It may be the middle of winter, but that's never stopped us from relaxing by the
pool.  Join us this Winterfest for all of the fun with none of the sun.  Water
Polo, Volleyball and much more.....

Well Folks, after today, the only way you will be able to say that you survived
Winterfest 2010 is by special arrangement and an extra $25.00...

Save yourself the doe.... go to www.michigandemolay.net and download your
registration form and have it post marked TODAY....

The smell of elephant ears wafts through the air as you wind up to throw the
softball as hard as you can at some plates. A clown taunts you as he walks by,
and you let it loose, arcing it through the air in a perfect throw that shatters
the ceramic in a shower of deadly splinters. You feel the air of superiority as
you take your triumphant self over to the prize booth and receive the
indubitable adulation of your friends... WINTERFEST....

Need we say more, www.michigandemolay.net is where you will find your
registration form and make sure it's post marked by tomorrow......

Pack your gloves, boots and winter jacket this January. Get ready to run, jump
and tackle your friends into the freezing snow at Winterfest 2010 Outdoor
Games......

Holly Cow Batman.... it's almost the deadline date, we better fly over to
www.michigandemolay.net and download our forms for WINTERFEST 2010.

Billiards, chess, euchre, jenga, dominoes, checkers.  What do all of these have
in common?  They're all happening at Winterfest 2010.... and then some.....

Tic Toc, Tic Toc, not only are the day's ticking away before Santa comes and
visit's YOU.... but so are the days before the final deadline for Winterfest
2010, www.michigandemolay.net is the place to go to download your form before
the clock stops tickin......

Join us at the movies this January. Stay up all night at an after curfew matinee
and eat all the popcorn you can handle. Simmer down now, the movie is
starting........

and so should you be starting to go to www.michigandemolay.net and download your
Winterfest Registration Form...... you don't want to show up in the middle of
the movie do you....

The Rules and Regulations for the 2010 Spirit Award are as follows:

1.      Absolutely no posters, signs or banners which are derogatory or negative toward another Chapter, Bethel , Assembly or person. All material should be tasteful and seek only to promote your own Chapter, and not to degrade others.

2.      Posters, signs and banners may not be mass produced. Every one should be different and creative.

3.      Poster signs and banners must not be computer generated.

4.      All material must be posted within the confines of the Holidome.

5.      Please use scotch or masking tape. DO NOT use duct tape or any other permanent adhesive.

6.      Materials posted by a Chapter may not be taken down or relocated by anyone other than the Chapter that posted them.

7.      Refrain from using any type of paint on any of the hotel property. This includes hotel doors, and windows.

8.      Signs, banners and other display materials may not be posted any earlier than the start of registration on Friday, and no later than curfew on Friday night.

9.      Cheering, chants, and any vocal displays are encouraged. Please remember to keep them clean, tasteful and fun!

10.   When planning Chapter displays please be mindful of the Winterfest schedule. DO NOT plan events after curfew or during the Opening Ceremony. All other times are permitted and encouraged.

11.   Remember to be creative. You will be judged not only on the quality and quantity of your displays, but also the creativity. Anything you can do to draw POSITIVE attention to your Chapter is encouraged.

12.   Work as a team. To be competitive in this competition your Whole Chapter (including Prospect, Advisors, Parents, etc…) must be enthusiastic. Try and get everybody involved! The judges will easily be able to tell the difference between a vocal and enthusiastic individual and a vocal and enthusiastic Chapter.

13.   Be active. Take part in as many Winterfest events as you can. This is the best way to be seen.

Some possible ideas (Please use these ideas solely to spark interest and ideas, not as a Chapter game plan…)

·         Create Chapter T-Shirts: buy a white t-shirt and some paint and make your own walking display.

·         Hold a Poster / Banner / Sign / Chant making party prior to Winterfest and make sure the whole Chapter is aware of the plan.

·         Hold a Chapter event at Winterfest, something where all attending the event can see your Chapter. This could be anything from a candy cane give away to placing place mats with your Chapter names on them prior to breakfast on Saturday morning. JUST BE SEEN!

·         The most important recommendation that can be made is… JUST HAVE FUN!

Chapters will be judged equally throughout the weekend on everything that has been discussed throughout these rules and regulations. No one category is more important than any other. So please, have fun, show your Chapter, and DeMolay Spirit, and go out there and win that Spirit Award.

Heads up, Winterfest is fast approaching and it's sure to be a trip, we're not
bluffing.  Get ready to raise, call, and check.  Get in position, because it's
sure to be a fast play.  Hopefully the turn is better than the flop.....

