Grand Chancellor Michael Sukenick

It is a privilege and an honor to serve you this year as your Grand Chancellor. In an order founded in 1864, it takes action and commitment to keep things going in our modern times. Our principles are as meaningful today, as they were when we were founded- to provide friendship, charity and benevolence to everyone. We can only continue to do this by working together and making things happen.

My administration, from my Chief Deputy, his Assistants, to their Deputies, will be very active this year beyond just giving my message and installing their Lodges. We will be a more informed group of individuals, with regards to Grand Lodge committees and disseminating information to our members. Each member of my team will involve himself in a special Pythian project assigned to him. This will not only better provide him with current information, but will help him grow into a potential leader of our Order in the future.

Each Deputy will be responsible for his District. He will inform the website of important charitable activities of his Lodges, by providing photos, videos and articles of their events. This will educate the public throughout our Domain of who we are and what the Order is all about. My Deputies will make things happen.

Youth Commission

This year I will be working closely with our Junior Order, which will be under the guidance of chairman PACDGC Norman Green, and co-chairman PACDGC David Stanger. The Junior Order will be volunteering its time in local libraries, reading to neighborhood children. Each volunteer's hours will be recorded, and a plaque with his or her name will be given to the library with our Pythian logo on it. Each volunteer will also receive a special pin designed by me, with the Junior Order logo, representing their volunteered hours. We will also have a public speaking contest opened to high school sophomores. If the fathers of these contestants join the Order, the students will then become eligible for our Grand Lodge scholarships upon graduation. This contest might encourage more men to become Pythians.

DOKK Temples

The two DOKK Temples In our Domain, Salaam #145 and Habibi #72 will be working on a joint project to raise money for our Servicemen and Veterans committee. PACDGC Alex Needleman and PACDGC Sir Barry Wiener will be heading this project with the support of both Temples. This event will provide "pleasure with a purpose" and will mark the first time both Temples will be working together and making things happen.

Servicemen and Veterans Committee

This committee will again be under the very able leadership of PCDGC Sir Joseph Robinson. We will continue to provide packages to go overseas for our troops. Anyone who makes a small donation of $13, to defray the cost of shipping, will have a certificate with his or her name on it placed inside the package showing your support. I will also ask the committee to provide a certificate of thanks to any local business that supports our efforts. We will continue to support our local Veterans Hospitals. SR Sir Morton Hirsh will be assigned to special projects to help meet the needs of these hospitals.

Pythian Sisters

This year I plan to work closely with Grand Chief Aida Leone and the Pythian Sisters. I am asking both Pythian brothers and sisters to help In fundraising projects for the Sisters ' charities. We are putting together a cookbook, and would like recipes submitted to either Grand Lodge or Grand Temple. These recipes can come from your favorite appetizers, main dishes, side dishes and desserts. We will also have a section of fun and easy dishes to make with children. I know I will get a good response to this project, knowing how Pythians enjoy eating. By working together with the Sisters, we will make things happen for their charities.

Public Awareness and Membership

Where is our Pythian emblem displayed? In very few places. I will have available, through my Grand Lodge budget, partial funding for any Lodge that desires a road sign in their neighborhood displaying our emblem along with their Lodge's meeting place, days and times. I will be purchasing a 10 by 10 canopy tent with our emblem and website prominently displayed. This canopy can be used at any Lodge or District event as a centerpiece for identifying us and for promoting membership. I plan to erect a sign visible from both field and street at the Amity Little League Field in Brooklyn. This can only come about with the support from the surrounding Brooklyn Lodges. This sign will be visible evidence that we exist in the neighborhood and might attract members to join our Order.

PGC Allan Greenberg and PACDGC Sir Barry Wiener will head up the important membership committee this year. They will make sure a membership table with informative Pythians will be at your social and fund raising events to promote the Order. I am relying on their committee to provide a membership campaign targeting all areas of the Domain.

Website

A new committee is being formed under the leadership of Chief Deputy Matt Silverman. The technology committee, with funding from Grand Lodge, will work to take our website to the next level. With help from PC Izhak "Itzy" Sirota, ACDGC Bruce Sicherman, PACDGC Bruce Nelson, PDSC Sir David Peltzer, GP Craig Shink, and contributions from PSR Sir Julian Martin, our website will be transformed into an exciting and informative place for our members as well as visitors who have an interest in joining our Fraternal Order. Our website address will still be KOPNY.com. Sign on and watch the transformation as our Pythian year unfolds. Watch the committee work together and make things happen.

Special Project

This year we will collaborate with our New Jersey Pythian Brothers on a special project. This will be headed up by our own PDSC Sir David Peltzer. More details will be set forth as they become available. All I can say is this has not been addressed in over 130 years. This project will bring New York and New Jersey Pythians closer together.

Member Support

Please be aware that Grand Lodge is working together to support its members through the health services provided by AHF under the direction of SR Sir Edward Birnbaum. The Dr. Morris Smoller Fund also helps get our members into nursing homes, hospice and rehabilitation facilities. Individual lodges provide benevolent benefits to their members.

Domain Support

Our Domain remains committed to supporting our Humanitarian Fund, Diabetes Research, Pythian Camp, Camp Sunrise for children with cancer, Double H Ranch which provides year round supportive experiences for critically ill children, and all Grand Lodge committees.
Only through your help and support can we do our calling as Pythians. Remember, we will succeed in all we do by WORKING TOGETHER MAKING THINGS HAPPEN.

Fraternally,
Michael Sukenick
Grand Chancellor