GREETINGS, SIR KNIGHTS
Our 149th Annual Grand Conclave is in the history books. Now, the task of guiding this Grand Commandery for the next Templar Year is at hand. Our Full Staff meeting is scheduled for August 25th in Platteville. Future success will depend upon our “Plan of Action”; it forms our short range and long range goals. What ideas or goals do you have to offer? How can we, as Grand Officers aid your Commandery? We need to know in order to serve.
All efforts rise or fall on Leadership! On August 11th, at Janesville Masonic Center, there is an opportunity for you to improve your skills. Come to our “Leadership Development Seminar”. I urge you to attend. Here are a few “Demands of a Leader”.
(1) Vision: Successful leaders have a talent for seeing and creating the future. They seem to attain bigger goals because they create a collective mindset that propels people to help them make visions a reality. Leaders take the vision from “me” to “we.” They enlist others in a common vision by appealing to values, interests, hopes, and dreams. Teamwork makes dreams work!
(2) Challenging Experiences: By galvanizing people with a clear vision and strong values, the leaders challenge their teams to achieve significant goals. When others run from the challenge before them, leaders rise to the challenge before them. A leader´s value to others is to lead them through difficult challenges by providing hope and bestowing courage.
(3) Mentoring: The leaders who have a close relationship with their members and officers need an advisor. This often is someone who is their mentor. Relationships define who we are and what we become. Have the humility to learn from those around you. Identify people´s strengths and uniqueness and inquire about them. When learning is your passion and you value people, teachers will crop up all around you.
(4) Visualize Victory! Take the above steps and it will come!
Courteously yours,
Lawrence A. Catellier, Grand Commander
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149TH ANNUAL GRAND CONCLAVE OVERVIEW
The 149th Annual Grand Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Wisconsin reconvened at 9:00 A.M. on Friday, June 15, 2007, at the Regency Suites Convention Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Fourteen (14) Grand Officers, three (3) Grand Trustees and fourteen (14) Past Grand Commanders answered the roll call. One hundred four (104) voting delegates were present with twenty-five (25) constituent Commanderies being represented.
Distinguished guests were presented and received in due form. Sir Knight Franklin Boner, Right Eminent East Central Department Commander of Knights Templar of the United States of America, represented Sir Knight Richard B. Baldwin, Most Eminent Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of America. Other Wisconsin York Rite Grand Officers, dignitaries and representatives of other affiliated Masonic Bodies, both from in and out of state, were received and recognized.
The following actions were taken by the 149th Annual Grand Conclave: Budgets were adopted as presented for the Grand Commandery, the Wisconsin Knight Templar Foundation, Inc., and the Wisconsin Division of the Knight Templar Educational Foundation. An invitation was extended to all Sir Knights to attend the 150th Annual Grand Conclave to be held in Green Bay on June 13th & 14th, 2008. There was no increase in the per capita tax for Wisconsin Templars. The Sir Knights were reminded of the Grand Encampment per capita tax increase from $3.30 to $9.00.
All officers in the progressive line of the Grand Commandery were advanced appropriately at election time. The Grand Recorder and the Grand Treasurer were returned to their elected stations. Sir Knight Edward Mitchell, of Palestine Commandery No. 20, was elected to the station of Grand Warder. Sir Knight Michael Hunter, of Eau Claire Commandery No. 8, was elected to the station of Grand Sentinel. All Grand Officers were duly installed in their respective offices at the time of installation.
Sir Knight Harold Freid, of Eau Claire Commandery No. 8, received the Knights Templar Cross of Honor. Sir Knights Lauren Handeland and Robert Whisman were awarded the Knight Companion of the Temple. Sir Knight Milton Gregory was presented with Grand Recorder Emeritus status. Sir Knight Jack Hetcher was presented with Grand Prelate Emeritus status. Honorary memberships in the Grand Commandery of Wisconsin were awarded to those who, by Wisconsin custom, were entitled to receive them. Five constituent Commanderies fulfilled all the necessary requirements and were presented with the Grand Commanders Achievement Award.
Saturday morning, June 16th, Three (3) teams performed exhibition drills. Following the drills the combined Templars of the drill teams, with Colors of the attendant constituent Commanderies, were assembled at the reviewing stand for inspection. Grand Commander Fred Roycraft inspected the lines. All who participated in the exhibition drills are eligible to receive the Grand Commandery drill bars. All Commanderies who brought their American flags and their Beauceants to the Conclave will receive beauceant markers for their participation.
     After the drills and the inspection, newly elected and installed Grand Heads of the Wisconsin Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters and the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the State of Wisconsin were invested with the jewels of their office. Grand Commander Fred Roycraft then placed the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Wisconsin in recess.
Courteously submitted,
Lawrence A. Catellier, Grand Commander
Gary J. Parker, Grand Recorder