Masonic Life Network

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 Scores Increases Productivity

It has recently been documented that improvement in literacy scores demonstratively increases productivity.  The Grand Master’s Project “Raising A Reader” is worthwhile because it will help our underprivileged children make that quantum leap from their present futility to a successful future in life’s achievements.

Division8masons.com

Division VIII Masons have raised the bar every year in sponsoring programs that partner with the Grand Masters’ projects – all of them very worthwhile.  All Masons get involved because this is what Masons do!

Division VIII Masons want you and all Masons to join us in making Operation Literacy a success.  We are working hard but it will only be a success if you join us – boots, shoes, and saddle!  The real success is when our kids have the books and their mentors’ interest achieved in Raising A Reader.

Hello Everyone! Have you ever wondered what that "G+" logo was all around our site? Well today I figured I would write a short article explaining what it is and what it does…

That logo you see belongs to a system that Google has implemented called "Google+1." This system allows the general public to rate and recommend sites as relavant and reputable thus worthy of a higher search engine ranking. Basically a public rating system of websites.

So what does this mean for us at Division8Masons.com? Well basically it means every time a viewer like you recommends our site we get a little nudge on our search engine placement. As a hypothetical example: Someone decided to search for "Masonic News." Google was going to place us as the 11th listing because it found a bunch of sites talking about brick and stone masonry. However because 30 people recommended us we got place on the first page of the results at listing number 5 which in turn allowed more people to find and view the site.

Why is this necessary? Well how many times have you searched for something and gotten results that have nothing to even do with the topic? It happens quite often and unfortunately is getting worse but why? Well there are many companies and people that specialize in driving search engine traffic to sites in order to make money. They dont necessarily care about if the person was interested in "socks" but got a website related to "car parts" because they got paid on the advertising from the person simply viewing the page. Furthermore it is also a numbers game because they know if they drive 1 million people to their site they will get around 100 deals or people interested in a product they are offering somewhere.

So in conclusion if you have some time and like what you see here. Please recommend us on Google+1 by clicking on one of the "G+" icons. It will help us get more viewers like you and thrive online.

 The D8 Today team interviewed several actors from the “Seniors on Stage”, which is presenting a Vegas style variety show for San Jacinto Lodge #338, and they expect to have over 200 in the attendance.   They met and interviewed “Larry the cable guy” who is portrayed by Jack Aten and several other actors and even met the Producer/ Director. Several other portrayals are scheduled to be on stage at this event, which will last about one and a half to two hours long.

All ticket proceeds will be donated to the Grand Master’s Project and will be presented to him at the Division 8’s program on June 20, 2012. The “Raising a Reader” program is designed to circulate children’s books to homes, engage families in shared reading of those books, and help thousands of children develop reading readiness skills.

Food will be available through the school’s P.T.A and the profits from the food go to helping their P.T.A. program.

This variety show promises to be funny and very entertaining for all ages. So please make plans to come out and support this worthwhile fundraiser for  “Raising-a-Reader. All donations are greatly appreciated and can be made through this web site.   For more information about this event, please check out the event calendar on the right hand side of this page. The D8 Today team hopes you enjoy this first interview with the Producer/ Director. Other interviews with some of the cast members will be posted on this web site in the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

Jim Ridley

Dear Worshipful Sir and Brothers all:

“No great or important undertaking … .”  Prayer undergirds all we do in Masonry. Every meeting opens and closes with an address to the Throne of Grace.

So it will be on June 20^th when Division 8 presents “Operation Raising a Reader,” Grand Master Loui’s project to enhance the reading skills of disadvantaged children.

Your Lodge is invited to write an opening and closing prayer for this important event. All the Lodges in the division are encouraged to participate and two will be selected from the submissions.

If a prayer is chosen from your Lodge, you or a designee will have the honor of giving it at the June 20^th event.

All submissions must be in the hands of the “Raising a Reader” committee by May 15^th.

You may e-mail your entry to Floyd Orr – frorr@aol.com, Jim Ridley –bbcakessr@aol.com, or Greg Covel – gcovel8@gmail.com

You will be notified by June 1^st, if a prayer from your Lodge is to be used.

Thank you for your consideration! Public education is a bulwark of a free society. “Operation Raising a Reader” is testimony that all masons in Division 8 support this fundamental ideal of democracy.

Fraternally and sincerely,

Floyd Orr

Committee Member “Raising a Reader”

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 strategies. Yes, he sells the vehicles all over the world and can ship them anywhere.

What really surprised me was that he can take vehicles that are in running condition or not. And he will take any vehicle with or without a title. What a    win-win situation for everybody involved with his transactions.

It is really easy to donate a vehicle to American Charities center. All you have to do is make one phone call to Joe Blanco at toll free 888-322-4483. He has operators on duty 24 hrs a day seven days a week to make it easy for you to donate.

You can also donate at AmericaCharityCenter.com  or  RVDonations.org

So if you have a vehicle and want to help Raising-A-Reader please contact us.

Jim Ridley

(951) 329-8854