| We are located in San Antonio, Texas. Our business meetings are on the
first Wednesday of the month. If you are interested in joining us and meet the qualifications for membership below, e-mail one of the officers listed below. |
APRIL THRU OCT 23 NEWSLETTER |
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BUSINESS MEETING: BUSINESS MEETING: The November meeting will be on 08 November 2023, at 1815 at Las Palapas located at Hwy |
PICTURES |
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| James A. Baker, National President Speaking at the Bridge of Light February 9, 2017 (Click on his picture for the other pictures taken) |
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| Pictures taken by Worshipful J. K. Jerry Smith, Grand Photographer at the Bridge of Light |
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| Picnic Pictures Taken on October 9, 2013 | |
93rd Annual Convention Pictures Camp Follower's Degree & |
92nd Annual Convention Pictures Bennington Banquet & Installation Awards Luncheon |
Tribute to Military |
The Tribute to Military video file can be found at: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/memorial-day-2006-video.htm |
OFFICERS
FORT
SAM HOUSTON CHAPTER NO. 17
NATIONAL SOJOURNERS, INC.
| President |
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| 1st Vice President |
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| 2nd Vice President |
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| Secretary |
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| Treasurer | James R. "Bob" McConnell |
| Jorge Santana |
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| Flag Bearer |
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| Staff Judge Advocate | Benjamin Yudesis |
| Surgeon | Dock Dixon |
ALAMO CAMP, HEROES OF '76
Commander |
Nelson Dunn |
Chief of Staff |
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Asst. Chief of Staff |
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Officer of the Day |
Gabriel Garcia |
Adjutant |
James R. "Bob" McConnell |
Musician |
Adam Moya |
Senior Lieutenant |
Jim Griffith |
Junior Lieutenant |
Joe Estlack |
| Commander of the Guard | Robert D. Perkins |
| Sentinel | Jorge Santana |
Chaplain |
Merlen Howe |
| Judge Advocate | Benjamin Yudesis |
| Surgeon | Dock Dixon |
National Officers from Ft Sam Houston Chapter 17 |
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WHAT IS NATIONAL SOJOURNERS,
INC.
National Sojourners, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, domestic, fraternal order, operating in accordance with a Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia. For a history of the National Sojourners, click here.
PURPOSES OF NATIONAL SOJOURNERS
The purposes of National Sojourners shall be to organize current and former members of the uniformed services of the United States and Honorary Members, who are Master Masons, into Chapters, for the promotion of good fellowship among its members, for assisting such as may be overtaken by adversity or affliction, for cultivating Masonic ideals, for supporting all patriotic aims and activities in Masonry, for developing true patriotism and Americanism throughout the nation, for bringing together representatives of the uniformed services of the United States (past and present) in a united effort to further the military needs of national defense, and for opposing any influence whatsoever calculated to weaken the national security.
For information, please contact:
National Sojourners Inc.
7942-R Cluny Court
Springfield VA 22153
703.765.5000
MEMBERSHIP
Membership Categories:
Active Members – Those Master Masons and U. S. citizens who are serving or have served honorably in the Uniformed Services of the United States meet the requirements for Active membership in National Sojourners and who have been regularly elected to and initiated in any chapter of National Sojourners, Inc., are Active members.
Honorary Members – Those Master Masons who are ineligible for Active membership but who have been regularly elected to Honorary membership in any chapter of National Sojourners in recognition of meritorious service to the Nation or Freemasonry.
Qualifications – All Brethren who are interested in the Order should apply.
Masonic – You must be a Master Mason (3rd Degree) in good standing of a recognized Regular Lodge*.
Military – You must be have served honorably in the Uniformed Services of the United States.
Honorary – If you do not qualify under the provisions of the military standards, each chapter is authorized 15% of its membership to be honorary. It can exceed this 15% with a special waiver of the National President. Grand Lodge Officers in the Progressive, Elective Line that would qualify as honorary will not be accounted for within the 15% limitation.
Membership Costs:
Membership In Perpetuity (MIP)
This is a one-time payment of dues which may, under certain circumstances, be paid incrementally. An MIP is paid to the tax-deductible fund known as the National Sojourners Trust Fund in the amount of $250.00. This membership is welcomed by all chapters of the Order. However, should a member wish to join another chapter as an MIP, the amount would be reduced to $155.00. In each case, in the memo of the check it should be noted with the letters MIP and the chapter’s name and number. Some chapters are only MIP chapters, so you should check with the chapter Secretary for accurate payment costs.
