Reasons to be at Convention 2017

Convention 2017 is roughly a month and a half away. Are you registered yet? If not then what are you waiting for? If you're looking for more reasons why you should be there, then look no further. Here are the top ten reasons why you should be at the PA DeMolay Convention in Breinigsville, PA. 

10. Members will have the chance to participate in Ritual Competitions, from the Flower Talk to Ceremony of Light. 

9. You'll have the chance to stay at a fancy hotel, the Holiday Inn of Allentown, for the entire weekend. 

8. The hospitality suite will be a nice place to relax with plenty of food and drinks, hosted by the members and Advisors of Allentown Chapter. 

7. You'll get your very own copy of the 2017 PA DeMolay Convention Yearbook, with pictures and memories that remind us of the year's activities and adventures.

6. Friday, there is a optional opportunity to play Laser Tag at Lehigh Valley Laser Tag. The cost is only an additional $17 with registration. 

5. Also on Friday, participants will go to a Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs baseball game (the Triple A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies). There will be a firework presentation, and the first line signer on the most petitions from last Convention to this Convention will throw out the first pitch at the game.  

4. Your chapter will have the chance to receive awards during the business session and luncheon. Awards include Outstanding Chapter, RD of the Year, Visitations, Publications and many more. 

3. You'll get the chance to vote on your Elected State Officers for the 2017-2018 term. This includes the election of the State Sweetheart as well. 

2. After the luncheon on Saturday, participants will enjoy the rest of the night at Dorney Park and Wild Water Kingdom. A traditional picnic dinner will also be provided at the park.

1. Convention gives you the chance to see friends from the entire state of Pennsylvania for a great brotherhood atmosphere. 

Are you convinced yet? Registration is due June 1st, so don't wait too long. Hope to see you in the Lehigh Valley area this summer.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin 

Experiences in Ritual Competitions

Today's article comes from Bro.  Isaac Holtzer, Deputy State Master Councilor of PA DeMolay. He writes about his experiences at the Mid-Atlantic Tournament of Champions.

On September 6 - 8, 2013, ten DeMolays from Pennsylvania attended the Mid-Atlantic Tournament of Champions, or MATOC. MATOC is an event that hosts DeMolays from all over Region II of DeMolay International for a ritual competition. Competitions range from "Rookie of the Year," which covers the obligations for new members, to the DeMolay Degree, to the Chaplain Prayers. The goal for every DeMolay there is to get as close to a perfect score as possible, which is 1000, and do better than everyone else who competed. Every competitor starts with a perfect score and they lose points if they mess up the words or there is an issue with the presentation.

Imagine going into a lodge room with four people watching everything you do, ready to catch something you do wrong, and then performing the best ritual you can. This is what Matt Maple, Isaac Holtzer, Lorenzo Rodriguez, Phil Cancila, David Kopp, Eric Dye, Tyler Moyer, Adam Pritchard, Andrew Santilli, and Anthony Kallhoff did at MATOC. They competed in many competitions as a team and individually; they included the Preceptor Trio, Magnificent Seven, Orator, Flower Talk, Ceremony of Light, Chaplain, RD Ceremony, and Majority Service. Many of them even became MATOC Champions, doing better than everyone else in their chosen competitions. A member of PA DeMolay won the Rookie of the Year, Magnificent Seven, Preceptor Trio, and Majority Service. This goes to show that Pennsylvania DeMolay does some very impressive ritual.

I personally have attended the past two MATOCs. Both times I have had the opportunity to meet with other DeMolays from neighboring jurisdictions and compete in brotherly competition. When I first went to MATOC, what made me excited was that everyone helped each other at practicing their ritual, even though they were competing against each other, which really shows how we are truly a fraternity.  The first time I competed I was extremely nervous going into the competition and I hoped I would not receive the lowest score out of everyone. It turned out I did the opposite and I won, but only by five points. At the second MATOC I attended I was not as nervous and I focused on getting a higher score, possibly a 1000, which is very difficult to achieve. I did not get a perfect score, however I did obtain my goal to do better. MATOC has helped give me a passion to do the best I can at ritual and I hope everyone goes to MATOC in their DeMolay career.

Many DeMolays in Pennsylvania hear about the Mid-Atlantic Tournament of Champions and get nervous, not wanting to go, but would like to see how well they can perform ritual. In this past year, we have found a solution to this problem! We now have statewide ritual tournaments at every weekend we have at Patton Campus. This gives every DeMolay the opportunity to compete in ritual even if you do not want to travel to MATOC. The best part about the statewide competitions is that you can compete more than once and try to get a better score. So there is no reason you cannot compete in a ritual tournament!

