Having experienced the Scottish Rite Leadership Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, as a Fellow, I can say I found enthusiasm everywhere among the presenters, attendees, and Brothers from the Supreme Council. My own special enthusiasm stems from the many new uses of technology demonstrated at the conference. Each attendee received the conference handouts on a CD. This is progress. We were able to get hands-on time on the new Sentinel database. I personally used it to find a new address for a Brother who had become unreachable. This is progress.

High on the list of useful changes is the inclusion of a member’s Supreme Council ID number in barcode form on his dues card. We have already started collecting attendance at our Stated Meetings in the Valley of Denver and are working to have the system available for use at our Spring Reunion. Our Tylers love it, as there is no handwriting to decipher. This is progress.

There were discussions at the conference about Valleys using the barcode for building access, and some Valleys are already using the barcode for posting dues payments. This is progress.

I, for one, am looking forward to the new opportunities in communication, research, and Valley management available to us resulting from the growth in technology. Enthusiasm is the magic that creates things that work. This is progress.

Paul Gregory La Favor, KCCH, Scottish Rite Fellow, Valley of Denver, Colorado