Valley News

The latest "goings on" in the Valley of Hartford.

Please see the important correction regarding Consistory Day, May 1, 2010, below in General Valley News!

Links to Our Newsletters

Our newsletter, View of the Valley, is available in PDF format for download and viewing.

This has several benefits. The printed version is in black and white, however, the PDF version is in color. Also, viewing this on-line will probably save a few trees, and help the planet.


General Valley News Items

Car Show and Sock Hop to Benefit 32nd Degree Learning Center

A Car Show and Sock Hop will be held on June 12, 2010, from 3:00pm to 7:00pm at the Mill Plain Union Church in Waterbury to benefit the 32nd Degree Learning Center for Children with Dyslexia.

In addition to some awesome cards, there will be a DJ, Trophies, Food, and a 50-50 raffle. There will also be a CHIP event. Admission can be either a monetary donation, a package of pens, or a package of lined paper.

An information flier is available on our forms page.

Come on out and see some great cars, make some new friends, and support the Learning Center!

Master Mason Degree, March 20, 2010

As part of our Scottish Rite Ambassador Program, we have made our auditorium available to Sequin-Level Lodge 140 for their portrayal of the Master Mason Degree. This degree will take place on Saturday, March 20, 2010 starting at 11:00am. There will be lunch in between the first and second halves of the degree, and things will wrap up around 3:00pm.

An informational flier with reservation information is available on our forms page, or directly here for download.

Please come and support both our Ambassador Program and Sequin-Level Lodge by attending this degree!

IMPORTANT CORRECTION REGARDING CONSISTORY DAY ANNOUNCEMENT

In the most recent issue of CT Freemasons the information regarding Consistory Day in the Valley of Hartford article was incorrect.

The correct agenda for Consistory Day, May 1, 2010, is as follows:

2:00pm:
Registration
2:45pm:
Ladies leave for their program at the Shrine, which will commence at 3:00pm
3:00pm:
Dignitary Introductions
3:30pm (or before):
20th Degree (Lafayette Consistory with some Prince Hall brothers assisting)
4:15pm:
32nd Degree (Nathan Hale Consistory)
5:00pm (or before):
31st Degree (Connecticut Consistory)
6:00pm:
We will join our ladies at the Shrine for a one-hour cocktail reception
7:00pm:
Dinner

Please pass this information on to all Scottish Rite Masons you know.

A correction will appear in the next issue of CT Freemasons, as well as in the April issue of View of the Valley.

Four Chaplains Degree Portrayed on the Battleship USS New Jersey

On May 15, 2010, Armed Forces Day, at 10 a.m., the Council of Deliberation of New Jersey will portray the 23rd Degree, more familiarly known as the Four Chaplains Degree, on the fantail of the nation's most decorated battleship, the USS New Jersey, located in Camden, New Jersey.

The cost per brother (non-candidate) is $15.00, and for an additional $17.00, you may enjoy lunch on the New Jersey and take a tour of this grand vessel.

There are two informational fliers available. The first outlines the degree information and the second details some very interesting extras available.

Interested brothers should contact the Valley Secretary (sect@snet.net) and if enough brothers are interested, carpools will be arranged.

Date Change: 18th Degree Moved to April 22, 2010

Due to a scheduling conflict with the District Deputy presentation for Masonic District 5, the 18th Degree presentation previously scheduled for April 15, 2010 has been changed to Thursday April 22, 2010. The pre-degree dinner has been moved as well.

By rescheduling our degree, we are accommodating a large number of brothers involved in the Rose Croix degree whose duties as District Deputies, Associate Grand Marshalls, current Worshipful Masters would dictate that they be at the Presentation.

The Executive Council Meeting, previously scheduled for April 22, 2010, has been moved to April 29, 2010.

