Scottish Rite Masons and their Families VALLEY VOICE. June Valley Family Picnic. Details Inside

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1 Scottish Rite Masons and their Families VALLEY VOICE June 2013 Valley Family Picnic Details Inside

2 Valley of Detroit VALLEYVOICE June, 2013 Valley Voice is the official publication of Detroit Scottish Rite. The Bodies of the Scottish Rite, sitting in the Valley of Detroit, State of Michigan, acknowledge and yield allegiance to the Supreme Council, 33 o, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America whose Grand East is in Lexington, Massachusetts. Ill. John Wm. McNaughton, 33 o Sovereign Grand Commander Ill. David R. Bedwell, 33 o Deputy for Michigan Ill. William J. Dover, 33 o, MSA Active Member for Michigan Ill. Walter F. Wheeler, 33 o Active Member for Michigan Ill. Robert H. Sale, 33 o, MSA Active Member Emeritus Ill. Erwin W. O Dell, 33 o, MSA Active Member Emeritus Ill. Gerald F. Thorp, 33 o, MSA Active Member Emeritus 32ndDegreeMasons.org All correspondence concerning this Publication should be directed to the Executive Secretary of the Valley of Detroit, Timothey S. Marshbanks, 33 o On the Cover: Stock photo *FALL KICKOFF* HONORS NIGHT ALL COMMITTEE DINNER TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 Please join the Valley of Detroit and their ladies for dinner and refreshments in Honor of our 50 year Members and our Committee Members for their tremendous efforts throughout the year. Social hour begins at 6:00 p.m., Dinner at 6:30 p.m. with 50 Year Pin Presentations to follow. Seating is limited and reservations are required no later than Friday, September 6. For reservations please contact the Valley Office toll free at or Spring Reunion Saturday, April 27, was a wonderful day in the Valley of Detroit. We had a packed house, and forty men became Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret. Five more from the Valley received their 32 o at the state-wide Reunion held in Marquette in April. Great work by the degree teams, good food and outstanding fellowship, demonstrated once more that Scottish Rite is the Fraternity of choice! Mailing Address 907 Monroe St. Dearborn, MI Fax Toll Free valleyofdetroit@32nddegreemasons.org Editor Ill. David R. Bedwell, 33 o dbedwell@ameritech.net Permission to reprint original articles in the Valley Voice is granted to all recognized Masonic publications with credit to the author and this publication. Copyright 2013 Board of Trustees of the Scottish Rite Bodies of the Valley of Detroit The Presiding Officers presenting Class Honoree Don J. Williams, MSA, with a certificate. We will strive to be a fraternity that fulfills our Masonic obligation to care for our members

3 Valley Family Picnic Sunday, June 23, :00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Ford Field Park (1 block north of the Scottish Rite Center) Featuring Smokey Rhodes BBQ $5.00 / Person Age 20 & under Free Reservations Required by June 17th ~ Toll Free Limited to 125 More Reunion photos are available on the Valley Facebook Page.

4 200th Anniversary Dinner Cruise Join us Saturday, August 10, 2013, as we celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Scottish Rite for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction! We have reserved the 138 foot luxury yacht Ovation for a four hour cruise down the Detroit River. We will board behind the Detroit Renaissance Center beginning at 6:30 p.m. and set sail at 7:00 p.m. This first class premium event is being heavily subsidized to keep it affordable and tickets are only $ per person. For your convenience, we have reserved a block of rooms at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center for $ Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center call toll free at Group Code: MCDMCDA This event is limited to 200 passengers and is filling up fast! Registration is available online on the Michigan Council of Deliberation website We look forward to welcoming you on board! Are You Receiving REFLECTIONS FROM THE VALLEY OF DETROIT? Reflections is a periodic electronic newsletter delivered to your box to keep you up-to-date with Valley happenings. If you are not receiving Reflections, go to the Valley Home Page and use the sign up box to subscribe.

