JANUARY 2012

Kentucky DeMolay’s Fall Conclave was held on October 14-16, 2011, in Louisville, Kentucky. 

The Fall Conclave was conducted under the leadership of 2010-2011 State Master Councilor Andrew Johnston.  It was our pleasure to have Michael Burge, Russell Gillespie, Nick Baldwin, Sam Reese, Josh Hartz, Colin Winkie and Mason Winkie, our brothers from West Virginia, in attendance.  Dads Sappington, Personal Representative for the Grand Master and Dad Haas were also in attendance.  These guys are like family to Kentucky DeMolay and we’re always delighted to have them join our conclaves. 

On Friday evening the DeMolays held committee meetings and later we all went over to Strike and Spare for the bowling competition. 

On Saturday, the DeMolays had the opportunity to attend an acting workshop taught by William Montgomery and Lucas Frazier of River Cities Chapter and some were able to squeeze in some swimming at the hotel.  After lunch we all gathered at the George Rogers Clark Park for an afternoon of flag football.  We then gathered at St. Stephen Martyr Church for their chili supper and raffle to support their Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraiser.  Kentucky DeMolay presented a check to St. Stephen Martyr Church in the amount of $550.00. It was a wonderful meal and some of our conclave participants won some of the fine items from the church raffle.

St. Stephen Martyr Church	George Rogers Clark Park
Making Strides Against Breast	DeMolay Flag Football
Cancer Fundraiser

On Saturday evening, four new candidates joined DeMolay.  They are: Andrew Brett Brooks of Central City and will be a Kentucky at-large member, Barrad Nichols Gurwell of Prospect, Kentucky, Christopher Scott Weaver, of Louisville, Kentucky, both will be joining Gold Fidelity Chapter and Tyler Blake Stovall of Louisville, Kentucky who will become a member of Cherokee Chapter.  Later that night a dance was held and we were honored to have several Rainbow Assemblies in attendance along with our Sorority President, Miranda Elbert.  The C. Frye Haley Memorial Priory, Order of Knighthood, had an investiture and meeting. 

The awards for the ritual and athletic competitions were presented on Sunday morning.  The Junior Councilor, Junior Division champion was Chris Lile of Cherokee Chapter and the Senior Division champion was Josh Starnes of Bluegrass Chapter.  The Senior Councilor Senior Division champion was Brandon Crisp of Cherokee Chapter.  The DeMolay Degree Senior Division champion was Lucas Frazier of River Cities Chapter and the Junior Division was Zane Hamilton of Bluegrass Chapter.  The Initiatory Degree Senior Division Champion was Brennan Bevins of Noah R. Friend Chapter and the Mag 7 Champion was Alex Sottile of Bluegrass Chapter.  Dad Josh Casey was appointed the new Ritual Coordinator for Kentucky DeMolay.  Thanks Dad Casey for agreeing to serve.

The sports competition champions are as follows: Bowling – High Game and High Series champion was Josh Starnes and the team from Bluegrass Chapter won the team bowling competition.  It was a beautiful day for football and the football champion was a composite team including: Valley of the Cumberlands, West Virginia and Noah R. Friend Chapters. 

The Fall conclave was a huge success with an increase in attendance over last year’s Fall conclave, four new members joining DeMolay and great brotherhood shared with West Virginia DeMolay.

JULY 2011

Kentucky DeMolay’s Summer Conclave was held on July 14-17, 2011, at the 4-H Education Center in Nancy, Kentucky, affectionately called Jabez by those in attendance.

Representatives from virtually every Masonic fraternal body and Masonic sponsored youth group attended the Grand Banquet. Andrew Johnston of Bluegrass Chapter in Lexington is the new 2011-2012 State Master Councilor of Kentucky DeMolay.

The remaining State Officers are: Deputy State Master Councilor Joshua Justice; State Senior Councilor Harry Song; State Junior Councilor Josh Starnes; State Senior Deacon Christopher Lile; State Junior Deacon Hansen Song; State Senior Steward Jeremiah Crum; State Junior Steward Justin Crisp; State Orator Chandler Brennan; State Scribe Cody Stevens; State Chaplain Tanner Stevens; State Marshal Brandon Crisp; 1st Preceptor Michael Lile; 2nd Preceptor Joe Deskin; 3rd Preceptor William Montgomery; 4th Preceptor Alex Johnston; 5th Preceptor Austin Yates; 6th Preceptor Brody Allen; 7th Preceptor Robert Nolan III and Parliamentarian Jimmy Bowling.

The C. Frye Haley Memorial Priory met and installed Brother Cody Stevens as Illustrious Knight Commander and his corp. of officers. Two events have already been planned by Sir Knight Stevens; they are: the Ebon Degree which will be held at the Scottish Rite Temple in Louisville and a Priory Camping Retreat.

Miss Miranda Elbert of the Kentucky DeMolay Sorority is the new Sorority President. The Kentucky DeMolay Sorority participated in the DeMolay Quiz Bowl, a baking competition and the Volleyball Tournament. The young ladies attended the Grand Ball on Saturday evening. Mom Robin Crisp provided an afternoon of crafts and the sorority made table favors for the banquet. Cheryl Crum was the winner of the baking competition with her Crunchy Caramel Apple Pie Recipe. The judges agreed that this was their favorite competition of the weekend.