Until next time - Isaac

What do you mean "ritual tournament?"

Over the last year or so, PA DeMolay has undertaken an initiative to improve the ritual among the Chapters in the Commonwealth. Part of this project has been to get more young men involved in ritual tournaments. However, Pennsylvania hasn't really be a "ritual heavy" state in quite some time, leaving many members scratching their heads, wondering just what these tournaments are all about.

PA DeMolay is part of DeMolay International's Region II (which has been discussed in earlier posts.) As such, we participate in the Mid-Atlantic Tournament of Champions ritual tournament and generally go by their rules and evaluation procedures. Thankfully, the MATOC Committee has published all of this information on their website at http://harmonia.meccahosting.com/~a00060dd/rules.html. Just click the link and you'll be able to download .pdf's of all the important documents. Take some time to read and understand the rules - we know it's a little dry - but it's important to know the playing field.

In the coming weeks, we'll be discussing ritual tournaments a little bit more, and I hope to get some special guests to write pieces about their ritual tournament experience.

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

The New Hotness

Most members and friends of PA DeMolay are aware of the State Master Councilor's new incentive theme for this year - DeMopoly. Based around the timeless board game of Monopoly, this program aims to get members more involved with their Chapters and, in turn, the Chapters with the jurisdiction. The program ties very closely to the Outstanding Chapter Competition, dove-tailing with it nicely.

The flashiest piece of this program is the DeMopoly kit, which is going out to every Chapter in Pennsylvania. It contains everything needed to get involved. This includes a copy of the rules, a nice board to keep track of  accomplishments, some resources for the members, and of course a few surprises. The kits come in a great package, designed by "Dad" Matt Blaisdell. The boxes and materials look amazing - but therein lies the challenge.

It's a testament to Matt's work that the program is getting such traction outside of Pennsylvania. Today, I received an email (the third of its type) asking how a copy of DeMopoly can be purchased. Because of the design and attention to detail that the program has been given, many people think that PA DeMolay has developed a version of Monopoly with a DeMolay theme that can be played. This is not the case. You cannot play any games with the DeMopoly kit. We are not making any money off of this program (nor would we try to.) The theme is Monopoly, but the implementation really has more to do with the Outstanding Chapter Competition than the board game. Please know that we are very excited to see the world taking notice of our programs, but we cannot sell you a copy of DeMopoly (even if you wanted it as an incentive campaign and not a board game.)

If you'd like the full report of what DeMopoly is, check it out on the PA DeMolay website.

With that out of the way, you can expect more blog posts about the DeMopoly program. We'll be clarifying some questions as well as providing updates about who's in the lead with earning D$ and DeMopolies!

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Convention 2012 Ritual Competition Results

Ceremony Of Light                                                 

1^st Place – JEFFREY  HAMPLE       975 PTS         

2^nd Place – CARL BLEW                 940 PTS          

3^rd Place – ADAM PRICHARD       830 PTS         

Flower Talk

1^ST Place – JOE CIRILO           910 PTS
2^nd Place – TYLER MOYER     855 PTS
 3^rd Place – ERIC DYE               725 PTS


CHAPLAIN
1^st Place – LORENZO RODRIGUEZ     995 PTS
2^nd Place – MATTHEW MAPPLE         950 PTS
3^rd Place -  JOE CIRILO                          925 PTS


PRECEPTOR TRIO                                              

1^st Place – JOE CIRILO                    965 PTS         

2^nd Place – LUCAS SELLERS           900 PTS         

3^rd Place – ALEX TEMPLE              885 PTS           

OBLIGATIONS

1^st Place – TYLER MOYER               895 PTS

2^nd Place – MIGUEL PEREZ             890 PTS

3^rd Place – ROBERT SMITH             640 PTS

Time to Suit Up!

Today's post comes from Brother Alex Rauschenberger, Deputy State Master Councilor of PA DeMolay.

