A Late Night Out At Suburban Square (and Compass)

Weaving between the rows of cars at Suburban Square in Ardmore I wondered how long it would take before finding a parking space. The National Night Out festivities were already in full swing and every extra minute that passed was lost time that I could be helping my brothers and those in the community. As has become an annual tradition for our lodge, we were manning the Child Identification booth last night trying to help families keep their children safe all while not asking for a dime or keeping any information (unlike some similar programs being run in the area by a for profit company that I shall not name).

After parking on the other side of the train tracks I managed to get to the trailer about an hour after the party began. ID’s had already been processed and the line was beginning its steady growth. While not the onslaught that we experienced last year at the event, we had a regular flow of parents and children both getting identifications done and just asking questions. Once the program is explained in detail, there is almost a sense of gratitude that we would get from parents. On a certain level I understand their thoughts but at the same time it is our pleasure to give back to our community. After all, we are Masons to better ourselves, those around us, and the community in general.

Throughout the night (in addition to the plethora of people asking where to buy ride and meal tickets) we met friends, fellow masons, and police officers all guiding people to our booth. We even had a woman bring her daughter and grandchild to us after having taken her daughter through the process a decade ago. I anticipate seeing more and more of those instances as the years pass and we are able to process hundreds, if not thousands, of Child ID’s.

Another woman, guided over to us by the Lower Merion Police Department, asked if we would do the same thing at an upcoming event in September. She had previously talked to the aforementioned for-profit company, but was told by the local authorities that we were the best option. So, hopefully, we will be holding another CHIP event in early September at Ludington Library in Bryn Mawr. Just waiting for her to send me an email with the exact details.

The parking lot began to clear as soon as the music stopped.

By nine o’clock we were just finishing up the last ID of the night and we were all quite tired from the, at times, hectic pace. However, we all had energy to spare as tallied the count at 50 for the event bringing the total for the last two years over 110 children. While I hope that none of those packets ever have to be used, I am glad to play a small role in the peace of mind that those parents have thanks to our efforts and those of every other Mason in Pennsylvania and across the country. While every day I am proud to be a Mason, last night accentuated that pride I have in being a part of the greatest fraternity in the world.

On National Night Out Every CHIP Counts!

Last night I spent the evening surrounded by children and, while tiring, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. As many of you know, last night was National Night Out and as part of this campaign I assisted my fellow Masons by helping local families protect their children and guiding them through the free child ID program that we offer to the public. The program, held at Suburban Square in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, was a rousing success as we surpassed our modest goal and completed well over sixty kits during the three hour event while providing information to dozens of additional families.

The calm before the storm.

For those of you unfamiliar with this program, let me offer you a quick overview. The Child Identification Program (CHIP) addresses the alarming fact that over 1,000,000 children are reported missing in the United States each year. While most are found, many are not, and the abduction of children is both under-reported and rapidly increasing in our society. CHIP provides parents and guardians the means to quickly get vital information to emergency responders. The Masonic CHIP Program is the most comprehensive service of its kind anywhere.

It is this comprehensive approach that brought families to our booth and it was the comfort of knowing that none of the information is stored or kept in any way, shape, or form. All of the child’s information is recorded directly onto a CD which the parent takes with them and along with an actual ID card with their basic information and fingerprints. The following picture is what the kit looks like (the other items in the picture are for DNA samples that the parents do at home):

It was amazing to see the reactions on the parent’s faces as we walked them through the process. There was even a sense of comfort and relief that could be felt in some of the conversations. And by keeping the kids engaged while promoting a fun and friendly atmosphere the line grew longer and longer. At many points during the evening, we were one of the most popular attractions at the carnival/fair with a line equal to many of the attractions scattered throughout the grounds.   

What was also a wonderful sight was the participation of the local Rainbow Girls Chapter. These young girls, not much older than the children being brought to our booth, were able to connect in a way that none of the adults could. I was very happy to see these future leaders starting so early in their endeavors to serve the community.

Overall, this program epitomizes the reasons why we become masons: fraternity, family, and community. Sometimes we get caught up in the fraternal and educational aspects of Freemasonry and programs bring us back to the roots of service that are so important to the role that we play in the community as a whole. Brothers across this commonwealth and around the world do what they can to help those around them and make sure that they have a positive impact on the community. This is one aspect of how becoming a mason makes a good man better.  

It was a long and tiring night permeated by the scents of popcorn and soft pretzels but one that flew by much faster than I expected. It was a hectic and crowded evening full of loud music, noisy ride, and bright lights but everything managed to run smoothly. It was a great night for all and I am glad that I took the time to spend the cool summer evening with some of my brothers while serving the community.

I came home last night smelling like a carnival but I still look forward to doing it all over again in the fall.  

 

After the crowd was gone all that was left to illuminate the sign was the yellow glow from the amusement rides.