Friends, Family and Brothers, Greetings! I would like to thank you all for allowing me to serve the jurisdiction of Connecticut for the 2015-2016 year. More importantly, I would like to thank you for all my years of service on the State Suite since 2012. These past 8 years as an active DeMolay have shaped me into a better son, a better citizen, and a better man. All of the things that I have done wouldn't have been possible without my brothers of Connecticut. When a young man joins DeMolay at the age of 12, it’s very possible that he will not understand all the lessons right away, but in time the lessons become applicable to him and will make him that better student, that better friend, and that better son. When that same young man has a friend that joins DeMolay, that’s where the true message of DeMolay comes from. The Lessons of Filial Love, Reverence for Sacred Things, Courtesy, Comradeship, Fidelity, Cleanness, and Patriotism start unfolding to them. DeMolay is about the brotherhood and growing together with our cardinal virtues. That very same brotherhood, is with each and every one of our chapters in Connecticut and our parents and advisors should be proud of what the young men have accomplished in this organization. These young men know that there is nothing more important than to be valued as a friend and trusted as a brother. The new generation of DeMolay is here, and it is now. This generation like many generations before it, will go on and be the leaders of our society. The newest DeMolay has the potential to become a Master Councilor, a famous author, or an entrepreneur like Walt Disney. To think a man like Disney himself once stood at the doorway of a chapter room, ready to be immersed in DeMolay itself, like we all were, just goes to show how special the title of “brother” really is. I look forward to the future of Connecticut DeMolay; to our newest brethren, welcome and we hope you enjoy every moment in our organization. “Bar-none” does not justify how great of an organization this truly is and we also hope you enjoy the fellowship and create memories with your brothers that last an entire lifetime. To all my brothers of Connecticut DeMolay, each and every one of you truly holds a flame to be a beacon in the darkness, the potential to be a leader in our world and most of all, every active member should be proud to say I am a “DeMolay”
Thank you for the memories!
Fraternally Submitted,
State Master Councilor 2015-2016,
Michael Roberts Gendreau