sovereign order of st. john of jerusalem knights hospitaller · 11/1/2016 · h.e. bailifff joe...

SOSJ International Newsletter. Special Edition Part 1. November 2016

Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller

Special Edition, Part 1November 2016

NOWELCOME TO PART 1 OF THE SPECIAL EDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER

COVERING THE 2016 SOVEREIGN COUNCIL MEETINGSPART 2 WILL BE A PICTORAL OF CLEVELAND EVENTS AND THE POST-MEETING TOUR

SOVEREIGN COUNCIL MEETINGS HELD IN CLEVELAND, OHIO, USA

The 2016 Sovereign Council meetings were held on September 26 and 27.

17members of the Sovereign Council were present in person and 9 members voted by proxy. In addition a large number of other members and guests observed the two days of meetings. Some of the highlights of the meeting included:

GRAND MASTER Grand Commander Owen Brown was nominated to be the Grand Master, following the death of former Grand Master, David Rolfe. Two ballots were held and on each occasion the two thirds majority vote required to elect a Grand Master were not achieved.

(Subsequent to the meeting a Nominating Committee for a Grand Master has been formed consisting of two members from Europe, two members from the United States, two members from Canada and the Committee to be chaired by Bailiff Paul Beckmann, GCSJ of Canada).

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APPOINTMENT OF FIVE NEW BAILIFFS

Le Petit Conseil proposed to members of the Sovereign Council the appointment of four new Bailiffs. In addition Grand Master Emeritus Joe Rudé, of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller, has also joined the Sovereign Order and has been appointed a Bailiff. Bailiff Rudé also continues as a member of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller, with their Grand Master’s approval. The new Bailiffs were formally inducted as Bailiffs at the September 26 Sovereign Council meeting.

H.E. Bailiff Richard Earthy, GCSJ. Prior of Canada

Bailiff Richard Earthy became a Knight in the Vancouver Commandery in 2005 and immediately began participating and involving others in activities of the Order. Filling leadership positions in the Commandery, Earthy became Commander in 2011 and served two terms. In 2012 he was promoted to Commander of Justice and elected to Prior of Canada in 2015.

As Commander, Earthy oversaw the planning, negotiations, fundraising of $5.3 million, and construction of the St. John Hospice of Vancouver, which opened in 2013.

Bailiff Earthy has attended Sovereign Council meetings in North America and Europe. He co-chaired the first Priors and Commanders’ meeting held in Malta in 2014.

He supported the establishment of the Commandery of Okanagan in British Columbia and the increased membership in the Commandery of Ontario, and the operations of all four Canadian Commanderies.

In business, Earthy was a senior executive for IBM in Eastern Canada before becoming the CEO of a family business in Vancouver.

H.E. Bailiff Brooks Mancini, GCSJ

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Bailiff Mancini has been a leader in the Sovereign Order since his investiture in June 2001.

After several years in the St. Joseph Commandery, he relocated to Reno, Nevada and immediately set out to form the Commandery of the Sierras. He quickly immersed himself in the local community and persuaded oth-ers to join the Sovereign Order.

In 2007, he was elected as the first Commander of the Sierras, served two terms, and has advised successive commanders and raised more than $100,000 for charity. He has attended most Sovereign Council meetings and investitures at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral.

As the Deputy Grand Prior of the Americas, he participated in investitures in the Palm Beaches and Vancouver and visited commanderies of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Washington, D.C.

Bailiff Mancini entered business in San Jose where he built a multi-million dollar company. His civic activities include chairing the San Jose Airport Commission, San Jose-Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, Good Samaritan Hospital and as a director of the Reno Airport Authority.

H.E. Bailiff Martin Marschner von Helmreich, GCSJGrand Prior of Central Europe

Martin Marschner von Helmreich was invested in the Danish branch of the St. John Order in 2004. He joined the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller at the Budapest Reunification in 2010. Three years’ later he was elected Grand Prior of the then German Grand Priory.

The Grand Prior has been involved in the successful creation of a Commandery in Monaco in 2015 and two in Germany. Under his leadership, von Helmreich assists in jointly administering the Commanderies in Formation of Italy and Monaco. He has also overseen the creation of the establishment of the Monaco-Italian website.

As the Grand Prior of Central Europe, von Helmreich continued his dedication of service within the Order, taking part in almost all European Investitures since 2006 and visiting all the Commanderies in Europe. An active promoter of charitable works, he personally tutors French language to Iraqi refugees, assists the elderly and numerous charitable organizations and collects money for Christians in the Middle East.

Proficient in five languages and conversational in three others, he has great skills to help with the works of the Order. A successful businessman with experience in finance, sales, management, and the inventor of a new patented technology in the field of magnetic electro-motors. Bailiff von Helmreich is a motivated contributor to the Sovereign Order.

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H.E. Bailiff Janet Miller, GCSJ Prior of the Eastern United States

A founder of the Cleveland Commandery, Dame Janet Miller was invested in 2004.

Responsible for programming and music for ceremonies, she also served as Secretary and, being an attorney, she handled internal legal matters.

After serving as Vice Commander for four years, she assumed command in 2011. As Commander, she wrote a detailed guide for investitures and related activities.

