they start they will be able to complete their required Scottish Rite degrees at our festival in March 2025. We also need to be on the lookout for opportunities to do 4 Rite on the Road Events. Fraternally, Ill. William H. Toth II, 33° MSA Commander in Chief Chapter At the Chapter of Rose Croix, we are looking forward to an exciting year at the Valley of Syracuse. We will be having a live presentation of the 18th Degree and the Feast of the Paschal Lamb. There are many virtues that are important in Scottish Rite Masonry, and in the Chapter of Rose Croix, the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity are held in particular esteem. For the Chapter, Faith is not merely a religious or doctrinal concept but a profound trust in higher principles and the inherent goodness of the universe. It symbolizes a deep, unwavering belief in the ultimate truth and the moral compass that guides human behavior. Faith, as presented in the Rose Croix degree, is about more than just belief in a higher power; it is a commitment to living by principles of justice, compassion, and integrity. The Rose Croix degree explores the trials and tribulations of historical and symbolic figures, showing how faith can guide one through adversity. This faith is seen as a source of strength, enabling individuals to overcome personal and societal challenges. It encourages Masons to maintain their convictions even when faced with doubt or difficulty, fostering resilience and perseverance. Moreover, the virtue of faith in the Rose Croix degree reinforces the idea that spiritual growth and personal transformation are possible through dedication and trust in higher principles. By nurturing faith, Masons are encouraged to develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in the world, promoting harmony and ethical conduct in their lives and communities. Joseph W. Flanagan, 32° Most Wise Master. Council Greetings Princes, On behalf of Linda and I, we trust that all is well with you and that the summer so far has been a time of rejuvenation mentally, physically and spiritually! We have spent the past month traveling through Canada, the 1000 Island Region, the ADK region, NH and finally the Leatherstocking region. Our journey has been an outstanding one. With all of that, I am looking forward to once again returning to our work in continuing our Masonic education. I anticipate working closely with the other body heads to help each of you achieve your personal goals within the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. "Situated at the center of the 32 degree Scottish Rite Freemasonry is the Council of Princes of Jerusalem, the second subordinate body. The degrees in this body are known as the historical degrees, the lessons of which are translated through settings based on the Babylonian captivity of the Jewish people and the building of the second Temple...The degrees of the Council of Princes of Jerusalem examine a historical period from 538-516 BC...The events depicted through the story of this body may be thousands of years old, the lessons remain as pertinent today as ever. The beauty, wisdom, and mystery of Masonic teachings are that they are truly timeless." (www.scottishritenmj.org) Again, my best to all! S & F, Michael A. Miller, 32° Sovereign Prince Lodge Greetings Brothers!! It is very hard to believe as I write this that summer is almost over and I am writing an article for September already !!! I do hope that you all have enjoyed the summer activities and had some much needed time to enjoy time with your families, friends, and hobbies. Hopefully you were able to get that trip in, or stay at home and get some things accomplished! I do want to restate how excited and humbled I am to be taking on the role of Thrice Potent Master with the Scottish Rite. We have some exciting things coming up this year, but to start we will be having a Brother Bring a Brother night on September 9th! This is an amazing opportunity to bring someone who may be searching for even more light in Masonry. Please do consider coming to this wonderful kickoff dinner, I do hope to see you and many potential class members there!! Also, we have on September 30th, the 4th and 11th degree being shown! With this, we start early in the Masonic year with new Brothers, as well as an opportunity to re-experience two amazing degrees in the Scottish Rite. Looking forward to seeing you soon Brothers! Sincerely & Fraternally, Eric Driscoll, 32° Thrice Potent Master Hospitaler Well, welcome back from a hot summer and I hope you all enjoyed your summer. A Few members did not have such a great summer. Ill. Gary Kall passed away in the Eastern Star Home where he had resided for several years, a Masonic, Eastern Stair and 33° services were held for him. James Mooney passed away and had a Masonic Service and Salvador Gandia also passed away. Diana Toth, wife of our Commander and Chief, passed away also. Please keep these brothers and sister families in your prayers. Distress are Heather Scarson with Cancer, Jackie Gates fractured her wrist, Dolly Byard had Gallbladder surgery, Ill Garrett Wikoff - Surgery, Ill Richard Powell - carpal tunnel surgery, Ill Gary Hartman – surgery, Ernie Parker – heart surgery, David Robling – High Blood Pressure, Karl Parker – Surgery, Duane Crapser – Surgery and John Pierce – Surgery. We pray for healing for these