Centennial Memory #73: Volleyball Tournaments

To celebrate the DeMolay Centennial, PA DeMolay will be counting down 100 memories worth celebrating that took place within the DeMolay Chapters and Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania.

Sports activity can be an important part of a young man's workout routine. Competitive sports allow members to build teamwork, communication, and trust. PA DeMolay had four major sports tournaments throughout the years, but the one that will be the topic of today's post will be the tournament that traditionally took place during this weekend, the Volleyball Tournament.

The sports tournaments were double elimination style and Chapter's had the chance to form a team with the members of their own Chapter. Some Chapters reached out to other Chapters to form a team if they could not field one for themselves. Either way, brotherhood existed throughout friendly competition. Here are the first place teams during the run:

1989: Elizabethtown

1990: Somerton

1991: Somerton

1992: No Tournament

1993: Reading

1994: Reading

1995: Elizabethtown

1996: Elizabethtown

1997: No Tournament

1998: Reading

1999: Reading

2000: Reading

2001: Elizabethtown

2002: Elizabethtown

2003: Somerton

2004: Reading

2005: Reading

2006: Elizabethtown

2007: Elizabethtown

2008: Lorraine

2009: Elizabethtown

2010: Lorraine

2011: Pilgrim

2012: Lorraine

2013: Pilgrim

2014: Elizabethtown

2015: Carlisle

Check out some of the great photos from the years of the Volleyball Tournament.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

KeyMan University

For the 32nd year, Pennsylvania DeMolay will host the annual KeyMan Conference, known for the last 4 years as KeyMan University. The week long DeMolay experience will take place at the Masonic Conference Center - Patton Campus in Elizabethtown, PA on August 6th to 12th, 2017. Members and sweethearts are encouraged to join us for what is known throughout DeMolay International as a premier DeMolay leadership program. So why should you attend? Here are several reasons why you will want to be in Elizabethtown in August.

10. The Directors of KMU, "Dad" Dan Loughin and "Dad" Matt Blaisdell, have put together a stellar staff roster to help teach members and sweethearts everything they need to know during the week.

9. Participants will enjoy a week long stay at Patton Campus. For those who have never been to the campus, the facility consists of several meeting size rooms, dorm room style accommodations, a state of the art Multimedia Center, a cafeteria, and plenty of outdoor space to play all kinds of games and sports.  

8. Patton Campus has a half Olympic size pool that participants will have opportunities to enjoy. Assigned time frames for the pool will be reflected on the schedule.  

7. For the sports fanatics, there will be assigned time to let off some steam, with sports such as dodgeball, flag football, kickball, volleyball and basketball. Not a fan of sports? Not to worry, there are plenty of other things to do on campus, including a closet full of board games and a few chess tables in the atrium. 

6. One of the things that makes KMU special is the emphasis on service through our various service projects that will be built into the week. More details on this will come in a later post. 

5. Each participant will be placed into a department, which will be the emphasis for their learning experience through the week. New members will be placed in the DeMolay Education department. Other departments include Ritual and Performance, Chapter Leadership and Operations, Communications and Media, Events and Program Planning, Brotherhood and Membership, and Interpersonal Development.

4. There will be opportunities to work on LCC's throughout the week. Participants can also start working on their Representative DeMolay Award. 

3. FOOD!  

2. Participants will get to meet other members and sweethearts from their Jurisdiction as well as others. KMU is a DeMolay International known program, with participants traveling from Virginia, Maryland, New York, Canada and others to participate in our program. 

1. The week long fun that will be had at KMU will surely provide stories and memories that can be shared for years to come. It will also provide lessons that can, and should, be taken back to your home chapter.   

I hope this motivates members and sweethearts to join us for what is guaranteed to be a great DeMolay experience. Registration is open now, so go to keyman.pademolay.org to register now.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

Dodgeball for Dyslexia 2017

The following message is a Public Service Announcement from Elizabethtown DeMolay inviting you to the annual Dodgeball for Dyslexia Tournament. 

Look at that - what a shiny new logo! Dodgeball for Dyslexia is new, improved, and better than ever in its third year of existence, just like its logo. Now, you may ask, “Hey, how can a charity dodge-ball tournament that raised nearly $1,000 last year alone get even better?” which is a very keen and flattering question. The answer is easy: it starts with you. We had a total of 7 teams last year, with strong showings from Westmoreland and Pilgrim, but in order for the level of awesomeness to reach maximum capacity, we need more teams. So, if you are not completely convinced of joining this incredible event, let me suggest three solid reasons of why you should participate in Dodgeball for Dyslexia III.

