GRAND COMMANDER's MESSAGE for OCTOBER
Sir Knights,
News Flash!! News Flash!!
With the Blue Lodges raising all the new young Master Masons, they will be looking for something new to fulfill their lives - and guess what! We have what they will be looking for: York Rite Masonry. We can share the light that we have with them.
The Bible says, "Knock and the door will be opened to you; Seek and you will find; Ask and it will be given unto you." If we don't seek them out and share the light we have found, it won't be their loss, but ours.
Therefore, talk to them about York Rite Masonry. Tell them about what you have learned - the True Word. Let them know about what our Chapters, Councils and Commanderies have to give them.
We need to make sure that our future is secure and this is the time to let our light shine. Impress upon them that we become Masons in our hearts first, then in our minds.
Let them know about Royal Arch Research Assistance, Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation and the Knights Templar Eye Foundation.
Remind them about the obligation they took at the altar of Freemasonry; our Excellent Tenets - Friendship, Morality and Brotherly Love. Explain to them that the York Rite is the Christian arm of Masonry and that they have the choice to go on and continue to learn more about the true meaning of Freemasonry.
In my travels this year, I have met and welcomed many new York Rite Masons. To my surprise, they have asked what the name of the chair is they were occupying and what are their duties. To say the least, I was shocked and caught off guard, but I recovered fast and tried to explain it all to them.
We have an obligation to make sure that new members receive the training they are entitled to, as well as an explanation of the duties of each office. Knowledge is the key to good, strong York Rite Masonry. I'm proud to be a York Rite Mason and doubly proud to be your representative as Grand Commander in our great state of Oregon.
It is not about what I or the rest of the Grand Officers do or say, but WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU DO IT; so, let your light shine. Step out and be proud of what you do and how you do it. We are the Oregon York Rite and that is what we should be shouting from the highest mountains and into the deepest valleys. KEEP THE FAITH!
Courteously,
Rynd S. Miller Jr., Grand Commander
Knights Templar Eye Foundation

BANG! We are off and running. The 40th Voluntary Campaign is now under way. We are going to be faced with several serious challenges this year. Last year's campaign placed the State of Oregon as number one in the nation for donations turned in. This will not be easy to do again, but we will definitely give it our best effort.
Any Sir Knight or Commandery having ideas of how we can repeat this achievement is encouraged to get in contact with me. Remember, there are no bad ideas, but rather ideas or methods that have not been tried before.
Last year we were able to help nine people in the State of Oregon preserve their eyesight - at a cost of $33,817. We can help even more next year by getting the word out, in our communities, of the help available through KTEF. We can do this by contacting Ophthalmologists in our own areas. This can easily be done by taking a blank application in to them with the name of a Sir Knight to contact, as well as a phone number. If you do not have the forms, I will gladly supply them. Please help us to help those in need.
Courteously,
Sir Knight Jerry C. Thompson
KTEF State Chairman
(503) 286-4144.