brothers and sisters. Please keep the valley informed of anyone in distress so we know. The office staff is great at getting out cards. I hope you all have a great Masonic Year. Ill. Garry Visconti, 33° MSA [email protected] (315) 529-1936 Welcome to My World Notes from the Children’s Dyslexia Center CNY Summer came and went with a flash and with September here we are busy at the center filling bins for tutors and students with supplies for their lessons, preparing binders, managing the September assessment schedule for new students, finalizing the tutoring schedule and preparing for our mandatory parent information night. This year there will be eight second year students and ten first year students at the center. We have three new Practitioner 1 trainees, two Practitioner 2 trainees, and two trainees working on Instructor of Practitioner 1and Supervisor/Mentor training. Instructor of Practitioner 1 training is a two-year process. We also have five new staff members. We are looking forward to our annual Walk-A-Thon in October and wish to thank all those who participated in our summer events, the Ride, The Teddy Bear Classic and the Brooks Barbeque. Our center is successful and we are able to provide the tutoring for the students and training for the adults because of the time and effort so many caring individuals put into each and every one of these events. Marianne Jones, Director Email: [email protected] Mail- Children’s Dyslexia Center- CNY PO Box 638 Oriskany, NY 13424 2024 FALL KICKOFF EVENT The Summer recess is over! It is time to return to the labors of the Fall. This is a Stag event for the men! Members have received the meeting notice. Monday September 09, 2024 is the date for the first event of the Valley of Syracuse Fall 2024 meeting season. It is the traditional Fall Kickoff Steak Bake. Menu is Steak with salt potatoes, sweet corn, and all of the good stuff that goes with it. Cost is $ 20.00 per member. Prepaid Reservations for the dinner are required with deadline of Tuesday September 3, 2024 to make your reservation. Contact the Valley office to make your reservation (315) 452-7976 or [email protected]. This year’s event will feature a presentation by R∴ W∴ Randolph L. Seiple, 33° MSA, Deputy Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Indiana. His program; “Psalms 133 Unity of Brotherly Love” will be informative and entertaining. Bring a Masonic friend who is not a member of Scottish Rite with you and he will be a guest of the Valley for dinner. Door prizes will be given out to those attending and a lucky attender will receive two tickets to a Fall 2024 Syracuse University Football game Recruit a new member and be a first line signer on his petition and receive two guest tickets to attend the Valley Reunion Banquet Monday April 14. 2025 at the North Syracuse Masonic Center. Initiation fees for new members is $160.00 and includes several benefits for the new member. Petitions for new members will be available from the Office, at the event, or from Valley Officers. Member’s Annual Dues Notices By the time you receive the September WORD you will have received your 2025 Central City Bodies, A.A.S.R. Member’s Annual Dues Notice mailed to you from Supreme Council. There is a nominal dues amount increase for 2025 as result of the four years annual Member’s Dues increase plan approved in 2023. Please pay your 2025 Member’s Dues prior to December 31, 2024. Please contact the Valley office if you have any questions (315) 452-7976 about your Invoice. Degree Cast Invitation The Central City Bodies are organizing the degrees casts for the planned live degrees and “Feast of the Paschal Lamb” to be presented during the 2024 – 2025 Scottish Rite year. Degrees and ceremony planned and the date they are scheduled to be presented live are: Monday October 28, 2024 Council Princes of Jerusalem confers the 15° “Knight of the East” Monday February 24, 2025 Chapter of Rose Croix confers the 18° “Knight of Rose Croix H.R.D.M.” Saturday March 22, 2025 Lodge of Perfection confers the 14° Grand Elect Mason”. Saturday March 22, 2025 Consistory confers the 32° “Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret” Saturday April 12, 2025 Chapter of Rose Croix presents “Feast of the Paschal Lamb” We are seeking members to be a part of the degree teams for these degrees and ceremony. Speaking and non-speaking participants are required for all of these degrees. What is required: 1. Learn speaking parts of the ritual; 2. Attend one or two rehearsals to make certain the floor work is coordinated; 3. Attend the degree presentation on the specified date. Contact the Valley office if you wish to participate. (315) 452-7976. 2025 Burns Supper Mark your calendars! The Burns Supper will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Details will be coming soon. The Valley of Syracuse celebrated the summer with a couple of activities. Thanks to Linda Egnaczyk, we have some photos. First up was our Annual Syracuse Mets Baseball Game held on July 19th: ...and on August 17th, we held our Family Life Picnic: The degrees to be presented by Central City Bodies, AASR Monday July 29, 2024 are changed. The planned and advertised presentation of a special adaptation of the 19° is postponed to a date later in 2024. Videos of the 8° “Intendant of the Building” and the 28° “Knight of the Sun” will be presented. All members attending will receive Passport credit for attending this event. All 32° Scottish Rite Masons are invited to attend. Please bring your “Passport” and your current “Member’s Card” to be admitted. Please contact the Valley of Syracuse office Monday July 29, 2024 if you have questions. Fraternally, William H. Toth, II, 33° MSA James D. Swan, Jr., 33°