5 We will strive to be a fraternity that fulfills our Masonic obligation to care for our members Brothers, A couple of months ago I sat in a meeting and watched a short video about the Almoner s Fund that the Scottish Rite had produced. At the time I thought What a great program, but I sure hope I never have to see it used here in the Valley of Detroit. Little did I know that I would get to see it in action! Last year was a rather difficult time for me and my family. I had been contracting for about 12 years and was told that my job was going to be terminated in January of I wasn t too worried about it though, after all, during this time I had successfully completed a Master s program at Madonna University, had taken some technical classes to improve my skills and felt I was a pretty diligent worker. Six months passed by and the opportunities and interviews were few and far between. A few of my Brothers at Scottish Rite assisted me by allowing me to do some software work, which allowed me to update my resume to fill the gaps between jobs. As the saying goes When it rains, it pours and sure enough as soon as I began working on the project I was called in for an interview and was able to begin as a contract worker in October for a local non-profit agency. For anyone who has been laid off, they can attest that you try to set priorities when it comes to paying bills. For Darlene and me it was pretty simple, mortgage, medical insurance and then food. The rest would fall into place somewhere, somehow. We decided to opt out of the Cobra plan that they offered me, for a program that would cover the basics in case something happened to us. Looking back that might not have been the brightest idea we have ever had, but it was something at the time that we had hoped would worked until I found full time employment and medical coverage again. Darlene and I were doing pretty well and it looked as though the agency I was contracting for was going to offer me a position, when without notice in early February Darlene saw a black flash and went blind in her right eye. Our eye doctor suspected that it might be a detached retina and sent her to an eye specialist that ruled that out, but was unsure of what the problem was due to all the blood that was in her eye. At first the doctor was hoping that it would cure itself, but after 6 weeks the problem did not correct its self and surgery was indicated. During that 6 week period I was finally offered a full time position, but my medical insurance was not going to take effect for 90 days. We discovered at preregistration, that my wife s insurance would not cover the surgery. After consulting with her doctor, it was determined that she could not wait for my insurance to take effect. I immediately contacted the Department of Human Services and after filling out 37 pages of questions, I was pretty much informed that I did not qualify due to the fact that I had a job and was making more then the limit required. I asked a Brother if there was anything that Grand Lodge could do and he began working on that process. I put out a short blurb on Facebook on a Wednesday and almost immediately I had Brothers calling/texting me to find out the details of my situation. Scottish Rite, immediately went into action for us. The Deputy ed the Sovereign Commander, John McNaughton, 33, who happened to be in Europe at the time and he ed our Deputy back expressing that Scottish Rite should help us out in any way they could through the Almoner s Fund. I was informed on Friday that between the Almoner s fund and the Valley, they would assist us in getting the surgery paid for. My wife and I were in tears when we got the word, what a relief this was for us and especially for my wife who had surgery on her eye that Monday. David Bedwell, 33 ed me on that day to set up a time on Tuesday to present two checks to me to help cover the cost of her surgery. I really do not know what we would have done if it were not for the Brothers of Scottish Rite and the Valley of Detroit. I have always been grateful to be a Mason and I have tried to live by its principles and tenants. Every time that we yell out WE ARE SCOTTISH RITE MASONS every member of this Valley should be proud for what you have done for us! Thank you sure does not seem like a big enough word to show our appreciation for what this Valley has done. By the way, Darlene came through the surgery with no complications and the sight in her right eye is improving each day. In the near future, you might be asked to contribute to the Almoner s Fund, so if you ever wonder if it is going to assist a Brother or a Family within our Valley, now you know that it has. Fraternally and gratefully yours, Doug and Darlene Simpson

6 Annual Meeting of the Michigan Council of Deliberation Saturday, June 8, 2013 Bavarian Inn Lodge & Conference Center~ Frankenmuth Join the Scottish Rite Masons of Michigan as they come together for the Annual Council of Deliberation. Saturday morning the Council will open to conduct the business. Following lunch, a program of interest for Scottish Rite Masons will be held. Saturday evening a banquet honoring those that have been elected to receive the Meritorious Service Award will conclude the day s activities. On Friday, June 7, a Duffer s Golf Outing at The Fortress Championship Golf Course in Frankenmuth will tee off. This is also the weekend of the Annual Bavarian Festival with live entertainment and great German food. More details and registration information is available on the Michigan Council of Deliberation website at: AASR-MI.org Heritage Awards Night On April 15, 2013, the Blue Water Scottish Rite Club in Port Huron (Valley of Detroit) hosted a dinner honoring thirty-four fellow Brothers all of whom were recipients of the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons Heritage Award. REC Carl Peterson, Grand Master of the First Veil, traveled from Gaylord, as did REC Mike Roberts, Grand Master Second Veil, from Monroe to present the awards. A total of seventy-two patrons attended the dinner catered by Bistro College Catering Service. Blue Water Club President, Worshipful Brother Harvey Isabell, searched the several local lodge membership rolls for months and assembled the many father, sons, grandsons and in-laws who were eligible to receive the awards. MEC Paul Williams, PGHP, attended and presented his son-in-law with the award. REC Carl Peterson (standing far left) and Club President Harvey Isabell (seated far left), wish to thank everyone who attended and participated making the awards program a total success. Submitted by Terry Baker

