Meet the Candidates: Brandon Whited for State Junior Councilor

Convention is a little over a month away. Our second of two candidates for State Junior Councilor is Bro. Brandon Whited of Northeast Chapter.

My name is Brandon Whited and I am running for State Junior Councilor. I joined DeMolay at the age of 14 while attending Grand Masters Class in December of 2014. About a year after I joined DeMolay, I was given the opportunity to serve as Master Councilor for three consecutive terms. During my last term as Master Councilor, I received the PMC-MSA and DSA. My home chapter is Northeast and I am currently Senior Councilor. I plan to continue being a valuable asset to my chapter, helping every member in any way possible, and bring my knowledge and experiences to State Office.

What is your greatest DeMolay experience or accomplishment?

Throughout my years as a DeMolay, my greatest experience is receiving PMC-MSA. Receiving this award was an extremely humbling experience and I realize that without my brethren and advisors I could not earn this award. I was very excited when I received the PMC-MSA because I know that I and my chapter have worked extremely hard to complete the various tasks that were necessary. I will continue to work hard with my chapter and help all Master Councilors to the best of my ability, hoping that they too will receive this award.

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

Dad Joe Pullin and Dad Alexander Swift have inspired me in various ways during my time in DeMolay. Upon meeting them I saw a brotherly bond, formed in DeMolay, that would be impossible to break. During every event, they emphasized the importance of teamwork and communication. When I started my first term as Master councilor, they were constantly helping me plan my events and assisted me in the execution of those events. Dad Pullin and Dad Swift are both great role models that have inspired me to always do my best. What are your goals if elected to serve as a State Officer?

If I am provided the opportunity to become a State Officer, I will work tirelessly with the other State Officers as a team to ensure that we will have a productive and successful term. I would like to help other chapters plan joint events together outside of the state weekends to strengthen their brotherhood. I would also focus on having more fun learning activities at Patton Campus and hopefully make learning fun for everyone. Lastly, I would want to focus on membership and the importance of getting new young men involved in DeMolay.

Registration for Convention is due June 10th. Make sure you are there for a chance to vote for the Elected State Officers to represent PA DeMolay for the 2018-2019 year.

Meet the Candidates: Kody Anderson for State Junior Councilor

Convention is soon approaching, and we have more candidates to get to know. We have two candidates for the office of State Junior Councilor The first is Bro. Kody Anderson of Elizabethtown Chapter.

Hi, I'm Kody Anderson and I'm a candidate for the office of State Junior Councilor. I joined Elizabethtown Chapter on September 21, 2014. After serving in several appointed offices and as Junior Councilor and Senior Councilor, I served as Master Councilor from January 7, 2017 to June 24, 2017. Following my term, I was appointed Assistant Scribe through the rest of 2017, and as Scribe for 2018. I've earned my Representative DeMolay Award, was a finalist in the RD of the Year Competition in 2017, and earned the LCC Lamp of Knowledge. Elizabethtown Chapter has a special DeMolay of the Year Award that is presented to the member who has provided the most hours of service to the chapter and after two years of being first runner up, I was named the Elizabethtown DeMolay of the Year in 2017 with over 120 hours of service. For the past year, I have been traveling to chapters in the area to help on Installing Teams, often serving as Installing Officer. At Convention, I was appointed Region E Representative, working with Elizabethtown and Riverside Chapters. I'll be a Senior at Donegal Area High School in the Fall. After High School, I plan to go to college to study Accounting. 

What is Your Greatest DeMolay Experience or Accomplishment?

My greatest accomplishment in DeMolay came recently with the opportunity to manage the Dodgeball for Dyslexia 4 Tournament that was held on May 12th. My goal was to grow a program that PMC Evan Crawford, the founder and manager for the first three years, had done a great job with. Through the help of many, our platinum sponsors grew from 8 to 12. Registered teams went from 12 to 14.  Funds raised in 2018 grew from $3,154 in 2017 to $3,940.  This was all possible because of the group of volunteers, chapters and Masonic organizations who worked with me with one goal in mind: raise the most money we could for the Children's Dyslexia Centers while having a lot of fun doing it. 

