Valley of Savannah AASR

Birdie's Rite Care Story Birdie is a 6-year-old, 1st grade girl who lives in Valdosta, Georgia. She is tremendously artistic and loves to draw. She recently ent...ered a chalk competition where her picture of butterflies in the sunshine won 1st place in her age group. In addition to drawing, she likes doing almost anything outside and isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Birdie has also recently been diagnosed with dyslexia. She participates in a reading program at Valdosta State University that is being funded by the Scottish Rite Foundation of Georgia. Reading problems, such as dyslexia, affect approximately 20% of all Americans. Birdie, much like many children her age, struggled with learning the basics of the alphabet and the sounds that each of the letters make in kindergarten. When it came time to start reading single words, Birdie’s difficulties became more apparent. When the pandemic hit, the lost time in the classroom made it even harder for her to catch her reading abilities up to where they should have been. Birdie’s parents and teachers started to worry and the possibility of repeating the first grade was mentioned. That is when her parents discovered the reading program at Valdosta State University. She is very fortunate to be enrolled into the program because space is severely limited. Since she has been enrolled, her reading accuracy and reading fluency have increased tremendously. Birdie’s father, Jared, stated that Before, when we would read her sight words, she would almost come to tears because of how hard it was for her. After a month or so of the tutoring, she still has to work hard but she is making so much more progress and the work is starting to pay off. I can really tell the difference in her personality when it is time to do homework. The reading program at Valdosta State University began in late August and is fully funded by the Scottish-Rite Foundation of Georgia. Graduate students of speech-language pathology provide the tutoring services for those in the community, free-of-charge. Currently, the program is only capable of providing these services for 13 children; however, there are efforts to rapidly expand the program based upon the community’s need. Dr. Matt Carter, who is directing the program, stated that There is an enormous need for affordable tutoring services in every part of the nation, but especially in Georgia, due to limited resources in this region. Even in the larger cities, tutoring services can be so expensive that many times they are not a realistic option for parents whose children are struggling to read. He continued to report that When we announced the program, we were overwhelmed with requests for help from so many parents who were at their wit’s end trying to help their child. Hopefully, in the future we will be able to accommodate this great need and help more children. You can help children like Birdie by donating to the Scottish Rite Foundation of Georgia - Rite Care Fund. For as little as $10 a month when selecting the make this a monthly donation box you can ensure more children have access to these desperately needed services throughout the State of Georgia. Follow the link https://gascottishrite.org/ and click Donate Now.

This week's update from West Construction. It's coming along beautifully! Another great week of progress with the weather in our favor. Our electricians are nearly complete with installing light fixtures/devices around the interior and exterior of the building with only a few fixtures left to install in the ceiling. Our cabinetry/trim sub mobilized back on site this week and began installing stained trim around the interior of the building. Our masonry sub has completed insta...lling the cast stone on all the porch canopies this week. Our sitework sub continued placing sidewalk and curb around the building this week and continued backfilling and grading around the site. Our painting sub is now in the final coating for the interior walls and door frames as well. Our HVAC sub is nearly complete with the condenser units and air handlers. Our framing sub installed all ceiling tile in the building this week. Our landscaping sub mobilized on site this week and began installing irrigation. Next week our concrete sub will be on site to place the concrete for the porches around the exterior of the building. See more

Illustrious Brother Millard H. Brewton, 33 has laid down his working tools and entered the Celestial Lodge above. This is to advise passing of Illustrious Millard Hilburn (Sonny) Brewton, Jr, 33 Valley of Savannah on October 13, 2020. Illustrious Brewton was born July 12, 1934 in Ellabell, Georgia. His vocation was that of a heavy equipment operator and he was retired from International Paper after 38 years of service. He was a member of Pooler First Baptist Church. Sonny w...as a member and Past Master of Richard T. Turner Lodge No. 116, F&AM. He was a Past Venerable Master of AASR Valley of Savannah and Past Chairman of the Executive Committee. Sonny’s role in the Valley was Stage Director and he served faithfully for many, many years in that position. Declining health and family issues forced Sonny to retire from his position, but he made certain it was left in good hands. Illustrious Brother Brewton was survived by his wife, Martha Brewton; daughter, Teresa Stewart; grandson, James Michael Healan; niece, Caryn Reeves; nephews, Randy Carter and Wayne Hazzard. A graveside funeral and burial with Masonic Rites was held Saturday, October 17, 2020 at 3:00pm at Brickyard Cemetery located at the corner of Hwy 204 and Bush Road. See more

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Wow! It's moving along at great speed! This week's update from West Construction..... With the weather in our favor, we have had another great week of progress. Our electricians are continuing installing light fixtures/devices around the interior and exterior of the building. Our cabinetry/trim sub mobilized back on site this week and began installing stained trim around the interior door frames. Our masonry sub is almost complete with the installation of cast stone on the ca...nopies above the porches with only one canopy remaining. Our sitework sub continued pouring sidewalk and curb around the building this week and continued backfilling and grading around the site. Our tile sub is continuing and has now moved into the bathrooms and began installing wall tile. Our painting sub is continuing priming/painting the interior walls and door frames as well. Our HVAC sub is nearly complete with the condenser units and air handlers. The gas meter was installed this week as well. If all goes according to plan, next week we will begin installing the remaining ceiling tile in the building. See more

