Valley Of Baton Rouge Holds Clinic Groundbreaking

During the groundbreaking ceremony for a new RiteCare Clinic, Ill. Ronald A. Seale, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Louisiana, gave his official Scottish Rite cap to a young client of the Baton Rouge Scottish Rite Childhood Learning Center.

Following a successful fund-raising drive, the Valley of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, conducted a groundbreaking ceremony on November 20, 2002, for its new RiteCare Childhood Language Center, which will be built in the traditional style of an early South Louisiana cottage. Children enrolled in the present Center, members of the Valley of Baton Rouge, Master Masons, and friends attended the ceremony. After the festive event, Illustrious Ronald A. Seale, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Louisiana and Lieutenant Grand Commander, said: "It was the usual groundbreaking ceremony as far as those things go. A golden shovel, men and guests standing around outside in the dirt, and smiles as wide as the promise of the future were the fare of the day. So, one might say there was nothing particularly unusual to set this event apart from many others like it. But it was special to me. The day was memorable because those individuals who will most benefit from this little building and the Learning Center attended the groundbreaking. These young pre-schoolers, our clients, were at center stage as the dirt was turned over on a cloudy day in Baton Rouge. Armed with little shovels, they moved the dirt. Apparently, our little clients didn't get the word that only one spade full of dirt should be moved for the ceremony to be complete. As the speeches were made, prayers offered and we did the "adult things," they kept right on digging. There was work to be done and designs on the Trestleboard. They had a building to build."

Scottish Rite Honors Radford University Staff Member

Left to right, Charles A. Wood, Radford University Vice President for University Advancement, Michael Walker, Mobile Unit driver, and Bro. George E. Dewese, 32°, K.C.C.H., pose in front the Waldron College of Health and Human Services Mobile Unit, which is supported in part by the Scottish Rite Foundation of Virginia. Photo: Lora L. Gordon, Radford University

The Scottish Rite of Virginia recently honored Radford University (RU) staff member Michael Walker for going above and beyond the call of duty in his job as driver of the Waldron College of Health and Human Services Mobile Unit. Bro. George E. Dewese, 32°, K.C. C.H., of Shawsville, Virginia, a Scottish Rite member of the Valley of Roanoke and close friend of RU, presented Walker with a RiteCare jacket in honor of his outstanding commitment to his job. The jacket, like the mobile unit, which is in part supported by the Scottish Rite of Virginia, carries the RiteCare logo and wording "Scottish Rite Masons Helping Children Communicate."

Walker cares about his work. He goes the extra mile to greet clients, help them check in, assist with anything the staff may need, and is often the first on the job and the last to leave. The Waldron College gets frequent feedback from its clients, other professionals, and mobile staff on how well Walker does his job. According to Dr. Karma Castleberry, Dean of the Waldron College, "Michael is friendly, relaxed but professional, and has a really unique way of working with people," she said.

The 36-foot-long mobile unit travels to many rural areas in Southwest Virginia providing health services to underserved areas. These services include speech and hearing evaluations on children as well as adults. This helps fulfill the Scottish Rite's mission of "Helping Children Communicate." Through its generous funding and support, the Scottish Rite Foundation of Virginia has shared in making the Mobile Unit the great community asset it is. Scottish Rite also has supported Radford University and the Waldron College in many ways, including funding the addition of a speech-language pathologist to the clinic's staff and endowing scholarships to enable talented students gain top-notch training and preparation to become healthcare leaders of tomorrow. Scottish Rite has partnered with Radford University in support of a variety of healthcare initiatives that pay dividends in terms of a healthier, happier society.

Submitted by Stephanie Callaway Radford University student

Valley Of Topeka Honored By "Friends Of Education" Award

Four members of the Valley of Topeka, Kansas, received the "Community/Civic Organization 2003 Topeka Friends of Education Award." The Ill. Brothers honored were (l. to r.) Ill. Marvin L. Stovall, 33°, Secretary of the Valley; Ill. Jack A. Quinlan, 33°, Personal Representative of the S.G.I.G. in Kansas; Dr. Donald A. Mahrle, 33°, Asst. Personal Representative, and Ill. Myron G. Wilson, 33°, Valley Patriotism Committee Chairman.

