Rising Sun Scholarship Committee

Announces Scholarships & Fund Raiser

 Win With the Phillies and Support Education!!!

The Rising Sun Lodge Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce the availability of two $1000 educational grants to be awarded to college-bound graduating high school students in 2012, one to a graduate of Haddon Heights, Haddon Township, or Haddonfield Memorial High Schools, and one to a child or grandchild of a Rising Sun Lodge member.

Awards will be based on a combination of financial need, academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and community service.

Along with the announcement of its grants, the Scholarship Committee is launching a “Root for the Phillies” fund raiser.  Pledge a small amount for each win the Phillies rack up in the regular 2012 season and help support our educational grants in the process.  Guess how many wins the Fightin’ Phils will tally, and you could WIN a $50 “Shop Haddonfield” gift certificate.

Grant applications and Pledge forms are available under “FORMS” in the Members-Only section of this website, or you may contact Jay R. Foster, at jrfmm@aol.com or (856) 547‑4598, to obtain them.

The submission deadline for completed applications is April 25, 2012.

Pledges of support will be gratefully accepted at any time, of course, but those who wish to participate in the gift certificate promotion must submit pledge forms before the Phillies 2012 season opener on April 5, 2012 to be eligible for the gift certificate award.

My Brother:

• Toiletries
• Soap
• Shoes
• Sneakers
• Clothing Children and Adult
• Canned soup
• Towels
• School supplies
• T Shirts
• Medications (Cold, Flu, Aspirin, Motrin)
• Slippers

Project Co-Chairmen

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL “FIRST NIGHT” AT RISING SUN

Once again your Lodge joined Haddonfield’s town wide First Night celebration for New Year’s Eve and rang in 2012 in style, serving as a prime entertainment venue.  With 100 extra chairs moved into the Lodge room to accommodate the crowds, more than 600 people attended three performances – two by Classical Guitarist, Ben Biers, at 8 and 9:15 PM, sandwiched around the 9 PM fireworks display just outside our doors, and capping the evening once again with a 10:15 PM show staged by popular performance artist, Keith Henley.

Ben Biers

Keith Henley

Thanks go out to WB David Leeds, First Night Chair and site coordinator, and volunteers Jeanette Leeds, WB Keith and Bonnie Herman, Mark and Rita Friedrich, Rodgers Childs, and EA Christos Prentzas who helped manage the mob of visitors, manning the doors of the Temple and Lodge Room, giving building tours, and talking Masonry with interested visitors.  Thanks also (partly in advance) to all of the officers and candidates who helped move the chairs from the dining room up the two flights to the Lodge room and will reverse that feat at our upcoming Officers’ rehearsal!

Volunteering for the annual First Night celebration is an unparalleled opportunity to provide service to your Lodge and the Community, socialize with your brothers, and enjoy great entertainment, ALL in the same evening.  Please consider joining Team First Night next year!

On Saturday, December 3, at an Installation ceremony open to family, friends, and the public, Rising Sun Lodge No. 15, F&AM installed its leadership for 2012.  David A. Frankel, of Haddonfield, was installed as Worshipful Master, Gregory B. Vermette, of Haddon Township, assumed the role of Senior Warden.  Along with the new Junior Warden, the top three leadership positions in Rising Sun are now occupied by residents of Haddonfield, Haddon Township, and Haddon Heights, respectively, making Rising Sun, truly, the Masonic Lodge of the “Three Haddons.”

Many visiting Masonic dignitaries from across New Jersey attended or took part in the event, including four Past Grand Masters and other current and past Grand Lodge Officers.  Masters and Past Masters of neighboring area Lodges joined the Past Masters of Rising Sun Lodge prior to the Installation to qualify Brother Frankel as an incoming Master.  MW Francis R. Mitchell, PGM 1993 and MW Larry S. Plasket, PGM 2002 then shared duties in conducting the Installation ceremony, RW Albert L. Hann, PJGD served as Installing Marshal, and MW William H. Berman, PGM 2009 was the Installing Chaplain.  The Ancient Charges were given by RW Raymond R. Newkirk, PGC.  Also present was MW Joseph H. Rival, Jr., PGM 2010.

