Be Different Spotlight: Elizabethtown 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 Elizabethtown Chapter embraced that challenge...

Our Chapter proudly accepted the challenge and decided to do something different for our Frank S. Land Memorial Obligatory Day by doing something we have never done before. With the cooperation of family and friends of our members, with some kind and courteous Masonic Village Residents helping, we collected nearly 400 gently used books and presented them to the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Lancaster. We presented the books in support of the center's book give away which was held as a part of the Extraordinary Give in Lancaster County on Friday, Nov. 20^th.  This one day, 24-hours of online giving raised over 6.1 million dollars for over 350 charitable organizations.  The Children’s Dyslexia Center had over $7,000 donated to it in just 24 hours.  The books that were collected and donated were available for pickup by anyone who stopped by the Dyslexia Center on Nov. 20th. 

In addition to donating the books, 8 members of our Chapter willingly donated a total of $225 for the purchase of any other books in support of the book drive that brought donors into the center.  Over the past 15 years Elizabethtown Chapter has raised and have been honored to donate nearly $35,000.00 to the center through various fundraisers, which includes our annual chicken pot pie dinners.  Our Chapter Advisor, Dad Jesse Spence, makes a very good chicken pot pie, and if you haven't had one yet I highly recommend it to you! Our next chicken pot pie dinner and special auction of gifts and passes will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2016. 100% of our profits are donated to the center, our state charity that helps kids get the help they need to overcome dyslexia and succeed in school.

Along with presenting the books, 5 of our chapter members helped prepare and serve a luncheon for the Lancaster Lodge of Perfection. The Lancaster Lodge of Perfection, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, is the main sponsoring agency of the Children's Dyslexia Center of Lancaster. We thought that supporting the Scottish Rite in this way was especially appropriate since the founder of DeMolay, Frank S. Land, was an employee of the Scottish Rite Valley located in Kansas City. The officers of Elizabethtown DeMolay were happy with the success of the luncheon and donation of the books, and appreciated the support of family members, friends, residents of the Masonic Village in Elizabethtown, and our advisors, as without them this would not have been possible. 

From the Officers, Members, and Families of Elizabethtown Chapter, Order of DeMolay we want to wish you a Happy and Safe Holiday Season! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

This blog post was written by current Senior Councilor of Elizabethtown Chapter, Blake Anderson. Thank you Brother Blake for your contribution.

Elizabethtown 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.

Be Different!

This year in Pennsylvania DeMolay, the elected state officers are encouraging chapters to be different. In the upcoming days, if your chapter didn't already receive them at Game Show Weekend, you will be receiving a packet explaining the incentive program. It will have all of the features including; the Bro Tie mentor program, the Past Grand Master's Honor Apron applications, and a schedule of upcoming events.

How can my chapter be different? Here are a few things you may consider in your chapter's effort to be different:

• Plan a new event within your chapter. Be creative about it. Think of something that you may have always wanted to do but have never been able to. Coming up with a new activity will encourage members to stay active.
• Come up with a brand new membership program specifically for your chapter. Think of incentives that will encourage the guys to reach their goals for the year.
• Create a new concept for a fund raiser to donate to the Children's Dyslexia Centers. PA DeMolay asks for 100% participation from the chapters, and this year is no different.
• Find new ways to get the word out about DeMolay in your local community. Some of the options you may consider include social media, press releases or contact with the local school district.

In the coming weeks, I will start a section of this blog entitled the "Be Creative Spotlight." This series of entries will introduce each chapter and what they have done to implement the "Be Different" campaign. Please send information about your chapter's efforts to me at JAPullin@pademolay.net. My goal is to post one for every chapter in the state.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

PA's Senior DeMolays - Kendig C. Bare

The history of PA DeMolay is fairly vast. Hundreds of thousands of young men have called a PA Chapter home. Some of those DeMolays went on to lead ordinary, uneventful lives, filled with service and love. Others preferred the spotlight, fulfilling a deep desire to affect the world around them; of the latter, one stands out to me as a DeMolay worthy of emulation.

