Commander Glattly Announces Retirement

by David A. Glattly, 33˚, Past Sovereign Grand Commander

Dear Scottish Rite Brothers,

I want you to know that, at our Supreme Council Session in Cleveland, Monica and I announced our retirement as the Sovereign Grand Commander and the First Lady of Scottish Rite in the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. I know this is earlier than planned, as we are just completing our fourth year.

As we began our journey in 2017, we promised to give our effort of 100% for the NMJ, and we did that. In 2019, we spent 190 hotel nights on the road, and we enjoyed it. I’m not complaining, as we knew what we signed up for and we gave our effort. In 2020, we started out as a ball of fire, with our Deputies Retreat, our Arizona visit, the Conference of Grand Masters, the George Washington birthday celebration in Alexandria, and our month-long visit to our brothers in Florida. Then a thing called COVID hit and cut short our Florida visit.

As with mostly everyone, our travels ended, but our focus became launching our social media campaign, starting with Thursday Night at the Rite and with our Virtual Reunions. We worked locally to present our Scottish Rite, NMJ, to the Jurisdiction and the world through our social media. Thanks to our amazing staff, we were able to keep the NMJ very much alive through the COVID restrictions.

When 2021 began, Monica and I were energized and ready to hit the road as restrictions lifted. Early on, we were faced with health issues that slowed us down and drew our attention to the issues at hand. It made us think about the vulnerability of life, and what is most important. We did our best to re-energize and looked toward our busy schedule in the fall. But another health issue faced us. With this, and our concern about ourselves for the future, the need to slow down made sense to us. Thus, the personal decision to retire and enjoy a slower pace in life.

We will miss seeing so many of you on a regular basis and our enjoyable visits to the many Valleys. You have been very kind to us and we loved expanding our friendships throughout the Rite! Please pardon us as we step aside from our duties.

I am very proud of where we have helped lead our NMJ in the past four years! We have accomplished so much, with our staff and volunteers, to become an outstanding Masonic organization that has become the talk of the town. Each of you has been an important part of our success and of our future. Please continue to charge ahead and pick up the torch to lead us to greater goals!

I wish my close friend and successor, Illustrious Pete Samiec, the very best for his term! Pete brings great skill and leadership to the NMJ and is the right man to take over as our Sovereign Grand Commander. Please support Pete as you did me, and our Scottish Rite will grow to greater heights.

Monica and I will still be around, taking a back seat, but rooting you all on to enrich and strengthen our beloved Scottish Rite!

Best fraternal regards,

David A. Glattly, 33° Past Sovereign Grand Commander