As you know, one of my main goals this year as Grand Master, is to begin to implement the MMSAP (Masonic Model Student Assistance Program) program in Iowa's Schools.    The purpose of MMSAP is to assist our schools in creating a team approach to identification and intervention on behalf of kids who may be at risk for substance abuse, depression, suicide or violence.  It isn't enough to simply identify these students -- the schools must take the next step and therein lies the beauty of MMSAP.  The MMSAP approach trains teams of teachers how to best utilize the resources that are already available to them and maximize their efficiency.   Most schools already have some programs or resources available to deal with the problems listed above, but they don't have the comprehensive plan of action that MMSAP provides.  It really is the missing link.

The training is conducted by the renowned firm of Newman/Stecher International and consists of three-day intense, interactive workshops. The program is designed to take groups of five to eight teachers from individual schools and teach them how to intervene early and effectively with students that display certain patterns of behavior; patterns that if allowed to continue unchanged will lead to seriously negative situations.

If you have paid any attention at all to the national news recently, you know that one of the major stories involves a teen from Massachusetts who took her own life because she was being bullied.  Her fellow students made her life so miserable that she thought death was a better alternative.  It is situations like this that MMSAP was designed to help prevent.  A common reaction is to think, "Yeah, but that's Massachusetts.  Things like that don't happen in Iowa."  Don't kid yourself.  Those sad situations can happen anywhere at any time.   According to the Children's Defense Fund, 5700 American teens are victims of violent crime every single day.  Their statistics also show that 110 teenagers attempt suicide every day and 20 of them actually accomplish the act. 

MMSAP has been in existence for 28 years and is needed now as much as, if not more than ever before.  Even in Iowa.

The beehive is often recognized as being a symbol of Freemasonry, usually to denote the quality of being industrious.  However, there is more of a connection than you may have considered in the past.  For example, let’s take a look at the life cycle of a female worker bee.  She begins her adult life by working in the hive.  Similarly, an Operative Entered Apprentice spends his first seven years laboring in the quarries, while a Speculative Entered Apprentice spends the first part of his Masonic career listening and learning.  This is characteristic of the “Youth” stage of man.

When the female worker bee is two to three weeks old, which is approximately middle age to humans, she must make a major career change.  Instead of working around the hive, she must go out and forage, flying from feeding site to feeding site to gather nectar and pollen. 

After the Operative Apprentice Mason is promoted to a Fellow Craft, he is thought to have learned enough to hone and specialize in a particular skill.  A Speculative Fellow Craft spends his time learning how to act and live his life according to the square of virtue, maintaining his behavior within due and appropriate boundaries, remembering that he is traveling upon that level of time to that undiscovered country, from whose borne no traveler returns.  He is spending this part of his Masonic career – the stage of “Manhood” – still learning, but with more emphasis on doing.

In the latter part of her life, the female worker bee is still flying from site to site, gathering nectar and pollen, but in addition, she has to communicate the location of those sites to other bees.

Again, there is a correlation to the stage of life for Masonry.  By this time, the Operative Craftsman has polished his specialized skills and becomes a Master.  In Speculative Masonry, the Master Mason has proven his skill and is charged with the responsibility of managing others, using his especial tool, the trowel, to spread the cement of brotherhood, using his knowledge and judgment to ascertain who best can work and best agree.  So while in this stage of life – the “Age” stage – he is in the teaching mode.

So just as the bee’s life can be broken into three phases, so can the Speculative and the Operative Mason’s life.  The first stage is the learning stage, followed by the second stage, which is focused on doing.  But the cycle isn’t complete without the third and final stage – teaching. 

Learn – Do – Teach.  Youth – Manhood – Age.  There is an old saying, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”  Unfortunately, in many cases, we are falling behind in our commitment to teach and mentor our newer brothers.  Our new members are hungry for knowledge and mentoring – the very things that our more experienced brothers could and should be providing, but for whatever reason, that connection is being made far too infrequently.  Perhaps it is because the emphasis isn’t being placed on the right group of brothers. 

In too many lodges, a few core individuals do the vast majority of the work.  While it isn’t the Worshipful Master’s responsibility to mentor the new brother, it is his responsibility to see that it is done – and he likely has a cadre of qualified and willing brethren to take on that task – those in the “Age” phase of man, typically in the 60-65 years of age and up bracket. 

Worshipful Masters, the parts of the equation are there – students who want to learn and teachers willing and able to teach.  It is your responsibility to put them together.  Use the symbolic trowel to spread the cement of brotherly love and friendship to determine who best can work and best agree – who best can learn and best mentor. 

By now, hopefully everyone should have received their one-of-a-kind Iowa Masonic Calendar.  Judging by the response thus far, both financially and in comment form, I'd have to say that they are a huge success! 

This has been somewhat of a quiet week -- at least compared to the next two.  Following a fairly lengthy Lodge Service Committee meeting in Des Moines, I had the pleasure of visiting Bluff City Lodge #71 (incognito) to help present the very first Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award in the state of Iowa. 
This honor is in memory of Daniel Carter Beard, who in the late 19th century, created the Boy Pioneers, an organization which was a forerunner of the Boy Scouts of America, and merged with them in 1910.  The recipients of the first two Daniel Carter Beard awards in Iowa were presented on October 14, 2009 to Brothers Larry Poffenbarger and Erik Moore.

Last night, October 15, we kicked off the first of 16 Grand Master's Area Meetings at Amber Lodge in Quick.  I thank all the brothers who attended and hope they got a lot out of the evening.  Next week, we take the show on the road to Mt Pleasant, Centerville and Pella.

I alluded earlier to the Iowa Masonic Calendars and the response thus far.  The proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to bring the Masonic Model Student Assistance Program to Iowa.  MMSAP is a program designed by former educators to assist schools to identify and assist students who may be at risk for drug abuse, violence, bullying, absence and other things that can derail a young person's life.  It has been helping kids for over 20 years and is in 26 states currently. 

Thanks to all the brothers who have shown their support to this vital project.  I will be posting names of all the donors on my website iagrandmaster.org in the very near future.

This past Saturday was the Grand Master's Reception, hosted by Ark Lodge #335, held at the Omaha Scottish Rite Masonic Center.  Outside of missing several people who were unable to attend, I could not be more pleased with the event.  We have an outstanding facility at the Omaha Scottish Rite and I was anxious to show it off to the brothers from Iowa, but I was equally proud to show off the 2009-10 Iowa Grand Lodge Family.