MESSAGE FROM YOUR STATE THIRD VICE PRESIDENT

February is traditionally a month for love—romantic, familial, and platonic. In February 2025, love is not just about roses and chocolates.

It’s a time when hearts need to open, when gestures of affection, need a lot of attention. This February comes with a stark contrast, as I write this, January 14th, hopefully the wildfires that are raging through the hills, burning through thousands of homes and businesses where smoke hangs thick in the air, turning so many peoples memories and homes into ashes, have been stopped!

Our Southern California lodges are in my thoughts and prayers. What if anything that can be done by the grand council to help the ones affected, shall be discussed at the spring meeting.

As flames dance across the dry hillsides, we are reminded of the fragility of life, and even in the face of such destruction, love—raw and resilient—emerges. People band together, not just out of necessity, but out of a deeper calling to care, to protect, and to help rebuild.