Bro.  Kendig C. Bare, colloquially known as “KC” by his Brothers and friends, was an early member of Lancaster Chapter. Born on November 5, 1913, KC was at the perfect age for DeMolay when Lancaster Chapter was founded in October of 1928. It is an interesting side note that Lancaster Chapter was instituted in a ceremony overseen by someone you should all know about – “Dad” Ralph C. Minehart, Founder of PA DeMolay.

KC was an active member of Lancaster Chapter, rising to the position of Master Councilor in September, 1932. His biggest goal was to have Lancaster Chapter publish a better newsletter. He quickly assigned a committee and got to work. The Chapter published the first issue of the Sentinel during KC’s term, with his older Brother, Howard, a PMC himself, at the helm as Editor. When KC completed his term of office, he took over the Editor’s desk and retained it for the next 14 months.  For his work on the Sentinel, KC was honored as the first “DeMolay of the Year” for Lancaster Chapter.

However, honors and awards did not satiate Bro. Bare’s appetite for service. In 1933, Lancaster Chapter undertook a major campaign to host the 1934 Conclave of the Associated Chapters of the Order of DeMolay in Pennsylvania. Bro. Bare headed up this committee, which did indeed win the bid to host the event. KC put in hundreds of hours of work to arrange all of the details for the Conclave. Everyone was very impressed with the event Lancaster Chapter put on. Riding high on this success, Bro. Bare made a fateful decision. He would run for State Master Councilor.

At this time in PA DeMolay history, one did not have to serve in another elected office to be State Master Councilor. While it was unusual for someone to jump straight to the top, it can and did happen, mostly thanks to politics. Think of the situation; Bro. Bare just arranged and hosted a very successful Conclave. Everyone around the Commonwealth knew of the success of the Sentinel, his newsletter. Finally, the vote was taking place in his home town, where several members of Lancaster Chapter could be mustered to bolster his vote count. All of these things combined to help KC get elected State Master Councilor for the 1934 – 1935 term.

KC’s claim to fame in that office was the development and publishing of the Keystone Crusader, the first newsletter of the Order of DeMolay in Pennsylvania, which is still printed today. Initially published out of Kendig’s home in Lancaster, the “Key Cru,” as it is sometimes called today, has been the main channel for distributing DeMolay information in Pennsylvania for close to eighty years.

So well liked was Bro. Bare, that, upon completion of his term as SMC, at the age of 21, he was inducted into the DeMolay Legion of Honor. The Degree of Chevalier had not yet been developed, so the Legion of Honor was used to show the Order’s enthusiasm for Bro. Bare’s hard work and dedication.

KC’s service to DeMolay was far from over, however. He would go on to serve on the Advisory Council for Lancaster Chapter for a number of years. He was later elevated to the rank of District Deputy for the area surrounding Lancaster, where he would administer and assist several other Chapters.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to locate much information on Kendig’s personal life following his DeMolay career. We know he remained a life-long resident of Lancaster, but we do not have record of his profession, outside of one important distinction. He was married, but had no children.

At the age of 37, in 1950, Kendig was elected as the Mayor of the City of Lancaster. He managed to serve only nine months, before being called to the service of his country to help win the Korean War. He served at the rank of Captain with the United States Army. In his absence, his older Brother, Howard, took over the reins of the City while his Brother performed his service. Upon his return to the States, Kendig was re-instated as Mayor and would serve another full term, before retiring from that office in 1958. The City of Lancaster honored Bro. Bare by naming its public safety building after him, which still stands today.

Kendig Bare was a paragon of service, both to his community and to Pennsylvania DeMolay. He passed away in 1989, leaving one heck of a legacy. Throughout his life he showed dedication, patriotism, and his ability to communicate well. All of these traits are something every DeMolay should try to master, ever keeping in mind the example of Bro. Bare.

Frat! ~ “Dad” Seth Anthony

 

Addendum: Following the publishing of this article, "Dad" Eric Ullom, PSMC, sent me a picture of Bro. Bare's PSMC key. Yes, that's right, a key - just like the Blue Honor Key. Prior to the institution of the PSMC jewel, Pennsylvania awarded keys to its PSMC's. Sadly, this key was sold at auction to an unknown buyer. If you know who owns this item, please let us know at webmaster@pademolay.net. We would really like to bring back to Pennsylvania!