On February 6, 2003, the Scottish Rite Bodies of Topeka, Kansas, received the "2003 Topeka Friends of Education Award" in the community/civic organization category from the Topeka Public Schools System. Each year this statewide recognition is presented to a group that has made a significant contribution to the public school education system. The Valley of Topeka was nominated specifically for its work with speech/language professionals. For example, on two occasions the Topeka Scottish Rite Center opened its facilities to classes of speech professionals meeting to improve their skills and earn extended educational units as part of their career advancement in the public school system. While the work of our Order's various RiteCare Childhood Language Clinics, Centers, and Programs is central to fulfilling the Scottish Rite's main philanthropic mission, related public outreach projects, like that of the Topeka Valley's sponsorship of conferences for speech-language professionals, greatly benefit the overall public awareness of the Rite's service to our nation.

RiteCare Logo Available

The RiteCare logo (right) is available in camera-ready form (color, black and white, and grayscale) from the Supreme Council, and a digital record of the logo will be sent upon request to the office of the Scottish Rite Journal (journal@srmason-sj.org). Using the RiteCare logo in Valley publications and signage is an effective way to focus attention on our RiteCare Childhood Language Program, both for the Brethren and the general public.

Scottish Rite Foundation Of Colorado Receives Outstanding Philanthropic Organization Award

In November 2002, the National Philanthropy Day organization in Colorado awarded the Scottish Rite Foundation of Colorado with the prestigious Outstanding Philanthropic Organization in 2002 Award. This honor is presented annually to an organization that has demonstrated outstanding commitment through financial support, encouragement, and motivation of others to take leadership roles in philanthropy and community involvement.

On part of the Scottish Rite Foundation of Colorado, Ill. Dwight A. Hamilton, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Colorado, accepted the Outstanding Philanthropic Organization in Colorado Award for 2002.

The award documents three Foundation leadership qualities which promote philanthropy and volunteerism among Scottish Rite Masons, community-based professionals, and the public in general. First, it notes that the Foundation demonstrates the core value of service to others by keeping the needs of children and families foremost, especially with its budgetary support for this work. Second, the Foundation encourages development of community responsibility as an integral component of its programs. Third, the Foundation models the value of partnerships in meeting the needs of children and their families.

Congratulations to Colorado's Scottish Rite Freemasons for this achievement and for their commitment and support for this most worthy cause.

Learning Centers Expanding In NMJ

The Supreme Council for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction continues to expand its charitable program to provide one-on-one tutoring to dyslexic children. It is an outgrowth of the learning disabilities clinics that have been a part of the Supreme Council for a number of years.

The goal of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction is to establish 55 Learning Centers within its 15 states. Now there are 42 Centers open in 13 of the states. Four more Centers are scheduled to open this year. The initial Learning Center was established in 1994 in Newtonville, Massachusetts. The mission of the program is to provide personalized tutoring free of charge to children with dyslexia using the Orton-Gillingham method. The program also trains individuals to become certified tutors. There is a 28-week academic term from September to June and a six-week summer term. The children attend 50-minute sessions twice a week after school hours. A child typically remains in the program for two years. During the current academic term, there are some 1,200 children enrolled with more than 250 certified tutors and more than 250 trainees. The training is also provided free of charge.

The cost is about $5,000 per child per year. From the voluntary contributions received from various sources, some 90 percent is allocated for professional and program services.

The children are tested upon admission and at least once a year thereafter while they are in the program. The data helps to determine the success of the program. Hundreds of unsolicited testimonials from parents and children indicate the positive impact on the children's ability to read and learn and on their self-esteem. See the map on page 6 of this issue for locations of the NMJ's Centers.

Submitted by Ill. Richard H. Curtis, 33°, Editor, The Northern Light

Canada Initiates Pilot Children's Learning Program

Over a number of years, Ill. David Kruger, 33°, Past S.G.I.G. in Virginia and Past Grand Secretary General, was our Supreme Council's Grand Representative to the Supreme Council of Canada. Throughout that time, he was a supporter of the Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada, particularly its interest in initiating a children's clinical service similar to the Southern Jurisdiction's RiteCare Childhood Language Program. As a result of this support and a donation from our Supreme Council, the Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada recently announced a pilot project in the Valley of London, Province of Ontario, for a Children's Learning Centre.

In two complimentary letters dated January 13, 2003, to Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht and Dr. Kruger, Ill. Robert A. Barnett, 33°, Deputy of the Supreme Council of Canada for the Province of Ontario, wrote: "Your long encouragement for this endeavor and your generosity in support of the Learning Centre Program has provided a continuing stimulus to myself and the ever-growing number of dedicated men working to establish a successful Learning Centre in London and creating the Canadian Learning Centre Handbook for the program across Canada. It is most fitting that the Canadian Learning Centre program will begin with the first Centre in London Valley. London was the birthplace of Scottish Rite in Canada in July 1868!"

