Valley of St. Louis News

Missouri Scottish Rite Virtual Cinematic Reunion Recap
My Brother,
Over a thousand Scottish Rite Brothers throughout the United States of America and 27 other countries around the world participated in the Missouri Scottish Rite Virtual Cinematic Reunions. We are pleased to welcome hundreds of new Scottish Rite Masons who have joined through the virtual reunions.
We are elated that our Grand Master of Masons in Missouri, Most Worshipful Brother Barry V Cundiff, 32°, KCCH, Sovereign Grand Commander, Illustrious Brother James D. Cole, 33°, SJ, USA, and Sovereign Grand Commander, Illustrious Brother David A. Glattley, 33°, NMJ, have been integral participants in our Reunions.
This production was accomplished with the outstanding brothers and their family members from all of the Valleys throughout Missouri and the Scottish Rite Foundation of Missouri. We also appreciate the dedication and heartfelt assistance of The LIGHT Foundation, which engendered a vision to make these Virtual Cinematic Reunions a reality.
We hope you will all share these tremendous experiences with your fellow Master Masons. Although we certainly look forward to returning to our individual Valleys, with your excellent comments and recommendations, we are already considering a new “Interactive Virtual Reunion” in the Spring.
The overwhelming positive thoughts and opinions from so many of you who have completed the online Survey are appreciated. If you have not done so already, please complete the online Survey at https://scottishrite.live/survey. New Scottish Rite Members MUST complete the Survey to confirm that they received all of the obligations.
We hope you enjoyed all of these Virtual Cinematic Reunions and that you will take some time to reflect on and absorb the important lessons learned and information provided and carry them into your daily lives.
Make sure to take the time to make contact with your Valley leaders to obtain further information about Valley activities as well as more educational opportunities. We wish you the best in all of your endeavours and especially in your continued journey to more Light in Freemasonry.
“This may well be viewed years from now as a very significant and historic watershed moment in our Rite.”
Illustrious Brother James D. Cole, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander, Supreme Council, SJ, USA
Sincerely and fraternally,

The Emergence of TeleTherapy During Better Hearing and Speech Month 2020
As we near the end of Better Hearing and Speech Month, “Communication at Work,” it is important to reflect upon and celebrate the triumphs made by both the client and therapist during these unprecedented times. Conceived out of these extraordinary circumstances, innovative programs have been implemented in order to continuously serve the patient, client, and student to the fullest degree. The ingenious methods in which speech-language pathologists have reconstructed their work during the COVID-19 pandemic has only testified to their steadfast commitment to making effective communication a human right and accessible for all.
As therapy sessions and curriculum made their way to the virtual world, there were certain obstacles and restrictions that therapists, teachers, and patients had to overcome. Despite these anticipated challenges, TeleTherapy has prevailed beyond measure.

The RiteCare Language and Literacy Lab Coordinator at the University of Central Missouri, Kim Stewart, M.S., CCC-SLP, sheds light on the numerous benefits in which TeleTherapy has offered her, her graduate students, and patients during Better Hearing and Speech Month:“One of our clients uses an Augmentative and Alternative Communication Device (AAC Device). She’s three years old, and she made tremendous gains through our virtual six week, twelve session time frame. Everything was very functional, and it was because of our online monitor system that we implemented that we were able to effectively utilize TelePractice methods.”

“One of our clients uses an Augmentative and Alternative Communication Device (AAC Device). She’s three years old, and she made tremendous gains through our virtual six week, twelve session time frame. Everything was very functional, and it was because of our online monitor system that we implemented that we were able to effectively utilize TelePractice methods.”
Kim Stewart, M.S., CCC-SLP
The patient’s mother also shared in Stewart’s enthusiasm by personally reaching out to the student who conducted her child’s TeleTherapy sessions. She expressed her gratitude for the functionality of TeleTherapy methods and was delighted to witness her daughter’s exceptional development.
These success stories would not have been possible without the generous donations bestowed upon the SLP programs at UCM:
“We are so thankful that we were provided all of these free resources immediately by this SLP Telecom. There was no money being allocated into this during this spiraling situation, but everybody came to bat for all of us and helped us to be successful. It was a wonderful situation and has proven to deliver quite remarkable results.”
Mother of RiteCare Patient
As Better Hearing and Speech Month wraps up, we are still graciously accepting donations that support these life-changing services to children in need of speech-language therapy. The LIGHT Foundation has agreed to match every donation at 100% up to $10,000. Donation processing through The LIGHT Foundation removes any administrative costs and allows 100% of the donor’s gift to go to the RiteCare Program and the children they serve. Your generous tax-deductible donation will be distributed to the Missouri RiteCare Program of your choice or towards the state-wide efforts and initiatives of the Scottish Rite RiteCare program to help children communicate.
Dedicated Missouri RiteCare Programs

- Walker Scottish Rite Clinic at Maryville University (St. Louis)
- Robert G. Combs Childhood Language PreSchool at University of MO (Columbia)
- Scottish Rite RiteCare Early Language Literacy Lab at University of Central Missouri (Warrensburg)
- RiteCare Early Literacy Lab at Truman State University (Kirksville)
- United Cerebral Palsy of Northwest Missouri (St. Joseph)
- RiteCare Clinic in Kansas City affiliated with Children’s Mercy Hospital
- Scottish Rite RiteCare services in partnership with the Children’s Miracle Network (Joplin/Springfield)
- Hannibal Regional Hospital’s speech therapy assistance program (Hannibal)
Resource-Relief Fund for Missouri Families impacted by COVID-19 Campaign

