Increasing the Incentive to Sell Yearbook Ads

The following blog post is a message from "Dad" Mike Larkin, Director of the PA DeMolay Yearbook. 

Just a few months ago we were in Allentown at Convention getting ready to install a team of State Officers commencing the beginning of their new term. During that weekend, we distributed the DeMolay Yearbook, marking the end of a long process which resulted because of the hard work of many members, Advisors, and a few creative people at 1244 Bainbridge Road. State Master Councilor Jacob Beers did an amazing job with the layout of the book. I appreciate his hard work, his attention to detail, and most important, that he was sure to include lots of great photos of our members. Looking forward to 2018, it is my hope that together we will be able to make our Yearbook grow with more pages and more photos representing every Chapter in Pennsylvania. 

To encourage you to sell more pages, we will be offering an improved rebate program. If you attended the recent Supreme Tall Cedars Class at Patton Campus in December, you may have heard me talk about a few changes to the Yearbook program for 2018. This year we will be using a new publisher. As a result, our printing costs will be lower, allowing us to improve the rebate program. Last year we payed each chapter a flat 40% rebate for each ad dollar sold. This year we will roll out a new tiered rebate program that will increase the percentage as you sell more pages. Our hope is that this change will encourage you to sell more pages, resulting in more money for your chapter treasury. 

Great Yearbooks are full of photos of the past year’s activities. Last year we created a new photo page for the PA DeMolay Yearbook. Members submitted a short paragraph on how DeMolay has made them a better person. We selected 2 great submissions, added some photos and created 2 new pages for the Yearbook. We are doing this again this year with a slight format change. Any member can participate, just complete one of the two questions listed below and submit to the PA DeMolay Office. 

“The five most important things I’ve learned in DeMolay” 

“The five things I like most about DeMolay.”

From all the submissions that we receive, we will choose the best 4 members’ lists, add your photo, and will publish them in the 2018 Yearbook. Look for more details in the Yearbook mailing that is being sent to your Chapters soon. 

Finally, I am excited to say that we are off to a great start, $1,200 of Yearbook ad pages have been sold for the 2018 Yearbook. As always I appreciate the participation in this program and look forward to another great year.  

The Story of Thomas R. Patton

The following blog post was written by Brother Hunter Winters, Youth Region D Representative, and PMC of Carlisle Chapter. 

History is a very important part of DeMolay because of the many ancient ideals it is based on. The origins of DeMolay stem from the 9 boys who decided to come together and form this group, but there are other influential figures. Frank S. Land is known as the Founder of this Order and is highly recognized in the world of DeMolay. Thomas Patton is one of these influential figures, who many DeMolays know very little about even though he is the namesake for the Masonic Conference Center - Patton Campus in Elizabethtown.

Thomas Ranken Patton was born in Ireland in 1824. He came to the United States in 1844 and started to work with his uncle in the tea importing business. He would quickly find his own success in the United States by starting a grocery importation business and would soon become a full citizen in 1852. He then became a Freemason in 1861 by joining Union Lodge No. 121 in Philadelphia. He served as Worshipful Master in 1867.

Throughout his life he gained a number of important positions in both the business world and in the realm of Freemasonry. In business, he became the director of the Union Trust Company and the Electrical Cable Construction Company among many other titles. In Freemasonry, he served as the Grand Treasurer for the Grand Lodge and was the Representative of the Grand Lodge of England to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.

After the death of his wife, Ellen, he created the Thomas Ranken Patton Memorial Charity Fund to help widows. He donated 150,000 dollars to this fund and helped many people throughout the masonic world. He then donated the building which would eventually become the Thomas Ranken Patton Masonic Institution for Boys, known by many today as Masonic Conference Center - Patton Campus, a place where DeMolays, Rainbows and Job's Daughters can gather from all over the Commonwealth, and on occasion, from all over the world.

When you walk into the side entrance of Patton Campus, you will walk past a number of display cases containing items such as the ones below. These items served as physical reminders of the life of Thomas Patton, the immigrant who would serve his community and his Freemason brethren throughout his life. If you'd like to read a little more about the life of Thomas R. Patton, check out the biography on the PMYF website at pmyf.org. 

GO Spread PA DeMolay's message

The following blog post is from Jacob Beers, State Master Councilor of Pennsylvania DeMolay.

Last week, I gave a speech about DeMolay at the Grand Holy Royal Arch Chapter of Pennsylvania’s Annual Grand Banquet. With this, I earned my GO Spread shirt for having completed four of the eight ways for all members of Pennsylvania DeMolay to help “GO Spread” DeMolay’s message. In addition to the speech, I also have written articles for the Keystone Crusader as well as posts for the PA DeMolay blog (like this one). Also, I attended York Bethel No. 1’s Installation of Officers on December 3rd. These are the four ways I earned my shirt - writing an article for the Keystone Crusader, writing a post for the PA DeMolay blog, attending an open meeting of another Masonic Youth Group, and attending an open meeting of a Masonic body - but there are four other things you can do to earn your GO Spread t-shirt.

First, you can write a letter for your Chapter’s newsletter, if it has one. This can be about anything you choose, whether that be an upcoming event, report of a past event, or anything you think would add substance to your Chapter’s newsletter. Second, you can write a letter to one of your Chapter’s sponsoring bodies. Without the support of your Chapter’s sponsoring bodies, your Chapter would be hard-pressed to do much of anything, so write them a letter thanking them for all the help they’ve given to you and your Brothers. Third, you can attend two Masonic service events. These can be any two events where your Chapter helps another Masonic body in any way possible. Fourth, you can attend two community service events. Use this as an opportunity to show your community all of the good that DeMolay can do and its deep interest in your community’s success.

Once you’ve completed any four of these eight things, submit an explanation of your doings to the PA DeMolay office, along with a signature from your Chapter Advisor, and you will receive a GO Spread shirt. Use this as an opportunity to show off your hard work as a spokesman for Pennsylvania DeMolay and wear your shirt proudly to show you’ve helped to GO Spread DeMolay.

DeMolay is the Best Thing that Happened to Me.