Following the installation ceremony, outgoing 2011 Worshipful Master, Keith A. Herman, of Cherry Hill, was presented with tokens of appreciation for his outstanding leadership and service to the Lodge during the past year.

Other Rising Sun Officers installed for 2012 were RW Wilfred R. Parsels, PGC, Secretary; RW William J. Krassan, PDDGM, Treasurer; Benjamin S. Parvey, Senior Deacon; Erik M. Brown, Junior Deacon; William M. Warner, Senior Master of Ceremonies; Daniel E. Wilson, Junior Master of Ceremonies; Joseph A. Ciccone, Senior Steward; Dan McDonough, Jr., Junior Steward; Edward T. Lynes, Chaplain; Vincent M. Capone, Marshal; Robert St. Marie, Tyler; WB Francis J. Conway, Historian; WB David R. Leeds, Organist.

MASONIC CHILD ID PROGRAM “SQUARES” WITH FALL FESTIVAL

This year’s Masonic Square & Compasses Day will be held on Saturday, October 15, the same day as Haddonfield’s Fall Festival and Crafts Show.  Worshipful Master Keith A. Herman and the Masons of Rising Sun Lodge No. 15, F. & A.M., invite all their friends and neighbors to enjoy the day-long event in downtown Haddonfield and to visit Haddonfield Masonic Temple, 16 Kings Hwy East, between 10 AM and 4 PM, for tours of the historic Masonic edifice.  In conjunction with the event the Masons will again provide free of charge the National Child Identification Program, a.k.a. CHIPs, (10 AM to 2 PM), providing parents with an ID kit containing a digital photo, video interview, fingerprints, dental impression, and DNA sample for young children and early teens.  All young-at-heart visitors are also welcome to “Paint-a-Pumpkin” and take it home as a souvenir, and to enjoy a display of Model Trains from the collection of Past Master Paul Schmeck.

Bridge Suite View

WM Keith A Herman and event chairman WB Malcolm Adler

If you didn’t attend RSL’s River Sharks baseball night, you missed one of the great times of the year.  Thanks to WB Malcolm Adler for spectacular arrangements, and thanks to all of the members and officers who attended with family and friends making it such a hugely successful outing.  We arrived near the end of game one of a twin-bill and were treated to a luxury suite with both indoor air-conditioned parlor seating and sunlit outdoor seating – all with a breathtaking view of the Ben Franklin Bridge, the Philadelphia Skyline, boat traffic on the Delaware, and a magnificent sunset.  Worshipful Master Keith Herman tossed out the first pitch for game two and we were underway.  Everyone dined to their heart’s content at our own private all-you-could-eat buffet of hot dogs, burgers, barbecued chicken, pulled pork, mac & cheese, salads, various beverages and other goodies.  Just to add to the fun, our suite was in PRIME foul ball territory (for righties).

SW David Frankel

THREE foul balls were hit into our box during the course of the evening, respectively snagged in impressive style by Brothers Dave Frankel, Gary August, and Brother Murray Schwartz’s son, Josh.  WM Keith’s souvenir ball from tossing out the first pitch made our tally FOUR on the night.  The only low point of the event was watching the TV inside the suite as our beloved Phillies lost one to Atlanta in extra innings, but our host team, the Camden River Sharks, made up for that with a sweet victory in game two of their double-header.

gorgeous sunset

The night closed with an impressive fireworks display.  A GREAT time was had by all – thanks again to Brother Malcolm and all who attended for a wonderful lodge event.