PA's Senior DeMolays - William Shillady

I keep being impressed with how many hits my stories on PA's Senior DeMolays are getting. Since everyone seems to be interested in these articles, I'm going to post another one! Today, we take a look at one of PA's Past State Master Councilor's, Bro. William Shillady, who served in 1975-76. While you may not know his name, some very important people do - like former President Bill Clinton and his family!

I found a great biography of Bro. Shillady at the United Methodist City Society's web page:

"Rev. Dr. William S. Shillady has served as Executive Director of the United Methodist City Society since September 2008. Before taking this position, he served as a pastor for 29 years.

A native of Reading, Pennsylvania, Rev. Shillady received his undergraduate degree from Lebanon Valley College. In 1981 he earned a Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School. During his time at Duke he served a four point United Methodist charge in Eastern North Carolina and a Presbyterian Church in downtown Raleigh.

After seminary, Rev. Shillady served one year in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference at the Hawes Avenue United Methodist Church. In 1982 he transferred to the New York Conference and served for six years as the associate pastor to Rev. Dr. Clayton Miller at Asbury Crestwood United Methodist Church in Yonkers.

In 1988 he was appointed to the Mamaroneck United Methodist Church on the Sound shore in Westchester, where he was senior pastor for 11 years. During his tenure, the church raised the funds for and accomplished a major restoration project, prompted by the 2,000 pound church bell falling through the steeple one memorable Sunday morning. Also during this period, Shillady earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew Theological School.

In 1999, he was appointed to the Park Avenue United Methodist Church on the upper east side of Manhattan, where he served as senior pastor for 9 years.

On September 1, 2008 Shillady became the fifth Executive Director of the merged mission associations that created the United Methodist City Society.

Over the years, Rev. Shillady has served on a variety of boards and committees of the New York Annual Conference, as well as community based programs and boards. He now is the chairperson of the Board of Pension and Health Benefits of the Conference, a mentor to candidates for ministry, and serves as chair of the District Committee on Ministry. And currently, he is a member of the Board of Visitors of Duke Divinity School and on the Leadership Council for Habitat for Humanity, NYC."

Pretty impressive huh? Well, check this out, from an article by Linda Bloom, located at http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2789393&ct=8551293

"A United Methodist pastor and Jewish rabbi officiated at the July 31 wedding ceremony of Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky in Rhinebeck, N.Y.

The Rev. Bill Shillady, executive director of the New York City Society and a clergy member of the New York Annual (regional) Conference, performed the ceremony with Rabbi James Ponet, the Jewish chaplain of Yale University.

“It was a wonderful honor to be part of this special day in Chelsea and Marc’s life,” Shillady told United Methodist News Service."

Brother Shillady continues to live the life of a DeMolay and we are proud to have such an esteemed member of society among our PSMC's!

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

PA's Senior DeMolays - Glenn Grell

Continuing our look at some of Pennsylvania's more well known Senior DeMolays, we come to Bro. Glen R. Grell, who serves in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 87th District, which covers Cumberland County. Much of the information below comes from Rep. Grell's website.

Rep. Glen R. Grell was first elected in 2004 to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 87th District in Cumberland County.  He is currently serving his fifth, two-year term in the state House.

A long-time civic and community leader, Grell is a lifelong resident of Cumberland County.  The 87th Legislative District is comprised of the townships of East Pennsboro, Hampden and Silver Spring, the Borough of Camp Hill, and the second voting precinct of Wormleysburg Borough, pending completion of the 2012 legislative redistricting process.

During his tenure in the House of Representatives, Grell has been the principal sponsor or House floor leader on legislation on subjects ranging from eminent domain; public pension reform; the 2012 Justice Reinvestment Initiative for corrections reform; revisions to the Uniform Commercial Code on secured transactions; a recodification of the Notary Public Law; tort reform and other subjects.  

Prior to being elected to the House, Grell was a practicing attorney in central Pennsylvania since earning his law degree from the Dickinson School of Law in 1981. He was formerly with the law firm of Klett, Lieber, Rooney & Schorling, having previously practiced in the areas of municipal and administrative law, government affairs, real estate law and finance, and public procurement.

