Dear Companions, I am extremely grateful to serve you as Grand High Priest for this year.  It is an honor which is hard to believe I deserve.   I will do my best to do credit to this high honor and endeavor to leave this Grand Chapter in at least as good a condition as it is at this time. Over the last year we have had an increase in membership which we hope to continue with the return of good attendance and participation.  One key to this is involvement of the long term members, ritualists and sideliners alike. Several years ago I wrote an article on the need for all members to be a member of a ritual team.  This principle still holds true.  Members who are on the sideline are just as important as the one doing the floor work or the lectures.  The candidates need to see someone other that the ritualist is in the room.  They need to feel that attendance is important even if they do not want to do any active floor work. We have all seen people who are good leaders fall by the wayside for the simple reason that only members who do ritual are recognized. As we travel the state this year the Grand Officers and I look forward to seeing all of you in attendance at conferral of degrees, open meeting or just gatherings of the companions.   Be involved in your Masonic Bodies: but more important be involved with your family and your faith in God. Fraternally, Edward G, Holland Grand High Priest