The team for the Twenty-second Degree, Knight of the Royal Axe, Prince of Libanus, from Denver, Colorado, took top honors for their presentation in Laughlin, Nevada.

Nearly 200 Brothers, their ladies, candidates, and friends of the Scottish Rite from four Valleys in three Orients gathered April 23 through 26 in the Colorado River city of Laughlin, Nevada, for the First Annual Southwestern Scottish Rite Regional Reunion.

Valley of Phoenix Brothers Bob Behning, KCCH, and Joe Shelton, KCCH, were the duo that originated the idea and co-organized this Reunion event that presented twenty-one of the twenty-nine degrees. It was, say candidates and organizers, a remarkable experience.

“It exceeded our expectations in every way,” says Brother Behning, Assistant Secretary of the Valley of Phoenix and one of the senior organizers of the event. “It was remarkable and very rewarding to watch the interaction between brothers from different Orients and Valleys, whether during the degree work, in the hallways, or during the social events.”

Participating in this first Regional Reunion were the Orients of Arizona, Colorado, and California.

Twenty-one candidates from two Orients received the degrees of the Scottish Rite during some of the finest degree work seen by brothers in the Southwest. At the conclusion of the Reunion, candidates were asked to review and rate the degree teams from Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Tucson.

The 9th, 10th, and 11th Degrees were presented by the Valley of Phoenix, Arizona.

Top honors went to the Valley of Denver for their presentation of the 22nd Degree, followed very closely by the Valley of Los Angeles for their 4th Degree. The teams from the Valleys of Phoenix and Tucson were also honored for their degree work. A special traveling trophy for Outstanding Degree Presentation is scheduled to be presented to the Valley of Denver during a special visit by a delegation from the Valley of Phoenix.

“The degree work was simply outstanding,” added Bro. Shelton. “The degree teams were professional in every way.”

The purpose of this first Regional Reunion, in the planning for many months by brothers of the Valley of Phoenix Scottish Rite Bodies, was multi-faceted, Bros. Behning and Shelton explained.

“Our vision was always that it should become an annual event, drawing participation and visitation from not only the Southwest Region, but from within the entire Southern Jurisdiction,” he said. “Its purpose, minimally, was to confer the required degrees upon candidates from any Orient and Valley that wished to participate. But we also wanted the event to provide an environment where fellowship could form new and lasting bonds of friendship, Masonic knowledge, and a sense of belonging.”

The Valley of Tucson, Arizona, presented the 24th Degree, Prince of the Tabernacle.

“Early in our planning, we determined that our basic values would include fun, fellowship. and education, as well as social activities and a unique opportunity to experience Masonry in a very special environment.”

In addition to the degree work, special programs were held for the more than fifty ladies that attended, as well as evening social events for all participants, including a dinner cruise on the Colorado River.

During closing activities, the Valley of Denver announced that they will host the Regional Reunion next year, May 17 through 19, and plan to present all 29 degrees! For more information, you can contact Darrell L. Tygart, Sr, 33°, Secretary of the Valley of Denver, darrell@denverconsistory.org or 303-861-4261.

Principle organizers of the First Annual Southwestern Scottish Rite Regional Reunion under the leadership of Phoenix’s Personal Representative Ill. John Amidon, 33°, G.C., in addition to Bros. Behning and Shelton were the production chairmen: Ill. Bros. Lowell E. Kuester; John W. Diffenderfer; Kenneth D. Hopson; Dennis R. Arend; Sam Madsen; and James F. Riggins.

See everyone in Denver, Colorado, in 2007!