The following blog post is from Brother Christopher Black, State Chaplain for Pennsylvania DeMolay and Master Councilor of George Washington Chapter. 

Before I joined DeMolay, I was a shy kid not knowing what I wanted to do with my life. I liked helping people and hoped that I could find something to allow me to help others. I tried the Cub Scouts, but I didn’t like it too much.

I was helping out at the Zembo Shrine Circus one day and saw a group of boys wearing shirts that said Carlisle DeMolay. I asked the Potentate at the time who these boys were and what DeMolay was. He gave my dad the contact information for the Chapter Advisor at the time. Knowing that I lived further away than their Chapter was located, they connected my dad to the Chapter Advisor of George Washington Chapter, which would eventually become my home Chapter. They agreed to come to my house for an interview.

A week later, I was going to my first DeMolay event. After joining the Chapter, I was asked to take an office, so I chose the office of Chaplain, with the intent to show everybody that I am ready for DeMolay. After one term as Chaplain, my Chapter had a major shake up in leadership, for which I offered a helping hand by taking the role of Senior Councilor. When Brother Jake Beers became State Master Councilor, he was looking for State Officers and I signed up hoping to become the State Chaplain. I received that office and now I am the Master Councilor for  George Washington Chapter. None of this would have been possible if I didn't ask about DeMolay.

Unmask Your Unknown Potential

The following blog post is from Brother Mitchell Holmes, State Senior Deacon for Pennsylvania DeMolay and PMC for Templar Chapter. 

Have you ever been scared to do something? Whether it would be entering a haunted house or a scary movie? If you said no, I'm sorry to say that I don't believe you. Sometime in your life, you have been scared to do something. On October 17, 2014, I made one of the best decisions in my life; joining DeMolay. Before I joined, I remember that I was worried about joining because I knew it would change me. At the time, I was a video gamer and I was worried about it interrupting my game time. I also knew that I had to commit to going to the meetings and events that our Chapter was holding. So, my personality kicked in and I said, “Yes, I would like to join.” I was always willing to try it out, and if I didn't like it, I just wouldn't come back. I went to the next meeting and filled out the necessary paperwork. At the time I had joined, there were only five members. Most of them older guys between the ages 16-18. Being thirteen at the time, I was very quiet. A year goes by, and what was five of us, became three members. A year after that, there were only two members, Bro. Chris Johnston and myself. At the time, I was considering quitting or switching chapters because throughout the time I was there, my Chapter did nothing. 

One day, my Chapter Advisor came to me and said, “Mitch, we need you to be Master Councilor.” When he told me that, I became scared. Mainly because I never had taken a major leadership role before in the Chapter. He then told me to prepare a term plan for the next meeting. That July, I had gotten installed as Master Councilor. I implemented several things, such as a Chapter website, membership incentives, and a newsletter. I was able to bring in three members to my Chapter. Along with that, the members I brought in, brought in members. What became two of us, became eight within eight months. I was able to take a struggling Chapter, and make it active again. While I was doing it, I never knew that I was a natural leader. I discovered things about myself that I would have never been able to figure out if it weren't for DeMolay. Being part of DeMolay has made me communicate, lead, and develop myself for success in life. I had unmasked my unknown traits through DeMolay.

The primary message for this story is to discover yourself. DeMolay is great for that because it touches on all the skills we need in life. Whether it be Robotics Club or Spanish Club, get involved because you can only discover yourself if you're involved with something. You can discover different traits besides leadership. You might find out that you are a good artist, writer, public speaker, treasurer, singer, etc. I want you to UNMASK YOUR UNKNOWN by being involved! 

I did a TED talk last year about my story in DeMolay. The video they had originally shot, had audio issues. So they had to record it again. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/JioVtGS2iV0

Thankful for DeMolay

The following blog post was written by Brother Tyler Moyer, Deputy State Master Councilor for Pennsylvania DeMolay and PMC of Pilgrim Chapter. 

Last Thursday we celebrated Thanksgiving, a day where we reflect on what we’re thankful for. We often take what we have for granted; whether it be the roof over our heads, the food on our plates, or the clothes on our back. One of the biggest things that we take for granted are the opportunities presented to us in our daily lives. We live in a time and place that gives us the opportunity to get an education, be who we want to be, and most especially, grow ourselves to be able to succeed in the world. How many of us take advantage of these opportunities? 

DeMolay affords so many opportunities to each of us; such as a place to find ourselves, develop lasting friendships, try new experiences, all while giving us a welcoming and safe place to hone a variety of skills. Sometimes, instead of recognizing this gift presented to us, we may complain or not participate. I see it all too often. We do our ritual to teach ourselves more about those valuable life lessons that are at the foundation of DeMolay and to improve our public speaking skills. We forget that planning our events, is teaching us about time management, communication and foresight planning. We forget that being a Councilor in our Chapter, develops and strengthens our leadership skills. We forget that bringing in new members, is about sharing the gifts that DeMolay gives each of us with our friends and future brothers. 

                                                                                     

Don’t just sit back and let DeMolay go by you. Seize the opportunities and share this awesome experience with others. DeMolay is OUR organization and the success of it ten years down the line is dependent upon our efforts today. As has been said in the Ceremony of Light, "each of us holds within our hearts a flame." Has that flame gone out in some of us? If so, then why? And furthermore, what can WE do to get it back?

I hope you are thankful for your time in DeMolay and that you see that there are many opportunities still for you with DeMolay. I hope this motivates you to want to share your experience of DeMolay with others and invite them to a Chapter meeting or event. Show them the opportunities that await them. We've all heard the saying, “You get out of DeMolay what you put into it.” My final question to you is; “What will you do to get the most out of DeMolay?”

Frank S Land: Father of DeMolay

The following blog post was written by Brother Blake Anderson, State Junior Deacon and PMC of Elizabethtown Chapter.

Frank Sherman Land was the Director of the Masonic Relief and Employment Bureau of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. He was very well known for his work in Freemasonry, even serving as Imperial Potentate of the Shrine in 1954-55. What was his view behind the Order of DeMolay?