Get over to www.michigandemolay.net fast, before the registration form for
Winterfest 2010 is thrown in.....

Dust off your battle rifle and recharge your energy sword.  Get your band
together for a gig.  Dedicated video game tournaments all weekend long, put your
team together, start practicing and show everyone what you and your cohorts are
made of.....

Tick, Tick, Tick.... more seconds tick away from the deadline date.... get to
www.michigandemolay.net and register to attend WINTERFEST 2010.

Help out the American Cancer Society, Relay For Life by throwing a pie into your
favorite SMC's face or some other fuddy-duddy.... That's right the Charity Pie
Toss will be back again this year....

Another day has slipped away from the final deadline date.... get to
www.michigandemolay.net and download your registration form today....

Ok everyone, the School of Instruction is tomorrow and here are a few reminders:

Registration starts at 9:30am, so make sure you are on time!!

The building doesn't have anything in the front marking it as a Masonic Temple, so look on the left side of the road for my white van parked on the side of the building and then you can park in the back.

The dress code is neat casual, so no holes in your jeans and wear a DeMolay shirt if you have one (and if you don't, shame on you).

Lunch is $5 and will be provided by Livingston County Chapter.  There will hot dogs, sloppy joes, homemade mac and cheese, chips, drinks, brownies and because I like you all so much, I am personally making TWO kinds of cookies...doesn't that make you feel special??

Get ready for a day of learning...and not BORING learning...FUN LEARNING!!  Didn't know that was possible??  You just wait and see...

Mom Z

It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of Dad Weitalla on
December 5th, 2009.

Visitation at the Phillips Funeral Home, 122 West Lake Street, South Lyon, MI. 
Friday, 2 pm - 8 pm / Saturday, 11 am - 11:30 am / Graveside Service at Oakland
Hills Memorial Garden, Novi @ noon.

Cards can be sent to Keith & Donna Weitala, 28773 Danvers Court, South Lyon, MI
48178.

Memorial Contributions can be made to the DeMolay Foundation of Michigan, c/o
Dad J. Andy Jackson, 1757 Surrey Hts., Westland, MI 48186-3791

Please keep the Weitala Family in your thoughts and prayers.....

Winterfest 2010 will be January 15-17 at the Holidome in Alpena Michigan.  Join
your Brothers from all across the State for a weekend of food, music, friendship
and general tomfoolery.  You don't want to miss out on the inconceivable fun and
endless memories created at a DeMolay Winterfest......

Go to www.michigandemolay.net and download your form TODAY..... the final
deadline is tickin away......

Reminder!!

This Saturday, December 12th is the State School of Instruction.    Get ready for a whole new way to learn ritual and floor work!!  It is being held at the Brighton Masonic Temple and registration starts at 9:30 am.  Lunch will be provided by Livingston County Chapter for the modest fee of $5.00

Brighton Masonic Temple, 315 W. North st, Brighton, MI  48116

The building has no markings in the front indicating that it is a Masonic Temple.  When you turn onto North St., there is a slight hill.  The temple is at the top of the hill on the LEFT and shares its building with several other businesses (which are located in front).  Look for our white Ford Windstar van on the side of the building, and park in the back.  There are also parking lots right before and across the street from the temple.

If you get lost, call 989-213-6435

See you then!!

Mom Zirkle

On Saturday, December 5th, Livingston County Chapter is putting on a DeMolay Degree.  It will be at the Howell Masonic Temple starting at 1pm.  Those participating in the degree should arrive at 10am for a practice. 
 
Who: Livingston County Chapter
What: DeMolay Degree
When: Saturday, December 5th 10am Practice, 1pm Degree
Where: Howell Masonic Temple 401 W Grand River, Howell, MI 48843

Any questions?  Can you do a part?  E-mail Dad Alan Zirkle at alanzirkle@...

See you tomorrow!!

Ok, so you missed the deadline and now you are sitting in a corner, balled up in the fetal position and sobbing your heart out.  Well fear not, I am here to save the day!!

YOU CAN STILL GO TO WINTERFEST!!

There, now don't you feel better??

The deadline for the free t-shirt has passed, so you missed out on that because instead of getting your form in the mail, you stayed up til 4am playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.   But if you pause the video game for just a minute,  you can still register without a $25 late fee!!  December 18th is the cut-off date for you to keep that money in your pocket and then you are about halfway to being able to buy a new game just in time to take to WINTERFEST!!  Smart, huh?