As a highly-regarded real estate attorney, Grell was appointed in 2004 to serve on the Joint State Government Commission’s Advisory Committee on Real Property Law, in the first phase of its mission to advise the General Assembly on the codification of real estate laws in Pennsylvania.  During the 2005-06 legislative session, Grell was the prime House sponsor of legislation to protect private property rights and reform the Pennsylvania Eminent Domain Code, which became Acts 34 and 35 of 2006. 

Grell served as Deputy General Counsel to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge from 1995 to 2000. In that capacity, he had primary responsibility for Commonwealth contracting, review and approval of Commonwealth contracts, deeds, leases, inter-agency agreements, and other obligations.  He has also been a member of the Republican National Lawyers Association, Pennsylvania State Association of Township Solicitors, the Urban Land Institute, the West Shore Chamber of Commerce, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors, and Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Harrisburg.  Grell is also a graduate of Leadership Harrisburg Area.

Grell has been active politically at the local, statewide and national level for more than 25 years. He has served as an elected committeeman in Hampden Township, as deputy chairman and vice chairman of the Cumberland County Republican Committee, as county coordinator and regional field director for Gov. Tom Ridge’s gubernatorial campaign, as Pennsylvania co-chairman of Lawyers for Bush-Cheney, as a volunteer for the 2000 Republican National Convention, County Co-Chairman for Romney/Ryan 2012 and has been active in many other local and regional political campaigns.  

Grell is a 1974 graduate of Cumberland Valley High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Johns Hopkins University in 1978, as well as his J.D. from Dickinson Law School in 1981.  He and his wife, the former Elaine Sanzotto, reside in Hampden Township.  They have two children: Cory, PMC and Senior DeMolay himself, a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, and Alyssa, a student at Millersville University.

His civic activities include serving on the Shippensburg University Council of Trustees since 1995; serving on the Board of the Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation and as chairman of the Foundation’s Educational Endowment Fund Scholarship Committee; prior service as director of the Cumberland Valley Eagle Foundation from 2002-10.  He has also served as chairman of a Fund Distribution Panel of the United Way of the Capital Region and was a member of the Board of Directors of Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland and Perry Counties from 2006-12.  He is also an honorary member of the board of New Birth of Freedom Council, Boy Scouts of America, Hampden Township Volunteer Fire Company #30, the Mechanicsburg Sportsmen’s Club, and a member of the Central Pennsylvania College President’s Circle. 

PA's Senior DeMolays - Jason Klock

I've gotten an amazing response to my first article highlighting Senior DeMolay's from Pennsylvania. Several people have sent in information regarding Senior DeMolay's from PA that are making a name for themselves in their communities. Today, we take a look at a Senior DeMolay from Pilgrim Chapter, in Harrisburg.

Bro. Jason Klock is well known in central Pennsylvania, as he runs one of the most successful DJ businesses in the mid-state. Klock Entertainment now employs more than 20 staffers, who work several hundred events a year. Jason is also well known to PA DeMolay, as he is fondly remembered for his rambunctious years as an active DeMolay. Jason loved to DJ DeMolay dances - in fact, it's where he got his start. DeMolay gave him the chance to find his passion. Now, Jason has turned that passion into a full time business.

A short biography from his website (http://www.klockentertainment.com) states:


"Jason is the owner and founder of Klock Entertainment.  Jason started his DJ career back in high school and has not been able to let go of the microphone since.  After attending Harrisburg Area Community College majoring in Communications and Business Management, Jason decided it was time to turn his passion into a business.  Throughout the past few years, Jason has been able to grow his passion into a 20+ employee entertainment company.  Even though you’ll always catch Jason in the office, you’ll still find him working over 75 events a year!  When Jason isn’t working on KE or Emceeing an event you’ll find him spending time with his wife, Jess and their Australian Shepherd, Bailey.  Jason also enjoys playing the drums and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers."