Jerry and Deloris Clark

WB David Preissman

Br. Hersch and Nicole

Bridge Suite

GIVE, SO OTHERS MAY LIVE! – MASONIC BLOOD DRIVE

On Thursday, June 30, from 4 to 8 PM, Rising Sun Lodge No. 15 will once again host the Community Blood Council with its quarterly Masonic Blood Drive at the Masonic Temple, 16 East Kings Highway, in Haddonfield.  A mobile blood collection unit (the “Bloodmobile”) will be stationed in front of the Masonic Temple in “downtown” Haddonfield, within a short walk of the Haddonfield PATCO station.  Food free for donors, also available to non-donors in exchange for a modest donation, will be provided.

Blood donated is made available to local New Jersey Hospitals through the Community Blood Council and any healthy person between the ages of 17 and 75 is eligible to donate (older with a doctor’s note, younger with parents permission).  There are very few medications or conditions that would disqualify an otherwise healthy donor.  With modern technology, every pint donated has the potential to save THREE lives.  Please consider coming out and donating a pint of blood if you can.  It is truly the Gift of Life!

New Jersey Freemasons, often assisted by DeMolay, the Masonic youth organization for young men, are long-time supporters of blood collection efforts in New Jersey.  Rising Sun Lodge meets on the first and third Wednesdays of the month.  Contact the lodge at (856) 428-4193, or via e-mail at secrsl15@aol.com, or visit the website at RisingSunLodge.org.

Donating blood is SAFE and SIMPLE

All materials used for your blood donation are new, sterile, and are used once, then disposed of safely.  You will be asked for some basic information, such as name, address, age, and driver’s license number.  A confidential medical history is taken, and a finger stick is done to analyze a drop of your blood for hemoglobin content. Your pulse, blood pressure, and temperature will also be checked.  A specially trained technician will handle the collection process, which takes approximately seven to ten minutes to complete.  Eat regular meals and hydrate before your donation, eat and drink plenty of fluids for 24 hours afterwards.  For more information and details on blood collection and donor eligibility visit the Community Blood Council at www.blooddrivenj.com.

At its second annual “Education Night” Rising Sun Lodge presented Haddon
Heights High School graduating senior Megan Hall (seen in accompanying photo
with parents, Steve and Maureen) with a $1000 scholarship and honored
Haddonfield Middle School teacher Frank Delano, in attendance with his wife
Karen, with Rising Sun’s Teacher of the Year award.  Also present for the
ceremonies, showing his dedication and support, was Haddonfield Middle
School Principal Noah Tennet.

Megan Hall with parents, Steve and Maureen. Frank Delano with his wife Karen along with Haddonfield Middle School Principal Noah Tennet, WM Keith Herman and Education Night Chairman Brother Andy Champion

Despite the calamitous collapse of our dining hall ceiling due to a water
leak that was only discovered late Wednesday afternoon, the brethren managed
a remarkable transformation of the Parlor, moving side tables, dining tables
and chairs (the dry ones) upstairs from the banquet hall.  Our sincerest
thanks go out to our young DeMolay brethren who put in yeoman service,
lugging three courses of food up the long stairway from the kitchen, which
itself was mercifully spared the “ravages of barbarous force.”

Speaking of food, the delicious dinner (entrée choices of chicken parmesan, lasagna, or eggplant parmesan) was catered by brother Anthony Montagnaro, who managed to provide a superb meal despite the difficult circumstances.

While plumber Keith Domako, son of Brother Fred Domako, fixed the leak, and
the All Risk, Inc. disaster response team dealt with the mess in the
downstairs dining hall, the forty attendees, brethren and guests, were able
to enjoy a delightful evening, barely aware of the emergency services going
on around them.

Our thanks and congratulations on a tremendously successful evening to
Education Night Chairman Brother Andy Champion, and to all others who helped
pull off an amazingly successful affair in the face of adversity.  Proceeds
from the dinner go to the Scholarship Fund.

As in any Lodge, a Gold Token night holds special meaning to both the members who are receiving the honor for their longevity as a Freemason, and for the lodge. All Lodge’s Gold Token night are an inspiration to all its members as we honored the men who have dedicated their lives our lodge and fraternity. Come out if you can to support your brethren on all Gold Token Nights.