To the East

On this episode of To the East, Micah Evans met with Bob Scott, Venerable Master of the Hastings, Nebraska Scottish Rite. Hastings is in central Nebraska, a town of about 25,000 people. The Valley has around 450 members, and covers all of central Nebraska. As a rural and semi-rural Scottish Rite Valley, Freemasons face challenges we don't often think about in the more urban communities. Masonic brethren may have to drive an hour or more to get to a Scottish Rite meeting - so what benefit does being a Scottish Rite Mason offer to a brother an hour or two away, when his home Lodge fulfills his fraternal needs? We discuss these subjects and more on this edition. To the East is a podcast hosted by Nebraska's Scottish Rite Masons, and is a conversation about Freemasonry today. Our audience is aimed toward new Master Masons or those curious about Masonry and Scottish Rite Masonry. Please feel free to e-mail us your ideas and feedback at micah@SRNE.org

On this episode of To the East, Micah Evans met with Adam Thayer and Ralph Rogers, Worshipful Master and Junior Warden, respectively, at Oliver Lodge #38 in Seward, Nebraska. Adam is also Junior Warden at Lancaster Lodge #54, which just won the Grand Lodge of Nebraska's award for outstanding Masonic ritual work. Adam and Ralph talk about the value of ritual, particularly as it relates to developing new Freemasons as members and membership retention. To the East is a podcast hosted by Nebraska's Scottish Rite Masons, and is a conversation about Freemasonry today. Our audience is aimed toward new Master Masons or those curious about Masonry and Scottish Rite Masonry. Please feel free to e-mail us your ideas and feedback at micah@SRNE.org

On this episode of To the East, Chris Nigro and Micah Evans took some time to look back at what we've done during 2014. The Omaha Valley Scottish Rite is an active Valley with events throughout the year for members, prospective members, and the public. During this year, we have had our Broadway Series at the Holland Performing Arts Center or the Orpheum, the Valentine's Day Barbara Streisand and Frank Sinatra Concert, Dr. San Guinary's Creature Feature Live, WalkRite for RiteCare, the Friends of Scottish Rite RiteCare dinner and auction, organ rededication concert, Ethics on Trial, the Grand Cross Conference Center dedication at the Fall Reunion - and so much more! To the East is a podcast hosted by the Omaha Scottish Rite, and is a conversation about Freemasonry today. Our audience is aimed toward new Master Masons or those curious about Masonry and Scottish Rite Masonry. Please feel free to e-mail us your ideas and feedback at micah@SRNE.org

On this episode of To the East, Chris Nigro and Micah Evans took some time during the May, 2014 Celebrating the Craft dinner and fundraiser to meet with Rob Corsaro. Rob was a relatively new brother, having joined George W. Lininger Lodge #268 and the Scottish Rite, Valley of Omaha, the week earlier at the 2014 Spring Reunion. Rob spoke about the impressive nature of the Scottish Rite degree work, and the change in his mindset from before he was a Mason and after he had participated in the degrees of Masonry and Scottish Rite Masonry. He also talked about his goals for himself as a Mason, and his expectations of what Masonry will give back to him. To the East is a podcast hosted by the Omaha Scottish Rite, and is a conversation about Freemasonry today. Our audience is aimed toward new Master Masons or those curious about Masonry. Please feel free to e-mail us your ideas and feedback at micah@SRNE.org    

On this episode of To the East, Chris Nigro and Micah Evans got together with Adam Medley, State Master Councillor for Nebraska DeMolay and Maximillian Carter, and State Senior Councillor for Nebraska DeMolay. Adam and Maximillian talk about who they were as boys, and how DeMolay made them into leaders, and their positive outlook for DeMolay's future. Chris Nigro met with Mike Stuhr, Executive Director for Nebraska DeMolay and Travis Bader, State Ritual Director, and Kevin Grazier, Advisor for the Omaha Chapter. To learn more about DeMolay at www.deMolay.org or www.nedemolay.org. To the East is a podcast hosted by the Omaha Scottish Rite, and is a conversation about Freemasonry today. Our audience is aimed toward new Master Masons or those curious about Masonry. Please feel free to e-mail us your ideas and feedback at micah@SRNE.org

On this episode of To the East, Chris Nigro and Micah Evans got together at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska in Kearney, Nebraska in February, 2014. We talked about two new lodges chartered in Nebraska, Albert Pike Lodge #333 and Renaissance Lodge #334, the annual communication, and we met with M.W. Joe McBride, Grand Master of Masons in Nebraska, and his thoughts on Masonry and his plans for the coming year.  To the East is a podcast hosted by the Omaha Scottish Rite, and is a conversation about Freemasonry today. Our audience is aimed toward new Master Masons or those curious about Masonry. Please feel free to e-mail us your ideas and feedback at micah@SRNE.org