1.)   It is for an awesome cause

Would you like to reap the benefits of donating to a charitable organization and feeling connected to your fellow members of the human race? Then this tournament is for you. All profits from Dodgeball for Dyslexia are given to the Children’s Dyslexia Centers, which provides tutoring at no charge to children from early elementary through high school who have been diagnosed as dyslexic. Children are eligible regardless of economic status or Masonic affiliation. The positive impact of early intervention on the lives of these children and their families is enormous and inspires our commitment to this program.

2.)   Dodgeball is fun

Dodgeball is a sport. Sports are games. Games are fun. With this undeniable logic, it is safe to assume that you will have the time of your life at Dodgeball for Dyslexia. Whether you are experiencing the thrill of joining comrades in the exertion of physical activity or you simply enjoy hitting your advisors with soft, rubber spheres, this activity is always a boatload of fun. Not just a small dinghy of fun, but a Titanic size boat of fun sans the sinking.

3.)   You can win stuff

If the emotional satisfaction of benefiting humanity and enjoying time with friends and brothers isn’t your cup of tea, you can also win the long sought-after gold, silver, and bronze dodgeballs. The gold, of course, goes to the victor of the entire tournament, but just as important is the silver dodgeball, which goes to the team with the most team spirit, and bronze, which is given to the team who raised the most money to the Dyslexia Centers. So, seek victory and claim a few dodge-balls for your home chapter!

As I promised, three solid reasons to participate in the Dodgeball for Dyslexia tournament on May 13, 2017 at the Spooky Nook Sports Complex in Manheim, PA. If you have any inquiries, feel free to contact Brother Evan Crawford at evane2@ptd.net.

Make a team: make a difference. 

It's Nerf or Nothin!

With the upcoming Nerf weekend, otherwise known as Operation N.A.S.H.V.I.L.L.E. Training Weekend, I figured we should take the time to get to know the Nerf product a little bit better. The training weekend will be focused on the Nerf Blaster, but the Nerf Company has been responsible for several different products along the way.

The concept of Nerf started in 1969 with an idea that was originally meant to be a Volleyball game with a 4 inch foam ball. Parker Brothers kept the foam ball and expanded on the idea. Eventually Hasbro, the company that produces Nerf to this day, took over the company from Parker Brothers. Nerf, which is an acronym for Non-Expanding Recreational Foam, became a worldwide success. New products were being created, mostly involving sports. Growing up, most kids I knew had Nerf basketballs, frisbees, soccer balls, and the most popular, footballs. My personal favorite was the Vortex Howler Football, a football that had a long-distance tail that made the football go further than most usually do. Friends and I would toss one around for hours down the back alley until our parents called for dinner. 

The most popular product, which is what the January weekend is focused on, is the Nerf Blaster. After continued years of success with sports, Nerf turned to warfare gun products that shoot discs, balls, and darts. There a various versions of the product, some more powerful than others, but all of them stick within the same concept that made the company as successful as they are; safety. I hope to see you all at the upcoming Nerf weekend. Remember: “It’s Nerf, or Nothin!”    

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin      

Be Different Spotlight: Northeast Chapter

The following post is part of a series entitled the “Be Different Spotlight.” This post will display a chapter’s effort to grasp the concept of the theme for this year. Each chapter was challenged by the State Master Councilor, Adam Pritchard, to “Be Different.” 

Challenge Accepted! This is the story of how Northeast Chapter embraced that challenge...

Northeast Chapter, from the city of brotherly love, has accepted the challenge to “Be Different” and has gone above and beyond. While some chapters are bringing in new activities, fund-raisers and service projects, Northeast has decided to even change their logo. The new logo, which you can see to the side of this post, has embraced the city that Northeast resides in, Philadelphia. Designed by soon to be Chapter Advisor, “Dad” Alex Swift; the logo displays the Liberty Bell with the DeMolay shield inside. 