The Annual Conclave was conducted under the leadership of 2010-2011 State Master Councilor Jimmy Bowling. It was our privilege to have Dad Robert K. Tutt, Executive Officer Emeritus, Roger Barnett, Deputy of the Supreme Council for the Orient of Kentucky, Scottish Rite in Kentucky, and Dad Patton R. Hart, Past Grand Master of DeMolay International in attendance.

We were delighted also to have out of town guests as follows: Dad Robert Taylor, EO of West Virginia DeMolay, and Dad Keith Klein, Past Grand Master of DeMolay International, Brother Nathan Bryant, State Master Councilor of Indiana, Gregory A. Chiles, Grand Senior Councilor of DeMolay International, Brother Michael Burge, DeMolay International Congress Secretary, Macaleb Rose and Matthew Rose, Tennessee’s State Master Councilor and Deputy State Master Councilor and their parents in attendance. Dads Keith Klein and Greg Chiles gave some very helpful tips for ritual presentation during the Congress session.

The events of the Honor's Evening included: the Representative DeMolay award being presented to Harry Song and Joshua Starnes of Bluegrass Chapter, Chris Lile, Michael Lile and Jacob Boeschel of Cherokee Chapter and William Montgomery, Joe Deskin, Robbie Nolan, Mason Bryant and Brody Allen of River Cities Chapter; the Cross of Honor, the Highest Honor for three or more years of dedicated service on an advisory council, being presented to Dad GR Hamm; the Degree of Chevalier, the highest honor accorded to a DeMolay, being presented to James E. Bowling, Eric Venturino, John Harold Tutt, Dad Byron Shawn Warren and George Arledge; The Honorary Legion of Honor, the highest honor conferred upon a Mason over 30 years of age who has performed unusual and meritorious service on behalf of DeMolay was presented to as presented to William F. Lile, Donald Yankey and Terry L. Bowman. The Active Legion of Honor was presented to Dad Jerry Johnston.

Named DeMolay of the Year was Brother Brandon Crisp of Cherokee Chapter and the Advisor of the Year was Dad GR Hamm of River Cities Chapter.

Numerous ritual and athletic competitions were held, with awards being presented at Sunday morning's brunch. Ritual competitions were:

Master Councilor 4th Section – winner Tanner Stevens; Flower Talk – winner Mason Foster; and River Cities Chapter’s team won the Chapter Proficiency competition. The Senior and Junior division champions were:

Senior Division
Chaplain – Joe Deskin of River Cities Chapter
Senior Deacon – Robert Nolan of River Cities Chapter
Marshal – Brandon Crisp of Cherokee Chapter
1st Preceptor – Cody Stevens of Cherokee Chapter
2nd Preceptor – Cody Stevens of Cherokee Chapter
3rd Preceptor – Mason Foster of Cherokee Chapter
4th Preceptor – Hansen Song of Bluegrass Chapter
5th Preceptor – Casey Fitzpatrick of River Cities Chapter
6th Preceptor – Cody Stevens of Cherokee Chapter
7th Preceptor – Harry Song of Bluegrass Chapter

Junior Division
Chaplain – Michael Lile of Cherokee Chapter
Senior Deacon – William Lile of Cherokee Chapter
Marshall – Mason Bryant of River Cities Chapter
1st Preceptor – William Lile of Cherokee Chapter
2nd Preceptor – Jacob Boeschel of Cherokee Chapter
3rd Preceptor – Jerry Crum of River Cities Chapter
4th Preceptor – Jerry Crum of River Cities Chapter
5th Preceptor – Chandler Brennan of Bluegrass Chapter
6th Preceptor – Jerry Crum of River Cities Chapter
7th Preceptor – Michael Lile of Cherokee Chapter

The All-Around Athletic Chapter of the Year was Bluegrass Chapter. The State Softball Tournament was won by a composite team of: Justin Crisp, Michael Lile, Mason Foster, Alex Sottile, Michael Adler, Harry Song, Jerry Crum, Robbie Nolan, and Michael McQueary. The Volleyball Tournament was won by a composite team of D’Andre Thompson, Josh Hensley, Michael Adler, Sammy Matz, Scott Puckett, Draven Sims, Daniel Shumate and Gage Hodge; the 3 on 3 Senior Division Basketball Tournament was won by D’Andre Thompson, Josh Hensley and Michael Adler; and the 3 on 3 Junior Division was won by Daniel Shumate, Draven Sims and Patrick Elbert; the Hoop Shoot and Free Throw winner was: D’Andre Thompson.

Our Grand Banquet was attended by 152 people, including Most Worshipful Brothers of the Grand Lodge as follows: Donald H. Yankey, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, Terry L. Bowman, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, Mike Miller, Grand Tiler, Tom Larimore, Grand Treasurer, and Joe Conway, Grand Secretary. We were overwhelmed by the show of support by the Grand Lodge officers. Donald Yankey and Terry Bowman spent two days at Conclave and we appreciated the time they dedicated in support of DeMolay. The Kentucky DeMolay Foundation awarded the $1,500 Scholarship to Brother Cody Stevens and the $1,000 Scholarships to Brother Andrew Johnston and Brother Shawn Marcum, which were presented by Grand Treasurer Tom Larimore. The Scholarships were matched by the Masonic Homes of Kentucky, Inc.

Dad Danny Coffey; Executive Officer; Dad Greg Coffey, Assistant Executive Officer, and the jurisdictional staff Kentucky DeMolay were present to assist the DeMolays in making this Annual Conclave one to remember. Their enthusiasm and hard work represent the glue that keeps programs intact, as well as the sustenance that leads to growth and development of Kentucky DeMolay.