Ill. Ralph C. Shelton II, 33°
As our year draws to a close, we have many thanks to give. Any attempt to enumerate the entire list of those to be commended would necessarily be incomplete, as it really is the result of every Valley member’s contribution.
Our membership has grown. Engagement at meetings has quadrupled. We are operating more efficiently, and the atmosphere of the Valley is positive and empowering. Our language center is thriving. Our Knights of St. Andrew are active. We have increased the number of degrees presented at Reunions. Partners of members are participating and more engaged than ever. Our members are becoming better educated in the philosophy, history and fundamental principles of the Rite than ever before. These are just part of the blessings we have enjoyed over the course of the year.
Valley members have also mentioned that the food served at our meetings, reunions and Super Breakfasts is better than ever.
All of these result from the effort of the Valley members, and all are owed a hearty thanks. This has been one of the best years for the Valley in recent memory.
As we move forward, and reviewing our financial status, I note that we have had a somewhat “scattershot” approach to financial stability. The Valley should be funded through member dues, and while our dues go a long way, we have had to resort to appeals for individual member support, such as the “Century Club”, to make ends meet. This tells me that the dues are less than they should be. In the coming year, we will consider a long term plan to address this, providing for a gradual increase over time, so do be sure to follow this closely in Valley communications.
In this regard, I am struck by the fact that our dues come out to about $10 per month, a ver modest sum. A member recently commented to me that this small sum is far less than the gym membership he pays for and doesn’t use, and he regarded the Valley dues to be an “insignificant amount”. As we spoke, we compared other wholly discretionary expense, such as Starbucks coffee, music streaming and the like, that also add value to one’s life, and considered the relative impact of a well grounded Masonic education, as offered by the Scottish Rite. The difference was apparent immediately – the Rite offers significantly more value at a significantly lower cost than any of the other expenses we noted. Factor that in when considering dues.
We also discussed the necessity to be considerate in this regard. Some members have little discretionary room in their budget, and others have more. For those who have a legitimate challenge in meeting the dues obligation, relief is available from several resources, in order that every Valley member can benefit from the rich Valley experience without a burdensome impact.
This conversation has been repeated with many members over the past few months, and the result has always been the same, reaching the conclusion that building a strong financial basis will be an important stone in our Valley’s future. Of course, if you have not been a part of these conversations, and would like to have a voice, then it’s time that you begin attending our meetings, where you will find enriching programs, enjoyable fellowship, and great meals. I look forward to seeing – and hearing from – you in the near future.