With steady promotions and active service, she achieved Dame of Justice in 2012. A year later, Dame Miller became Prior of the Eastern United States.

Janet Miller has been a valuable member by increasing recruitment and contributing to philanthropic activities. For six years, Bailiff Miller was the Legal Counsel of the Grand Priory of the Americas and worked with Grand Priors in producing a recruitment manual and serving on the nominating committee for a Grand Prior.

Dame Miller has travelled to investitures throughout the Grand Priory of the Americas and attended Sovereign Council meetings in Malta, Washington, D.C., Budapest and San Francisco. She led the planning for the Sover-eign Council meeting in Cleveland.

Bailiff Miller is the Chief Legal Officer for University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland and on the executive team that manages the $4 billion health system. Janet Miller also serves on the Boards of several non-profit organizations.

H.E. Bailifff Joe Rudé, GCSJ.

Bailiff Joe C. Rudé, GCSJ, holds joint membership in the Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller and is also Grand Master Emeritus of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller. Work continues to reunite the two elements of the Order to grow and increase the common mission to help the sick and poor.

During his 25 years of service to the Order, Bailiff Rudé’s awards include the Eminent Service Cross (2005) and

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The King Peter II Medal (2012). He has held senior leadership positions with service as Grand Master of the Hospitaller Order (1999-2005). Awards by other prestigious organizations are numerous.

Dr. Rudé has a distinguished career as a medical doctor and educator in the specialty of radiology. Captain Rudé served as a US Air force officer in Vietnam as a flight surgeon. A world traveler, he is a Fellow in the Explorers Club and the Royal Geographical Society. Rudé is involved with an extensive list of genealogic organizations and currently serves as the Georgia Governor of The Order of the Founders and Patriots of America.

OTHER SOVEREIGN COUNCIL MEETING MATTERS

Reports were given by the Grand Commander, and each of the Conventual Bailiffs. Financial reports and the 2017 Budget were presented and approved.

In addition, the Grand Priors/Priors of the Americas, Central Europe. Dacia (Scandinavia), France, UK and Ireland and Finland presented their reports.

The Grand Commander also reported on the work of the Unification Group and particularly on continuing discussion with the Grand Priory of the U.S. of the Hospitaller Order with whom the Sovereign Order signed a Concordat in 2008.

In the European Grand Priories work continues to improve communications and mutually beneficial administration arrangements

There was a presentation on a special ‘Senator’ membership for long-term members throughout the Order. Discussions will continue.

The Sovereign Council approved a motion permitting Dames to voluntarily wear white sashes for attaching regalia.

TWO RULES WERE AMENDED:

• The maximum age for Commanders has been changed from 70 to 75.• Returning members will be required to pay full payment of ‘International’ oblations. Other possible

re-payments will be determined by the member’s Commandery/Priory.

HUMANITARIAN AWARDS

It was proposed to resume the practice of granting a Humanitarian Award to individuals who have contributed in an exceptional way to their community.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF LE PETIT CONSEIL

The following Bailiffs were elected to Le Petit Conseil for the next two years:

• Grand Commander. Conventual Bailiff Owen Brown, GCSJ, CMSJ, MMSJ • Grand Marshal. Conventual Bailiff William Stein, GCSJ • Grand Hospitaller. Conventual Bailiff Patrice de Gail, GCSJ, CMSJ, MMSJ• Grand Conservator. Conventual Bailiff Dag von Schantz, GCSJ, PUHO, CMSJ• Grand Counsellor. Conventual Bailiff David Petitpierre, GCSJ

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INDUCTION OF THE GRAND PRIOR OF THE AMERICAS

H.E. Bailiff Prior Emeritus Suzanne Turner, GCSJ

At the Ceremony of Investiture, held in the St. John the Evangelist Cathedral, Cleveland, on September 27, Bailiff Suzanne Turner, GCSJ, was inducted as the 39th Grand Prior of the Americas. During her 4-year term, she will, among other duties, lead the Grand Priory consistent with Hospitaller mission, assist priories, establish a Grand Counsel and communicate the activities of the Grand Priory. She is well-qualified for this responsibility.

Since her investiture in June, 2000 into the San Francisco Commandery, Suzanne founded the Commandery of the Palm Beaches, serving as Vice Commander and later Commander. She then founded the Commandery of Washington, D.C. and became its Commander. Continuing her rise in the Order, she has served as Deputy Prior of the Eastern United States and in 2007 was elected Prior of the Eastern United States and held that position until 2013. She has been a Bailiff since 2008.

Suzanne Turner has also organized the raising of more than a million dollars for the Children’s Home Society of Southeast Florida; raised funds to build a village in Leon, Nicaragua, and helped provide a fire truck and medical equipment.

Suzanne Turner leads the YWCA of Palm Beach County as CEO and has served in many health and social welfare leadership positions. In 1972, she was named as one of the Ten Outstanding Women in America. Other numerous awards attest to her significant contributions to society and to the organizations she supports.

Layout: Our thanks to Alexandria Gordon-Collins for her layout workContributing Writer: Chevalier William Highlander, KCSJ, MMSJEditor: Conventual Bailiff Grand Counsellor David Petitpierre, GCSJ

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sovereign order of st. john of jerusalem knights hospitaller · 11/1/2016 · h.e. bailifff joe...

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