As a young boy, many of my friends participated in an organization called DeMolay. Well, I wanted to participate with them so, even though I really didn’t know what it was all about, I joined University Chapter of the Order of DeMolay in Berkeley. Our meeting place was at the Masonic temple and I quickly learned that DeMolay was an organization for young men, between the ages of 14 – 21, based upon Masonic principals, sponsored by Masons, that taught honesty, loyalty, provided comradeship and opportunity to develop skills in public speaking, time management, organization and yeah . . . most important, social interaction with the young women of Job’s Daughters and Rainbow Girls.

I thrived in this young man’s fraternity, participating in its activities, quickly becoming an officer, and ultimately served a term as it highest officer, the Master Councilor. Once my term as master Councilor was over, I found I enjoyed being a leader, so I continued on with the next step, as an officer in the North Bay District, than the East Bay Division, continuing on serving a term as a Officer in the Northern California Jurisdiction. Buy this time, I was 21 and had aged out, too old to continue to hold office.

I have always been able to relate with people, and I enjoy the interaction of dealing with people. In my travels as an officer in these various DeMolay associations I had made many friends of the Masonic adult advisors what I interacted with, and the Executive Officer of the Northern California Jurisdiction asked me to become a member of his staff, serving on the Special Events Committee. As I became more involved in the Jurisdiction level, I realized that most of my dealings were with Masons, and that perhaps I might be more successful if I were also a Mason, so I petitioned to join Fremont Lodge #497 in Oakland, where one of my friends belonged. It was at this lodge that I took the 3 degrees of Masonry.

As I matured into adulthood, I maintained my service to DeMolay, eventually serving a period of time as in Active Member of the International Supreme Council of the order of DeMolay. I also continued my membership with the Masonic Lodge, eventually demitting to Alamo Lodge #122 in Walnut Creek, because by then I had moved to Walnut Creek. Some years later, Alamo Lodge merged with Orinda Lodge #122, where I still belong, as a lifetime member.

DeMolay took me, the young boy, and built upon the foundation instilled in me by my parents, giving me the tools, and the opportunity to develop those tools into lifelong skills. DeMolay allowed me to associate with adults, learning from those adults and molding me into the person I am today. Much of the success I have had in life, I owe to what I learned from my membership and association with the Order of DeMolay, and those dedicated Masons who acted as our advisors, and in a way, mentors.

Perhaps, in some way, somehow I have also helped, mentored some young man become a better adult, husband and father. If so, then I have repaid a part of the debt I owe to an important part of my past.