Commander-In Chief Valley Secretary Calendar
May 2024 May 13 Guard’s Club Annual Meeting 6:15 p.m. Dinner & Meeting Four Bodies Annual meeting & Officer’s Election 7:30 p.m. May 20 Installation of Officers Social 6:00 p.m. / Dinner 6:30 p.m. / Install Officers 7:30 p.m. June 2024 Jun 3 Trustees Meeting Live 6:15 p.m. / Executive Committee Meeting Live 7:00 p.m. Jun 28 NYS COD Annual Session- Call Office Jun 29 NYS COD Annual Session- Call Office Summer 2024 Special Events Office will send notice for each event to the Valley Members Jul 7 Motorcycle Ride Event Jul 19 Syracuse Mets vs. Rochester Red Wings Baseball Game Jul 29 Knights of St. Andrew Special 19 th Degree presentation Aug 2 Teddy Bear Golf Outing Aug 14 Rite on the Road Event @ North Syracuse Masonic Center Aug 17 Family Life All Masonic Picnic Event @ Cicero American Legion Aug 26 Trustees Meeting 6:15 p.m. / Executive Committee Meeting 7:00 p.m. Consistory Sublime Princes, Let me start by offering a sincere “Thank You” to all who stepped up in Lodge, Council, Chapter and Consistory to present our live degrees this year. We wrapped up this year’s degree presentations with a 5 Degree Festival on April 13th . Live Degree presentations are, I feel, an important part of the Scottish Rite Degree Experience. There are select degrees which are better in a video format because of elaborate staging or very large casts, but overall live degrees are my preferred format. I will continue to challenge us to put on a rather full schedule of live degrees in the coming year. My emphasis on live degrees is rooted in the belief that the interpersonal relationships fostered in the team effort required to present a live degree strengthen our Valley. Our Reunion Banquet was also well attended and I hope everyone had an opportunity to socialize and renew friendships. Centerville Chapter, once again, did an outstanding job preparing our feast. We are grateful for all the support they provide to the Valley. There are only two events during May. First up is our Guards Club Dinner and Meeting on May 13th . All who have participated in presenting our degrees during this Scottish Rite year are invited to attend the dinner. Note that the dinner starts at 6:15 PM rather than the usual 6:30 PM dinner time. The Guards Club meeting will take place in the dining room. We will then move into the lodge room at 7:30 PM to hold our Annual Meeting and Election of Officers in Lodge, Council, Chapter and Consistory. Please make an effort to attend this meeting as we select our leadership for the next Scottish Rite year. May 20th will be our Installation of Officers. We will meet at 6:00 PM for Social Time followed by dinner at 6:30 PM and Installation kicking off at 7:30 PM. Again, I would ask you to make a special effort to attend the Installation and show your support for our new Officers. YOUR Officers work hard all year long to present the Valley’s programs. Each of our Four Bodies takes a lead role in presenting at least one signature event during the year. While the foregoing two events are the only events scheduled as I write this article, we are hoping to pull together at least one Rite on the Road event to be held at the Masonic Memorial Center. Notification of the date and time will be sent by email if we are able to find an open night to put on a Rite on the Road event. This will likely be the last opportunity to present the 4th Degree to new candidates before the summer break. If you haven’t ever gotten an email from Scottish Rite I would encourage you to contact the office to provide your email. As digital communication is more frequently becoming the norm, it is important that we have a valid email address to stay in touch. Finally, it is not too early to start thinking about summer plans. There will be a Motorcycle Ride to support the Children’s Dyslexia Center again this year. The date hasn’t been fully nailed down but will likely be in July. While this was originally envisioned as a Motorcycle Ride we are not opposed to having Classic Car owners Cruize with us to the Dyslexia Center. We Plan to have food available in the pavilion on the Eastern Star Campus. More information will follow as it becomes available. Also in July we have our Syracuse Mets Baseball Outing scheduled on July 19th when the Syracuse Mets will play the Rochester Red Wings. We have once again reserved the patio for this event. Additional information and reservation forms will be arriving by mail...please watch for them. The last summer event is our Family Life Picnic scheduled for August 17th at the Cicero American Legion. Please save the date and be on the lookout for additional information and reservation forms that will be sent by mail. On a personal note...Thank you to all my Brothers who have offered prayers and well wishes for my wife’s recovery. It is gratifying to note that should I need assistance I have such a large family of Brothers to call on. Fraternally, Ill. William H. Toth II, 33° MSA Commander in Chief Chapter