Independence, Kansas York Rite

It’s going to be a busy travel schedule all the way up to Triennial Session in Washington, DC… and beyond that as well! This is just my June travel schedule. I will post July and August later.

If you see me, stop and chat. I will have my FOPC, Grand Commander, and Triennial pins with me. I’m happy to give one to you!

June:
11: Missouri Grand York Rite (St. Louis, MO)
11: Heartland Job’s Daughters Grand Bethel (Wichita, KS)
12-14: The Day the War Stopped (St. Francisville, LA)
16: Junction City Commandery Official Visit (Junction City, KS)
18: Esdraelon Commandery Official Visit (Iola, KS)
20-21: Consecration of Alabama Court No. 20, Masonic Order of Athelstan, USA (Birmingham, AL)
22: Askelon Commandery Official Visit (McPherson, KS)
27: Great Plains Rendezvous (Hays, KS)
28: KYCH Meeting/Conferral (Baldwin City, KS)

The Grand Master, upon invitation of the Worshipful Master, visited Keystone Lodge No. 102 on June 1st. It was a wonderful evening that started with a fried chicken dinner!
The Grand Master, and his party, was officially received with Past Grand Masters Larry Mersberg (2005) and Don Newman (2012) being given public Grand honors, as well!

Most Excellent Grand High Priest Gary B. Strout made his official visit to Lawrence Chapter No. 4 on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

Leadership is more than just showing up and going through the motions. You have to do more than just ‘be there’ to make an impact.

Let me explain a bit further. Sometimes we just need to show up and be there for a Brother, Companion, or Sir Knight who needs a friendly and kind ear to listen to them. That is not what I am referring to in this post.

Showing up and going through the motions of leading an organization, or holding an office, is not leadership. Leadership is new ideas, listening to the membership and intently trying to understand what the members want and need from their leaders. Leadership is setting a vision which will guide your organization well into the future while working with the other officers to craft that vision.

It does not matter if this is a local body, a state body, regional, national, or even international. Our leaders must work together to craft a vision for our organizations and to be willing to work together and, if the need arises, adjust the planning and maybe even the vision itself.

That is leadership. Working with others, intently gaining their ideas, planning, and putting those plans into reality. We need more leaders within our world and not just in our beloved Craft.

Be one of those leaders. Today. There is no better time to start than now.

The Grand York Rite monthly newsletters for June 2026, can be found below:

News of the Ark:https://www.kansasyorkrite.org/_files/ugd/58d446_cf3845320b5f488f8363f118924003e4.pdf

Tales of the Secret Vault:https://www.kansasyorkrite.org/_files/ugd/58d446_e470822b84f74186975b64f11ca7ff69.pdf

Templars of the Plains:https://www.kansasyorkrite.org/_files/ugd/58d446_df549b0bde75469794e0b4376781847c.pdf

The June 2026 communication from the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Kansas can be read at the links below:

June letter from the Most Illustrious Grand Master:https://www.kansasyorkrite.org/_files/ugd/58d446_e6669ee126ea41fc935d87d1bd0f18f0.pdf

June Tales of the Secret Vault:https://www.kansasyorkrite.org/_files/ugd/58d446_e470822b84f74186975b64f11ca7ff69.pdf

The presiding officers of the Grand York Rite Bodies of Kansas have written their monthly letter to the capitular, cryptic, and chivalric membership and they can be read below:

Most Excellent Gary B. Strout, MEGHP:https://www.kansasyorkrite.org/_files/ugd/58d446_8cc6e8fda76e4173ab88cc34c56c9af2.pdf

Most Illustrious Robert B. Haynes, MIGM:https://www.kansasyorkrite.org/_files/ugd/58d446_e6669ee126ea41fc935d87d1bd0f18f0.pdf

Sir Knight Patrick C. Carr, REGC:https://www.kansasyorkrite.org/_files/ugd/58d446_d5d805c3a38c4fd7a1de65619a709407.pdf

The June 2026 communication from the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Kansas can be read at the links below:

June letter from the Right Eminent Grand Commanderhttps://www.kansasyorkrite.org/_files/ugd/58d446_d5d805c3a38c4fd7a1de65619a709407.pdf
June Templars of the Plains:https://www.kansasyorkrite.org/_files/ugd/58d446_df549b0bde75469794e0b4376781847c.pdf

M.E. Gary Strout will be making his official visit to Lawrence Chapter, home of the Kansas Jayhawks, this Tuesday!

Congratulations Eminent Grand Standard Bearer Sir Knight Juanito Ernacio. Bravo 👏 👏 👏