Masonic Life Network

The Grand Lodge of Masons in California continues to be a primary supporter of a free, public education for all children. Since 1920 in April, Masons throughout California, through a variety of programs, celebrate the accomplishments of those in public education. The evening of April 24, 2012 brethren and guests gathered at Temescal Palms Lodge #314 in Corona to honor the accomplishments of seven exemplary students, four teachers-of-the-year, and six exemplary adult employees of the Corona-Norco Unified School District. One student from each of the seven comprehensive and alternative high schools was presented their awards and $100 to use to further their education, while the adult honorees received awards recognizing their accomplishments as well. Worshipful Master Robert Burger, with the assistance of Public Schools Observance chairman Dennis J. Brandt, Corona Mayor Eugene Montanez, a representative from the offices of Congressman Ken Calvert and County Supervisor John Tavalgione, presented each honoree proclamations citing their efforts on behalf of each child and adult who work tirelessly in their effort to succeed. Among the guests present were Corona City Councilman Jason Scott, CNUSD School Board members Cathy Sciortino and Dr. Jose Lalas, Grand Lodge Assistant Grand Lecturer Worshipful Frank Lee, and Masters and brethren from the 822^nd Masonic District. During the program the guests were treated to a video presentation of the Grand Lodge Philanthropy for 2012 which Grand Lodge Division 8 has entitled “Operation Literacy”. This program is an effort to raise awareness of the need to support the improvement of child literacy in Kindergarten classrooms in underperforming areas throughout California. Through the efforts of the Grand Lodge of California, Division 8, and their partner “Raising a Reader”, the goal is to increase childhood literacy and give each child and their parents the tools to be successful. The evening closed with a special award presented to Dr. Kent Bechler, Superintendent of the CNUSD, for his exemplary leadership that has vaulted the Corona-Norco Unified School District to state and national prominence. Dr. Bechler will retire at the end of this school year to pursue other educational opportunities. The evening ended with refreshments and fellowship in the Social Hall.

Dennis Brandt

PSAC Committee Member

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 that represented our Division were, Frank Lee AGL of Division 8, Russ Baldauf Inspector of District #826, John Channon Inspector of District #822, Aaron Faibanks Master of Hemet Lodge #615, Luther Woods Master of Palm Springs Lodge #693 and the IEPSAC committee members. Candler Gibson, from the Grand Lodge Philanthropy office and Russell E. Charvonia, Junior Grand Warden who spoke on behalf of the Grand Lodge of California.  Jessica Leon, Past Worthy Advisor from Foothills of Heaven Assembly, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls was in attendance from our youth groups.

Many of the visitors that were present were treated to tours of the school’s new library and the campus, which were lead by pairs of 5^th grade students.  During the program Russ Charvonia introduced three students from our Division, that will be receiving Investment in Success Scholarship, that are four year scholarships that are for $7,000.00 each.  Students that received the scholarships were Jamie Back, San Jacinto High School, Celeste De Los Santos, Perris High School and Kristoffer LaMantain, La Sierra High School.   He also presented the principal with a larger than life check, in the amount of $66,000.00, which represented the monetary commitment Grand Lodge has for the Inland Empire in scholarships and funding “Raising A Reader” in fifteen classrooms.

Congratulations to the scholarship recipients and the IEPSAC committee for a tremendous experience at the school.  The Division sends its sincere thanks Candler Gibson and Russ Charvonia for representing Grand Lodge at this important event. This was a fantastic start of our partnership for “Raising A Reader” this year.

A partnership between the Masons of California and San Jacinto Unified School District is bringing a family-based reading program to San Jacinto Elementary kindergarteners next school year.

It is part of the fraternal organization’s more than $750,000 public education commitment statewide announced on Thursday to targeted programs, like Raise A Reader in San Jacinto, and high school scholarships. The event also celebrated Public Schools Month.

On a school level, it shows parents another commitment to helping even the youngest child to learn to read. Jasmin Verduzco, a mother of five who has three children at the school, said the new program contributes “to start to bring the culture of reading to kindergarten” and brings quality time to parents and their children.

“This is going to bring families much closer together,” said Patricia Chun, who has two children, including a second-grader at the San Jacinto Elementary.

What is this a snippet of? I will tell you…The Press Enterprise has published an article about the recent Raising a Reader activities in the Inland Empire!

You can view the entire article by clicking here

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 5^th 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 1^st to 5^th 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 5^th grader.  Many school officials were present, including the principal of the school, Wendy Brown, the president of the board of education, John Norman, the school board superintendent Dr. Shari Fox and 3 other board members.

The Junior Grand Warden, Russell Charvonia, was on hand to make the presentations on behalf of the Grand Lodge of California.  The Grand Lodge presented three “Investment in Success Scholarships” to three local high school students.  These scholarships are renewable 4 year scholarships, with grants of $1,000.00 for the first two years and $2,500.00 for the third and fourth years.  He also explained the “Raising A Reader” program that will begin in September as SJE and showed the “Raising A Reader” red and blue bags, the DVD and some of the books that will be given to the children.  The last presentation was a larger than life check, for $66,000.00 to the San Jacinto Unified School District, which represents the Grand Lodge commitment to the schools in this district for the next year.

All of those in attendance, which also include many parents, members of Lodges in the Division and members of the youth groups, were treated to performances by the SJE kindergarten students. The morning concluded with refreshments on the library’s new outdoor reading patio.

Frank Lee – AGL Division 8

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.