We have all heard about ritual before. We have participated in workshops about how important it is and have gone to numerous rehearsals to try to get our techniques down.  But, now it is time for something different.  Word has been spreading for the past few months and now it is official, ritual tournaments will be returning to Pennsylvania DeMolay.  At Convention 2012 we will be holding competitions for the following ritual parts:

• Chaplain (all three prayers)
• Preceptor Trio (your choice of three preceptor parts)
• Preceptor Magnificent Seven (all seven preceptor parts)
• Obligations (for members who have been in DeMolay for two years or less)
• Orator (1st Section and 3rd Section Prayer)
• Flower Talk
• Ceremony of Light

These tournaments will be judged under the same judging rules as the Mid Atlantic Tournament of Champions, or MATOC, as it is better known.  If you are interested in competing in one of these tournaments please let your Chapter Advisor know so that the proper registration can be made.  

Wait, did you think that was it?  You thought we were just going to throw some ritual tournaments at you and stop there? Heck no! All members who participate in the ritual tournaments will receive an ornate certificate marking their participation in this landmark revival of Pennsylvania DeMolay ritual tournaments. So, is that it?  Of course not!  Those members who work hard enough to achieve the winning rank in their competition will receive a very stylish DeMolay tie and a pocket greeter name badge with their name to commemorate their victory. So, is that it?  Not quite.

Additionally, the winners will be eligible to compete in the Champion Division of MATOC that will be held Sept. 7 - 9, 2012, in Utica, NY. And yes, that's it.

Now, do you have what it takes to become a ritual champion?  Do you have the commitment that it takes to learn these ritual parts and become the state champion?  You have the information and the dedication - the ball is in your court now.  Happy Ritual Tournaments! And may the odds be ever in your favor!

Trivia with Fezzy: Week 7!

Each Friday I am posting a PA DeMolay Blog related trivia question. Each active DeMolay from Pennsylania (excluding Elected State Officers) who correctly posts their answer in the comments section of this blog will be placed in a drawing to receive 5 points for the Take Control! program and receive a special "Fezzy" gamer tag over on the points page! All you have to do is leave your answer in the comments section. On Monday morning I will randomly select one of the correct answers and award the person with the points. Answer every week and rack up some major points - it's that easy! Remember, the answer to the question can found right here on the PA DeMolay blog in a previous post. We've had 132 posts so far, but I guarantee you that it's on the blog somewhere!

I've been negligent about posting questions, so this week is a special five question round! I will chose a different winner for each question if I'm able!

1. What are the three types (meaning different titles) given to members of the Supreme Council of DeMolay International?


2. What are the three main types of lapels found on mens suits?


3. How much money per unit does the Masonic Blood Club offer to a 501(c) charity for each unit collected? How can DeMolay benefit from this?


4. What is the main charity of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon?


5. Where is Convention 2011 going to be held?

Get answering!

Frat!-"Dad" Seth "Fezzy" Anthony

Westmoreland Road Warriors

Today's article is brought to you by "Dad" Bruce Neubauer of Westmoreland Chapter, located in Greensburg, PA.

What do you think about when you hear visitations points? I bet you think about taking a trip to a DeMolay Chapter and getting points for the competition. I don't want to say that this is not important, because it is. When the guys from Westmoreland visit another Chapter we take the visitation form to to get signed and send it in for points. Our members enjoy traveling and want to win the competition. But, how about we think about visitation points in a different way. Instead of points, think about visitation ideas and thoughts.

What I've have learned about visitation points is that it is not just a number on a piece of paper; it is indeed a powerful tool. Our members  at Westmoreland Chapter first started traveling to get "the Judge" (the PA DeMolay travelling gavel.) That might be how we started, but it has grown from there. Now, don’t get the wrong idea. Westmoreland is still dedicated to bringing "the Judge" back to Greensburg. But now we look forward to travelling for other reasons too. As Advisors, we do not talk about the competition. We just say there is an activity coming up and the DeMolays ask at a meeting "...who wants to go?" Fortunately we have the advisors that like to travel and enjoy the events just as much as the young men.

I would like to take my story back to Key Man 2010 for a minute. Key Man proves the idea that in DeMolay, the members and advisors you don't know are just friends that haven't not met yet. We came home from Key Man and a couple months later one of our members said that he wanted to go to an installation at a Chapter that a friend he met at Key Man belonged too. Without asking where the Chapter was, the answer from the transperation advisor was "Sure!" Then we found out the Chapter was North East Chapter in Philadelphia. But you know what, the answer was still "yes."  Our member went on the visit out of friendship and brotherhood. He didn't want to make this visit for points - he wanted to make it personal.

