Page 13 - Sojourner Newsletter-Fall 2024 Final1

Volume 101, Issue 4 13

The brethren on the west coast are experimenting with a new concept. Founding forward hosts 10 (4 day)
youth conferences per year, just like the one in July that National Sojourners sponsors. Plus, they have a few
similar for teachers, as well present community service awards. They used to have 24 supporting chapters
around the country, to raise funds and support youth from all over, as we do at National Sojourners, but greatly
increasing the opportunity to serve more students, they host 9 additional conferences each year. Well, now
there are 25 supporting chapters, because as of July 2023, the brethren of Monterey Bay Chapter chartered the
Monterey Bay Area Chapter of Founding Forward. The intention and goal of this effort is to reach out to the
community for membership and support of the Founding Forward Chapter. The communities with existing
chapters, like Sacrament, send about 60 students each year plus several teachers. With the community support
element, it just may increase our results and bring positive recognition to National Sojourners and
Freemasonry in general. These purposes are part of the objective of many community and Veteran
organizations. You can check in on the Monterey Bay Area Chapter of Founding Forward at their new
website: www.mbacff.org.

Once again thanks to all the many individual Sojourners and Chapters who did their best to provide this once
in a lifetime experience to the youths who were fortunate enough to attend this year’s event. We look forward
to seeing greater numbers at the next Spirit of America Youth Leadership Conference, July 17-21, 2025. Look
for more information to follow in the coming months.

Respectfully & fraternally submitted,

Mad Max
Michael D. “Max” Schell
Chairman, Americanism Committee