S.R. Masonic Leadership Conference

Brethren,

The Scottish Rite Bodies of New Mexico are sponsoring a Masonic Leadership Conference and Workshop in the month of July entitled "If It's Going To Be, It's Up To Me", a look into Masonic Leadership and how we can affect positive leadership to help grow Freemasonry in New Mexico. We are proud to have Ill. Brother Robert Hannon (SGIG - Orient of AZ) as a the Program Moderator for this conference / workshop. Ill. Bro. Hannon is a renowned motivational speaker and he is a welcome part of this conference, providing us with his insight and experience for affecting positive leadership that will help foster growth of Masonry in New Mexico.

If you would like to attend this conference - then please RSVP with the Orient Membership Chairperson (Norm Ribble, 33° IGH) as soon as possible.

Conference specifics are listed below:

CONFERENCE DATES
July 22nd and 23rd, 2011 (Friday and Saturday)

LOCATION
Ballut Abyad Shrine Center
6600 Zuni Road SE, Albuquerque, NM 87109 (Map)

SCHEDULE
Fri. - 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm / Dinner at 6:00 pm
Sat. - 7:30 am to 4:00 pm / Lunch at 12:00 pm

CONFERENCE LEADERS
- Ill. Robert Hannon, 33°, SGIG, Orient of Arizona
- Ill. Tom E. Payne, 33°, SGIG, Orient of New Mexico
- MWB Bobby Arther, Grand Master of Masons in NM

INTENDED AUDIENCE
- Elected Officers of the NM Grand Lodge
- Ballut Abyad Shrine Elected Divan
- Scottish Rite Advisers and Ambassadors
- Grand York Rite Officers
- Grand Lodge Officers (PHA)
- Lodge Masters and Wardens
- Grand Chapter Officers (OES)

LODGING
Sleep Inn (Albuquerque Airport)
2300 International Avenue SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106 (Map)
(505) 244-3325
Rate: $50.00 plus tax (King) / $55.00 (Double Beds)
Code: S.R. Leadership Conference

RV'S / TRAILERS
The Shrine has (5) Five 50 amp hook-ups available for use, and there is space for (25) twenty-five additional rigs for dry campers

Hope to see you at the S.R. Masonic Leadership Conference in July!

Father's Day!

Did you Know?

Father's Day, in the United States, is a holiday (third Sunday in June) to honor fathers. Credit for originating the holiday is generally given to Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, whose father, a Civil War veteran, raised her and her five siblings after their mother died in childbirth. She is said to have had the idea in 1909 while listening to a sermon on Mother's Day, which at the time was becoming established as a holiday. Local religious leaders supported the idea, and the first Father's Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, the month of the birthday of Dodd's father. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge gave his support to the observance, and in 1966 President Lyndon B. Johnson officially proclaimed it a national holiday. Observance on the third Sunday of June was decreed by law in 1972.

Although it was originally largely a religious holiday, Father's Day has been commercialized with the sending of greeting cards and the giving of gifts. Some observe the custom of wearing a red rose to indicate that one's father is living or a white rose to indicate that he is deceased. Other males—for example, grandfathers or uncles who have assumed parenting roles—are often also honoured on the day. Some Roman Catholics have continued to observe the feast day of Saint Joseph, on March 19, as a tribute to fathers.

Reference: http://www.history.com/topics/fathers-day

Flag Day!

Did you know?

The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America's birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as 'Flag Birthday'.

In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as 'Flag Birthday', or 'Flag Day'.

Reference: http://www.usflag.org/flag.day.html