Russ Hennings, 32°
Venerable Master
We have a reunion on the horizon, and it’s shaping up to be one of our biggest yet. On October 3rd and 4th, our Valley will welcome what looks to be a record number of new candidates. I’m telling you, the energy is real. These are not cold applications falling out of the sky—they are coming from real conversations, personal invites, and brothers who are excited about what we’re doing here. A large portion of these petitions were brought in thanks to the work and commitment of our Master of Kadosh, Brother Josh Price. He’s been a driving force in engaging with prospective members, and his effort is making a tangible difference. Let’s take a moment and recognize what that means: our Valley is alive with growth, and that doesn’t happen by accident.
And while we’re on the subject of powerful moments—this past month, I had the profound honor of being knighted a Knight Commander of the Court of Honour alongside my father. The ceremony was held in San Francisco, and standing there on stage next to him as we were both knighted is something I will never forget. I was asked to remain on stage and witness him receiving the accolade from none other than Illustrious Arthur Salazar, our Deputy for California. It’s difficult to describe how much that meant to me—sharing such a significant moment with my dad, in front of so many brothers. Honestly, it rivals my Blue Lodge degrees in terms of personal impact. Thank you, Illustrious Salazar, for making that memory possible.
We also made a change last month that I want to make sure everyone is aware of: our Stated Meetings will now take place on the fourth Mondays of the month. This is a shift that we believe will better accommodate our members’ schedules and allow us to continue growing without unnecessary scheduling conflicts. So please mark your calendars: our next meeting will be held on Monday, October 27th.
And as fall approaches, we’re going to close the month with something special. We’re taking the spirit of the season and giving it a Scottish Rite twist with our Día de los Muertos–themed Haunted House fundraiser. This will benefit our RiteCare Childhood Language Center of Orange County. There’s a lot of work happening behind the scenes, and if you’ve got ideas or just want to lend a hand, we’d love to have you involved. It’s going to be spooky, it’s going to be fun, and it’s for a great cause.
We have momentum right now, and that’s something to be proud of. But it’s also something to build on. Whether you’re involved in ritual, helping set up tables, bringing in a friend, or simply showing up—you’re part of this wave. And trust me, your presence matters.
See you at the reunion.
-Russ Hennings, Venerable Master
