Dr. Tommie L. Robinson, Jr.
Scottish Rite Clinic Director, Washington, DC

Scottish Rite Masons provide the Rite care offered by the Rite people, at the Rite time, with the Rite attitude, for the Rite children, in the Rite place, thus giving them a Rite
start in life! You are to be commended for doing the Rite thing!

It is with joy that I stand before you tonight at this 2003 Biennial Session Gala Banquet to speak on behalf of over 170 Scottish Rite clinics, centers, and programs throughout the nation that provide evaluation and speech-language therapy to over 28,000 children, adolescents, and their families every year.

Five-year-old Jacob Ottinger, a client of the Scottish Rite Clinic in Washington, D.C., speaks to the ladies and Brothers attending the Biennial Session’s Gala Banquet on October 7, 2003. In the background, SGC Seale congratulates Dr. Tommie L.
Robinson, Jr., Clinic Director, for his good work as Jacob’s pathologist.

In 1953, Scottish Rite Brethren set a new standard in our country in that you made it your philanthropic endeavor to address the nation’s number-one handicapping condition, communication disorders. I cherish this moment since it allows me to thank you for your successful efforts in fund-raising and your tireless volunteer services to help provide state-of-the-art facilities for children throughout the nation.

Your efforts have aided children to become great communicators, be it language, articulation, stuttering, voice disorders and, yes, reading. In other words, you have done a phenomenal job in creating good citizens. In truth, is it really possible to put a cost to such a priceless treasure? I think not.

In 2001, at an event such as this, you made a very conscious, deliberate, and fine decision to establish a voluntary unified new name and image for our Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Programs throughout the nation. You chose the name and theme: “RiteCare, Scottish Rite Masons Helping Children Communicate.” Through this effort, you have set the stage for the Rite care being offered by the Rite people, at the Rite time, with the Rite attitude, for the Rite children, in the Rite place, thus giving them a Rite start in life!
You are to be commended for doing the Rite thing!

Jacob’s parents, Cinthia Shuman and Larry Ottinger, pause during the Gala Banquet for a snapshot with Dr. Robinson, Jacob’s speech-language therapist.

I can give personal witness to your impact. There is Ernest who started therapy at Washington’s Scottish Rite Center for Childhood Language Disorders at the age of ten. Today, he is 25 and has a degree in communications. He is a communications specialist for the District Government and is a self-assured communicator. Other clinic clients—Terry, Connie, and Angela—are siblings, and they have been seen by our center in the nation’s capital since they were infants. Despite their disabilities, now overcome, they are now deciding on what colleges to attend. Travis visited me recently, and I used that moment for him to share with a current patient of mine. He offered the child hope and encouragement and, looking me straight in the eyes, said, “Doc, I owe it all to you. I am who I am today because of you.” Talk about a moment that warmed my heart! These are some small examples of your dollars at work, and I thank you.
I have with me tonight a very special guest. I will let him introduce himself. I will say that I am grateful to his parents, Cinthia Shuman and Larry Ottinger, for being here as well, and I am sure that you will excuse us if we leave early to get their son home to bed. Jacob, won’t you please say a few words to the nice ladies and gentlemen?

“ Hello. My name is Jacob Ottinger. I am five years old. Sometimes I get stuck on my words, and my parents take me to see Dr. Robinson. Thank you, Dr. Robinson, for helping me to make my speech better—and thanks to all of you! In closing, I have a riddle for you. What did the mama volcano say to the baby volcano? I lava you!”