Russ Hennings, 32°
Venerable Master
Brethren,
Moving into the heart of the year, I find myself thinking more and more about what it means to build a Valley worth sharing. We have something special here in Orange County—a Valley full of dedicated brothers, meaningful ritual, and an authentic sense of fellowship that’s hard to find elsewhere. And yet, I believe we’ve only scratched the surface of what we could become if more of our Blue Lodge brethren knew what we were building.
This is where you come in.
The best ambassadors for the Scottish Rite are not our flyers or our websites—it’s our members. It’s you. When you talk about your experience here—whether it’s the degrees, the camaraderie, the service to the RiteCare Center, or even just a great dinner at a Stated Meeting—you help plant seeds. Seeds that grow into curiosity, then into interest, and eventually, into new Brothers joining our ranks.
We’ll have two great opportunities coming up to proudly show off our Valley:
The Super Breakfast on June 28th
Our Summer Picnic on July 12th at Mason Regional Park, Shelter #4
These events are open to friends and family, and they’re perfect moments to invite a Master Mason and his family from your Blue Lodge to come experience the fellowship that makes this place feel like home. The more we share what we’re doing here, the more we grow—not just in numbers, but in energy, leadership, and impact.
Of course, none of this works without the quiet excellence happening behind the scenes. Our Junior Warden, Ross Hernandez, continues to go above and beyond in preparing meals that bring us together around the table. His attention to detail and warmth set the tone for our gatherings, and I couldn’t be more grateful for his leadership.
Bro. Brandon Bell, our Director of Stagecraft, brought the degrees at our recent Reunion—and our Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal—to life with incredible visual depth. His talent and effort transformed our stage into a place of real emotional and symbolic power. Those impactful moments didn’t just happen—they were crafted.
And speaking of behind-the-scenes heroes, I recently had the pleasure (and reality check) of setting up for our Stated Meeting while Bro. James Olivier was out of the country. Let me tell you—there’s nothing like dragging tables, placing chairs, and prepping regalia to make you appreciate the unseen labor that goes into every meeting we enjoy. James has been doing this quietly and consistently, and it deserves our recognition.
Here’s the truth: what we have here is good. Really good. But imagine what it could be like if every Master Mason in Orange County found his way to the Scottish Rite. Imagine reunions filled with fresh energy, Stated Meetings packed with new ideas, service projects teeming with willing hands, and our degrees performed by full casts of passionate Brothers. That’s not a dream—it’s a vision. A vision that becomes reality when each of us takes it upon ourselves to reach out, invite, and share.
Let’s take pride in what we’re building—and let’s be bold enough to spread the word.