Land was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and gained a reputation as the "Boy Preacher” at his Sunday school at Fountain Park Congregational Church Sunday School. He became a member of Ivanhoe Lodge #446 on June 29, 1912 in Kansas City. He was honored with the Knight Commander of the Court of Honor of the Scottish Rite and created a 33° in 1925. He received the first International Gold Service Medal of the General Grand Chapter of York Rite Masons in 1951 for work in Humanities. He received the Grand Cross of the Southern Jurisdiction of the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite 33° in 1955. He was the president of the Kansas City School Board, a Director of the Columbia National Bank, and a trustee of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum at the time of his death.

It was the end of World War 2, when he came across a fatherless young man named Louis Gordon Lower. Soon after, Land suggested Lower to create a young men group, an organization to encourage and give direction to young men. Weeks later, the unofficial meeting of the Order of DeMolay took place at the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City. Lower would become the first DeMolay of Mother Chapter, located in Kansas City. The original members of DeMolay were 9 young men and Land. The organization started as a baseball team and eventually evolved into the community minded organization it is today. Land originally set a limit of membership for the Mother Chapter to a total of 75 young men. By the end 1920 there were over 300 DeMolay members.

How did DeMolay actually get it’s name? Soon after the organization took off, Land ordered the young men to create a name for the group. After going through books that Land had, they came across a heroic figure, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, known for his heroic fidelity to his brethren, Jacques DeMolay. He was born in Molay, Haute Saone, France in the year 1244. At the age of 21, DeMolay joined the Order of Knights Templar. The Knights Templar was an organization sanctioned by the Roman Catholic Church in 1128 to guard the road between Jerusalem and Acre, an important port city on the Mediterranean Sea. The Order of Knights Templar participated in the Crusades and earned a name for valor and heroism.

Since its founding in 1919, DeMolay has grown to over 1,000 chapters worldwide and over 3 million members. Notable figures from sports, entertainment, politics, the news media and the military, including Walt Disney, President William Clinton, Walter Cronkite, Fran Tarkenton and astronaut Edgar Mitchell. joined DeMolay, making it one of the most well known organizations known around the world. Frank S. Land never imagined that DeMolay would spread as fast as it did. In March of 1922, DeMolay had been established in 39 of 48 states (at the time), as well as in the District of Columbia. As DeMolay grew, so did Dad Land's commitment, he became fully involved in his once little club which was sweeping across the nation by the thousands. Five years after DeMolay started, there were 1,171 active chapters with 114,798 members. Dad Land was committed to DeMolay until the end of his days. Dad Land called to his wife one night feeling nauseous after 3 months of sickness and on November 8, 1959 spoke his final words "It is the beginning. My work must go on; DeMolay must go on.” 

DeMolay Time and Free Time

The following blog post was written by Brother Austin Chase, Region C Youth Representative, and PMC of Westmoreland Chapter. 

What does a DeMolay do in his free time when he's not in school or working? Some DeMolay members might like to play sports, play video games, sleep, drink chocolate milk, or practice their ritual. Every DeMolay has their own go to activities that they enjoy.  

During my free time, I like to play video games with my friends. When we're not playing video games, we do other things like go to the gym or go get something to eat. Other DeMolays in my Chapter like to do various other activities during their free time. One member is part of the swim team for their school. One member plays flag football. Another member is in the band and also plays for their high school Volleyball team. 

Some of us get together outside of DeMolay events and spend our free time together. Sometimes we get together to play basketball, listen to music, or play video games. The best part of DeMolay is that it provides you lifelong friendships that last even outside the Chapter banner.

Austin Chase, Region C Youth Representative
    

May 14th, 2013: How it All Got Started

The following post is from Sean Reitze, State Junior Councilor of Pennsylvania DeMolay and PMC of Pilgrim Chapter. 

It’s hard to believe that over four years have passed since the initiation of Bro. Chris Morales and I into the Order of DeMolay. It all started a month or so before we both joined: both of us were invited to a game truck party hosted by Pilgrim Chapter. Both of us enjoy video games, so we were both sold. In addition, we saw the comaraderie between the members which reinforced our decision to join. We knew this was something we wanted to be a part of.

If I haven’t joined the Order of DeMolay, I have no idea what these past 4 years would have been. I wouldn’t be the same person. DeMolay has opened doors and given me experiences I never thought I would be able to do. At the beginning of my DeMolay membership, I never saw myself as a Master Councilor of Pilgrim Chapter, I never saw myself as a Representative DeMolay, and I never saw myself as an Elected State Officer. The beauty of DeMolay is that it allowed me to grow as a person to become capable of accomplishing all of these goals, even if they weren't my goals going in. My fellow Brothers and Advisors have helped shape me into the person I am today.

As the saying goes, you get out of DeMolay what you put in it. I encourage everyone to challenge themselves to set goals and accomplish different things throughout their time within and outside of DeMolay. Before I sign off, if you’re an Active DeMolay reading this, I would like you to answer these following questions for yourself: When did you join DeMolay? Why did you join? How has your time in DeMolay benefited you? Take your answers and apply them to your Chapter’s membership program: membership is essential for the continued success of our organization.

This is Sean Reitze, State Junior Councilor, signing off. 

Hoping For a RUSH in Membership for PA DeMolay

The following post is from Jacob Reilly, State Scribe of Pennsylvania DeMolay and PMC of al-Aksa Chapter.  

In my opinion, the most important aspect of DeMolay is membership. When I joined DeMolay back in March of 2013, my Chapter was always weak with this, having only one or two boys show up to meetings. When I became more involved with Pennsylvania DeMolay in late 2013, I realized I needed to “jump-start” my chapter's membership efforts to maximize the DeMolay experience. I planned some open houses and prospect events to help with this effort. After 1 year of planning these events, I got our active member count up to 6 active, which is better than it had been since I joined. 

I want every member to try their best to increase their chapter's membership, especially during the months of November and December. These months combined are known as DeMolay RUSH, and we are encouraging ever member of DeMolay to give their effort to increase membership during both November and December. 

Membership is crucial for our organization. If we had no members, we would have no DeMolay. Do you want to glance back in 30 years and see that the organization that you put your blood, sweat and tears into, is not in existence? I know I don't. We need members to be able to plan and run events. Keeping this Order in good condition for the next generation should be a high priority. 

