One resolution that will be presented at the upcoming Grand Commandery Conclave is available for download from the Florida Grand York Rite web site. This resolution is available in the “Forms & Files” page under the “2010 Convention” section.
The February, 2010 issue of “Rite Notes,” the Membership Development newsletter for the Grand Commandery of Florida is available for download from our web site as a PDF, or, you can view it online.
WHEREAS, The Chief Executive functions of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Florida reside in the Right Eminent Grand Commander under Chapter 6.01 of the Laws and Regulations of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Florida, I do hereby direct the “Training Manuals” Committee, i.e. the Knight Templar Leadership Manual Committee, to coordinate with our webmaster, Sir Knight Ronald Blaisdell, Eminent Grand Warder, and upload the Knights Templar Leadership Manual into a secured link from which the entire manual may be downloaded and printed by authorized users by receiving the link and password from the REGC, until such time as that duty becomes delegated. Individual revisions and forms (including the Manual Revision Log Form) will be available on the York Rite website in the “Forms and Files” section under the heading Knight Templar Leadership Manual. Documents will remain in that file for two Chivalric years, and will then be purged. If the combined documents reach a volume greater than 10% of the Manual’s volume, the oldest will become purged until that maximum is no longer exceeded. The Master Revision Log will always remain available for viewing or downloading. Revisions will primarily be updates and improvements of existing forms. Tried and tested forms and procedures may be added to the Manual as long as the essence and basic content of the Manual remains unchanged.
This Executive Order issued on this 12 day of February, 2010.
The January, 2010 issue of “Rite Notes,” the Membership Development newsletter for the Grand Commandery of Florida is available for download from our web site as a PDF, or, you can view it online.
“The Temple of Solomon” Masonic Education Newsletter by the Education Committee of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Florida has issued a three-part series on the “Chamber of Reflection.”
The December, 2009 issue of “Rite Notes,” the Membership Development newsletter for the Grand Commandery of Florida is available for download from our web site as a PDF, or, you can view it online.
The 2009 Christmas Observance information for the Commanderies of the Grand Commandery of Florida is now available for download from the Forms and Files page under the Grand Commandery section.
Please use these materials for your Christmas Observances. We wish for all a most pleasant, peaceful, and prosperous Holiday Season.
I have received an alert from S.K. Richard Foreman, E. Grand Treasurer, who says the Holy Land Pilgrimage checks should be made payable to the “Grand Commandery of Florida” with Holy Land Pilgrimage Fund entered on the “remittance advice (memo)” line.
I want to take this opportunity to add my personal thanks to all of you that have donated to the Holy Land Pilgrimage Fund.
The November, 2009 issue of “Rite Notes,” the Membership Development newsletter for the Grand Commandery of Florida is available for download from our web site as a PDF, or, you can view it online.
The September, 2009 issue of “Rite Notes,” the Membership Development newsletter for the Grand Commandery of Florida is available for download from our web site as a PDF, or, you can view it online.
The August, 2009 issue of “Rite Notes,” the Membership Development newsletter for the Grand Commandery of Florida is available for download from our web site as a PDF, or, you can view it online.
The August, 2009 issue of “The Temple of Solomon,” the Templar Education newsletter for the Grand Commandery of Florida is available for download from the Grand York Rite web site, or, you may read it online.
WHEREAS, The Chief Executive functions of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Florida reside in the Right Eminent Grand Commander under Chapter 6.01 of the Laws and Regulations of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Florida, I do hereby direct the York Rite Templar University Committee (Templar University) to take action in conjunction with The Knight Templar Education and Leadership Committee and the York Rite Webmaster, and begin the incremental process of uploading the classroom teachings offered by the York Rite Templar University, so that the feasibility of this system which includes on-line teaching and a physical manual, may be compared to the present model which will currently remain unchanged and unaffected, for the purpose of eliminating the time and expense currently required of all students, instructors and participants, in the form of travel, room, board and classroom costs, and thereby take steps to increase the number of students who are willing and able to enhance their leadership skills by attending York Rite Templar University.
This Executive Order issued on this first day of August, 2009.
In addition to the many religious observances throughout the year, the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar sponsors an annual “Holy Land Pilgrimage.” The purpose of the pilgrimage is to send a Christian Minister to The Holy Land.
Donations are needed for the Holy Land Pilgrimage Program. Last year, we have had the honor of sending three ministers to the Holy Land. It was a great success. However, our funds for the program are now depleted. At this point we are in the red. Therefore, I’m asking each commandery to donate $50 or $75 so that we will be able to send a minister to the Holy Land this year.
The Holy Land Pilgrimage is one of our important charities; it is a non-budget item. Only through donations can we make it possible to continue this valuable endeavor.
Send your donations to the Grand Secretary’s office and make checks payable to the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Florida. Be sure to make a notation on the check for the Holy Land Pilgrimage.
Courteously and Fraternally,
S.K. Charles Chic Cicero, V.E.D.G.C., K.T.C.H.
S.K. David A. Aponte, E.G.G.