The members of Northeast chapter have decided to run different programs that will enhance membership recruitment and retention within the chapter. The members held a “Brotherhood Bowl” football game with Tacony Lodge Number 600, one of their sponsoring bodies. Members of Northeast Chapter and Tacony Lodge were divided into teams for a fun filled event. A few prospective members also took part in the brotherhood activity. The members of the chapter also decided that they will hold a “Frat Party.” The event is scheduled to take place on November 29^th at the Tacony Lodge from 12PM to 5PM. Members and prospects will enjoy food, watch football games, play frat party style games and partake in tossing a football around outside. In other words, the chapter plans to have their own tailgate party.  If you are interested in attending, contact “Dad’ Alex Swift at aswift5648@gmail.com for more details.

Many other original ideas have taken place for Northeast as well. Brothers Jeffrey Hample and Lorenzo Rodrgiuez came up with and performed a ceremony for Educational Day, devoted to the importance of our school systems. At Tacony Temple’s annual Pancake Breakfast, the members held a bake sale and opened a toppings bar in which donations were accepted. Other events planned for the future include attending a 76ers game, holding a LAN party and visiting the Benjamin Franklin Museum.

Northeast Chapter has completed the challenge to “Be Different.” What has your chapter done in order to change things up a bit? Send in program details or write a post for your chapter and send it to me at JAPullin@pademolay.net.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin  

  

A Royal Time for the Founding City of DeMolay

Over the past few nights, Kansas City has been celebrating their first major championship season since the Kansas City Royals won the World Series in 1985. In fact, since 1985 the Royals had not made the playoffs until the 2014 season, and in 30 years only produced 10 winning seasons. The Kansas City Royals overcame that adversity and beat the New York Mets to win the 2015 World Series Championship in five games.

I can't speak for everyone, but I've always been a fan of a feel good underdog story. To see a team overcome the odds that have been set for them for 30 years and finally win a championship, it makes a person think that anything is possible. A dynasty is great, but it gets old. It's nice to see a team succeed that hasn't in quite some time.

So what does this have to do with DeMolay? A lot more than you even realize. For starters, Kansas City is the birthplace of the organization. Founded in 1919, Kansas City produced the organization that we are proud to say we are a part of. In a way, Kansas City can be considered a hometown city for all of us.

Another reason this has to do with DeMolay is the comparison of an underdog story to the chapters in DeMolay. Chapters go through rebuilding stages just like a sports team does, in which new members become the future of the organization. Chapters struggle and find a way to overcome the struggle. They look for new leadership, build strong leaders within the organization, and work together as a unit to achieve a common goal. The Kansas City Royals did just that. They hired Manager Ned Yost in 2010, which proved to work out great for the team. They drafted well bringing in star players such as Salvador Perez, Alex Gordon, and Eric Hosmer, while making trades to bring in more young talent in Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar. Those players had time to develop into franchise leaders that all took an equal part in the current success of the team.

We can all learn a few things from the Royals. Sometimes change can be for the better. Mold tomorrows leaders in your chapter today. Trust the process and it will pay off. Just like the Kansas City Royals, I hope your home chapter reaches their goals and becomes a DeMolay champion of their own right.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin  

But... but, they aren't REAL DeMolays!

How to Tell the REAL DeMolays
from the Fake Ones

by "Dad" Thomas R. Labagh

The old argument about whether DeMolays who come just for sports are "real DeMolays" just never seems to die.  I have been hearing it since I was initiated in 1970.  It is as poor an argument now as it was back then.

DeMolay athletes are just as important to the Order of DeMolay as the guys who "only show up for ritual" or those guys who "only like doing service events" or those guys who "only come for the dances."

It always seems to fall as a harsher judgment on the athletes who are usually judged in the midst of their most competitive mode, but who, in truth, can be just as good at ritual, fund-raising and service as the other guys when called upon.  

Each Chapter has its own criteria for filling its team roster.  Some want winning athletes.  Others want "full participants" who also want to play sports.  It is each Chapter's decision-- and some establish their criteria each season, while others establish a policy through their advisory council, and others create bylaws to govern themselves.  As long as the method is fair, any of these methods is fine. 

It is expensive for some Chapters to travel long distances, so sometimes we only see the really competitive side of a Chapter, for instance, because they value a basketball championship or a volleyball championship as part of their membership recruiting program the rest of the year.