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Annual Dues:
A member may choose to pay annual membership dues, but these dues are not tax-deductible. The amount varies by chapter and should be made payable as directed by the chapter Secretary. Some chapters are only MIP chapters, so contact the chapter Secretary for accurate payments costs.
Another Membership Opportunity – 3-6-5 Club & Life 3-6-5 Club
Membership in the 3-6-5 Club or Life 3-6-5 Club is open to all Active and Honorary members as a way of supporting the Sojourners Endowment Memorial (SEM) Fund. The tax-deductible SEM Fund is the resource for funding our Headquarters business operations center.
3-6-5 Club – The special category 3-6-5 Club alludes to the everyday operation of our Order. This special club can earn a chapter recognition – a streamer for the chapter flag – with the participation of its membership. The minimum requirement to earn the chapter streamer is the equivalent participation of $3.65 each year by each member.
Life Membership (L-3-6-5) – Life Membership (L-3-6-5) in this special club is a one-time payment of $36.50. The payment applies only to the specific chapter designated in the donation. It should be made payable to the SEM Fund and in the memo of the check it should reflect 3-6-5 Club or L-3-6-5 Club and the chapter name and number. If you are a member of more than one chapter and wish to contribute toward the chapter’s banner in another chapter, another donation as previously prescribed must be made.
I Meet the Qualifications:
I want to become a Member. Contact our Ft Sam Houston Chapter Secretary James "Bob McConnell at email: JMcconn529@aol.com or phone: 210-659-6813.
RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS ROTC AWARDS
Every year, the Order bestows upon a member of each unit of the ROTC and the Junior ROTC the Sojourners ROTC medal with ribbon and certificate. The award goes to the cadet who has, in the opinion of his or her superiors, done the most to encourage and demonstrate the ideals of Americanism by deed or conduct or both; and who has demonstrated potential for outstanding leadership. This award is available upon request to every ROTC and JROTC unit in America. Nearly 1500 of these medals are presented each year.
FLAG PROGRAMS
Throughout
the Order, several historical and patriotic flag programs have been developed.
One, in particular, had a Scottish Rite genesis. A member of the National
Sojourners Chapter in El Paso, Texas, Hubert L. Koker, 32
°, K.C.C.H., was
chairman of a Scottish Rite committee tasked to prepare an Americanism program
for presentation to the El Paso Scottish Rite Valley. He developed a program
in which the American Flag was built, stripe by stripe and star by star with
a narration giving the state or states admitted to the Union with the addition
of each stripe and star. Another Brother, who was also a member of both the
El Paso Scottish Rite and National Sojourners, saw the program and understood
immediately the full significance of what he had seen. After getting proper
permission, he brought the program to National Sojourners, Inc. The rest,
as they say, is history. The program was refined again and again. More portable
and reliable props were developed, and "Building the Flag" teams were formed
throughout National Sojourners with their affiliated Order, The Heroes of
‘76, presenting it in colonial uniforms, often assisted by their ladies, also
in colonial costume. This excellent patriotic and educational program has
been performed thousands of times at schools as well as Masonic and non-Masonic
gatherings of all kinds. It continues today as one of the most effective and
popular patriotic programs yet invented. A "Historical Flag Program’ was written
by National Sojourner, Byron C. Jenkins, 32°, K.C.C.H., of the Omaha, Nebraska,
Scottish Rite Valley, for presentation during the U. S. Bicentennial celebration.
Past Grand Master Jenkins’s program displays up to sixteen flags used by Americans
from pre-Revolutionary times to the present. The presentation utilizes three
or more "Heroes of ‘76" to display each full-size flag while a narrator gives
the history of how the Masonic heroes who were serving under it contributed
to our country’s birth, development, and fame. The programs cited here barely
scratch the surface of the service performed by National Sojourners, Inc.
This small but capable group of American Masonic leaders quietly serves our
country and Masonry every day through their efforts to raise the loyalty and
pride of every American by eulogizing and emulating the Masonic builder-patriots
who preceded them. Click here to read "A
Toast to the Flag
" and "To the Colors."
Webmasters:
T. E.
"Gene" & Gay Carnes