On this episode of To the East, Chris Nigro (2014 Venerable Master of the Knights of St. Andrew) and Micah Evans (2008 Past Venerable Master of the KSA) join Armel MacDonald, Scottish Rite officer, volunteer, and 2009-2010 Past Venerable Master of the Knights of St. Andrew (KSA) to talk about the KSA's role in recruitment, retenetion, engaging members, and fostering leadership within the Scottish Rite. Omaha's Knights of St. Andrew is an active body, and has served the Valley by getting members involved for nearly 12 years. Members serve as volunteers, ambassadors, and leaders, and over the last 6 years, the KSA has raised over $26,000 which they have donated back to the Valley in purchases such as defibrillators, brass lamps, an ice machine for the kitchen, curtains for the stage, software to manage the theater lights and sound, and much more. The Omaha KSA will proudly join the 2nd annual KSA conference in St. Louis this September, and the members are looking forward to hosting the 3rd annual conference i

On this episode of To the East, we sit down with Brenda Coleman, chair of the Scottish Rite Womens' Group  and husband of Scottish Rite member, Jeffrey Coleman. She talks about the programs and projects the Womens' Group is undertaking in the coming year, and what Freemasonry has meant both to her and to her husband, as well as the lifelong friendships and support potential Masons and their wives may find in  Masonry. To the East is a podcast hosted by the Omaha Scottish Rite, and is a conversation about Freemasonry today. Our audience is aimed toward new Master Masons or those curious about Masonry. Please feel free to e-mail us your ideas and feedback at micah@SRNE.org

On this episode of To the East, Chris Nigro continues his conversation with Jason Van Dyke, Manager of Media and Public Relations at the House of the Temple, during the Supreme Council Biennial Session in Washington, D.C. in September. Chris and Jason talk about the Fellows program and what Fellows mean to talk about membership and Masonry. One of the most valuable aspects of the Scottish Rite Fellows program, particularly at the Leadership Conferences, is the opportunity to meet Brethren from around the nation, learn what works in their Valleys, and how we can take that back to our own Valleys.  To the East is a podcast hosted by the Omaha Scottish Rite, and is a conversation about Freemasonry today. Our audience is aimed toward new Master Masons or those curious about Masonry. Please feel free to e-mail us your ideas and feedback at micah@SRNE.org

On this episode of To the East, Chris Nigro and Micah Evans take a break during the Supreme Council Biennial Session in Washington, D.C. to visit with Jason Van Dyke, Manager of Media and Public Relations at the House of the Temple. He also produces The Life Masonic, a podcast about Freemasonry available at http://www.thelifemasonic.libsyn.com/. Jason is responsible for stage managing the Biennial Session, and making the entire event run smoothly from beginning to end. He sat down with Chris and Micah to talk about the Biennial Session. Jason is also program manager for the Master Craftsman program, and talks to us about the new Master Craftsman quiz, focusing on the Blue Lodge. The House of the Temple staff provide a vast amount of unsung work for the Scottish Rite Valleys, offering expertise on public relations, social media, fundraising, and membership engagement and development. To the East is a podcast hosted by the Omaha Scottish Rite, and is a conversation about Freemasonry today. Our audience is aime

On this episode of To the East, Chris Nigro sits down with Chris Palmer - Omaha's horror host, Dr San Guinary - to discuss how how got started and picked up the mantle of the original KMTV-3's Dr San Guinary. The Scottish Rite Masonic Center has partnered with Dr San Guinary to show "Creature Feature," a (not so) scary movie in our historic theater. Proceeds benefit the RiteCare Speech and Language Clinic through the Scottish Rite Foundation of Omaha. Our next Creature Feature will be on September 13, with special guest Tyler Mane (Sabretooth from The X-Men). Micah Evans meets with M.W. Tom Hauder, Grand Master of Masons in Nebraska, to talk about the direction of Masonry in Nebraska and upcoming projects for the Grand Lodge. To the East is a podcast hosted by the Omaha Scottish Rite, and is a conversation about Freemasonry today. Our audience is aimed toward new Master Masons or those curious about Masonry.

On this episode of To the East, Chris Nigro and Micah Evans discuss "Technology and Freemasonry." Technology can be a distraction to Masonry and can never substitute the social interaction and personal experience Masons crave, but when used correctly, it can enhance and complement Masonry. To the East is a podcast hosted by the Omaha Scottish Rite, about Freemasonry, aimed toward new Master Masons or those curious about Masonry.

This is the first podcast of To the East, with Producer Zack Sinsheimer and hosts Chris Nigro and Micah Evans.  Chris and Micah talk about what brought us to Freemasonry. To the East is a podcast hosted by the Omaha Scottish Rite podcast about Freemasonry, aimed toward new Master Masons or those curious about Masonry.