Here are some ideas you can do to increase membership. Try planning a video game prospect party. Do this by setting up age appropriate games for your prospects to play. Try to set up video games that 3-4 people can play at a time, this way no one is left out or unable to play. You can plan an outdoor picnic where people come to eat, socialize, and play games to have a good time. Make sure that you have food and refreshments at any prospect event. Everyone loves to eat and will always come back for more. These are just a few ideas that you can to to help increase membership for your chapter. 

This is Jacob Reilly, State Scribe, signing off.

Masonic Youth Groups Assemble!

The word "unity" means "the state of being one." We teach our members that DeMolay is about brotherhood, meaning that unity and togetherness is a very important part of our lessons, but this shouldn't end just within our program. There are several Masonic Youth Organizations that provide a similar program to what DeMolay provides for young men. Some of our best efforts should be the times our organizations work together. 

A little over a week ago, I was fortunate to have helped coordinate a program that brought that concept into effect called Unity Weekend. The weekend consisted of members of DeMolay, Rainbow, Job's Daughters, Ruth Mitchell Tucker Girls, and Knights of Pythagoras. The theme of the weekend was to allow each participant the chance to get to know the other organizations, and most importantly, to make friends within those organizations. The program was run by the Youth Leader of each organization, and consisted of team building exercises and a chance to get to know how each organization operates. They also learned plenty of things that make all of our organizations similar. 

I challenge readers to take advantage of this outlook. Plan events, such as dances, fun activities, or even service projects, with members of other Masonic Youth Organizations. The main concept that we have in common is that we are all part of the Masonic Family, so lets find ways to work together.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin
 

Defining Brotherhood

The following blog post is from Brother Kody Anderson, Region E Youth Representative and a PMC of Elizabethtown Chapter. 

From the very first day I joined DeMolay, I noticed that one of the many goals for every member was to bring in new members, and most importantly, make them want to come back to DeMolay. For me, there was one moment in particular that made me want to come back to DeMolay on a regular basis.

I joined DeMolay in September of 2014. Shortly after I joined, Elizabethtown DeMolay went to the Renaissance Faire. At this point, I didn’t really know anyone in my Chapter yet. I was just like any other DeMolay who had just joined, the one that wanted to talk and join the other members, but just didn’t know how to. After getting to the faire, everyone in my Chapter went their own ways, with their friends who they had known for quite some time already. Then there was me, not knowing where to go or what to do. Another DeMolay, who I didn’t know at the time, invited me to join his group. He had a couple of his friends with him, so I went with him, but I still felt a little out of place. As the day went on, I got to know these guys more, and by the end of the day it felt like we had been friends prior to actually getting to the faire.

When we talk about what DeMolay means to us, we often-times use the word “brotherhood.” When I was a new member, this word didn't really mean anything to me at the time, but another brother went out of his way and made me realize how important brotherhood is. I always think back on the time, and I often wonder whether or not I would be where I am at today if the meaning of “brotherhood” was not made clear to me. For me, brotherhood was not defined until another brother came along and defined it for me, and to this day I still believe that if this had not happened, I would not be as engaged with DeMolay. Recently, I have made it my goal to do the same for someone else. I want to engage with the new members, who may not yet know what we are all about, and show them the true meaning of DeMolay. 

Communication: Why Do We Talk About it So Much?

The following blog post is from Brother Sean Reitze, State Junior Councilor for Pennsylvania DeMolay and a PMC of Pilgrim Chapter. 

Communication is something we all experience in everyday life. We often hear about its importance during Stated Meetings, Advisory Council meetings, and other areas of DeMolay. Why is it spoken of so much at DeMolay events? I hope that throughout the course of this blog post, and with my insight as a communication studies minor, I can help you understand why communication is so important — not just in DeMolay, but in life as well.

One of the major facets of DeMolay involves event planning. Imagine yourself as the chairman of a committee that is planning a regional dance for your local Chapters, Assemblies, and Bethels in the area. You tell your committee in advance that you want music, decorations, and refreshments for the dance. Fast forward to the night before the event: the “music” for the event is just a member’s laptop speakers, “decorations” include a few balloons, and the “refreshments” consist of a half-gallon of fruit punch (without cups nonetheless!) This is definitely not what you had in mind for your event!

While this example might seem a little extreme, let me offer an opportunity for improvement and illustrate one of the key concepts of communication theory. Right off the bat, the chairman should have met with the members of the committee a few times before the dance and should have been more specific with his requests. Moving past this part of the solution, let’s take a deeper look at where and how this miscommunication occurred.

The committee members were only told by the chairman that they need to secure music, decorations, and refreshments. While the committee members technically weren’t wrong in completing what they were tasked with, it is certainly not what the chairman had in mind. To look at this more closely, we are going to look at the Allowable Range of References, or an acceptable list of words that you could think of when someone says something. When the chairman said “music,” what was he really saying? On one side of the range you have the laptop speakers, while on the other end of the range you have a DJ with professional speakers (which is what the chairman had in mind). Bypassing occurred when the communicators (in this case, the committee members) chose different spots on the Allowable Range of References. This concept can be applied again with the decorations and refreshments.

From looking at this example, you can see that there are many aspects of communication we don’t actively think about. Miscommunication can happen very easily, but it can also be easily avoided by being specific with what you are trying to promote or convey. Keep the Allowable Range of References in mind if you find yourself planning an event, working on a committee, or involved in other aspects of DeMolay. This is one of many examples of communication theory I have learned so far, and I hope to share more with you as time goes on. Like the motto of KeyMan University says: Ancora Imparo!

Why Do We Do Ritual?

One of the things that sets DeMolay apart from other youth organizations is our ability to perform Ritual. When the term "Ritual" is used, it's usually referred to in a negative sense. The definition of Ritual is "an established or prescribed procedure." When DeMolay performs Ritual, it's used as a prescribed way of expressing the beliefs of our organization and the things we stand for. It expresses our belief in the 7 cardinal virtues of the order, our appreciation towards our country and all those who have served for our freedom, and our respect for the public school system, among several other things. Each piece of Ritual is a lesson that is used to educate members of DeMolay as well as others.    