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

One of my biggest influences in DeMolay is Jake Beers. When I was a brand new member in 2014, Jake was one of the guys I met when I went to my first DeMolay activity. Jake has inspired me to be the best that I can be. He has shown me that hard work and attention to detail is important in planning and executing programs. He’s shown me how to be a brother to every member. He’s always been available to offer advice, help when I’ve needed it, answer questions and assist me in figuring out things. He’s taught me that it’s important to be understanding and patient, and that it’s okay to have a good time while doing more serious things.

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

If elected State Junior Councilor my goals will include:

1)  Working with the other Elected and Appointed State Offices to ensure the highest quality of programming.  Every program, every installation and every project we do should be well-planned, well-executed and the best that they can be. 

2)  I want to live up to the high expectations of those who elected me, always doing my very best. It’s not enough to just get a job done, it’s important to plan in advance, be thorough, to set an example that others will want to follow, and to be someone who inspires others to be and do their very best.

3)  I hope that I am able to help the entire team of state officers become more of a team, working toward common successes that will benefit each and every one of our members.

Registration for Convention is due June 10th. Make sure you are there for a chance to vote for the Elected State Officers to represent PA DeMolay for the 2018-2019 year.

Embracing Change

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

Change: it exists in all of our lives.

I currently attend West Chester University and I am nearing the end of my sophomore year. I entered West Chester as a computer science major and I decided to add some minors since then, which include: Spanish, communication studies, and civic & professional leadership. Even though I wasn’t expecting it to happen, this semester I have decided that I am changing my major to communication studies and keep computer science as a minor. Essentially, this is a flip/flop of my major and minor course of study.

Even as soon as the spring semester of my freshman year, it’s been in the back of my head that maybe computer science isn’t right for me. Yes, I am very interested in technology -- but am I really that interested or passionate about the inner workings of computers, programming, or networks? As time has passed, the answer started to become more clear, but I wasn’t sure what path I wanted to take -- that is, until I attended the annual graduate school fair.

During my visit at the graduate school fair, I visited booths from different universities and asked about their computer science master’s program. Their offerings sounded okay, but nothing particularly stood out to me. On a whim, I decided to visit one of Temple University’s booths for the Klein College of Media and Communication. After listening to their representative and seeing the different programs and opportunities available, the light bulb finally went off: I should look into changing my major to communication studies. It all started to come together and make sense -- I found my Intro to Communication Theory class last semester very meaningful and interesting, I’m passionate about media and production, and enjoy my radio show on WCUR. After graduation, I see myself in those career areas.

After talking with my Advisor and doing some research into the major requirements, I have decided to follow through and change my major to communication studies for next semester. Not only would I be more interested and happier with what I’m studying, but I am also still able to graduate on time! Beyond what the registrar sees on my record, there lies a deeper message within this process: sometimes, change can be nerve-racking and create uncertainty at times. Whether it’s a change of schools, a new job, a move, or changing your major like me, it’s important to keep a positive mindset during the process. Keep that positive mindset the next time you find yourself in a situation where change lies ahead.

Sean Reitze, State Junior Councilor

New Year, New Me: Tips to Follow Through on your New Year’s Resolution

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

Before we get things started: Happy New Year Pennsylvania DeMolay! I wish everyone a happy and healthy 2018.

At the start of each year, many of us find ourselves wanting to take on a New Year’s Resolution. A large majority of individuals end up breaking their resolution at some point during the year: hopefully these tips can help us all be a part of the proud 8% of Americans who have achieved their New Year’s Resolutions (according to Forbes).

Set goals. Make your resolution a tangible, specific, and attainable goal. If you find out along the way that your goal isn’t attainable, don’t be afraid to modify it slightly in order to make it possible.

