Ronald A. Seale, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander

U.S. Bank is the new credit card issuer of the Supreme Council, offering benefits to our members and support to our clinics.

The Scottish Rite in the Southern Jurisdiction has a new and exclusive credit card, a move from our previous issuer to U.S. Bank. Here’s why we moved. One of the primary ways we support our RiteCare Childhood Language Program, that provides much needed speech and language therapy to young children, is through contributions to the Scottish Rite Foundation. A major source of that funding has been from payments received from our credit card issuer whereby our Foundation receives a percentage of each use of the card by our Scottish Rite members. That’s why, I believe, most of us are pleased to obtain and use our Scottish Rite credit card, knowing we are helping, each in our small way, to assist in the funding of our language centers.

Our previous credit card issuer has recently declined to renew our contract according to its earlier provisions. The unfortunate result is a substantial loss of revenue that would otherwise be available for RiteCare and scholarship funding. For that reason, we began the search for a new credit card issuer that would provide a more tangible benefit to our Foundation and likewise would be a good credit card product for our members. We are pleased to announce that U.S. Bank* is the new and exclusive provider of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, Visa® Credit Card. As of this time, if you currently carry a Scottish Rite card and it does not have the U.S. Bank logo on the back, the Supreme Council no longer receives any benefits from your purchases. Please make sure you have the right card!

The many benefits for you from the new U.S. Bank Visa Card include:

• No annual fee;
• Special introductory interest rates on purchases and balance transfers;
• Credit limit up to $15,000;
• 100% fraud protection;
• Two new card designs: House of the Temple or Eagle Logo (see below).
• Two major benefits come to the Supreme Council:
• A payment for each new card that is activated and used;
• A percentage of every charge made on a Scottish Rite Visa Card.

One of the privileges of my position as Grand Commander is seeing children being helped in Scottish Rite clinics around the country. It is moving to see the tremendous changes for the good that we make daily in the lives of our young clients and their families. I watch our speech therapists with admiration and envy—envy that I don’t have the skills to produce those wonderful looks of joy on the faces of parents as they hear their children speak clearly for the first time. However, I can support our clinics each time I make a purchase with my new Scottish Rite Visa Card.

I regularly use my Scottish Rite Visa Card for travel and household purchases, and just by regularly using it I make a small, painless contribution to the Scottish Rite Foundation. It makes me feel proud to be a supporter, and many small contributions made every day by Scottish Rite supporters across our Jurisdiction add up to significant assistance for the children enrolled in our RiteCare Childhood Language Clinics and Learning Centers!

The new Scottish Rite Visa Card is a win-win situation for everyone. You as a Scottish Rite Visa Card holder benefit from a great credit card, and, as you make your normal purchases, our Childhood Language Disorders programs benefit from a portion of your charges. These contributions are made directly from the Scottish Rite Foundation to all clinics throughout the Southern Jurisdiction to assist them in fulfilling their important mission. The ultimate beneficiaries are the children in our programs.

U.S. Bank offers several Visa Cards to apply for; pick one that fits your needs:

• Visa Platinum Card—Maximum contribution to the Scottish Rite;
• Cash Rewards Visa Platinum Card—Earn up to 1% cash back on all your purchases;
• Travel Rewards Visa Platinum Card—Earn 1 point with every dollar spent, exchange for free tickets on any airline, and no blackout dates;
• Select Rewards Visa Platinum Card—Earn 1 point for every dollar spent, redeem your reward points for anything you want—groceries, electronics, gift cards, and so on. You can even redeem points for Scottish Rite Merchandise!

Please join me in supporting the Scottish Rite Foundation, S.J., with one of our new Scottish Rite Visa Cards. You can apply for the new U.S. Bank Visa Card by calling 1-800-853-5576, ext. 8566. To apply online, click here. The children we help need all the support they can get.

* U.S. Bank National Association ND is the creditor and issuer of the Scottish Rite Visa Cards.

U.S. Bank is the new credit card issuer
of the Supreme Council!

If your Scottish Rite card does not have the U.S. Bank logo on the back, the Supreme Council no longer receives any benefits from your purchases. Please make sure you have the right card and continue your support of the Scottish Rite Foundation, S.J.

You can apply for your new U.S. Bank Visa Card by calling 1–800–853–5576, ext. 8566. To apply online, click here.