At a young age, young men and women have choices to join activities, such as sports and theater, that allow our youth to share their talents with an audience. The way Ritual is performed by our DeMolays is no different from those activities. The young men of DeMolay take pride in the way they perform each ritual part. They want the viewers to leave satisfied with the way they present the work. The young men make sure that the movement looks good, the words flow properly, and that they look professional in the presentation of the work. It takes effort and practice to make sure that it's performed right, the same way that athletes attend practice and actors hold rehearsals.

As a Senior DeMolay, I enjoy seeing the Ritual performed to such a high quality that the members  are capable of performing it. It reminds me of the days that I put the same effort into those parts. Recently in Pennsylvania, the Mid-Atlantic Tournament of Champions was held in Gettysburg, a DeMolay Ritual Tournament in which members perform their parts competing against the best of the best in the Mid-Atlantic Region. It was encouraging to see the young men perform the Ritual of our work to the level that they did. It shows that we really do have something special with the organization of DeMolay.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin     

  

Becoming Master Councilor

The following blog post is from Brother Daniel Amon, Senior Councilor of Northeast Chapter and State Senior Steward for Pennsylvania DeMolay.

Hello, my name is Danny Amon, currently Senior Councilor of Northeast Chapter, and I am going to be running for Master Councilor of our next term. The reason I want to become Master Councilor is because I feel that I would do a very good job guiding the other officers in my chapter and helping them become better leaders. I also think I would do a good job teaching the other officers to be more responsible and to be loyal to one another. 

     

One of the main things I will be focusing on during my term is fundraising. In order to have a stable DeMolay chapter, you will need to have money, and in order to get money, a chapter must raise funds. Second, I will be focusing on membership; not only to get members into DeMolay, but to keep the members that we get active. It's nice to have numbers on the books, but I'd rather see them at activities and meetings as well. Last, I will be focusing on brotherhood, respect, and leadership. Brotherhood and leadership because without these two very important factors, the chapter will not be stable. Courtesy is one of the most important precepts in DeMolay. Respect involves being courteous to each other, and this is very important to have a successful chapter.  

Here are some of the goals I plan to accomplish during my term. I want us to bring in at least 4 new members for Northeast Chapter and to keep them all active. I would like all the members of this chapter to advance into a higher position. I would like at least 5 members at every event that we will have, and all members to attend every meeting. I plan to have at least 4-5 fundraisers this term. When it's all said and done, I'd like to have a fun and successful term. In order to make these goals a reality, I know it will take a lot of work from myself and the members of the chapter, but I'm up for the challenge. I'd like to invite everyone reading this blog post to Northeast Chapter's Installation of Officers, which will be held at the Tacony Temple in Northeast Philadelphia on Sunday, October 15th at 2 PM.   

Chase for the DeMolay Membership Cup

The following post is from State Master Councilor, Brother Jacob Beers, promoting the GO Program and specific pieces that go along with it.

This year, the Chase for the DeMolay Membership Cup will have Chapters face off against one another in a race to see which Chapter can grow its membership the most from Convention 2017 to June 30, 2018. The year has been split into four rounds. At the end of each round, the Chapters that have admitted the lowest number of new members will be eliminated from competition until four Chapters are left standing in a three-month shootout to be crowned the DeMolay Membership Cup Champion. The Champion will win special recognition at Convention, as well as a plaque to commemorate their success.

Currently, we find ourselves in Round One, but there is only little more than one month remaining until its end on September 30th. At the end of Round One, only the twelve Chapters with the most new members will advance, eliminating the bottom eight. Westmoreland and Elizabethtown Chapters have taken the early lead, but there is still time for your Chapter to bring in new members to secure your spot in Round Two.

As we approach September, the fight to advance to the next round of the Chase for the DeMolay Membership Cup will certainly be heating up. Make sure your Chapter doesn’t get left behind as the Chase continues.

From DeMolay to the Big Leagues

At a young age, we all have hopes and dreams to become something above and beyond, such as a doctor, a lawyer, a professional athlete, or a famous movie star. For some, those dreams change over time, realizing other ambitions that come to us later in life. For others, they set every goal to make sure that this dream becomes a reality. For one Senior DeMolay from New Jersey, his dream to become a Professional Baseball Player is becoming more of a reality every day. 

In the 2017 MLB draft, the San Diego Padres selected Tyler Benson, a recent Senior DeMolay of Phoenix Chapter in New Jersey, who was playing for Outfield for Bloomsburg University. After just a few short months, Benson has already been promoted twice, currently playing for the Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps. 

After all this excitement in his life, he still remembers his time in DeMolay and took a conversation with Past State Master Councilor of New Jersey, Matt Hoffman. Tyler stated that his favorite memory of DeMolay was "Playing in the 2012 NJ State Flag Football Tournament under the lights with his home chapter - Phoenix Chapter." He went on to say "To see everyone from all around the State coming together, it was really a cool experience to just have fun with everyone. And of course, I’m naturally a competitive person so I loved the competition, even though we barely lost in the championship." When asked what is one take away from DeMolay, he states "Brotherhood. No matter how long we are away from each other, we are always there for one another and our conversations pick up where they last left off."  

Although Tyler is not finished with his journey, his dream is being fulfilled by playing baseball everyday as a professional. This story proves that dreams can become a reality if you put the work in to make it happen. Thank you to "Dad" Peter Brusoe and Brother Matt Hoffman for sharing this story. Keep up the great work Tyler Benson, and I hope to see you in the big leagues sometime soon. To see an article on his promotion to Single-A ball, click the following link.
http://www.dailyrecord.com/…/tyler-benson-montvi…/467483001/

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin  

Meet the Candidates: Mary Lichtenwalner for State Sweetheart

Convention is just around the corner, so lets take a few minutes to meet the candidates for Elected State Office. Members will get the chance to elect their officers during the Business Session the Saturday morning of Convention. They were all asked to provide a biography and an answer to the three questions below.