Greeting, Knights: Some may have noticed that I was not present at the Feast of the Paschal Lamb, one of our most important rituals, as we remember those Brothers that passed away during the year. My oldest son had a bad accident and was in the ICU at the Jackson Memorial hospital, in Miami. We were there with him. He is out, now, but has suffered severe damage and is undergoing physical therapy. I will be in and out of Syracuse for the next few months and will not be able to attend some of our Rose Croix Chapter functions. I will be, however, proficiently substituted by our Senior Warden, Bro. Joseph Flanagan, who will succeed me for the 2024- 2025 period, as Most Wise Master. The Rose Croix Chapter joined the other Valley Bodies for the Five Degree Festival on Saturday April 13th and for the Reunion Banquet on April 22nd . If I was not there, is it because I was out of town and was substituted, again, by our Senior Warden Bro. Flanagan. In May, we will have the important Four Bodies Annual Meeting and Officer’s Election. This is a very important Valley meeting and I encourage all our members to attend and participate in the Valley’s work by joining one Body as an Officer. This is an excellent opportunity to become more familiar with your Brothers and your Valley’s operations, and to grow as Freemasons. This may well be my last column as Most Wise Master of the Rose Croix Chapter. It has been both an honor and an excellent learning opportunity. I leave you in excellent hands, as Bro. Flanagan will likely be elected, and will succeed me in this position. Please, keep our military and our country in our prayers, and may God keep peace in the world. Be safe. Fraternally, Jorge L. Romeu, 32° Most Wise Master. Council Greetings to Brother Masons, especially Scottish Rite Masons in our Valley of Syracuse. I continue to enjoy being the Sovereign Prince of Central City Council Princes of Jerusalem. My year is almost over, so I want to talk about the legacy this year's leadership team is making for sustainment within our Valley. If you have not been able to come and enjoy Scottish Rite Masonry, you are missing out on fun, education, brotherhood, family events, and personal exploration and awe both in-person and virtually. We have numerous online trainings that are excellent and thoughtful. Our in-person experiences so far this year have been degree days of classes, evenings of classes and presentations, and wonderful lectures on people such as George Washington. We are fortunate to have special evenings of affordable catered food by Eastern Star. The evenings, together with hockey, baseball, and our annual picnic outings, bring us together. Yet, we face sustainability challenges, including diminishing our investment funds, an aging masonic population, and fewer Brethren interested in performing degree work. Many Masonic Lodges in our area have grown smaller as members die, and newer candidates are harder to recruit due to a lack of interest. Our future is not us being a museum. It remains us being a living, breathing organism. The Valley of Syracuse will conduct a periodic review of its operations and finances from this Spring through Fall 2024. I encourage every Brethren to make their perspectives known through our Scottish Rite leadership and office. We are only getting better. Just watch us! See you in the Valley! Jeffrey M. Cox, 32° Sovereign Prince Lodge My Brothers, What an exciting year we have had so far! The Dyslexia Center Gala had its largest attendance ever and the most Baskets donated since its inception, thanks to all who have shown their support over the years! On April 13th our 5-degree Festival brought in some new Scottish Rite Freemasons to our Valley. On the Blue Lodge side of things, on Saturday, June 8th there will be a 3rd degree conferral at Song Mountain in Tully for a staggering 24 Fellowcraft Masons from all around the Onondaga District. If the weather does not cooperate the next date is Saturday June 15th . What a pool of new Master Masons will be available to the Valley of Syracuse A.A.S.R.. If you have anyone from your Lodge in this Class, reach out to them and invite them to our programs in the Valley of Syracuse. Please contact R:.W:. Daniel Campis, D.D.G.M. for reservations ASAP. This is an opportunity that we cannot afford to miss. Assure them that we are not looking to pull them away from their Blue Lodges but want to further their Masonic experience through the teachings of Scottish Rite. I again ask that you support the programs of our Valley as often as you can and your ability permits. You will enjoy the experience if you do! Let’s all set out to work together to help our Valley grow. Sincerely & Fraternally, Ill. Lawrence W. Egnaczyk, 33° MSA Thrice Potent Master Hospitaler There are a few people we need to keep in our prayers during this time. Diana Toth is home recovering, Sandy Samson, Gary Kall, Gerry Hogg and Steve Maddox have been ill and need our prayers. Peter Kline had a 2nd knee replacement and Earl Tuttle had a pacemaker put in and both are home recovering. We received news that Joe Stevens' companion Nancy passed away. If you know of anyone who is in need of our assistance or prayers please let me know. Ill. Garry Visconti, 33° MSA [email protected] (315) 529-1936 Welcome to My World Notes from the Children’s Dyslexia Center CNY Spring is here and