So pause the game, get your form signed, and put it in an envelope with a check and get it to the POST OFFICE NOW!!

See you at Winterfest!!

Mom Z

Last night, Michigan DeMolay achieved POSITIVE GROWTH for the year!!

At Olive Branch Masonic Temple, 5 new members were initiated!!

Walt Disney - Nicholas Hilton

Dearborn - Jesse Lewis, Cory Lewis, Adam Lewis, DJ Tomlinson

Welcome these new brothers!!

Announcing the MI DeMolay 2009 State School of Instruction

Saturday December 12^th

At the Brighton Masonic Lodge

315 W North St, Brighton, MI 48116

       Registration starts at 9:30 am; events begin at 10:00 am, Lunch will be served at noon at a modest price of $5.00 courtesy of Livingston County Chapter, and all events should end by 6:00pm.

The focus of the state School of Instruction is to help aid members of DeMolay in their understanding and proficiency of the ritual parts of our order, in a manner that is both educational and fun, classes will include ritual learning strategies and setting up a chapter room, as well as squirt gun ritual, ritual jeopardy, and much more.

ATTACHED IS THE REGISTRATION FORM TO BE FILLED OUT AT YOUR NEXT CHAPTER MEETING

Don't forget about Walt Disney's Halloween Dance/Lock-in!!

Who: YOU!!

What: Halloween Dance followed by Guys only lock-in

When: This saturday...Halloween!!

Where: Northville Masonic Temple

Cost:  Dance - $5 without costume, $3 with costume, Prospects FREE!!
Lock-in $5

Come to Walt Disney, bring your friends and have a blast at the Dance!!

First, let us congratulate our 3 newest DeMolays: Alexander Estes and
William Estes from Liv Co and Carl Burnham from Lansing!!  WELCOME!!

Second, thank you to those young men that came out to Lansing's Official
Visit last night to help us initiate these new members: Clio, Liv Co and
Walt Disney as well at MI State DeMolay. Your help was very much
appreciated!!



Official Visits continue in November, and start at 7pm unless otherwise
noted.  The next official visits are:

Roseville: Monday, Nov 2nd

Davison: Tuesday, Nov 3rd

Clio: Thursday, Nov 5th

Royal Oak Phoenix: Friday, Nov 6th

Walt Disney: Thursday, Nov 12th, with a Majority Service at 6:30pm

Lapeer: Saturday, Nov 14th at 10am

CC Reeves: Wednesday, November 18th



Also, November 7th is a day for honors in Michigan DeMolay...

Legion of Honor investiture:  Bay City Scottish Rite starting at 2pm

Chevalier Investiture: Honoring Carl Heffernan and our SMC Chris Eggert.
There is a social hour at 5:30pm, Dinner at 6pm and Investiture at 7pm
at the Mt. Clemens Masonic Temple.

See you there!!

Mom Zirkle

The Marquis de Lafayette Court of Chevaliers is pleased to announce it's annual
observance dinner....

Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at the Allen Park Masonic Temple, located at 17212
Ecorse Road, Allen Park, MI... social hour begins at 6 pm and a buffet dinner
will follow at 7 pm.

The cost for the dinner is $15.00 with a donation bar available... please bring
your ladies with you as well as anyone else you think might like to come and
enjoy and evening of friendship and brotherhood.

Reservations are due October 30, 2009... you can contact Don Thamarus, Jr.,
PC/Treasurer at pacmandet@... or 734-946-9462

Next week will kick off the Official Visit season.  All DeMolays are encouraged
to not only attend their own, but as many others as they are able.  Official
Visits begin at 7pm.  Here is the schedule:

Livingston County: Wed Oct 21st at Fowlerville (School of Instruction)
Samaria: Thurs Oct 22nd  (Chevalier Investiture)
Lansing: Mon Oct 26th (Initiatory Degree...bring your candidates)
Roseville: Mon Nov 2nd
Davison: Tues Nov 3rd
Clio: Thurs Nov 5th
ROP: Fri Nov 6th
Walt Disney: Thurs Nov 12th
CC Reeves: Wed Nov 18th

Chapters, please let me know what will be happening at your official visit and I
will post it on my weekly 7 virtues update!! mdn.editor@...

Also, are you following us on Facebook and Twitter yet??

Mom Zirkle

Dad Ward had to have a valve repaired and a triple bypass on Monday, he is doing
well and recovering in I.C.U. at Henry Ford Hospital. Cards can be sent to his
home at:

1769 Winchester
Lincoln Park, MI 48146

Thanks
Dad Moore