West Construction update for 10/9 Another great week of progress as the weather was in our favor. Our electricians are continuing installing light fixtures/devices into the ceiling grid. Our cabinetry/trim sub mobilized this week and installed crown molding for the building and will return next week to continue installing stained trim. Our masonry sub began installing cast stone on the exterior canopies above the porches of the building. Our tile sub is continuing and has now... moved into the lobby and vestibule areas and will begin wall tile in the bathrooms next week. Our painting sub is continuing priming/painting the interior walls and door frames as well. Our HVAC sub is nearly complete with the condenser units and air handlers. Light poles were installed this week as well. The canopies over the roll up doors in the covered area were also installed today. This Week: Installation of cast stone on canopies above porches Continuing installing light fixtures/devices Tile installation in lobby and vestibule areas Installation of light poles around perimeter of building. Continuing priming/painting walls and door frames Sitework continuing to backfill and grade around perimeter of building Installation of canopies above roll up doors Continuing working on air handlers and condenser units Installation of crown molding by cabinetry/trim sub Installation of dumpster enclosure gates

Autumn Asbill speaking at the Valley of Savannah Scottish Rite Ted Charlene Collins James Johns

Brothers of Scottish Rite The Scottish Rite Foundation of Georgia offers scholarships annually. The Scholarship Portal is now open for 2021 academic year. Qualified applicants can begin the application process. The link to the scholarship application page can be found at the end of this email.... ONLY the applicant can be involved in the application process. Participation by anyone other than the applicant such as parents, family, friends, etc. may be grounds for disqualification. The applicant’s Grade Point Average (GPA) must be unweighted. High schools provide extra credit to a GPA for Advanced Placement Courses. The scholarships are offered to those currently enrolled in undergraduate studies as well as high school seniors. To maintain equal advantage, the GPA must be unweighted. High School students should alert his or her counselor to this requirement when requesting a transcript. Transcripts may be transmitted electronically utilizing secure systems. Such systems are not common at the High School Level. Detailed instructions are provided to the applicant at the time of enrollment in the application process. Transcripts must be postmarked no later than January 31, 2021 and received no later than Feb 12, 2021. The Scottish Rite Foundation of Georgia is not responsible for carrier failures to deliver. Applicants must meet the following requirements. Scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $1000.00 for full-time students. Full-time is a minimum of 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours. ALL HOURS MUST BE FOR CREDIT. NON-CREDIT HOURS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED (i.e. Courses for Audit) A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required before an application may be considered. Applicants MUST be United States citizens and be residents of the state of Georgia. All scholarships granted will be for undergraduate studies in accredited schools in Georgia. o All applications will be rated based on merit based on Transcript data Extra-Curricular Activities Community Service Financial Need Special conditions that might affect need (and perhaps grades), such as death, divorce, illness, financial disasters, etc. Students who currently hold scholarships are eligible to apply for continuing support if they still require at least 2 semesters or 3 quarters of full-time school. Scholarships are awarded without regard to race, creed, color, sex, or national origin. Scholarships may not be awarded even if the applicant meets all criteria. Scholarships are awarded solely at the discretion of the Foundation. All decisions of the Foundation are final. Please consider donating the Scottish Rite Foundation of Georgia. Your financial support makes this possible. https://gascottishrite.org/index.php. Please pass the following link to anyone interested in applying for the Scottish Rite Foundation of Georgia Scholarship. https://gascottishrite.org//scottish-r/scholarship-program.

Much progress has been made. We look forward to moving day! This week's update from West Construction! Though we were slowed down by a few days of rain with our sitework this week, we were still able to make much progress on the interior side of the building. Our electricians are continuing installing light fixtures/devices into the ceiling grid. Our masonry sub was able to complete the installation of brick around the exterior of the building and all that remains is the cast... stone. Our tile sub is complete with the installation in the hallway and will begin moving into the Vestibule next week. Our painting sub is continuing priming/painting the interior walls and door frames as well. Our HVAC sub is complete with the kitchen hoods and are still working on the condenser units and air handlers. This Week: Installation of ceiling grid and border tiles and where required for fixtures and sprinklers Completion of brick around exterior of building Installation of light fixtures/devices Completion of tile in hallway Installation of wires for site lighting. Continue priming/painting walls and door frames Installation of Walk-In Freezer Completion of installation of kitchen hood

Supreme Council Honors Brother Harris Hardin of the Orient of GeorgiaThe Supreme Council Development office recently recognized Brother Harris A. Hardin, KCCH,... Valley of Middle Georgia, for his generous support of the new Dyslexia Testing Facility at Valdosta State University. With Bro. Hardin’s assistance, the RiteCare Scottish Rite Childhood Language Program center at Valdosta State, partnering with the Scottish Rite Foundation of Georgia, opened a community outreach program last spring. Bro. Hardin’s generous financial support will help send clinicians out into the community to test and work with young people with dyslexia. Bro. Hardin has been a longtime supporter of many of our philanthropies, especially those assisting children. At a recent Valley meeting, Ill. Chuck Morgan, 33, GC, Major Donor Officer (Southeast), presented Bro. Hardin (pictured) with a Master Temple Architect certificate, recognizing his good works. During the presentation, Ill. Ted C. Collins, 33, Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Georgia, thanked Bro. Hardin for his help in making the Outreach Program at Valdosta State a reality. Like so many other generous brethren, Bro. Hardin epitomizes our Masonic charitable tenet of assisting others in need.

The building is progressing quickly! Look how far it's come! Thanks to West Construction for another amazing weekly progress report. With great weather this week, we were able to get much progress done. Our electricians are continuing installing light fixtures in the ceiling grid and we now have permanent power in the building which allows us to turn on permanent lighting. The low voltage through Net Planners was also installed this week as well. Our masonry sub was able to c...omplete the North elevation wall and will be moving to the West elevation wall next week. Our tile sub is continuing and now moved into the hallway. Our painting sub is continuing priming/painting the interior walls as well. Our HVAC sub is continuing with the kitchen hoods and air handlers. This Week: Installation of ceiling grid Masonry work ongoing Installation of light fixtures/devices Installation of tile ongoing Installation of wires for site lighting. Continue priming/painting Permanent power turned on in the building for permanent lighting