7 to benefit the Children s Dyslexia Center of Southeast Michigan, Inc. MonDAy, AugusT 26, 2013 Cracklewood golf Club Mile Road Macomb, Michigan (1/2 Mile East of Romeo Plank Road) Form a foursome & join us! Format: Four Person Scramble 8:00 a.m. Registration 9:00 a.m. Shot Gun Start 18 Holes of golf Golf Cart (5) Food/Beverage Tickets steak Dinner gifts, games, Fun & Fellowship Hole-In-one Contest Win $10,000! (on par 3 hole #8, professionals excluded) All This For only $85.00 Make checks payable to: Children s Dyslexia Center of S.E. Michigan, Inc. Cutoff Date: August 19, 2013 John Corbin, Chairman, Valley of Detroit "Teddy Bear Classic" August 26, 2013 Cracklewood Golf Course Check all applicable boxes. Complete, detach and mail this form to: P.O. Box 3059, Melvindale, MI 48122, ATTN: Golf Outing I will sponsor a hole at $250.00, which I understand is tax deductible. I will sponsor a hole and would like to have a foursome in the tournament, all for $ Names are listed below. I will sponsor a sand trap at $50.00, which I understand is tax deductible. I will make a cash or merchandise donation with a retail value of $, which I understand is tax deductible. I plan on Dinner Only. I am enclosing a check for $ Sorry, I cannot attend, but please accept my tax deductible donation in the amount of $. Yes! I will play in the Tournament. I am enclosing $85.00 for each golfer. Please assign me (us) to a foursome Captain: Name Phone No. Address City Zip No. 2: Name Phone No. Address City Zip No. 3: Name Phone No. Address City Zip No. 4: Name Phone No. Please charge my American Express, Visa, MasterCard or Discover credit card for the payment marked above. Amount: Name: Number: Exp Date:

8 The Board of Trustees of the Scottish Rite Bodies of the Valley of Detroit 32 o Masons and Their Families 907 Monroe Street Dearborn, MI Dated Material - Please Do Not Delay Support Your Club Calendar Blue Water Club Harvey E. Isabell Port Huron Masonic Temple Rear Door - Lower Level 927 6th Street Port Huron, MI rd Monday, 6:30 P.M. Macomb Club Al McKay, MSA Roseville Masonic Center Gratiot Ave. Roseville Last Saturday, 9:00 A.M. Oakland Club Dennis McWilliams Jimi s Restaurant 714 S. Washington Royal Oak 2nd Monday, 6:15 P.M. Club of the Lakes Les Ferguson Pinckney Masonic Center 210 Mann St. in Pinckney 3rd Sunday, 11:00 A.M. Downriver/Monroe Club Michael J. Stetz, 33 o Leon s Family Dining Michigan Ave. in Dearborn 2nd Saturday, 9:00 A.M. Jackson Club Ken Strobel The Country Café 1701 Mitchell Street - Jackson 2nd Sunday, 8:30 A.M. June MI COD Golf Outing - Frankenmuth 8 MI Council of Deliberation - Frankenmuth 23 Valley Family Picnic - Ford Field Park August Tiger Game - Suite - Comerica Park th Anniversary Dinner Cruise Supreme Council Annual Meeting 26 Teddy Bear Classic Golf Outing September Honors / All Committee Dinner 19 Board of Trustees 6:00 p.m Regional Leadership/Membership Seminar 22 CDC Annual 5K Walk October Valley Meeting ~ SR history lecture 26 Fall Reunion November Vacant Chair Ceremony (Reception)