You can read more about Jason in a recent article from Harrisburg Magazine at http://www.harrisburgmagazine.com/April-2013/Life-is-One-Never-Ending-Party/

This is a great example of a DeMolay succeeding in business and channeling his talents into a life long career. Congratulations to Jason for his success!

Do you know of a Senior DeMolay who deserves highlighting? Drop me a note at webmaster@pademolay.org and let me know!

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

A PA DeMolay is Dino-might!

Bro. Tyler Bausinger, of Delaware Valley Chapter, is a well known face around PA DeMolay. As a Past Master Councilor, he has been actively involved in almost all aspects of our program, from sporting weekends, to leadership training, to the Appointed State Officer corps. One thing can be said for certain of Tyler - he's a leader. It came as no surprise that he was recently featured in a local news paper for creating a business out of his home.

Tyler is a long time lover of all things dinosaur. According the piece, he fell in love with the giant reptiles as a kid and his interest in them has never wavered. Using that as a basis, Tyler created a mail order company that produces educational kits for children that teach about dinosaurs. Calling it the "Kids Dinosaur of the Month Club," Tyler has made a true business out of his passion. You can read the entire story here:

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/money/childhood-love-of-dinosaurs-turns-into-roaring-business-for-lower/article_f5128c1c-aaf8-55fe-a259-d77fd51d4905.html#.UVsJU0PbxaM.email

This is a great example of a DeMolay taking initiative and showing his potential as a leader. Kudos to Tyler!

In the same vein as my last article - if you have information regarding a remarkable DeMolay or Senior DeMolay, please send the details to webmaster@pademolay.org. We may use the information for a future blog post.

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

PA's Senior DeMolays - Lyell Cook

I'm always looking for new ideas for series of articles. Last week, as I was working on documents for Convention, I stumbled across a great interview of a Senior DeMolay from Erie Chapter. This gave me the idea to begin spotlighting some of Pennsylvania's Senior DeMolays who are making an impact on their community.

It seems only appropriate that we start this series with Brother who gave me the idea. Bro. Lyell Cook is currently serving as the Erie County Coroner (and has been doing so since 2000.) He is an active supporter of Erie Chapter and holds the Legion of Honor. The Erie Reader, an online magazine, produced a great piece about Bro. Cook and I encourage all of you to read it. It can be found here: http://www.eriereader.com/article/you-ought-to-know-lyell-cook

I think it's easy to see how DeMolay impacted Bro. Cook's life. He is a model of public service and DeMolay experience, which all should try to emulate. We hope to have Bro. Cook at Convention 2103 so that everyone can meet him and experience his jovial nature first hand.

If you have information on a Senior DeMolay from Pennsylvania that deserves a write up here on the blog, shoot the information to webmaster@pademolay.org and I'll be glad to post it!

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

Senior DeMolay Highlight - Michael G. Severe

We haven't done a Senior DeMolay Spotlight in a little while, so I thought it would be appropriate to revisit the topic. However, the last few spotlights we have done have been about members of the DeMolay International Hall of Fame. The men who compose the Hall of Fame are some our greatest members from previous generations, but I also think it's important to highlight Senior DeMolay's who may not be as widely known, but who are giving lots of time and effort to the organization. In recent weeks, one such Senior DeMolay has really come to the forefront by using his influence to remind people of the importance of the DeMolay program. That man is:

"Dad" Michael G. Severe

Imperial Potentate of Shriners International

"Dad" Severe is currently serving in one of the most high profile positions in all of the Masonic Fraternity; he is the Imperial Potentate of the Shrine of North America. While the title is impressive, the work he is doing behind the scenes is what really should impress you the most. As part of his position, he serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Shriners International - the same group that owns and operates the Shriners Hospitals for Children. The work the Shrine Hospitals does is well known and needs no explanation here. But, who is "Dad" Severe, really?