Louisiana Uses RiteCare T-Shirts To Benefit Foundation

The Louisiana Scottish Rite Foundation, Inc., is promoting the RiteCare Childhood Language Program in a variety of ways. Six graduate students are receiving 2003 scholarships to assist them in fulfilling training requirements at the Orient's four clinics. Also, the Foundation is sponsoring the new Scottish Rite Learning Center in Baton Rouge, and it has created new Foundation T-shirts using the RiteCare logo and its related phrasing "Scottish Rite Masons Of Louisiana Helping Children Communicate." "Louisiana" was inserted into the logo's standard phrasing in order to enhance state and local fund-raising efforts. The logo (available in digital format from the office of the Scottish Rite Journal) does not include any specific geographical location, but Brethren may insert state and/or city names to make the RiteCare logo more relevant to their area. Modeling their new Louisiana Foundation T-shirts are Shreveport Speech & Hearing Clinic children with their therapists: (photo above left) Ms. Courtney Elizabeth Cornish with Sarah and (photo above right) Ms. Summer Lee Verhalen with Patrick. Both therapists are graduate students at Louisiana State University-Shreveport. Visit the online store for RiteCare products (without customization).

Let's Communicate!

At the Wichita, Kansas, Scottish Rite Center's recent "Chocolate & Champagne Fantasy," Brethren and friends honored the work of Wichita State University's (WSU) Speech-Language-Hearing Center which is supported, in part, by the Wichita Scottish Rite Brethren. Part of the festive evening was the presentation of checks totaling $3,500 to WSU representatives. Pictured (l. to r. above) are Ill. John M. Myers, 33°, Scottish Rite General Secretary; Nan Myers, Mrs. John Myers and Associate Professor at the WSU Library; Dr. Kenneth Aple, Department Chair; Dr. Trisha Self, Clinic Director; and Bro. Larry L. Christie, 32°, K.C.C.H., Personal Representative for the Valley of Wichita.

A "Chocolate & Champagne Fantasy" at the Wichita, Kansas, Scottish Rite Center recently honored the work of Wichita State University's Speech-Language-Hearing Center. In addition to delicious refreshments and great fellowship with 20 of WSU's faculty, the event included a silent and an audible auction. More than $2,000 was presented in the form of scholarship support for clinicians in training and children in need of services. Such gifts exemplify the ongoing support of the WSU clinic by the Wichita Brethren as part of their participation in the RiteCare Childhood Language Program of the Scottish Rite.

After Brethren and guests enjoyed chocolate, including a dietetic version, in the form of cakes, candies, coated fruits, and even a chocolate fountain, Bro. Larry L. Christie, 32°, K.C.C.H., Personal Representative for the Wichita Scottish Rite, noted, "We expect much fasting into the New Year, but helping our clinic kids is well worth it!" Personal Representative Christie's wife, Norma, beamed as she modeled her new emerald bracelet, for which she was the high bidder!
Also see "Putting Our Cause Out In Front."

Guthrie Clinic Bridges Gap Between Language And Literacy

Meet Jordin, a six year-old client at the Guthrie, Oklahoma, Scottish Rite Clinic. Like so many clients who attend the clinic, Jordin as a preschooler experienced difficulties in acquiring speech and language, which also had a negative effect on his learning to read. Typically, children with speech and language disorders are at risk for reading problems. They don't understand the link between spoken and written language or the knowledge that the sounds we hear can be transformed into symbols we see in the forms of letters, words, and symbols.

Jordin was initially diagnosed with articulation and language problems. Because of that, his reading readiness skills, including phonological awareness, have been closely monitored. In many cases, once a child has demonstrated progress in speech therapy, it is perfectly natural to take them into reading readiness activities. A client's previous work in articulating sounds correctly can then be used as a springboard to talk about sounds as they relate to reading development.

Reading readiness is an integral part of the work the clinic accomplishes with its young clients, and it is crucial for academic growth. Activities foster the child's ability to become adept with sequencing the alphabet as well as to demonstrate flexibility with the sound patterns of our language.

Long ago, Scottish Rite Masons recognized the importance of linking language and literacy together. We are thankful for their insight, which has led to many academic success stories for the young speech and language clients like Jordin.

Reprinted from the Oklahoma Scottish Rite Mason (Oct. 2002)