If Dad Land had envisioned a program where every young man came to every activity and every DeMolay was an officer, we would never have grown in the early years.  The Order of DeMolay grew because it offered so much, to so many people.  Sadly, it has changed over the years to offer a complete program to just a few members of each Chapter who can become officers, and Advisors tend to value more, those who embrace the whole thing.  

But like the Masonic Fraternity, DeMolay offers a wide variety of activities to those who choose to be involved in them.  Only 10% of Lodge members attend meetings, but they ALL value their membership.  That is because membership is more than just attending-- it is about the ideals of the organization.  

DeMolay is no different than Lodge, in that respect.  And our casual Lodge members and DeMolay members look to the officers for guidance and role models, and hopefully find something they like to see.  It isn't easy, but our goal, as Advisors, is to teach our members to accept ALL DeMolays as equal members, simply for the fact that they share the common bond of membership, given to them as a result of taking the same obligations as all DeMolays around the world.

Lorraine Bowls Away the Competition

 Congratulations go out to Lorraine Chapter, in Butler, PA, for being the winners for DeMolay International, Region II, in the Postal Bowling Competition. That means the guys at Lorraine beat out teams from seven other states with their skills and high scores.

What is the Postal Bowling Tournament, you may ask? Well, according to DeMolay International, here is how it works:

• Hold a chapter bowling event.
• Send your results to DeMolay headquarters.
• Find out how you stack up against other chapters from around the globe.

Pretty simple, huh?

Awards are presented in the following categories:

• Individual High Game
• Individual High Series
• Regional High Team Series
• International High Team Series

The tournament does have some other rules though...

All teams must bowl between a set time period (the next one is from November 30, 2012, and January 30, 2013.)  Scores submitted that were bowled during another time period will not be accepted.  All entries must be postmarked by February 1, 2013 and received no later than February 15, 2013.

Entry fee is: $10 per five (5) member team.

Ten pin bowling only (no handicaps).  A chapter may enter more than one team; however, each bowler may compete on only one team.  A team may enter only once.  Each team member must bowl three (3) lines with the team, and each team member must be an active DeMolay in good standing.

The members of the team must be decided before competition play begins.  Bowlers are allowed to practice; however, a team must decide that it is beginning a competition game before the first frame is bowled. (You cannot list the best five players out of ten, or the best three games out of five, etc.)

Awards will be sent to each recipient's Executive Officer for presentation.  All teams entered will receive a list of the winners.

So, plan a bowling event for your Chapter next year, and take control of the lanes!

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

Senior DeMolay Highlight - Mark William Calaway

As we continue our Senior DeMolay spotlight series, I'm sure you saw the title of this post and thought "who in the world is Mark William Calaway?" Very few people know that name. He's not in the DeMolay International Hall of Fame. He's not a prominent Mason. That name doesn't even belong to a well known public figure. However, I'm guessing that you'll be able to identify who Bro. Calaway is if I used his stage name - The Undertaker. Yes, that Undertaker. Professional Wrestler, WWE Superstar, and all around creepy macho guy. So, how did he go from DeMolay to heavy weight champion? Read on!

Mark William Calaway a.k.a The Undertaker

Professional Wrestler and Entertainer

Bro. Calaway was born on March 5, 1965, in Houston, Texas, and from all accounts he was a regular kid who enjoyed sports and physical activity. He attended Waltrop high school where he played on the basketball team. It is unknown as to whether or not he attended college, but what is certain is that by the age of 19 he had already earned a contract with World Class Championship Wrestling to begin his career as a professional athlete and entertainer. Originally going by the name "Texas Red," his first match was against Bruiser Brody in 1984. We couldn't find information on whether he won or lost that bout. His career really took off on April 1, 1988, when he beat Jerry "The King" Lawler for the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship.

In 1989 Mark joined World Championship Wrestling. He adopted the ring name "Mean" Mark Callous and would become part of the Skyscrapers wrestling team, replacing an injured Sid Vicious. He continued to wrestle with various groups until 1990, when he scored it big, landing a contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now the WWE.)