This past Sunday one of our Appointed State Officers from Westmoreland Chapter was asked to help at an installation of officers at Friendship-Bray Chapter. We had three other members ask to come along. At the last minute another office needed filled and one of the guys coming along agreed to fill in. Again this does not sound like a cut-throat points based competition. It sounds like brotherhood. It also sounded like a chance to capture one of the most illusive pictures in PA DeMolay history - a shot of "Dad" Rick Freedman, a long time Philly area resident, wearing what can only be described as a Pittsburgh Steelers collar. Great work!

As I was riding home from Friendship-Bray I started thinking how important it is to support other Chapters. I feel that one of the most important days in a Master Councilor's term is the Installation. It would be great if you could get all the nearby Chapters to show support.

The advisors of Westmoreland DeMolay are very proud of our young men. They have certainly caught the spirit and gotten the meaning of DeMolay.

If you let Westmoreland know when you are having an installation, We might just be there.

"Dad" Bruce Neubauer is the Chairman of Westmoreland Chapter. He has attended the last two Key Man Conferences and is quickly becoming a familiar face around PA DeMolay. He is actively involved in the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, where he serves as a District Deputy Supreme Tall Cedar and was elected to the Board of Directors. He also does a great job explaining how important the funny hat they wearreally is (its called a "pyramid" by the way) . This editor certainly appreciated it and will wear his proudly.

I'll take "Community Service Competition" for $100, Alex...

Last weekend at PA DeMolay's Superhero School event we held the Community Service competition (among others.) This is the first time that PA DeMolay has held the competition at an event other than Convention in quite some time. There were some issues with notification of the competition, but that aside, those who competed did a fantastic job.

Once of the questions we often get asked is "Just what is my Chapter supposed to do for the Community Service competition?" Why, that's a fabulous question Johnny! To answer your query, I'm going to turn to the folks at Allentown Chapter, who did a fantastic job at putting together their presentation.

Allentown, under the direction of Bro. Carl Blew, built a nice a display out of some card stock and printouts. Nothing fancy or costly, but very functional. The display showcased how Allentown celebrated donated foods to the Allentown Ecumenical Food Bank. This wasn't any old food drive however! The Chapter teamed up with Arbor Insurance Agency, who supplied the members with eco-friendly "green" bags. These bags were created with the environment in mind, and are reusable. The Chapter members were asked to fill the bags with food, and then return them to the Masonic Temple. Pretty simple, huh?

Allentown didn't stop there, however. They got the local TV station to run a promotion for their food drive and posted flyers about town asking for support. In all, 10 DeMolays, 5 Advisors, and 15 hours of service amounted to several LARGE (and we mean big!) boxes of food being donated. One member, Andrew Barber, went even further by obtaining and decorating a box for the drive to encourage participation.

So, the event was successful, but how does that tie into the competition? The Chapter took lots of pictures of the event, and made sure to get copies of the letters and flyers they sent. They then put all of that information on a nice, well constructed, and informative display that they used during the competition. It really is that easy!

What did your Chapter do for Community Service last year? Did you participate in the competition?

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

P.S. - I know this post was a day late. How do I respond to such accusations? Simply put... *insert Newsman voice here...* deal with it!

Competing Efforts

Every four years our lives are disrupted by two two-week television extravaganzas called "The Olympics" when we stop what we are doing to watch extraordinary humans doing extraordinary things with their bodies and with their minds. I am glad it doesn't come more often-- I get exhausted just watching the incredible speed, strength, flexibility and gracefulness of the skiers, skaters, sledders, and others. It's great to see the USA win medals, but I have to admit that I get caught up in the personal stories of so many of these athletes, and I cheer for all of them to simply do their very best. When I see all of the top competitors exceed their own expectations, and are rewarded for being the very best in their sport, it seems as if their country doesn't matter. Record-breaking performance isn't a triumph of nationality, but rather, a triumph of mankind.

DeMolay competitions require that kind of effort and performance, as well. Winning performances aren't what matters-- what is most important is that each competitor puts forth his very best effort to help his team succeed. Whether on the court or diamond or playing field, on in a ritual or RD competition, what matters most is giving it everything you've got, and performing better that ever before.

This attitude of doing the very best you can needs to extend even one step farther than the competition arena. In everything you do in school, or at work, or at home or with your friends, you need to be the very best -- the best student, the best employee, the best sibling, the best friend-- that you can be. Always.

DeMolay helps us all to understand our obligations to be better sons, better brothers, better leaders, better men. Through our DeMolay activity, we too, can experience a kind of triumph of mankind as we learn how to set our standards higher and strive with our very best effort to reach our goals in service to our fellow men.

Fraternally,

"Dad" Tom Labagh