Hello members of Pennsylvania DeMolay. My name is Mary Lichtenwalner and I am the current Chapter Sweetheart for Carlisle Chapter, running for the office of State Sweetheart. I will be a Senior at Central Dauphin High School in the fall, where I am a member of the National Honor Society and the school band. In Marching Band, I have been a Co-Section Leader for two years. In Concert Band, I am the 12th Grade Representative and Section

Leader. I am a member of Job's Daughters International, having served as Bethel Honored Queen for Bethel #19 in Mechanicsburg. I am also the current Grand Bethel Guide for Job's Daughters in Pennsylvania.

Why do you want to become State Sweetheart for Pennsylvania DeMolay?

I want to become State Sweetheart because I have enjoyed working with all of the young men I have met to promote the State Charity. I have also loved learning and educating myself on dyslexia and how the Dyslexia Centers tutor students to help them better their quality of life. 

What do you know about the Children's Dyslexia Center?

The Shriners helped to open the Children's Dyslexia Center in 1994 with the Massachusetts General Hospital. These Masons pledged to assist children with dyslexia to learn how to improve their reading levels and how to reach their full potential. Another promise made was to assist these families to help end the frustration, guilt and disruption that may be caused by dyslexia and to assist communities to develop more Children's Dyslexia Centers to help students inside and outside of school. The Dyslexia Center uses a personalized approach for each student that they tutor. The tutors will start with one concept and make sure that the student understands why they need to know the skill, when it will be used, how it will be used, how it is performed and what the skill is actually doing for them. The tutor will not move onto the next lesson until the student understands everything. 

Although you cannot fund-raise on your own, what fundraising ideas could you bring if a chapter asked you for new ideas?

A Chapter can organize raffles and raise money by selling tickets at meetings and to the Masonic Community. Another idea would be to hold a competition between two concepts or between DeMolay members. The voting could take place by either tickets or change, depending on how the chapter wants to organize it. Chapters could also use fundraisers such as movie nights or bake sales in the community, to promote membership as well as service.  

     

Meet the Candidates: Jacob Reilly for State Scribe

Convention is just around the corner, so lets take a few minutes to meet the candidates for Elected State Office. Members will get the chance to elect their officers during the Business Session the Saturday morning of Convention. They were all asked to provide a biography and an answer to the three questions below.

My name is Jacob Reilly, I am running for State Scribe 2017-2018 term of Pennsylvania DeMolay. On March 2013 I proudly joined al-Aksa DeMolay located in Altoona, Pa. Since I joined, I have helped the Councilors of my chapter to the best of ability. On September 26, 2016 I became Master Councilor of al-Aksa Demolay, with the intent to increase membership and attendance to events and meetings. I earned the Past Master Councilor Meritorious Service Award, Representative DeMolay and Lamp of Knowledge. I am a Junior at Central High School in Martinsburg Pa, proud member of the FFA and National Honor Society and engaged in Central High School Soccer. I belong to the Boy Scouts of America of Troop 57 in Roaring Spring Pa. I am currently working on my Eagle Scout Project, hoping to have it completed by September of 2017. 

What are your goals if Elected to serve as an Elected State Officer?

My goal if elected as State Scribe is to keep proper records of the events. I plan to work with the State Master Councilor to make his term successful. I plan to help chapters across Pennsylvania to increase communication and strive to maintain membership and help members improve their leadership skills.

What is your greatest DeMolay experience or accomplishment?

My greatest Demolay experience is when I joined I helped restore al-Aksa DeMolay back to its proper form and the way every DeMolay chapter should be functioning and helping its membership increase throughout the years.

Who are your DeMolay influences and how have they inspired you?

My Greatest DeMolay influence is my father, Dad John Reilly. He has been my mentor since the day I joined DeMolay, giving me advice on leadership, ritual, and he has helped me love DeMolay as much as I do now. Also the Past Master Councilors of al-Aksa DeMolay and Past State Master Councilors of Pennsylvania have influenced me a lot throughout my DeMolay career.

Meet the Candidates: Timothy Nevil for State Treasurer

Convention is just around the corner, so lets take a few minutes to meet the candidates for Elected State Office. Members will get the chance to elect their officers during the Business Session the Saturday morning of Convention. They were all asked to provide a biography and an answer to the three questions below.

Hi guys, its Tim Nevil for those of you who might not know me, and I am a member of Elizabethtown Chapter. I was born in 2001 to my dad Martyn Nevil, current deputy director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and my mom Julia Nevil, who is the DME coordinator for the Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania. I have been raised in Middletown, which is a small town that sits between Hershey, Harrisburg, and Elizabethtown. I have attended Middletown Area School district my entire life and will be entering my junior year of High School. I am involved in many organizations around the school including marching band mini-thon and my High School radio station. My future goal in life is to attend college for a degree in Public Health. In 2014, I joined DeMolay as a part of Elizabethtown chapter and served as Master Councilor from June 2016 to January 2017, in which I received my PMC-MSA along with receiving my RD prior to my term. At Keyman 2016, I was selected as the keynote speaker for the week.

What are your goals if elected to serve as an Elected State Officer?

My goal as State Treasurer is to represent the members of the state. My goal for charity is to work alongside the state sweetheart and create statewide charity challenges and initiatives. I will be an active member for all brothers statewide by coming to all events and meetings that I can possibly make of every chapter. We are all in this fight together. It was once said that "We will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." I will make sure that as your friend and brother, I will never be silent in your defense.

Who are your DeMolay influences and how have they inspired you?

My DeMolay influences would have to be brother Jake Beers, and brother Tyler Moyer. Each for many different reasons. Brother Beers has been there ever since I joined DeMolay and has always been willing to support me if I needed. Brother Moyer helped provide an extra layer of support and on numerous occasions helped with challenges for charity and membership. Both of these brothers have been incredible leaders on the state level and inspire me and push me to be the best leader that I can be. 

What is your greatest DeMolay experience or accomplishment? 

My greatest DeMolay experience was attending Keyman University and being selected as the keynote speaker. The keynote speaker was just a minor accomplishment, especially because it was earned by everyone in my track. As a group, we faced some adversities that we never would have expected, but we fought and overcame those adversities. This showed me the true drive that everyone in my group and DeMolay has. It showed me that in our darkest hours, we will always rise higher and stronger than ever before.

