FOCUS

Official Publication

Of the

York Rite Masons of Washington

Grand Commanders Message

FROM THE GRAND COMMANDER

Greetings Sir Knights,

Sir Knights, for the most part January was a leisurely month as we got back to work after the Christmas holidays.  Already, February is upon us and our new corps of officers has had one meeting and must be eager to get their second meeting going.  The Grand Commandery wants to help in any way we can but we need to know what help you need.  Your first help will come from your Deputy Instructor, so seek his assistance early.  In addition, you can always seek out the REGC.

     We all know that it takes nine sir knight members to open a commandery of which one must be a Diaz Officer.  Some commanderies have a hard time getting nine to attend regularly, so a couple of these commanderies wanted to change their meeting night believing that they could reduce the conflicts with other Masonic meetings.  Having gone through the steps for changing their bylaws, the night for voting arrived and yep, the old-timers showed up and vote against the move so it failed.  Sir Knights, if you want to have meetings and keep your commandery in good repair, then please attend as many meetings as you can.  Sideliners are a necessity for survival and if you get involved then the evening will become interesting.

     If you are an old-timer and feel that you cannot contribute to your commandery and just stay away, then you are out of touch with today’s needs.  I am a strong advocate of every organization having a Calling Committee to alert the members of what is happening in their organization, in our case the commandery.   And I believe this starts as a top down committee, beginning with the Diaz Officers.  The Eminent Commander calls the elected officers, namely Generalissimo, Captain General, Treasurer and Recorder.  Then the Generalissimo would call the Prelate, Senior Warden, Junior Warden and Sentinel; while the Captain General would call Sword Bearer, Standard Bearer, Warder and Musician.  Each of the appointed officers would then call the remainder of the membership.  Each person would bring back to the meeting the status of the members and also report on any interesting discussions.   The Eminent Commander and Recorder should still send out monthly notices as reminders, but these do not give the touch offered by  a good conversation.  Now if there are members who cannot physically make it often, let them be on the calling committee and relieve an appointed officer of that pleasant duty. 

     Please take notice:  All Diaz officers and others who would like to attend, there will be a REGC Workshop on Saturday, February 25^th at 9:00 a.m. at

 the Ellensburg Masonic Center.  We will work unto noon and will end with a lunch as prepared by the Eastern Star ladies of Grace Chapter for a nominal donation to their operating fund.  The Workshop will involve the practice of the 10-Man Opening along with common sword moves and any questions asked by sir knights.  In addition, our Membership Committee will put on a skit that can be used in lodges to educate brothers on York Rite Bodies.  Also, SK Rich Kovak will be on hand to give pointers on how to enhance your presentations of characters in the York Rite degrees and orders.  Chairmen of other committees will be on hand to answer questions about their committee’s duties and activities.   This will help the sir knights to understand what the committees do and maybe the sir knight would like to participate in a particular committee in the future.  If we know which sir knights have filed for an office by then, maybe we can have them available for questions.

     Following lunch, the Ruben Baer Past Commanders Association will be conferring the honorarium on Past Commanders who have not had the pleasure of this Order.  Please contact SK Charley L. Chapman at (509) 248-3829 or doughboyww1@earthlink.net for details.  This Honorarium will start at 1:00 p.m. and we should be on our way home by 3:00 p.m.   This honorarium will not be offered at the Grand Sessions, so it might be another year before it is offered again.  Note, it is open only to Past Commanders, not Eminent Commanders.

     Sir Knights, as we enter to the downward part of this 125^th Grand Commandery year, let us remember Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is,

 there your heart will be also.”  God Bless you and yours in your travels.  Enjoy carpool travels too.

God bless all,

God bless all,

SK Donald J. Beck, REGC
KT WA

 District #4          SK  Jack Wise, PEC

Juan De Fuca Commandery #17 Recorder Theodore E. Shanks Meets on the 3^rd Monday of September, February, May, October and March in Port Angeles, 622 So. Lincoln. Meeting is with Angeles Chapter #38 and Juan De Fuca Commandery #17.  Meeting starts at 6:30 PM.  Hosted dinner follows meeting.  Dark  July, August, December, and January. 

Commander –SK JAck Wise.

     Malta Commandery#18 Recorder SK Peter Dawson 2^nd Monday of each month except July & August. Bremerton Masonic Temple,

Commander –SK Alexander Jordan

District #5           SK George Fischer, PEC

Hesperus Commandery #8 Recorder SK Skipp Metzger    First Monday at

Commander –SK Jack Williams

Palestine Commandery#11 Recorder SK George P. Fischer Meets at Everett Masonic Center, 234 Olympic Blvd, Everett, Washington.  Meets on the 1^st Friday Commandery opens in March, June, September & December.  If you are in the area, your presence is desired. 6:30 Potluck, 7:30 stated.

Commander -SK Dennis Osborne.

District #6       SK Albert (Shorty) Bledsoe, PEC

Temple Commandery #5    Recorder SK Bob Johnston  1^st  Thursday in Ellensburg,

Commander SK Greg Maes

Columbia Commandery #14 Recorder SK Steve Guffy 509-662-7607 steveg@nwi.net 1^st Friday at the Wenatchee Masonic Center 811 N Chelan Ave., Wenatchee  for the Months March, June, and October and shall be held at the Omak Temple 7 S. Ash, Omak for the months May, July and August.  Stated meeting at 7:30 PM

Commander – SK Albert Bledsoe

Yakima Commandery #13  Recorder SK Charley Chapman   

 Meetings 16 N. 7th Avenue, Yakima, WA 98902on the first Wednesday of EVERY month at 7:30 PM.   Being considered for "Out Post" classification. 

 Commander SK Raymond E. Beever 

District #7        SK Robert Brannon Jr.

Cataract Commandery #3           Recorder Harold G. Rothgeb  4^th Thursday,

Commander SKRobert Brannon Jr.

District #8     SK J. Robert Yingling

Washington Commandery #1  Recorder SK Steven L. Kazda,  Meets 2^nd Wednesday of each month except July, and August at 7:30 pm. Our ritualistic openings are March, September & December and the ritualistic opening in June will be held the 4^th Wednesday at 7:30 pm at the Walla Walla Masonic Center, 607 E. Main St., Walla Walla, WA.

 Commander: SK Anton Lodmell,

           Pasco Commandery #21       Recorder Floyd Snyder  We have ritualistic opening on the 4^th Saturday of March, June, September, and December. Richland Masonic Temple,

 Commander SK Ronald Galpin