so is the last full month that we have with students and practitioners. It has been a wonderful year, filled with learning, growth, and inspiration. The students will be completing their end of year assessments this month to demonstrate how much growth each had accomplished this academic year. The practitioners are busy wrapping up their teaching of new material and reviewing concepts that might not have stuck with the child completely. They are also busy with end of year progress notes for parents, letting them know what their child learned and the information that was covered all year long. At this point, all practitioners are done with their observations, book work, written assignments, and most paperwork. It has been a tremendous amount of work they have done, while working full time and many also have families. We are so proud of their accomplishments and their dedication to our students. They will be completing their practicum hours and the end of year progress forms for parents, which completes their training! We are preparing for the end of year recognition ceremony, which will be held on June 11, 2024 at Hart’s Hill Inn, at 6pm. This is a lovely event to recognize all our students for their accomplishments, as well as all practitioners in training. As we complete our 23/24 academic year with students and practitioners, we wish everyone a wonderful summer. Thank you so much for your continued support! Marianne Jones & Alyssa Mittiga- Co-Directors Email: [email protected] & [email protected] Mail- Children’s Dyslexia Center- CNY PO Box 638 Oriskany, NY 13424 2024 Annual Meetings Notice The Central City Guard’s Club meets for dinner and its Annual Meeting at 6:15 p.m. Monday evening May 13, 2024. I urge every Valley Member and the Valley Officers, in particular, to attend this dinner at no charge to the attendees. Planned menu for the dinner is Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Salad, Potato Chips, and beverages. Dinner reservations are required by May 6, 2024. The Annual Meeting for Central City Lodge of Perfection, Central City Council Princes of Jerusalem, Central City Chapter of Rose Croix and Central City Consistory is Monday May 13, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. at the Masonic Memorial Center, 648 Centerville Place, North Syracuse, NY 13212. All Valley of Syracuse Scottish Rite Masons were summoned by Official Notice to attend this meeting. If you have any questions about the 2024 Valley of Syracuse Annual Meetings please contact the Valley office; (315) 452-7976 or e-mail at [email protected] or [email protected]. Officers Installation 2024 – 2025 Central City Lodge of Perfection, Council Princes of Jerusalem, Chapter of Rose Croix Officers & Central City Consistory and Concordant Bodies Trustees Public Installation of Officers is Monday evening May 20, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. at the Masonic Memorial Center. Family members and friends are welcome to attend this event. The Installation Ceremony will be preceded by Social Time at 6:00 p.m. and a Meatloaf dinner served at 6:30 p.m. at a cost of $ 20.00 per person. Reservations are required by May 14, 2024. Contact the Valley of Syracuse office 315-452-7976 or [email protected] to make your reservations for dinner or with any questions about the Installation. SAVE THE DATE! ANNUAL SUMMER FAMILY LIFE PICNIC Saturday August 17, 2022 for all Members of the Masonic Families. Sponsored By Central City Bodies, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Syracuse. To be held at Cicero American Legion Post, Legionnaire Drive, Cicero, NYPlanned Time 2 P. M. to 7:00 P. M. Details to follow in the JUNE 2024 WORD SAVE THE DATE! TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME!! ANNUAL VALLEY OF SYRACUSE SUMMER FAMILY BASEBALL GAME EVENT with SYRACUSE METS VS. ROCHESTER RED WINGS on Friday July 19, 2024 This event is for all Members of the Masonic Families and sponsored by Central City Bodies, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Syracuse. Price INCLUDES GAME TICKET AND BUFFET. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the game begins at 6:30 p.m. Details to follow in the JUNE 2024 WORD Some families will not be receiving FASFA forms until June.
Therefore, we will not penalize applicants for not having that information. Applicants should fill the financials on the form to the best of their ability and return to the Valley of Syracuse Office by Friday, April 26, 2024. Follow the directions on our Scholarships page. Calendar
April 2024 Apr 1 Executive Committee (in person) 7:00 p. m. Apr 13 (Saturday) 5 Degrees Festival 4°(V), 11° (L), 14° (L), 19° (V), 32° (L) 8:00 a.m. Coffee & Donuts 8:30 a.m. Candidates Registration 9:00 a.m. Meeting Opens 9:30 a.m. 4° Conferral 12 Noon Luncheon 1:30 p.m. Consistory Opens Apr 22 162nd Annual Reunion Banquet @ Masonic Memorial Center Social 6:00 p.m. / Dinner 6:30 p.m. / Program 7:30 p.m. Apr 26 Scholarship submit to Valley Office deadline Apr 29 Trustees Meeting Live 6:15 p.m. / Executive Committee Meeting Live 7:00 p.m. May 2024 May 13 Guard’s Club Annual Meeting 6:15 p.m. Dinner & Meeting Four Bodies Annual meeting & Officer’s Election 7:30 p.m. May 20 Installation of Officers Social 6:00 p.m. / Dinner 6:30 p.m. / Install Officers 7:30 p.m. Consistory Where are we? Where are we going? How are we