Rev. Daniel Williams, E.G.P.
The July, 2009 issue of “Rite Notes,” the Membership Development newsletter for the Grand Commandery of Florida is available for download from our web site as a PDF, or, you can view it online.
The July, 2009 issue of “The Temple of Solomon,” the Templar Education newsletter for the Grand Commandery of Florida is available for download from the Grand York Rite web site, or, you may read it online.
The June, 2009 issue of “Rite Notes,” the Membership Development newsletter for the Grand Commandery of Florida is available for download from our web site as a PDF, or, you can view it online.
The May, 2009 issue of “Rite Notes,” the Membership Development newsletter for the Grand Commandery of Florida is available for download from our web site as a PDF, or, you can view it online.
The Right Eminent Grand Commander, Sir Knight Ideal Baldoni II, and the members of your Knights Templar Education and Leadership Committee send you their fraternal greetings.
We are happy to announce a new tool for your Templary Education. Beginning on a monthly basis, we will send each Commandery a newsletter on a specific educational topic. We only request that a Sir Knight or a different Sir Knight each month be responsible for its reading and discussion. We hope this will aid and assist your Commandery with its education.
If your Commandery would like to recommend topics they would like to see in future issues, please contact or e-mail a member of the Committee:
S. K. David A. Aponte, E.G.G. – daponte1@tampabay.rr.com (352) 503-3030
S. K. Charles “Chic” Cicero, Deputy G.C. – ciceros@tampabay.rr.com (727) 372-1320
Details on the upcoming meeting for the Grand Chapter and Grand Commandery in District 4 on Tuesday June 9th in Lakeland, can be found on the District Meeting page.
Several Sir Knights from Damascus Commandery No. 2, Knights Templar in Jacksonville joined Masonic Brothers from Ribault Lodge No. 272, their families and hundreds of other worshipers at the annual outdoor Easter Sunrise Service at Jacksonville Beach on Sunday, April 12, 2009.
The Brothers from Ribault Lodge with assistance from the DeMolay, Rainbow, the Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts and their leaders provided hot coffee and donuts to the residents and visitors arriving as early as 45 minutes ahead of the 6:30 A.M. start time to get a place and listen to the music. It was an ecumenical service conducted jointly by the Ponte Vedra United Methodist Church, Community Presbyterian Church, St. Paul’s Catholic Church, and Sunrise Worship Center of Jacksonville Beach, through the Beaches Ministerial Association.
Eight stalwart Sir Knights in uniform assisted other ushers in handing out programs and taking up the offertory collection. Following the beautiful service as the sun rose over the beach, many gathered at Ribault Lodge just five or six blocks away for breakfast.
Pictured here were six Sir Knights assembled before the service began. Shown, left to right, were Corey D. Kosciuszko, Sentinel, Damascus Commandery No. 2; Corbin P. Elliott, KYCH, KCT, DDGC District 7, Grand Commandery of Florida; Samuel D. Hope, Commander, Damascus Commandery No. 2; C. Robert Cooper, PC, PDDGC, DDI, Grand Commandery of Florida; Lewis E. Duffey, Generalissimo, Damascus Commandery No. 2; and Leland E. Stanford, III, PC, PDDGC, Grand Commandery, K.T. of Florida.
Other Sir Knights present in uniform, but not pictured here were William H. McClean, PC, Prelate of Damascus Commandery No. 2, and S.K. Dwight Hambosky.
The April, 2009 issue of “Rite Notes,” the Membership Development newsletter for the Grand Commandery of Florida is available for download from our web site as a PDF, or, you can view it online.
The Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Florida installed their officers for 2009-2010 on Monday, April 6th.
Sir Knight Ideal Baldoni was elected and installed as Right Eminent Grand Commander, Sir Knight Charles “Chic” Cicero was elected and installed as Very Eminent Deputy Grand Commandery, Sir Knight David Aponte was elected and installed Eminent Grand Generalissimo, and Sir Knight Arthur “AJ” LaRose was elected and installed as Eminent Grand Captain General. Sir Knights Richard Foreman and Steve Steele were elected to succeed themselves as Eminent Grand Treasurer and Recorder, respectfully.
The March, 2009 issue of “Rite Notes,” the Membership Development newsletter for the Grand Commandery of Florida is available for download from our web site as a PDF, or, you can view it online.
The February, 2009 issue of “Rite Notes,” the Membership Development newsletter for the Grand Commandery of Florida is available for download from our web site as a PDF, or, you can view it online.
An information packet on the 64th Grand Encampment Triennial, to be held August 15 – 19, 2009 in Roanoke, Virginia, is now available for download from the Grand Encampment web site.
The January, 2009 issue of “Rite Notes,” the Membership Development newsletter for the Grand Commandery of Florida is available for download from our web site as a PDF, or, you can view it online.
Grand York Rite Office Grand Secretary/Recorder Steven Q. Steele PO Box 2740 Lake Placid, FL 33862-2740 Phone (863) 465-0301 Fax (866) 248-5129 gyr@flgyr.org