Valley of Hartford Hosting Chamber Music Concert

On Sunday, May 16, 2010, at 2:00 p.m., the Valley of Hartford will be hosting a Chamber Music Concert at the Valley of Hartford Scottish Rite Cathedral, by the Shoreline Chamber Players. Refreshments will be served after the concert at the Shrine Center. A program for the event is available, complete with information about the group. Admission is free.

Connecticut Council of Deliberation, June 11, 2010

The 2010 Annual Meeting of the Connecticut Council of Deliberation will be held on Friday, June 11, 2010 at Bayview Lodge in Niantic. Watch the websites for more information.

2010 Road Race Set, Sponsors Needed

The date has been locked in for the 2nd Annual Scottish Rite 5K Run/Walk for Children with Dyslexia. The race will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2010. Please see the Road Race page for more information and forms. Forms are also available on our forms page.

Connecticut's Newest 33rd Degree Masons

An article has been posted, with photo, about our 2009 Class of Sovereign Grand Inspectors General.

2009-2010 Valley Directory On-Line

The Valley of Hartford Directory for 2009-2010 is now available on-line in PDF format. The directory has gone out in the US Mail as well. It was late this year because the Valley is using a new printer, the same printer that handles the View of the Valley, and there was some additional set-up time for the job. However, until the Directory arrives in the mail, feel free to download our on-line copy.

Newton Buckner III Nominated for Election to Receive 33°

The Valley of Hartford congratulates Brother Newton "Bud" Buckner III who has been nominated for election to receive the 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Honorary Member of the Supreme Council, in Philadelphia, PA in August, 2010. Brother Buckner currently serves the Valley as the 2nd Lieutenant Commander in Nathan Hale Consistory. Congratulations Bud!

View of the Valley Wins Benjamin Franklin Award

On Monday, August 24, 2009, at the Annual Session of the Supreme Council, AASR, NMJ, the winners of the Benjamin Franklin Awards, for best Valley newsletters, were announced.

The Valley of Hartford's publication View of the Valley won the Benjamin Franklin Award in the category "Valleys with between 800 and 1500 members". The View of the Valley is edited by Illustrious Brother Francis G. Way, MSA, 33°

The Valley of Bridgeport's newsletter received an Honorable Mention as well.

"Scottish Rite for the 21st Century" DVDs Now Available

Our shipment of "Scottish Rite for the 21st Century" DVDs has arrived.

These DVDs, wonderfully designed and produced by the Supreme Council, are intended to provide information to interested blue lodge brethren, or any man who might be interested in the Scottish Rite. They are an excellent recruiting tool and can be viewed on a DVD player or on a personal computer. The packaging is also quite informative.

They are available to give to interested brethren, and may be obtained from the Valley Secretary.

Supreme Council Dues Reduction Program

Wouldn't it be great if something you did on a regular basis helped you reduce the amount of your Scottish Rite dues? Well, now it can!

The Supreme Council has begun a program to allow individual Scottish Rite masons to reduce their dues by shopping through OneCause. With OneCause, you register on their site, associate with your cause (in our case the "Scottish Rite Freemasonry, NMJ" cause), and purchases made through participating online merchants, begun via the OneCause website, will apply a percentage of the transaction amount to your dues. The maximum percentage is 20%, although the average percent is between 2% and 6%.

To sign up, you need an email address, and must specify your cause. A link on the Supreme Council Membership Services web page will take you right to the appropriate OneCause page, or you may follow this link directly.

Once on the OneCause page, if you click "Shop to Support This Cause" in the left hand navigation area, you'll be taken to a page to register. If you select the "Help" link in the upper left, you can read a list of Frequently Asked Question. There are other helpful links on the front page, including a short flash video to explain to you how the program works.

If you shop regularly online with merchants like Amazon, Staples and many others, a percentage of your purchase is applied to your dues. The only requirement is that you start the shopping experience from the OneCause page, by clicking on that merchant's link.

Help Needed

We need help in robes, make-up, lighting, backstage and in the Scottish Rite Choir. If you are interested, please contact the Secretary, either by phone or by email.