As a young man, Severe was a member of the Order of DeMolay in Columbine Chapter, in Grand Junction, Colorado, and immediately progressed on to joining the Masonic Fraternity at the age of 21. He quickly joined the York and Scottish Rites, which enabled him to don the coveted red fez of a Shriner by the age of 22. He served his Lodge, Glenwood No. 65, in various offices and is a Past Patron of Erica Chapter No. 69, Order of the Eastern Star. However, his first love would always be Shrinedom. He got involved in the Scooter and Motorcycle Units, becoming president of the latter in 1989. Feeling the continued call to service, he was appointed Outer Guard of El Jebel Shrine in 1990, where he progressed  through the chairs until serving as Potentate in 1999. Some would say 10 years of service to the Shrine is enough, but not "Dad" Severe! His love for the organization led him to run for the bottom of the Imperial (meaning national) line in 2000. A decade later, we find "Dad" Severe in the position of Imperial Potentate, continuing to strive for excellence in his role as CEO of all things Shrine related.

Severe’s wife, Patty, is employed by St. Joseph Hospital. He has two children, Joe who repairs and races track motorcycles, and Lauren who is attending the University of Northern Colorado as an English major; Patty has two grown children, Aaron and Amanda; and two grandchildren, Sydney and Derek.

Most of you are probably thinking "This is all well and good, but what else has he done for DeMolay?" That's the most important piece of the story! On October 6, 2011, "Dad" Severe issued a letter as Imperial Potentate to the 193 Shrines that compose the organization. In that letter (which you can read here) he asked all of the Shrines to sponsor a DeMolay Chapter and provide whatever support they can for the organization. It was because of his positive experiences as a DeMolay that he published this letter, opening up one of the best opportunities for Masonic interaction that DeMolay International has had in a long time.

Here in Pennsylvania, we are sending letters to all of the Shrines, asking them to sign on as sponsors of their local DeMolay Chapters, along with a list of 25 ways that the Shrine can support DeMolay. However, we can only do so much. We ask that each Chapter reach out and contact their local Shrine group and start a discourse with them directly. If you need contact information for your local Shrine Center, give us a call here at the PA DeMolay office and we'll be glad to help!

On behalf of PA DeMolay, I thank "Dad" Severe for his continued support. We look forward to working with the Shrine here in the Keystone State; not only for the betterment of DeMolay, but for the Shrine as well!

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

Futurama

I realized last week that this humble little blog has recently passed some major milestones and is on its way to reaching a few more. This post is number 252 for the PA DeMolay blog. Our first post was created on January 4, 2010, just a couple months short of two years ago. While two years may not seem like a long time to some (and may seem like an eternity to others) in the world of the internet, that's an incredible amount of time. To our knowledge, there is no other DeMolay related blog that has been as consistently updated for any length as this one. However, anecdotal evidence doesn't make a case, so I'd like to share with you some statistics related to this site.

• Views to date: 23,394
• Most Views in a Single Month: August 2010 with 2,434 views.
• Average Views Per Month (Over the last 12 months) - Just above 1500
• Average Views Per Month (Last Quarter) - Just above 2000
• Most Popular Post A Closer Look at Regalia: Part 1 - Aiguillettes - Posted August 19, 2010 (767 views)
• Largest Referring Site: Google
• Largest Referral by Link: http://freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/
• Top Five Search Words:
• Unplug - 113
• Aiguillette - 100
• Aiguillettes - 79
• Colonel Mustard Costume - 29
• DeMolay - 24

Now some of you may be looking at those search terms and thinking "What in the heck?!?" Actually, those terms are good for the Blog. Why? While they may not be truly DeMolay related, they are bringing people to our Blog who are looking for something else. While they are here, they are probably learning at least a little bit about DeMolay, which is a very good thing! Just where do those viewers come from? Here is a break down of the top countries that check out this site:

United States 14,354 Philippines 1,567 Brazil 1,254 Canada 898 France 632 United Kingdom 486 Germany 241 Netherlands 186 Russia 175 Australia 166

Obviously the top four countries are all major areas for DeMolay, which explains their high hit rate. 

So, where is the blog going from here? That's a tough question. It's interesting to see how the blog has changed over time, but I know that it will continue to grow and prosper. As always, I'm open to new contributors and people who would like to have their opinion heard. Just drop your article in an e-mail to webmaster@pademolay.org and we can talk about posting it!

