AUG - Grand Encampment, Knights Templar

Grand Master’s
Message
When you receive this message, many of you will be
preparing to attend the 64 th Triennial in Roanoke,
Virginia. During the Conclave, reports will be given
about the activities over the last three years.
As the 64 th Triennial comes to a close, it does so with many achievements and a bit
of sadness. We’ve made great strides on our website, www.knightstemplar.org, in
the magazine you now hold, in the quality of our conferences, in YRIS (York Rite Information
System), our new data processing system, in an improved location for our
annual Easter Observance, and in the increased expenditure for pediatric research
by the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. Our giving in the foundation through the
voluntary campaigns these past three years has topped $3.5 million, the highest ever.
Your Grand Encampment and Knights Templar Eye Foundation are in much better
condition in most ways than they were just three short years ago.
Sadness in that Sir Knight Richard Burditt Baldwin, GCT and Grand Master for just
over a year never was able to achieve his dream, that of presiding over our Grand
Encampment. After his resignation, his health continued to deteriorate until he at
last laid down his sword on February 5, 2009. He entered this triennium with high
hopes and large plans. “Vision ‘64” encompassed many of the achievements described
above. Though his plans came to fruition, he unfortunately did not live long
enough to see it. I hope he knows how successful he was.
This triennium was successful because Sir Knight Baldwin shared and discussed his
plans with his officers and included many of our suggestions as we planned together.
He was successful because we knew the plan, were a part of it, and continued it
even in his absence. The lesson we all learned was that if you share your ideas with
your officers and include them in the planning, you will be successful whether you’re
there at the end or not.
Fraternally,
William H. Koon, II, GCT
Grand Master
4 august 2009