Van A. McLemore, 33°, and the Wichita Scottish Rite Staff
332 E First Street, Wichita, Kansas 67202–2402

Members often criticize the Scottish Rite for not having enough activities for members and their families. They tend to stay away because they feel our efforts are only centered on dramatizing the Degrees and having monthly meetings. They do not know all the other activities we offer, and potential Candidates, laboring under the same impression, lose interest in joining an organization that does not appear to include their family.

In fact, the Scottish Rite Valley of Wichita, Kansas, like many other Scottish Rite Valleys, offers a wide variety of activities for every member and his family. Hopefully, you may be able to use some of these ideas in your own Valley.

• On the night of our Lodge of Perfection meetings, we encourage the wives to attend. We have a dinner before the meeting and then adjourn to our Lodge meeting while the wives adjourn to a social or craft meeting. Afterward, both groups unite for a program including musical and theatrical groups, talks by local educators, law enforcement professionals, and other individuals.
• Our Knights of St. Andrew group is open to 32° Scottish Rite members only. Their purpose is "Service to the Consistory" at the direction of the General Secretary. This organization gets 32° members active in the Scottish Rite.
• A bagpipe band, the Wichita Scottish Rite Pipes and Drums, is open to all members. The band performs in various Scottish Rite Degrees and public parades, pipes the new members down the grand staircase at the class banquets, and attends other functions to play by invitation. This is a self-sustaining group where each member owns his own equipment and dress. The band has a banner for parades and so puts the Scottish Rite name out to the public.
• The MasterSmoker's™ Unit is a group of members who get together for smoking meats and poultry for various Lodge events, and the unit also participates in parades. At a recent parade, they used a garden tractor to pull a small trailer with a smoker. The smoker was cooking hot links at the time, which the smoker's unit cut up and gave away in the parking lot after the parade. This was very well received by both the public and the event's organizers. We would like to charter other MasterSmoker units in other Valleys similar to the Knights of St. Andrew groups around the country. If you are interested, please contact us.
• The Traveling Actors Group travels our Orient with presentations of plays. These include performing Degrees at our Western Kansas Scottish Rite clubs and area Lodges. They also perform the Masonic play "The Traitor" in full period costumes.
• We have our Chaplain and Chaplain Assistants visiting the sick and homebound on a daily basis.
• Our parade committee coordinates parade events, designing, building, and coordinating all floats and other entrants. They participate in the Wichita River Festival parade, a large local citywide event which gives us great name recognition with the public.
• We have a monthly "Night Out" for family members. This is held on the last Monday of the month at various restaurants around town for dinner and socializing. This is usually well attended and also gets our name out through the restaurants.
• Various dinners are held throughout the year which are open to the public. Among these are the Scottish Rite Chicken Feed and Pancake Feed. Other dinners open to the members and family include Maundy Thursday, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Washington's Birthday, and class banquets.
• On the third Saturday of December, photos with Santa are offered free for members, family, and grandchildren. This includes a visit with Santa, photos with Santa, games, and candy. Lunch is also served. The Scottish Rite building is decorated for Christmas by the Brethren, their wives and families. It has received local awards for the decorations.
• We offer a Genealogy Class for members and family. This class is given by members who know how to research your genealogy.
• We have started a Study Club, for members only, to study the history and teachings of the Degrees.
• The third Friday of each summer month, and quarterly the remainder of the year, we offer a free "Family Movie Night."

Here we serve hot dogs, chips and salads for dinner, with a movie starting after the dinner. This usually includes old-time comedies like the Little Rascals, Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy, etc. We have a cartoon prior to the movie and an intermission with a sing-along, complete with a "bouncing ball" and organist.

These are just some of the many different activities the Valley of Wichita offers. We have something for everyone to get involved in, which includes members, wives, and family. We also encourage anyone who has an idea for other activities to come forth, and we will provide seed money necessary to make the idea a reality.

In this day and age, we have to offer something besides Degree work and monthly meetings. Family activities attract younger people made aware of our presence through out public appearances. We have to show the public what a fine organization we have and make them aware of the many activities that involve both members and family. We would welcome any ideas from other Valleys. Please contact us at ictrite@powwwer.net.

Van A. McLemore is an Electrical Engineer and Past Master of Albert Pike Lodge No. 303, Wichita, Kansas and a member of Wichita Scottish Rite Bodies, currently serving as Trustee and Senior Warden of Wichita Chapter Rose Croix; Assistant Stage Director; and Assistant Pipe Major of the Wichita Scottish Rite Pipes and Drums. He is also a member of the York Rite Bodies of Wichita.