Partner up with a friend to positively motivate each other to achieve your resolutions. You’ll be able to check in with each other along your journey and have a go-to person if you encounter any bumps along the road.

Let your friends and family know about your resolution (optional). By letting others know about your resolution, you are increasing the amount of people who can hold you accountable and, in turn, positively motivate you to stick with your resolution.

I hope these tips lead you in the right direction towards achieving your New Year’s Resolution. Good luck, and have a great year Pennsylvania DeMolay!

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. 

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: Tyler Moyer

Convention is right around the corner, which means it will be time to vote for PA DeMolay's Elected State Officers. This series will introduce you to each candidate as they prepare to run for office. They were all asked to provide a short biography and an answer to the three questions below.

My name is Benjamin Tyler Moyer and I have been a member of Pilgrim Chapter since 2010. Since joining I have served multiple terms as Master Councilor, earning my Past Master Councilor's- Meritorious Service Award along the way. Throughout my years of service, I have also attained many other achievements including my Representative DeMolay Award, Founder's Membership Award, DeMolay Varsity Letter and Lamp of Knowledge. For the past four years I have served as an Appointed State Officer and have attended the Key Man Leadership Conference every year since joining, most recently as a member of the Jurisdictional Officer department. I feel that this year I'm ready to make the jump to serve again, this time as one of your elected state officers.

If you are elected to serve, what do you hope to accomplish?

I plan on bringing many new ideas to the table to help make Pennsylvania DeMolay better and stronger. As a member of Pilgrim Chapter, I always received a ton of support from my members and advisors to peruse different ideas to get new members. If elected, it will be one of my goals to extend that same support to all members. I hope to visit as many chapters as possible and be there for meetings, prospect events and whatever else they would have me at, to extend that same support and offer advice.

           

What is your greatest DeMolay experience?

My greatest experience would actually have to be before I joined DeMolay. About a year before I joined, I attended a prospect party that was held at Key Man where I met so many new people that today I'm able to call my friends. I was able to experience the fun and fellowship that I knew my brother had been having for years and it's one of the things that really made me want to join. 

Who are some of your DeMolay influences?

My greatest DeMolay influences would have to be the Past State Master Councilor’s that I have been a member under or have gotten to know personally through the years. I have always been inspired by the way they lead and what they have brought to the table. I hope in the coming years I can also bring to the table ideas that will inspire others. 

Meet the Candidates: Brian Martin

Convention is right around the corner, which means it will be time to vote on PA DeMolay's Elected State Officers. This series will introduce you to each candidate as they prepare to run for office. They were all asked to provide a short biography and an answer the three questions below.

My name is Brian Eduardo Martin and I am running for the office of State Junior Councilor for the 2016-2017 DeMolay year. I am 18 years old and I attend Connection Academy, where I will be a Senior this year. I am a Past Master Councilor of Carlisle Chapter, in which I earned my PMC-MSA. I’ve been a member of DeMolay for a little over 3 years. I have also earned my Representative DeMolay Award. In my free time, I like to fish and golf. Some interesting facts about me: my favorite superhero is Batman, my favorite type of pie is Lemon Meringue and my favorite movie is Back to the Future. 

If you are elected to serve, what do you hope to accomplish?

As State Junior Councilor, I would like to help the smaller chapters with increasing their membership. Membership is a pivotal part of DeMolay and I want to help all chapters succeed. I also want to help the State Master Councilor achieve any and all of his goals.

           

What is your greatest DeMolay experience?

My greatest DeMolay experience would have to be the time I went to New York DeMolay’s Winterfest. It was a great opportunity to see how close another state is between the members and advisors. 

Who are some of your DeMolay influences?

My biggest DeMolay influence would be “Dad” William Sardone, who was recently installed as Grand Master of DeMolay International. “Dad” Sardone is one of the most passionate and dedicated advisors that DeMolay has to offer. I met him at a college graduation, and we still keep in touch to this day. He also took the time to attend my Installation when I went in as Master Councilor of Carlisle Chapter.