On November 19, 1990, Calaway made his first appearance as "Cain the Undertaker," a persona which was adapted from a Western mortician theme, which included a slouch hat and a long, duster style trench coat. In this characterization, that of the "Deadman," he was supposedly impervious to pain. He made his first on camera debut on November 22 of that same year at the Survivor Series event. He was introduced as "The Undertaker" and went on to participate in his first match in incredible fashion, by eliminating "Koko B. Ware" with his first signature move, the Tombstone Piledriver. After this match, he would hook up with his ubiquitous manager, "Paul Bearer", and would adopt his signature finishing move of placing his defeated opponents in body bags.

His next major debut was at Wrestlemania VII, where he would defeat the world famous wrestler Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. This win would begin his streak of being undefeated at Wrestlemania, which still stands to this day. This match would also see him create his first real feud, having gone after the Ultimate Warrior. Within a year of this event, he would defeat Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship, making him the youngest person ever to hold the title belt up to that point. He would continue to wrestle as The Undertaker, participating in various story lines, up until 1998.

In 1997, Bro. Calaway participated in a story line involving his family being killed and a long lost brother, who also became a wrestler, named Kane. It should be noted that these events are purely fictitious and do not in any way represent his dealing with his real family. He would spend the next two years feuding with his "brother" and participating a high stakes bout called "Hell in a Cell"

In 1999 he re-conceptualized his character into the leader of a team known as "the Ministry of Darkness" which portrayed a darker and more demonic look. He was often seen sitting on a throne and said that he was taking his orders "from higher powers." The other big gimmick that he developed was "sacrificing" other wrestlers in an attempt to win them over to his side. However, this storyline was short lived when Mark pulled a groin muscle, forcing him to go on a four month hiatus. He would later rip a pectoral muscle during this time, forcing him to remain out for even longer.

By the year 2000, the comic book style characters of the previous generation of wrestlers was becoming less popular. When Bro. Calaway returned to the WWF in late 2000, he found that he was in need of another image change. This time, he took on the motif of a biker, but still retained the name of "the Undertaker." Gone were the signature references to the occult, replaced with the image of an American tough guy. He would take part in several plots over the next four years, which proved to be a prosperous time for him.

In 2004, the image of the biker was beginning to get stale, and in a ploy to increase ratings, the WWF brought him back in his original "Deadman" motif. He has continued to wrestle in this style since, having taken part in numerous stories and events. His current feud is with wrestler "Triple H."

In his personal life Bro. Calaway has been married twice, first to Jodi, whom he divorced in 1999, and later to Sara. Their marriage ended in 2007. He has a son, named Gunner, and two daughters, Chasey and Graci. He enjoys mixed martial arts and boxing and has appeared in support of contestants at many bouts. He is also an avid real estate investor, having recently finished construction on a $2.7m building in Texas called the Calahart.

Bro. Calaway has certainly found his Mission in life - controlling the ring and his body, making him an entertainer par excellence. How can you you use his life to teach you control?

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

You're such a good sport!

Good morning PA DeMolay! I'm getting back to the office from an exhausting weekend at the PA DeMolay Basketball tournament (which you can read more about over at http://www.pademolay.org) as well as a whirlwind day of Knights Templar meetings. This evening my home Commandery is greeting Sir Knight S. Timothy Warco, Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Pennsylvania (how's that for a title?) This means that I have another busy day ahead of me. I hope you'll forgive the shortness of my post in light of this.

I wanted to post something sports related after the tournament, so, I went in search over at the Art of Manliness blog. I found a great article on being a good sport that I think everyone should read. We had fantastic sportsmanship at the tournament this weekend - in fact, I believe DeMolays are some of the best sports out there! But, this article is a good read even if you are a great winner or loser - so, check it out!

I'll be back on Thursday, hopefully with a longer pondering!

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

Key Man: Day 6 - What Do They Do At Key Man?

We know that some of you still haven't quite figured out what the Key Man Conference is all about, but if you read the blog, and watch for the news stories on http://www.pademolay.org/ you'll get a better idea.



Sports in the afternoon is a big thing at Key Man, but the competitions are somewhat different. We stay away from the "big three"-- softball, basketball and volleyball, and play kickball, ultimate frisbee and dodgeball-- sports that just about everyone can play well! Toss in some crazy outdoor activities, like a slip and slide, and you have a perfect recipe for fun!



... and here is how we talked about sports way back in 1988! (With a special dedication to "Dad" Randy Knapp!)



Key Man wraps up tomorrow morning, so keep an eye out for material in the coming weeks!

Frat!~"Dad" Seth Anthony