going to get there? Where we are is that we remain the largest Masonic Body meeting in the Central New York Area. While our membership has been declining in recent years, we have over 300 members and we have perhaps the most interesting and varied programs populating our Trestle Board. We are committed to our Core Values and we have 29 Degrees that build and expand upon the lessons we were presented in the Craft Degrees. We are going forward! We are continuing to plan programs and events that will be of interest to all Masons, and sometimes non-Masons, in the Central New York area. Our program on Operative Masonry where the skilled art of stone shaping and carving was demonstrated live generated a great deal of buzz. Another unique program is being planned for this fall and you will have to stay tuned to find out more once the details are ironed out. We will continue to be a dynamic organization bringing unique and informative programs to Central New York Masons. The key to getting there is membership. It is the size of our membership, and the financial resources we enjoy that enable us to plan these events and programs. We are a broad melting pot of members from 9 or more counties who bring their talents and ideas to this organization. We solicit your ideas and your suggestions to continue to move this Valley forward with new and interesting programs. Contact me or any of the Valley officers if you have ideas or suggestions. Our membership is our strength and we encourage all our members to solicit their Masonic friends to join us in the Scottish Rite experience. We ended March with our moving Feast of the Paschal Lamb memorial service and recognition of members reaching milestones in the Knights of the Double Eagle. Masons everywhere feel a strong obligation to provide funeral rites to our deceased members. Scottish Riters are so inspired by this obligation that we conduct a formal memorial service each year to pause and remember our departed Brothers. Knights of the Double Eagle recognizes active participation in our Valley events. April is a busy month for our Valley. The members of our degree casts and the Scottish Rite Office have been working hard to prepare for our degree festival on April 13th and our Reunion Banquet on April 22nd . April 13th is our last chance to make new Scottish Rite Masons before our elections and installation in May and the Summer break. Candidates can walk in as 3rd Degree Masons and walk out that afternoon as 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Masons. We will be presenting the 4°, 11° and 14° in the morning. Lunch will be provided and the afternoon will present the 19° and 32° with the 32° being a hybrid format with video first section followed by a live Knighting Ceremony. You should have received, or will shortly receive, more information from the Scottish Rite office regarding the day's events. A little over a week following our degree festival we will have our Reunion Banquet. I strongly encourage attendance at this event to greet our new Scottish Rite members as well as to renew your friendships and catch up with other members of our Valley whom you may not have seen for a while. Social time will be at 6:00 PM, Dinner at 6:30 PM and meeting at 7:30 PM. Lastly, your Executive Committee meets twice in April on the 1st and 29th . I expect to present the tentative program for the next Scottish Rite year at the April 1st meeting so if you want to see how the sausage is made, feel free to attend and offer your comments and suggestions. Both of the April Executive Committee meetings are LIVE at the Masonic Memorial Center at 7:00 PM. Fraternally, Ill. William H. Toth II, 33° MSA Commander in Chief Chapter Greeting, Knights: By the time you read this article, our Rose Croix Chapter will have presented the Feast of the Paschal Lamb, one of our most important rituals, as we remember those Brothers that passed away during the year. And now we are in the process of proposing a new slate of officers for our Rose Croix Chapter, for the 2024-2025 period. Recruiting members for Degree work as well as for Body Officers is usually a challenging task. There is a core group of dedicated Brothers that toils year after year in these endeavors. But they wear out, move away, pass away, etc., and they must be replaced. The Rose Croix Chapter, as well as some of the other Valley Bodies, need to fill these vacancies and we need to find Brothers that are willing and able to fulfill these positions, every year. Several Brothers joined our Scottish Rite Valley during the recent past. Some of them are already performing a function in one of the four bodies, which is excellent! But some others are still not integrated into the work of the Valley. Joining one Body as an Officer or participating in Degree work constitutes an excellent opportunity to integrate into our Valley, as well as one of the best ways to grow as a Freemason, and to learn more about the Scottish Rite operations. These activities, in addition to their important Masonic values, provide an opportunity to become more familiar with your Valley Brothers, thus strengthening bonds of fellowship. Please, keep our military and our country in our prayers, and keep peace in the world. Be safe. Fraternally, Jorge L. Romeu, 32° Most Wise Master. Council Happy Earth Day! Every April 22, we remember and celebrate