Also, in the coming months, I will be doing a new feature called "Active DeMolay Spotlight." Like our popular Senior DeMolay Spotlight series, these articles will highlight what some of our current members are doing in their homes and communities. This is a great way for Active DeMolays to get their name out there to College Recruiters  Community Leaders, and other DeMolays (hint hint for those of you thinking of running for Elected State Office next year!)

So, stay tuned for another year and see where the Blog takes you!

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

Senior DeMolay Highlight - Mel Carnahan

I took a break for the popular Senior DeMolay Highlight series last week, but today I'm back with another entry. We've talked about actors, entertainers, athletes, and explorers, as well as an international political figure. However, we haven't discussed any of the famous members of our government here in the United States. Today, I bring you the a tragic tale of a Senior DeMolay who's life was cut short before he could really show the impact that our Order had on his career. Today, we discuss

Melvin Eugene Carnahan

Former Governor of Missouri

Bro. Mel Carnahan was born in the small town of Birch Tree, Missouri, in 1934. His father was a state Representative, which would later impact his decision to become involved in politics. He had one brother, Robert, and was said to be a very loving son. While hailing from Missouri, Carnahan spent most of his adolescent life living in the District of Columbia while his father served his term of office. It was during this time that Carnahan became a member of Anacostia Chapter, a part of Nation's Capital DeMolay, but you can surely know that his Missouri roots prompted him to join.

He attended George Washington University, leaving the school with a business degree, after which he joined the United States Air Force. He attained the grade of 1st Lieutenant and spent most of his career in the Office of Special Investigation. Upon discharge, he attended the University of Missouri School of Law and earned a Juris Doctorate from that institution. In 1954, Mel married Jean Carpenter, and fathered four children with her - Russ, Tom, Robin, and Randy.

Politically, Carnahan was a popular democrat, who started out his career in the Missouri House of Representatives. In 1980, he was elected State Treasurer. Mel ran for Governor of Missouri in 1984, but lost the Democratic primary. Had he won, he would have faced another important political figure - former Attorney General John Ashcroft (who served as Governor of Missouri for 8 years.)

In one of the countries different political systems, the Lieutenant Governor of Missouri is elected separately from the Governor (they don't run as a slate, as is done in PA.) Carnahan was able to get elected Lieutenant Governor in 1988. This poised him to run for Governor again in 1992, in an election he would soundly win, becoming the 51st Governor of Missouri. He went on to serve as second term.

In 2000, Bro. Carnahan decided to run for United States Senator against his old political rival, John Ashcroft. The campaign was intense, with Carnahan criss-crossing Missouri on a daily basis, trying to ensure his election. In doing so, his son Randy would fly his father to each campaign stop in a small Cessna airplane. On Oct. 16, 2000, just three weeks before the election, his plane crashed into a forested area, killing Mel, his son Randy, and his campaign advisor, Chris Sifford.

Due to odd election laws in Missouri, Carnahan's name could not be removed from the ballot. For the last three weeks of the election season, his wife, Jean, continued to campaign for him using the slogan "I'm still with Mel!" In an unprecedented event, the deceased Carnahan won the election by a two percent margin, catapulting the race to national attention. With the seat being technically vacant, the Governor of Missouri appointed Jean Carnahan to fill the seat her dead husband would have held.

Of his DeMolay career, Mel said “I have many fond memories of my time as a DeMolay member. Along with my home and my church, DeMolay was one of the major influences on my life during those early formative years. One of the most important lessons I learned from DeMolay was the need for respect—respect for your parents, respect for women, respect for your family and friends, and respect for your community. I also appreciated the many wonderful friendships I was able to make within my chapter. DeMolay provides young men with the tools they need to assume leadership roles and accept the many civic and personal responsibilities that lie ahead of them. Most important of all, DeMolay builds strong character and instills the values that will continue to make this country a great one. I want to thank DeMolay for the difference its organization has made in my life, and I am confident that its principles will continue to inspire young men to realize their potential. ”

Bro. Carnahan was a Chevalier, a Legionnaire, and was inducted into the DeMolay Hall of Fame in 1999 - just months prior to his untimely death.

Bro. and "Dad" Carnahan showed that his Mission was to control public policy and help those who lived in the State of Missouri. What can you learn from how Mel completed his Mission?

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