April 18, 2012
The Inland Empire Public Schools Advisory Council (IEPSAC) in Division 8, presented a program to kickoff Public Schools Month in California, at San Jacinto Elementary School, in San Jacinto, California. The members of the IEPSAC are: Manny Blanco, Chair from Evergreen Lodge #259, Eric Bordner, San Bernardino Lodge #178, Dennis Brandt, Temescal Palms Lodge #314, Randy Freeman, San Diego Lodge #35, Jim Ridley, San Jacinto Lodge #338, Mike Sekera, Temecula Catalina Island Lodge No. 524 and Lee Whelan, Riverside Lodge #635. Many school officials, students, parents and members of our Masonic family were in attendance. Some of those…
April 13, 2012
The Inland Empire Public Schools Advisory Council presented their Public Schools Month Kickoff on April 12, 2012 at San Jacinto Elementary School (SJE), in San Jacinto, CA. The Masonic visitors were treated to tours around the school by students in the 5th grade. This included the schools new library, that was just dedicated in March of this year and a new computer lab that is used by the 1st to 5th graders on a weekly basis. The program began with the Pledge of Allegiance being led by a Kindergarten student and “America the Beautiful” being sung by a…
April 11, 2012
Operation Literacy Committee At Work Dave Hall, P.M. As the sun lowered in the west on the eve of last weekend, Div VIII committeemen sat at their laptops busily searching for photographs and icons that will convey the important message of our 2012 program Operation Literacy in partnering with the Grand Master’s project “Raising A Reader”. As some searched, others worked on articulative narrations for their various tableaus. Why? What is so important to the Masons of Division VIII that many willingly sacrifice their personal time to prepare a program for the Grand Master’s project? 1% Improvement In Literacy…
March 14, 2012
After meeting with Joe Blanco, the CEO of American Charities Center.com I realized what a great program this is. Joe Explained that after being in business for several years, he determined what he needed to do to separate his charity service from the others. The result is that he will take ANYTHING as a donated vehicle. He then re-furbishes the vehicle and sells it for top dollar for the charitable purpose. In this case of course it is for our Grand Masters project, Raising-a Reader. Joe utilizes e-commerce to sell the vehicles thus opening the world up for his marketing…
February 1, 2012
As everyone knows our project this year is Operation Literacy. I am VERY honored to be the chairman of Division 8 Operation Literacy program this year. When I first undertook this endeavor I did not realize the importance and urgency regarding illiteracy rate in the state of California. One of the great things that has happened is the fact that Division 8 can work hand in hand with the Grand Lodge Public Schools Advisory Council. Using both teams resources insures success of our project. California ranks close to the bottom of all 50 states regarding literacy. That itself is scary enough, but with the…