Meet the Candidates: Sean Reitze for State Junior Councilor

Convention is just around the corner, so lets take a few minutes to meet the candidates for Elected State Office. Members will get the chance to elect their officers during the Business Session the Saturday morning of Convention. They were all asked to provide a biography and an answer to the three questions below.

Hello Pennsylvania DeMolay! My name is Sean Reitze and I am a member of Pilgrim Chapter. I am 19 years old and a student at West Chester University. I am majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Communication Studies and Spanish. As my major may suggest, I have an interest in technology and hope to bring that interest to PA DeMolay as I am running for the office of State Junior Councilor. Since joining DeMolay in May of 2013, I have earned my PMC-MSA for both terms of office as Master Councilor and I have served as an Appointed State Officer for two years. In my free time, I enjoy photography, travel, socializing, and throwing my free time away on social media and Netflix.

What are your goals if elected to serve as an Elected State Officer?

If elected, one of my goals involves enhancing communication across the State. We cannot be strong without communication between our State Officer Corps, Executive Officer, EO Staff, and all our Chapters. I would also like to utilize technology and social media to our advantage as they are becoming more integral to our lives. Social media can help bring DeMolay to a wider audience: we can help PA DeMolay grow in membership and remain relevant today.

Who are your DeMolay influences and how have they inspired you?

My greatest DeMolay influences include Dad Knapp and Dad Berry. They exemplify dedication to the Order and their support has shaped me to become the DeMolay I am today. I enjoy working with them; they motivate me and push me to be the best I can be.

What is your greatest DeMolay experience or accomplishment?

After a great deal of thought through all the events I have attended over the past four years, I would have to say that my greatest DeMolay experience would be the 007 Weekend at Patton Campus last term. A brilliant idea manifested into an excellent event with proper execution – this made it my most memorable Patton weekend to-date. 

Meet the Candidates: Dylan Kirk for State Senior Councilor

Convention is just around the corner, so lets take a few minutes to meet the candidates for Elected State Office. Members will get the chance to elect their officers during the Business Session the Saturday morning of Convention. They were all asked to provide a biography and an answer to the three questions below.

My name is Dylan Kirk and I am running for the office of State Senior Councilor. I am a Past Master Councilor of Westmoreland Chapter. This fall I will be entering my junior year of high school. Throughout my four years in DeMolay, I have earned several awards including my lamp of Knowledge and my Representative DeMolay Award. Some of my interests are baseball, hockey, and movies, my favorites are: the Cars trilogy, Saving Private Ryan, The Sandlot.

What are your goals if elected to serve as an Elected State Officer?
If elected to State Senior Councilor, I hope that I will be able to bring new ideas to help improve PA DeMolay. I also hope to help the individual chapters, a goal of mine is to visit each chapter at least once, so that we, as state officers, can have better communication with the chapters to help them improve as well.

What is your greatest DeMolay experience or accomplishment?

Although I have had many great experiences, varying from chapter events, to becoming a state officer. I’d have to pick going to the Naval Academy in Annapolis Maryland. I was Master Councilor of my chapter at the time and I chose to do that for My Government Day. It was a great experience that I will never forget.

Who are your DeMolay influences and how have they inspired you?

Of all the great people I have met and gotten to know in DeMolay, whether they are from my chapter or the state, many of them have taught me valuable lessons. Two of my greatest DeMolay influences are Adam Neubauer and Isaac Holtzer. Adam recruited me into DeMolay and was my mentor, at least I saw him that way, before the bro tie program. Isaac became State Master Councilor shortly after I joined. While he was SMC, he still participated in chapter events and I was able to observe his leadership style in the chapter and on the state level. I was able put that towards my own leadership skills, especially with being a state officer.

Meet the Candidates: Brian Martin for State Senior Councilor

Convention is just around the corner, so lets take a few minutes to meet the candidates for Elected State Office. Members will get the chance to elect their officers during the Business Session the Saturday morning of Convention. They were all asked to provide a biography and an answer to the three questions below.

Hello everyone, my name is Brian Eduardo Martin. I'm the first DeMolay and Mason of my family. I’m from Carlisle, PA and I'm a PMC of Carlisle Chapter. Some of my hobbies include golfing, fishing and hunting. My favorite superhero is Batman. My accomplishments include obtaining my PMC-MSA, DeMolay Varsity letter, RD and earning the Degree of Chevalier.

What are your goals if elected to serve as an Elected State Officer?

If I’m elected to serve Pennsylvania DeMolay as your State Senior Councilor I would like to help chapter's increase visitation amongst each other. I would also like to help find new ways to get DeMolay out there to the public to boost membership.

Who are your DeMolay influences and how have they inspired you?

My biggest DeMolay influence will not change. My influence is Bill Sardone. I look up to him ever since the day I met him. The passion for DeMolay that he exudes is what I stride for. I hope that exuding that passion to the younger DeMolays will make them love this organization as much as I do.

What is your greatest DeMolay experience or accomplishment?

My greatest DeMolay accomplishment to date is serving as State Scribe for Pennsylvania DeMolay. It taught me time management. This helped me become a better State office in learning how to juggle school, DeMolay and work. It also helped me get around Pennsylvania to meet new brothers that have yet come to a State weekends and or from another state. 

KMU Course Selection: Events and Program Planning

The following is a blog post highlighting a specific department that will be offered at KeyMan University this summer. Today's post is written by "Dad" P.J. Shuey, who will be of the Department Chairman for the Events and Program Planning Department. 

So you’ve decided that you are going to attend the PA DeMolay Keyman Conference this year, but you need to decide which department to spend the week with. You might wonder what a week with the Events and Program Planning department might look like. Well I’m here to tell you that it is packed with learning, experience, and fun.

By the end of the first day you will have learned everything you need to know about planning a first class event.  On day two you will be putting those new skills into practice. Throughout the week, the Events and Program Planning department is responsible for organizing a number of activities and events for other campers. For example, we will be organizing Jacques Heroes which is a morning exercise activity for anyone who would like to come. We also have the opportunity to plan events during free time. You will have total control over what these activities would be and how to carry them out, and the staff from the department will help you with anything you will need. 

