RIVER STEAMBOATS and YANKTON SCOTTISH RITE

 

In regions still not far removed from the frontier period, steamboats provided supplies and a primary contact with other people and other ways of life for thousands of men and women.  The post Civil War period saw a revival of  steam boating with much activity on the Missouri River and Yankton as a major Riverboat Port.  Larger Steamboats featured restaurants with famous chefs and large staffs to assist them.  A favorite item was the STEAMBOAT ROUND.  A BEAUTIFUL BEEF ROAST WEIGHING ABOUT 50 POUNDS, hand carved by the chef.

 

The riverboat era ended at Yankton around 1881, only ONE year before our Scottish Rite Lodge of Perfection was chartered, when a flood and ice gorges destroyed or severely damaged SIX of the prominent Missouri Steamboats based in Yankton.  In recognition of our history, the banquet Saturday evening will feature the Steamboat Round, also known as Baron of Beef, hand carved as you are served by our famous Scottish Rite Chefs.

 

As far as we know, the riverboats did not feature our wonderful desert –MAVIS’S carrot cake.  Nevertheless, we know you will enjoy it also!

 

Check below for important information like how to save 30% on meals -- the 223rd  Reunion Schedule --the amazing bargain available for candidates at this reunion --information about Life Memberships -- and a message from Denny Robinson, our Membership Chairman and the Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of South Dakota.

 

 

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223RD REUNION SCHEDULE  FOR MEMBERS

Pre-registration policy

To make special events like the Friday evening Reception, and  the Social Hour and Special Menu Banquet on Saturday possible, we ask all members to PRE-REGISTER so that we may have enough for everyone without waste which increases

our costs.

 

Member registration is available from 3:00PM Friday till 6:00 PM Saturday whenever  the office is open.  For those pre-registered, this involves only picking up your Reunion Nametag which is coded to provide admission to all events for which you are pre-registered and paid.  Members who are pre-registered and not paid will still get the 30% discount but will have to pay for meals at this time.  Members NOT pre-registered will have to pay the full meal prices when they register.

 

223rd REUNION NAME TAGS ARE REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION TO ALL EVENTS

 

Members are welcome and encouraged to observe the degree work.  We especially recommend your attending the 8th Degree which has not been done in our Valley for over 54 years.  The work will be done by a degree team composed entirely of

Nebraska Grand Lodge Officers at 8:00PM on Friday Night.

 

Hospitality, coffee, snacks and fellowship will be available Friday evening and all day Saturday in the Washington Room North of the main entrance.

 

8:45 PM Friday:      Reception for the Nebraska Grand Lodge Officers to show our             

appreciation of their presentation of the 8th Degree Intendant of the     Building.

 

8:00 AM Saturday:  Continental Breakfast for members in the lounge room in the

         Northeast corner of the basement.

 

12:00 PM Saturday: Lunch in Banquet area.

 

5:00 PM Saturday:   Social hour in the Banquet area with coffee, pop, beer, wine and

         snacks available.                             

                                 

6:00 PM Saturday:   Banquet featuring Steamboat Round (of Beef) and Mavis’s Carrot                      

                                 Cake.

 

7:00 PM Saturday:   Reunion ends.

 

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Attention All Scottish Rite Members:

 

Now is the time to sponsor a candidate for Scottish Rite.

 

Our Deputy of the Supreme Council for South Dakota, Charles Kaufman 33°, has approved a special $100.00 initiation fee for new Scottish Rite candidates for the Fall Reunion. Additionally, the Yankton Valley has agreed to help with the out-of-town candidates’ motel expense as well as providing all the candidates’ meals during the reunion.  Never in the past has there been an opportunity to gain so much for so little cost!!

 

If you have a prospective member, now is the time to get a petition filled out and get them ready to go.  The reunion is just around the corner.  If you know someone who would benefit from membership in our fraternity and would like help in recruiting, let the office know.  We have members who are more than willing to meet with you and your prospective member(s) and help you to get them on board for membership.

 

Pass the word about our charity and our great fraternity.  Remember, no fraternity does more for the children of South Dakota and its members than the Scottish Rite!!  We all know there are a lot of men who would greatly benefit from membership and our Valley would greatly benefit from their involvement.

 

See you at the Reunion and think membership!!!

 

Denny Robinson, 32° KCCH

Membership Committee Chairman - Yankton Scottish Rite

 

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Life Membership / Now is the time!!

       Why should you join the Brothers who have purchased Life Memberships in the Yankton Scottish Rite?  Not only do you avoid annual dues billing, at $42 per year for 2004, but you are also protected from future increases. 

More importantly you are assured that your membership in the Rite will be retained in coming years, regardless of what your personal circumstances may become.  In addition to avoiding annual billing and providing inflation protection, the amount you pay for a Life Membership goes into a trust fund that will benefit Yankton Scottish Rite forever.  The amount of the membership remains in the fund, and only the income from the trust is used for Valley operations. 

  The price of a life membership is based on 16 times our current year’s dues for a total of $672  ($42/year dues X 16 years = $672).

     Now is the time!! 

     Remember that in the July issue of the Scottish Rite News you were informed of a probable dues increase for 2005  (due largely to an increase in the yearly per capita assessment we must pay to the Supreme Council for each member in the valley). 

     As a result, the 2005 dues were increased to $50 making the cost of a life membership in 2005 a total of $800 ($50/year dues X 16 years = $800).  Now is the time!!

Are You 75 or Older?

If you are 75 or older, the price for life membership is only $200 plus one year’s dues for a total of $242.

     Life Membership in Honor of or in Memory of a Brother?

     Remember that Life Memberships can be purchased by anyone in honor of a living member, or as a memorial to deceased member.  What better way to honor someone’s life of service than a gift that continues to support this

beloved organization?

 

     The Life Membership endowment will enable the Yankton Valley to carry on its work long after we are gone. 

Your Life Membership is truly an investment in the future – not only for you, but for new brothers as well. 

Please consider obtaining a Life Membership as part of your Masonic legacy. 

This is a fantastic deal for everyone involved!

     To set up an easy payment plan for as little as $25/month or other payment options, contact:

     Brian Holcomb, Yankton Valley office 605-665-2414.