MESSAGE FROM
PRESIDENT HARRY BEHNEY:
Have you been to
your Blue Lodge for a meeting lately? If you are like me
and your Blue Lodge is up north and is dark in the summer
when you might be north, then the answer is probably no.
There are however opportunities to attend Blue Lodge
meetings where you live now or an area you may be visiting.
One of our
charges as Sojourners is to take our message of patriotism
and Americanism to our Brothers at Blue Lodge. Let me tell
about an experience I had in May 07 while attending the
annual meeting of the Ladies Oriental Shrine of North
America in Casper, Wyoming.
Escorts for the
ladies (they call us trailers) were invited to attend the
monthly States' Meeting of the local Blue Lodge. At least
thirty of us went to their meeting and were very cordially
received. Included in our group was the immediate Past
Grand Master of California, several Past Masters, and an
assortment of lodge officers and one 33d. The Master of this
Lodge asked the Past Grand Master to take the Master's Chair
in the East and any others to take the positions they felt
most comfortable sitting.
Every chair was
filled with members of our group from all over this country.
The Lodge was opened and preceded with normal business
including the testing by a local officer of a Fellowcraft
seeking to become a Master Mason. Everyone seemed surprised
how closely the work performed compared to our many
jurisdictions.
When business for
the evening was completed, the Master and his officers took
back their chairs and proceeded to close and we retired for
refreshment of homemade blueberry cobbler. It was a
wonderful evening of fellowship and Masonic education. We
all made a lot of new friends and got to know those of us at
the convention much better.
While making
plans to visit a Blue Lodge, why not join us at the next
Sojourners meeting and get to know a Brother Sojourner
better.
NOW HEAR THIS
ABOUT THE HEROES: With the precarious health problem of
Brother Ray, the Heroes are looking for A FEW GOOD MEN,
especially to assume Command for the 2007-2008 year. ARE YOU
UP TO THE CHALLENGE???
SECRETARY'S
CORNER:
There was a very
interesting article in the May-June 2007 National Magazine
THE SOJOURNER. The article, entitled "Chapter
Revitalization" was on page 11. Let's dissect this article
as it pertains to this Chapter. You are going to find out,
as already known, that our Chapter is in trouble. One of
the first questions is: "Do you have a full officer slate
in both Chapter and Camp?" The answer is NO. Another
question is for both our Chapter and Camp: "Do you have
officers serving in both lines?" The answer is YES. How
about "Having vital pertinent programs at your regular
meetings?" The answer is NO. Again "Do you have 15-20
Sojourners plus ladies and guests at your "open" meetings?"
The answer, again, is NO. The article goes on to say that
if the answer to more than one of these questions is NO,
your Chapter is in trouble.
The question of
the day is: What are we going to do about it???
The Annual Report
has been submitted to National. I will have the file copy
available at the September meeting for your reading
pleasure.
Secretary Van,
533ROTC@comcast.net
DEATH OF A
SOJOURNER: It is with the deepest regrets that we
must inform you of the death of Sarasota Chapter 533
Sojourner Brother Keith W. Dean. PGM Keith (Grand Lodge of
Florida) laid down his working tools on July 27, 2007 after
a valiant fight with cancer. For those of you who didn't
know his military background he was a US Army Special Forces
NCO and was an imposing figure in his full Knight Templar
Uniform.
SEPTEMBER
MEETING: After being dark for the summer months it is
now time to resume our labors. Wednesday, September 19th,
NOTE NEW TIME
5:00 (Five) p.m. to adjust your attitude and dinner
at about NOTE NEW TIME 5:45
(FIVE) p.m. I have been asked by the President to
handle dinner reservations for the SEPTEMBER Meeting
ONLY. You may make your reservations by leaving a
message on my home phone recorder at 955-6483 or
(preferably) you may send an e-mail with your dinner choices
to the address above. Please keep in mind that you may pay
at the door but should you not show up at the meeting to
eat, you will be billed for those meals. The President is
looking for a volunteer "Food Meister" to handle making
dinner arrangements and to collect the money at the door for
our meetings this year. LADIES: With your financial
expertise and being food savvy, this is a golden opportunity
for one of you to take over this job. After all, Lady
Shriners now operate the Sahib Reservations Desk and very
successfully at that. Why not Sojourners too? Your
September dinner choices are as follows: Prime Rib Au Jus,
Salad, Potatoes, Coffee/Ice Tea @ $13.75 or Chicken Marsala,
Same sides & drinks @ $13.75.
Of interest,
President Behney plans on a men only lunch meeting during
his year, and if all goes well perhaps there could be
several such luncheons. We have changed the meeting hours
to accommodate those who do not like to drive at night. Be
sure to read the October Reporter very carefully! You might
find some new and interesting Sojourner items. AND....read
your Sahib Friday Web Letter carefully.
SOJOURNER CANDLE
LIGHT SERVICE: At the September meeting a Candle Light
Service will be conducted for our two departed Sojourner
Brothers, Morton Steiger and PGM Keith Dean. To help honor
these two Sarasota Chapter Sojourners your presence is
kindly requested.