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Notes from the Northern Light
A Publication of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction
Six New Learning Center Sites for 2006
One of the main charities of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction is its network of learning centers. The 32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children, Inc., operates sites throughout the 15-state region for the purpose of helping children overcome reading problems caused by dyslexia. There is no tuition charged for the services rendered.
With 52 learning centers already up and running during the past academic year, the program is expanding once again. Six new locations are in varying states of readiness. In Peoria, Ill., Gina Cooke has agreed to be center director, moving over from Chicago. This new center was opened on time for the summer program.
Heather Petrucelli, currently in Canton, Ohio, will direct the new Akron center, which opens in September.
Philadelphia has been approved and is waiting for a floor plan and pre-opening budget. Funds are being raised for Danville, Ill. To date no director has been chosen.
Interim locations have been chosen for both Williamsport, Penn., and Springfield, Ill.
National Heritage Museum ONLINE
The bark Isaac Rich painted by Luigi Renault in 1876.
A new website for the National Heritage Museum, located at the Northern Jurisdiction Supreme Council headquarters in Lexington, Mass., supplies a wealth of information and allows the visitor to look at a portion of the collection, locate volumes in the library, listen to a lecture, or shop in the store.
Taking an online tour of a part of the museum’s holdings can be done by clicking “Collections” and from there to “Treasures.” Visitors will find items ranging from furniture to glass and ceramics to fraternal regalia.
The Van Gorden-Williams Library, also located at the museum, serves the Masonic community as a repository of the history of Freemasonry and as a research facility. The online catalogue enables users to become familiar with the holdings.
The museum-library was opened in 1975 as a bicentennial gift from Scottish Rite Masons to the American people.
nationalheritagemuseum.org
Each fall for the past few years, the Children’s Learning Centers have raised money by conducting charity walks in and around their host communities.
Often accompanied by cook-outs, souvenir hats and t-shirts and, of course, Shrine clowns, the events have quickly developed into a yearly tradition.
In 2007 the learning centers will see a new twist in the walks to help children with dyslexia.
The Pennsylvania Valleys of Allentown, Bloomsburg and Reading are currently working on a relay run event. It will originate at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds and conclude in Reading.
Expected are more than 400 relay teams of 12 runners each. The relay event is intended to raise much needed funds, allowing the learning center program to continue its expansion and to enhance public awareness of the invaluable services provided.
Although the inaugural run is limited to the three Pennsylvania cities, plans are in the works to expand it to include all centers within the 15-state NMJ.