One of my favorite things that the Events and Program Planning department gets to do is plan the end of the week event. This event is usually a charitable activity or presentation. The EPP department is responsible for planning, promoting, and executing this event for the whole conference. It is an authentic experience for working in your chapter and planning an important event. It is one of the most rewarding projects at Keyman. If you spend the week with Events and Program Planning, you will go home with confidence and actual experience in planning exceptional events. 

To sign up for KeyMan University, visit the website at keyman.pademolay.org. 

Meet the Candidates: Tyler Moyer for Deputy State Master Councilor

Convention is just around the corner, so lets take a few minutes to meet the candidates for Elected State Office. Members will get the chance to elect their officers during the Business Session the Saturday morning of Convention. They were all asked to provide a biography and an answer to the three questions below.

For those of you who may not know, my name is Benjamin Tyler Moyer; yes it really is Benjamin. I’ve been a member of DeMolay since KeyMan 2010 and have always thoroughly enjoyed it. During my time, I served as the Master Councilor of my Chapter multiple times, earning my PMC-MSA along the way. Last year I was elected to serve as your State Junior Councilor and over the course of the year I tried to become as active as possible. It was, and still is, my goal to be there as much as I can for our members, because it is through you that DeMolay will prosper.

What are your goals if elected to serve as an Elected State Officer?

If elected, it will be my goal to continue bringing new ideas to the table and to be a very visible State Officer. Coming to as many activities that are held on the Chapter level as possible. When I first became Master Councilor my brother told me that it should be my goal and it is my duty to try to leave the Chapter in better shape than when I joined it. That’s what will be my big goal for the next few years on the State level.

What is your greatest DeMolay experience or accomplishment?

My greatest DeMolay experience actually occurred last November. It was the Regional Game Truck Party that I had planned for my Chapter. I personally feel that it was the best event I’ve ever planned. We had close to 40 attendees; DeMolay’s and prospects. Having that be a success is what has reignited my fire for planning more Regional events in the future.

Who are your DeMolay influences and how have they inspired you?

My DeMolay influences would definitely have to be the State Master Councilors that I came up under. It was and is through their leadership that I learned what a leader is and I learned how I should act and lead as a State Officer. 

Meet the Candidates: Jacob Beers for State Master Councilor

Convention is just around the corner, so lets take a few minutes to meet the candidates for Elected State Office. Members will get the chance to elect their officers during the Business Session the Saturday morning of Convention. They were all asked to provide a biography and an answer to the three questions below.

If by some strange circumstance we haven’t met yet, my name is Jake Beers and I am hoping to serve as the 83rd State Master Councilor of Pennsylvania DeMolay. I joined Elizabethtown Chapter on July 10, 2011. In 2014, I became Master Councilor with the goal of revitalizing and re-energizing my Chapter. Since then, I have worked with all of the Master Councilors that have come through my Chapter, serving as Scribe for two-and-a-half years and Treasurer for the last six months. I was appointed State Treasurer in August of 2014 and have since served as State Junior Councilor and Deputy State Master Councilor. As State Junior Councilor, I worked to create new Patton Campus weekends that would excite members and allow Pennsylvania DeMolay to grow in ways not yet seen. As Deputy State Master Councilor, it has been my duty to help the corps in whatever way needed, whether it was in planning events, advising, or anything else. In my time as a DeMolay, I have earned the Representative DeMolay Award, Elizabethtown DeMolay of the Year twice, Scribe’s Efficiency Certificate, and the Degree of Chevalier.

This year, I graduated from Lower Dauphin High School in Hummelstown as a member of the National Honor Society, French National Honor Society, and History Honor Society. I was involved in Lower Dauphin’s music program as first-chair euphonium in Concert Band and Low Brass Section Leader, both in my junior and senior years. In the fall, I will be attending West Chester University seeking a degree in Mathematics with a concentration in Statistics. I am an avid football and NASCAR fan, as well as a sports fan in general. My favorite football team is the Jacksonville Jaguars and my favorite driver is Kevin Harvick. In the future, I would like to work as a Sports Statistician.

What are your goals if elected to serve as an Elected State Officer?

If elected State Master Councilor, I want to achieve three main goals. First, I want to encourage members to take charge of their Chapters and their Order as a whole. In my time as an Elected State Officer, I have seen Pennsylvania DeMolay shift in demographics towards a younger base of members. A fixture of my term will be encouraging these new members to take some leadership role in their Chapters - be it a Councilor role, Committee Chairman, or anything else - and their State. Second, I want to improve Chapter-to-State communication. This year, Chapters will have greater ability for communication with their Elected State Officers and Executive Officer’s Staff than ever before. More information on how this will be achieved will be announced at Convention. Third, I want to spread DeMolay to more people than ever before this year. For PA DeMolay to grow in members, influence, and recognition, we must introduce more people to the Order. Chapters and members alike will be encouraged to visit lodges, other Chapters, other Masonic Youth Organizations, and areas within their communities in the name of spreading DeMolay.

Who are your DeMolay influences and how have they inspired you?

I have always looked at “Dad” Dave Berry as my mentor and inspiration throughout my DeMolay career. So often, he does a large portion of the work for PA DeMolay or is very instrumental in various facets of the Order. Rarely, though, does he receive or ask for credit, putting DeMolay ahead of himself. I also look to the PSMCs throughout my DeMolay career, especially those I have worked with, and take from each of them their best qualities and attempt to emulate those qualities.

What is your greatest DeMolay experience or accomplishment?

My greatest DeMolay accomplishment was receiving the Degree of Chevalier last November. At face value, the Chevalier would obviously be my greatest accomplishment, but my reasoning goes far beyond this. The Chevalier is given to reward those who have worked to better their Chapter, with only their Chapter in mind. I felt so honored to be rewarded by my Chapter, knowing that they appreciated what I had done to aid the Chapter in my time as a DeMolay. I hope that I can continue to be worthy of this honor in my time as State Master Councilor and the years to follow.