The North Carolina Mason

July/August 2011

North Carolina Mason

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July/August 2011 The North Carolina Mason Page 5 Teen picks Home for Children as senior project By Lela Hyde As a rising 2012 senior at Robbins- Rowan scholarships went to, from left, Joshua Schie- mann, Leah Perkins, and Elijah Wittum. Rowan County scholarships awarded to students SALISBURY — On April 16, the Rowan County Masonic Scholarship Fund awarded its 2011 scholarships to Leah Per- kins, Joshua Schiemann, and Elijah Wittum. The scholarships are for $1,000. Leah is the daughter of Dwight and Nancy Perkins and attended Carson High School. She plans to attend Wingate University and study education. Joshua is the son of Mark and Sarah Schiemann. He attended Salisbury High School. The Eagle Scout hopes to attend Virginia Tech as an architec- ture major. Elijah is the son of Cynthia Wittum and attends West Rowan High School. This Eagle Scout received the Boy Scout Medal of Honor with Cross Palms for bravery and a 2010 Carnegie Medal for saving the life of an individual who was drowning in a flooded portion of the South Yadkin River. Elijah plans to attend either College of Charleston or Catawba College to pursue a biology degree. The Rowan County Masonic Scholarship Fund is an en- dowment administered by the six Rowan County lodges: Ful- ton 99, Andrew Jackson 576, Scotch Ireland 154, Eureka 283, Spencer 543, and Keller Memorial 657. Since its inception in 1988, the fund has awarded 67 scholarships valued at $36,500. — Dave Potts ville High School in Graham County, 17-year-old Carissa Carver found her- self struggling with a decision. In order to complete her senior year, she had to conduct a project in her English IV curriculum. The project, known as the “senior project,” includes a research pa- per, a portfolio, a physical product, and giving a public speech about her project before local civic and community lead- ers. She was to work on the project dur- ing her summer break. The students are graded on each of the four aspects of this requirement. Carissa knew she would like to do a project in which she could help oth- ers, but wasn’t sure what to choose. She approached friend, Lela Hyde, for sug- gestions. Ms. Hyde is a teacher assistant for Graham County Schools and has in the past worked with other students on choosing projects and mentoring them. Carissa explained that she wasn’t sure who to help or how to go about start- ing such a project. Ms. Hyde, who is married to Robbinsville 672 Secretary Jim Hyde, asked her husband for ideas. He suggested turning Carissa’s project into an adventure, which would not only help a Masonic charity, but teach Carissa a 300-year-old tradi- tion which brings with it much debate and bragging rights. Jim’s idea was to do a barbecue fundraiser for the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford. Jim had visited Oxford before and had once obtained the Carissa Carver barbecues for the kids and a grade. The initial goal was to sell 24 butts, but it didn’t take long be- DVDs “This Was Our Home” and “A Thousand Brothers and Sisters.” After viewing the DVDs about the Home for Children, Carissa was deeply touched by the stories told by previous resi- dents of the Home. She knew this was the project she wanted to undertake. She could research the history of the Home, adopt a cottage, organize a fundraiser, and present the proceeds to the Home. With Jim as her mentor, they started organizing the first fundraiser for this past Memorial Day weekend. William Pitt Lodge visits a favorite historic Masonic destination HALIFAX — Nine members of William Pitt 734 in Greenville made the trip up to Halifax on May 3 to visit Royal White Hart 2. Royal White Hart’s antiquity makes it a popular destination for eastern lodges. One of the oldest lodges in North Carolina, their building dates from around 1820 and is filled with Masonic artifacts that date from its establish- ment in 1764–1767. They were warmly welcomed, and a great time was had by all who made the trip. Pictured here are Wayne Bryant (who coordinated the trip), Larry Lewis, Greg Roberson, Dallas Hur- ley, Tom Jones, Jimmy Wynne, Duane Sinquefield, Ron Buck, and Leland Tucker. — Tom Jones project transformed the previous administration building into a new modern clubhouse for the residents featuring a new activity area, library, game room, resident store, lounge, staff offices, and refreshed apartments. The next two phases of WhiteStone devel- opment began in May of this year. The second phase of construction will occur over the next four months and will see the building of two structures linked to the Linville building. The new 5,000 square feet of space will include a fel- lowship hall for daily and special events, a new bistro/coffee shop, and an arts and crafts room. Set for early November completion, the new fel- lowship hall will become the temporary dining room while the main dining room building is renovated (approximately 15,000 square-feet). The new dining room will feature three distinct dining areas (outdoor dining, restaurant style dining, and informal/buffet style dining) as well as a renovated basement with new offices and employee lounge areas. Phase three will be the construction of a 70,000 square-foot independent living addition. It will provide 46 one- and two-bedroom liv- ing units ranging in size from 848 square-feet one-bedroom units to 1,300 square feet for the two-bedroom sunroom units. This addition will provide a total of 28 one-bedroom units and 18 two-bedroom units in a four-story complex. It will have a new state of the art spa. This building is scheduled to be open in March 2012. fore Carissa and her mother Ann exceeded that number. Quickly realizing the smoker Hyde borrowed from fellow Robbinsville 672 member Bill Bailey wouldn’t hold them all, Hyde borrowed a second smoker from Montgomery 426. With Jim’s guidance and expertise in cooking barbecue, Carissa prepared the meat, watched the temperature, and even fed the fire. With that week- end’s first fundraiser, Carissa brought in more than $500. Her Fourth of July sale again required two smokers and made $600. She plans to conduct another fundraiser Labor Day. She hopes to visit Oxford in the near future to tour the facili- ties, meet the staff, and gather more information for her research paper. She also hopes to make a second trip to MHCO during the Fall Homecoming Festival to present her “final product” to the Home. Carissa has no Masonic affiliation and knew nothing about the Masonic Home for Children prior to this undertaking. MHCO repeating online auction The time is quickly approaching for the 4th An- nual MHCO Board of Directors Charity Auction! The auction will start on Au- gust 26, 2011 and run through Novem- ber 4, 2011. Mark your calendars and get ready to bid! New items will be listed on our eBay site every three to five days. Visit eBay at www.ebay.com and look up seller name MHCO2008. We expect to have an exciting array of items like those listed in the past, including tickets to UNC, Duke, and NC State sporting events, electronics, art, coins, and Masonic memorabilia. The Board’s goal is to top last year’s earnings CORNERSTONE, from page 1 of $2,500. Proceeds from the auction, held courtesy of Mission Fish Charitable Auctions site, will benefit The Masonic Home for Chil- dren, caring for disadvantaged children in need of a safe, secure, and stable home. The money raised will be used for the daily operational costs, as well as special needs of the children, residing there, ages five to eighteen. For more information visit eBay. com or the Home’s website at or our Facebook or Twitter pages. Thanks, in advance, for your support of The Masonic Home for Children and its mission to help children. Ric Carter photos

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