Grand Commander's Message - September 2003
Taken from the Texas Insert for the Knight Templar Magazine
Volume IL, Number 9, September 2003
As summer winds down and we head into fall, I urge all of you to think membership, not only for new members, but those who have been suspended for non-payment of dues, or have demitted for whatever reason. Festivals are happening all over the state. If there is not one in your immediate area, consider visiting another district to get your candidate a courtesy initiation, or better yet, confer it one on one in your Commandery A question has arisen regarding absences due to work schedule. It is my opinion that our first duty is to God, and second, is our duty to our family and ourselves. If an officer is required to work during inspection, not by choice but because it is required by his employer, I feel that it is not fair to punish him or his Commandery. As long as his replacement is a member of his Commandery, there will be no 25-point deduction from the Commandery's score. I believe that this is in keeping with brotherly lover and affection, and who can best agree. I am happy to report that our losses are less for the past 2 months than they have been over the past several months. Do not, however, let this lull you into thinking that we are okay. December is coming, and that is when the rolls are purged for NPDs. This always hurts us. The Triennial in St. Louis is history. Congratulations to all of our drill teams that competed. Win, lose, or draw, you all are winners in our eyes. Congratulations, also, to our new Most Eminent Grand Master, Sir Knight Kenneth B. Fischer. May your three years as Grand Master be everything that you expect and more. I am sure that I can speak for every Sir Knight in Texas when I say that we are at your disposal for any need you may have. Your Grand Commandery session in Tyler is coming together very nicely, thanks to Sir Knight John E. Andrews and his Lady Ruth. A big thank you goes to all the folks that John and Ruth have solicited to help, as they are really making the work of putting a Grand Commandery session together more pleasant. Be sure to mark you calendars for the weekend of April 17, 2004. It will be our pleasure to have you in Tyler for the competition on Saturday, the 17th; all of the events on Sunday the 18th; and for the business session on Monday, the 19th. As various pieces of legislation come in, they will be printed in this supplement so that you may study them in your Commandery and be better prepared for any discussion and voting. Yours in the faith, |
FESTIVAL to be held in Tyler on Saturday, September 27, 2003. Registration to begin at 6:30 A.M. with the conferral of the degrees and orders to begin at 7:00 A.M. in St. John's Lodge No. 53, 323 W. Front, Tyler, Texas. Courtesy candidates are welcome. This is a one-day festival. LETTER FROM EYE FOUNDATION RECIPENT—Addressed to Dr. WIlliam Jackson Jones—"I am extremely happy to give you the results of my surgery and an update regarding my recovery. I am scheduled for one more visit to Dr. Bochow, August 28, 2003. At this time my eyesight is better than it has been in 10 years, 20/25. I am grateful for your financial assistance and to God for giving this doctor the gift of a steady hand and the knowledge of procedure. Thank you so much, the surgher was successful in improved vision." Joyce Ibrahim, Case No. 72699 |