the renewal of our commitment to conservation and the wider environment. Though some may see this as excessive, the real positive changes in cleaner water, air, and better daily living conditions are a testament to those generations who demanded something better. We see the positive effects of reducing acid rain and the natural increase in the fish population in the Adirondacks. Renewal is not simply limited treasures but growing them for future generations. Our Masonic and Scottish Rite journey also has that spirit of renewal today. I have been in the Craft for over twenty years. I joined a Lodge in Worcester, Massachusetts, which had not raised a candidate yet. The Lodge subsequently merged within 18 months of my joining. Interestingly, my sponsoring Master Mason adapted as well and became a leader in Masonry in other places...other streams. I am continually seeing changes in how we become a stronger Brotherhood. Some of this lies in realizing how people who live in historic lodges in smaller communities will struggle. We are using video/zoom meetings for some of the non-tiled meetings that allow for more to participate while maintaining our zeal and fevor in our work. Though we continue US Mail, we are transitioning more of our communications to electronic mail for efficiency, cost savings, and convenience. Every change asks us whether we are leaving out Brothers or becoming less personal. I can tell you that we look to improve our Craft rather than simply change it. I believe we should not be afraid of the future but be willing to adapt and change, not for change's sake but for ourselves and our future. You never know what new fishing is out there to discover. See you in the Valley! Jeffrey M. Cox, 32° Sovereign Prince Lodge Mark your Calendars for our Five Degree Festival on Saturday, April 13 th , 2024, starting with coffee and doughnuts at 8am.The Lodge of Perfection will be conferring the 4 ° video, 11° video and the 14° Live. Followed by the 19° Video and 32° with the live Knighting Ceremony. I am looking forward to the Annual Reunion Banquet on Monday, April 22, 2024, 6pm Social, 6:30pm dinner, 7:30pm dinner. Remember, many of our Ladies enjoy having a night out and visiting with the ladies they have become friends with over the years! Many thanks to everyone who attended the 10th Annual Gala in support of the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Central New York on March 9 th , 2024. The attendance was the largest we have ever had at around 170 adults and children. There were 54 baskets donated for the raffle this year with 5 coming from the Valley of Syracuse MSA Group, great job guys! Even though your Body may not be responsible for any events, I hope you will still come out and show your support for the rest of the programs our Valley has to offer. Please encourage the officers in your Body to attend as often as they can and show support for our newest members and candidates, especially if you are a top line signer on their Application. If you have an interest in taking a part in our degrees serving on a committee or have an idea for an interesting program, please let us know. Sincerely & Fraternally, Ill. Lawrence W. Egnaczyk, 33° MSA Thrice Potent Master Hospitaler There are a few people we need to keep in our prayers during this time. Brother Carlton Jackson is recovering from a motorcycle accident, Diana Toth is home recovering, Fred Green, Sandy Samson, Gary Kall, Gerry Hogg, Joel Scarson have been ill and need our prayers. Peter Kline had a 2nd knee replacement and Earl Tuttle had a pacemaker put in and both are home recovering. We received news that Dick Authur passed away in Clayton, NC on March 4, 2024. If you know of anyone who is in need of our assistance or prayers please let me know. Ill. Garry Visconti, 33° MSA [email protected] (315) 529-1936 Welcome to My World Notes from the Children’s Dyslexia Center CNY It is challenging to believe it is already April. This year is going amazingly fast, with lots of changes and new beginnings. We are grateful for all the wonderful donations, sponsors, and generous individuals who helped make the Gala in March such a success. We are thankful for our families donating baskets, as well as all those who purchased tickets for them. Much gratitude also goes to our board members and Gala committee for putting this all together, it truly is a full-time job and needs constant attention to details to pull it off. Our Practitioners are currently in their last full month of working with all new material for their students. They are all completing their last observation in early April and will be done with most of their requirements at that point. There were a lot of classroom hours, book reading and reports, written material, and tutoring hours. Our children have received the benefit of the hard work of these dedicated professionals, who also work full-time jobs, and many have families as well. This is a colossal undertaking, and I know at times many think about quitting with the tremendous workload, but they have shown persistence and perseverance, for which we are all grateful. Our students have completed about 40 hours of tutoring time. They notice the difference in what they are capable of. One child even exclaimed that he now “has almost all 90’s” on his report card. This excitement carries over in the way the children