News Briefs
Grady T. Bozeman Chapter Featured in Cherokee Tribune
CANTON, GA - A feature article was run in the Cherokee Tribune newspaper on January 21, 2009. Entitled, "For The Boys," it features one of Georgia's newest DeMolay Chapters, Grady T. Bozeman Pilot Chapter in Canton.
Reprinted from the Cherokee Tribune
Hickory Flat Lodge No. 205 Free and Accepted Masons (F&AM) wanted to provide the same opportunities for young men that it was providing for young women.
That's why the lodge started a DeMolay chapter last September to complement its International Order of the Rainbow for Girls assembly.
Founded in 1919, DeMolay is a Mason-affiliated fraternity that prepares young men ages 12 to 21 to lead productive lives by developing their civic awareness, personal responsibility, leadership skills and friendships using a fun, practical approach.
The new chapter, named the Grady T. Bozeman Pilot Chapter, Order of DeMolay after the past master of Pickens Star Lodge No. 220 in Jasper who was killed in a workplace dispute in 2007, is one of 14 chapters in Georgia and 1,000 chapters worldwide.
DeMolay alumni include Walt Disney, John Wayne, Walter Cronkite, Buddy Ebsen, Paul Harvey, Burl Ives, actor Larry Wilcox, baseball Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, author John Steinbeck and football Hall-of-Famer Fran Tarkenton.
"I've been involved with the Rainbow girls since 1994, and being involved with the girls, I've seen the difference it's made in these girls who joined," said Steve Harris of Canton, advisory council chairman for the chapter. "In turn, we said, 'Let's try to do something for the boys.'"
The lodge also wanted to start the chapter because there's not one in Cherokee County, he said, noting the closest ones are in Marietta and Stone Mountain.
"Several Masons have been trying to start one in this area, but something always stopped them," he said. "Our Rainbows assembly has this year's grand worthy adviser (the top state position) so we said, 'Let's try to capitalize off that.' A lot of attention will be focused on our assembly. Hopefully they'll feed off each other."
He added the 2008-09 international master councilor - the highest office a DeMolay can achieve - is from the Mountain Park chapter.
"He's only the second one Georgia has ever had," he said. "The first one was four years ago, and it was his brother. Georgia sort of got a front-row seat this year."
DeMolay "provides an alternative for young men in the area" that will help them develop qualities they'll need their entire life, Harris said.
"The way the world is getting and all the bad things that are going on, this would be a nice organization for guys to participate in (because it promotes) patriotism, love of parents, country, good virtue," he said. "Hopefully it will help mold them to be more productive as they get older and get more involved in the community."
A side benefit is once DeMolays turn 21, they "might be interested in becoming Masons," he added.
Normally a new chapter must have 15 members and six adult advisers to start, but an effort to get more new chapters going allows a group of five members and two advisers to establish a pilot chapter, Harris said.
The Bozeman chapter originally had seven young men join, but four of them had to drop out. That left Tyler Carter, 12, of southwest Cherokee, who serves as master councilor; Zachery Nations, 15, of Ball Ground, who is the senior councilor; and Matthew Nations, 14, of Ball Ground, the junior councilor.
"We're working on building our membership up," said Harris, one of two adult officers - along with Chapter Dad Jim Harris - and four advisers appointed by the Hickory Flat Lodge to oversee the chapter. "Since we're a new organization, we're trying to get the word out to everybody to come be part of it."
Tyler, son of Charles and Cristy Ravenscraft, said his dad was the one who got him interested in joining the fraternity.
"He was a Mason, and he just started saying it helps you be a better man," he said, noting the chapter might be getting a new member soon. "I thought I'd give it a try and just started liking it."
The E.T. Booth Middle School seventh-grader added he enjoys "being with the other guys and hanging out and having fun."
Harris said the members run the meetings, held the first and third Wednesday of every month at the lodge on East Cherokee Drive, and follow an order of business for each one.
"That teaches them how to preside in a leadership position as they get older," he said, noting the adult advisers are there simply to guide them. "It gives them character."
The master councilor - a position that changes every six months - is in charge of planning events like fundraisers, trips or social get-togethers, often involving DeMolays from other chapters across the state.
Tyler, who will be master councilor until March 23, said he's planning a laser tag event in Marietta in April for all chapters and is preparing his chapter to go to the Tournament of Champions ritual competition next month in Atlanta.
"We'll try to be the best and get rookie of the year," he said, noting there also will be a dance afterwards.
Harris said the statewide events will help the young men "build friendships with other DeMolays across the state" and added their chapter is going to be a "pretty tight group when they get to know each other."
Membership is open to young men ages 12 to 21 who are of good character and believe in a supreme being.
The only cost involved is a one-time $50 lifetime membership fee.
Rusty Newport, center, chapter director of ritual, talks with DeMolay members
Matthew Nations, 14, son of Michael and Anita Nations of Ball Ground, left,
and Tyler Carter, 12, son of Charles and Cristy Ravenscraft of southwest Cherokee.
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