The Scottish Rite Foundation of Missouri and The LIGHT Foundation join together in service to community
One of the Scottish Rite Foundation of Missouri’s charity pillars is Disaster Relief. The core focus of the LIGHT Foundation is to create youth opportunities. The Scottish Rite Foundation of Missouri in partnership with The LIGHT Foundation seek to support our community families that have been economically impacted through the COVID-19 crisis through job loss, school closures and unforeseen challenges with a resource-relief opportunity. We are compelled to support our families in need.
Together, we request that you, as leaders in our Scottish Rite Freemasonry and Scottish Rite Youth Programs, send a personal recommendation via email with the name, brief explanation and contact information (email and home mailing address) of a family in need. Recommendations need to be submitted by/before 5/15/20 to relief@light.foundation. The need is great and our hope as a community is to respond swiftly.
Disaster Relief is a charity pillar of the Scottish Rite Foundation of Missouri and we would humbly request if any in our community would wish to donate to the Resource Relief Fund, please contact the SRF Executive Director, Paul DeMerath (srf-stl@sbcglobal.net) or the LIGHT Foundation Executive Director, Sheri Mistretta (sherim@light.foundation; 314.287.3633). Our calling is to serve those in need and the time is now.
As our valued leadership, you understand that relatives of our Scottish Rite Foundation of Missouri Board of Directors and LIGHT Foundation Board of Directors and staff are not be eligible for this fund.
Thank you for reviewing and recommending families for this resource-relief fund and supporting our community. Additional information regarding the Scottish Rite Foundation of Misssouri, Inc. can be found by clicking here.
Historic Partnership to Advance Freemasonry in North America

Dear Brethren,
The Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, Shriners International, and the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction proudly announce a historic coming together of our organizations in the joint sponsorship of BeAFreemason.org.
More than just a website, BeAFreemason.org is dedicated to explaining just who Freemasons are, and what we stand for. It serves as a guide for men looking to understand the truths of our craft and the rewards of our brotherhood. It is a place where information about Freemasonry is accurate, visually compelling, and aspirational.
Central to the site is a powerful referral mechanism that links men interested in joining to Grand Lodge membership contacts in states and provinces throughout North America. We hope you too will help spread the word far and wide by sharing the site with friends, family, and other good men you know.
A Historic Partnership
The Scottish Rite, NMJ, Shriners International, and the Scottish Rite, SJ, have united in purpose and in service to the craft. As we open our plans to Grand Lodges across North America there is no doubt that, together, we can achieve the extraordinary and continue to share Freemasonry with the world.
The work we have embarked on circles us back to the place where we have always been strong. The noble place where we help a man declare to the world, I am not just a man. I am a Mason.
Fraternally,
David A. Glattly, 33°
Sovereign Grand Commander
Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction
Jeffrey L. Sowder
Imperial Potentate
Shriners International
James D. Cole, 33°
Sovereign Grand Commander
Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction
Are you keeping up with our activities?
Are you keeping up with the activities occurring within the Orient? Follow along by reading our Orient Newsletter, the Scottish Rite Journal, and the Journal’s Missouri section all online from your computer or smartphone. Simply click the link below!
May 2018 Missouri Scottish Rite E-NEWS
We hope that you are enjoying the Missouri Scottish Rite E-NEWS! You can read the latest issue as well as our past issues using the relevant link(s) below.
This newsletter shares information from each of our local Scottish Rite Valleys, our RiteCare Centers, the Scottish Rite Foundation of Missouri, the Masonic Youth Groups in Missouri, and other Masonic groups around our state.
Are you receiving the Missouri Scottish Rite monthly newsletter?
Are you receiving the Missouri Scottish Rite monthly newsletter? If you are not, and you would like to, please let us know using the form shown below!
2018 Grand Master’s Reunion Schedule
Below most recent OFFICIAL schedule for the Inaugural Grand Master’s Reunion as received from the Valley of Kansas City’s Director of the Work. If you have questions or corrections, please contact the Valley of Kansas City – http://srkc.org/contacts/.
RSVP REQUIRED FOR ALL MEALS.
The cost $10 for breakfast and $15.00 for the lunch banquet.
Please reserve by calling the Valley of Kansas City office at 816.561.2277.
Friday April 13th
6:00pm Candidate Check-in
7:00pm 4° – Secret Master
8:00pm 6° – Intimate Secretary
Saturday April 14th
7:30am Breakfast
8:30am 8° Intendant of the Building (Valley of St. Joseph)
9:00-9:45am Classroom (Presentation by Ill. Steve Harrison)
9:45am 14° Perfect Elu (Grand Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason)
10:30-11:00am Class Room
11:00am 18° Knight Rose Croix
12:15-1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm 27° Knight of the Sun or Prince Adept
2:00-2:30pm Class Room (Presentation on the Separation of Church and State)
2:35-3:15pm 29° Scottish Knight of Saint Andrew
3:15-3:30pm Break
3:30-4:30pm 30° Knight of Kadosh or Knight of the White & Black Eagle
4:45-5:15pm Class Room – Wrap-up
5:20pm 32° Master of the Royal Secret
6:00pm Closing Ceremony
Launch of the monthly Missouri Scottish Rite e-News
We are excited to announce the launch of the Missouri Scottish Rite e-News!
This dynamic monthly newsletter is dedicated to sharing the Goodness of Freemasonry – committed to inspiring Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth – and driven by the stories and experiences of each of the five great Scottish Rite Valleys of the Orient of Missouri.
You can view the current issue by visiting https://mailchi.mp/0c0a78608070/missouri-scottish-rite-march-2018-e-news.

Missouri Scottish Rite eNews – March 2018