handle themselves. Many children are now confident, more knowledgeable and hold their heads up high instead of slumped over with their head down, which is how they began the year. The atmosphere has changed and is now filled with more vibrancy and joy. With continued gratitude for making this all possible, Marianne Jones & Alyssa Mittiga- Co-Directors Email: [email protected] & [email protected] Mail- Children’s Dyslexia Center- CNY PO Box 638 Oriskany, NY 13424 2024 – 2025 Scholarship Applications NEW DUE DATE Applications are available on line at the Central City Bodies, A.A.S.R. Valley of Syracuse Scottish Rite Web Site; www.syr-aasr.org or the New York State Council of Deliberation Web site; www.nyscottishritemasons.org. Hard copy applications may be picked up at the Valley of Syracuse office. Applications received from a Scottish Rite Mason’s relatives are to be submitted thru the member’s Valley of membership. The latest version of the Application titled; “2024 Leon M. Abbott Scholarship Application is to be used. To all applicants submitting your application thru the Valley of Syracuse: PLEASE NOTE THE NEW DUE DATE! The deadline date to submit your completed applications to the Valley of Syracuse business office is April 26th, 2024. Applications received after April 26, 2024 will not be considered. Graduating High School Seniors may apply again this year. The members of our Masonic Youth Groups; Triangle, Rainbow, and DeMolay; are eligible to apply for financial assistance. A masonic relationship is not required. Students who complete the program at the Children’s Dyslexia Centers in New York State may also apply. A masonic relationship is not required to submit an application. Six applicants from the Valley of Syracuse received financial assistance from this program for the 2023-2024 scholastic year. Congratulations and best wishes to them. Please contact the Valley Office at (315) 452-7976 or [email protected] if you have any questions or require assistance and information. Blue Envelope Appeal Thank you to all who supported the “Blue Envelope Appeal” with your donation. Your continued support of the “Blue Envelope Appeal” project at Supreme Council benefits the students receiving education financial assistance from Supreme Council and the New York Council of Deliberation. I am happy to report the Valley of Syracuse met and exceeded the annual goal for the number of members who support this project. Jim Swan Valley Secretary New Member Event Are You a Master Mason sitting at home with a thirst to gain more Masonic Knowledge? Do you have lingering questions about Freemasonry that were never answered? Take the positive step and action to answer your questions. Complete a Petition and become a 32° Scottish Rite Mason by joining the CentralCity Bodies, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Syracuse, NY Saturday April 13, 2024. All required degrees will be conferred that day. Come to the Masonic Memorial Center, 648 Centerville Pl., North Syracuse, NY;phone the Valley Office (315) 452-7976, go online to www.syr-aasr.org, or speak with Ill∴ Terry A. Byard, 33°, Central City Bodies, Valley of Syracuse New Member Committee Chairman on or prior to April 13, 2024 and become a newScottish Rite Mason by taking Scottish Rite degrees that day. You must be a Master Mason (3°) and member of a Masonic Lodge chartered by or recognized by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the State of New York. The new member petition fee is $ 160.00. You need to bring your current Masonic Lodge membership card with you when you submit your petition for membership. We urge you to become a 32° Sottish Rite Mason. Gain more Masonic Knowledge; meet new friends, and enjoy Masonic fellowship with your Masonic Brothers. Fraternally, Ill∴ James D. Swan, Jr. 33° Valley Secretary NOTICE TO ALL- In order to make certain that our Valley Officers and members are aware of the planned schedule for Saturday April 13, 2024 when Central City Bodies will confer five Scottish Rite Degrees. Events Schedule 8:00 a.m. Coffee and donuts available 8:00 a.m. Candidates for the 4° and all other members of the 2023-2024 D.B. Stephen G. Maddox,32° MSA Class continuing their Scottish Rite Member’s Journey to become a 32° Scottish Rite Mason report to Ill∴ Craig E. Cobb, 33°, Class Marshal. 8:30 a.m. Open Central City Consistory in joint session with the Lodge of Perfection, Council Princes of Jerusalem, and Chapter of Rose Croix. 9:00 a.m. Degrees conferrals commence 4° “Builder” (V) 11° “Sublime Master Elected” (V) 14° “Grand Elect Mason” (L) 12:00 NOON Luncheon 1:00 p.m. 19° “Brothers of the Trail” (V) 1:45 p.m. 32° “Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret” Combined conferral Ceremonial (V) Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret Knighting Live Any Master Mason; current in his Blue membership desiring to become a 32° Scottish Rite Mason is invited to attend and become a 32 °Scottish Rite Mason and Member in the Valley of Syracuse in this one degrees conferral event. Bring your Masonic Lodge Member’s Card and $ 160.00 Initiation Fee with you. Cash; personal check, or credit card are accepted for payment. Please contact the Valley Office if you have any questions. Ill∴ James D. Swan, Jr., 33° Valley Secretary (315) 452-796 |
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