Valley Resources

VALLEY RESOURCES Valley Road Showby Michael A. Himes, 33°, Secretary, Valley of Cincinnati

The Rite on the Road kit was unveiled earlier this year to make it easier for Valleys to bring the Scottish Rite experience to members and potential members closer to their homes. While this kit is new to many of us, the Valley of Cincinnati has been using the concept with great success for many years. Here’s their take on it.

Since October 2011, the Valley of Cincinnati has participated in almost 50 events outside of its normal quarters at the Cincinnati Masonic Center. They include fellowship experiences, Valley of Cincinnati degree events, and degree days where they shared the duties with other Valleys.

These events required an immense amount of planning, and some, like the visit to Pittsburgh in 2018, required an overnight stay and chartering a bus. Even events in neighboring Valleys usually necessitated renting a van or truck to transport paraphernalia, robing, and music committee

members to assist the cast in presenting degrees that would be inspiring to our candidates and members.

The Valley has utilized the 4° video several times during recent years. We always traveled with our own projecting and sound equipment in case the venue did not have what was needed.

While the effort is sometimes great, the results far outweighed the work involved.

While the effort is sometimes great, the results far outweighed the work involved. Many members cannot travel to our downtown location and the road events afford them a chance to witness old and new degrees as well as share in the camaraderie that is the hallmark of our great institution. Several members have thanked the Valley leadership for bringing the degrees to them and allowing them to feel a part of the Scottish Rite.

Rite on the Road allows us to spread the word about Scottish Rite in person rather than just electronically or on the printed page. While technology is useful in communicating our core values, personal contact is still essential to keep old members and recruit new Scottish Rite Masons.

Rite on the Road is great for our officers and members. You will not regret the time and effort spent on spreading the light of our great fraternity.