History of The Colorado River Fall Festival  

The Colorado River Fall Festival was inspired by two members of the Kingman York Rite Bodies in Kingman, Arizona in 1991.

Reed Anderson and Peter Stronge were driving to a Regius York Rite College meeting in February of 1991, discussing the problems surrounding the Kingman York Rite Bodies.

In 1989 Kingman had a brief influx of membership and funds from the consolidation of Parker Chapter #19 RAM with King Solomon Chapter #22 RAM and the removal from Parker of Agaman Council #12 CM and Mohave Commandery #13 KT to Kingman.

King Solomon Chapter, chartered in 1985, had a net increase of membership every year through 1990, then began to slip. Both Agaman Council and Mohave Commandery had been losing membership for years which accelerated with the move to Kingman - though we could at least gather enough members to open each meeting which, at times, took some last minute telephone calls.

The finances were bad with expenses exceeding revenues precluding our charities and it was beginning to look that in two or three years we would be giving up our Charters through lack of participation, dropping membership and finances. Something, we agreed, had to be done.

The membership, at the time, was pretty evenly divided throughout Mohave County and Parker. This was nothing new, the membership has been divided throughout the history of the Bodies to this day. Our policy in the past had been to bring the Degrees to the Candidates - if there were three or more. On a number of occasions we conferred Degrees in Needles, California for Candidates and we were willing to continue this - although expensive and difficult, the Candidate fees would break us even. Unfortunately, getting the Candidates together with a Degree team was very difficult and because of our small membership, the Degree team could only confer two Degrees at a time with 6 to 8 weeks between conferrals. The Candidates we did obtain were losing the thread of continuity and because so few of us were ritualists, they were not truly appreciating or benefiting from the work. We took most of our Candidates to Phoenix for the Commandery Orders, particularly Order of the Temple.

Reed and Peter concluded we would be able to attract more Candidates, and in a cost effective manner, if we had a Festival which would communicate all the Degrees and Orders at one time. But we would need help as we could not do all this ourselves at one time.

At the meeting of Regius, they talked to many Companions about the idea and received many expressions of encouragement and help. This was a real boost and the start of the Colorado River Fall Festival. We never heard "Oh, you can't do that" or "It won't work". Rather, we heard "It's a good idea" and "How can I help". This has been the success of the Festival - no one ever said "It can't be done!" Had we been discouraged at this seminal stage, the Festival would probably never occurred.

A month or so later we heard the Phoenix Bodies held a Spring Festival which had attracted only four Candidates, three of which were courtesies for other Bodies. We also heard they were not happy with the results.

Kingman then contacted the Phoenix Bodies, proposed they bring their Fall Festival to Bullhead City and, with us, put on a Festival. The idea was a traveling Festival, one that would be in different parts of the State on an annual basis, Bullhead City being the first. Phoenix, however, declined but did agree to assist us it we put on one. We then went to the Yuma Bodies, requested their assistance, received assurances; to Regius York Rite College, the same; and to Oasis Chapter #15 RAM in Wickenburg, the same. Yuma was so enthusiastic about the Festival, there was some talk at the time to hold the second one in Yuma.

In short, all through this process of putting the idea into fruition, we heard nothing in the way of discouragement or that it couldn't be done, but we did receive a lot of encouragement and help.

The date, the week before Thanksgiving, was chosen for several reasons. It would give the membership sufficient time after the summer break to solicit Candidates - September was too soon - October had too many conflicts including the Grand Sessions - December had conflicts and the Christmas season. So November was selected, although not Thanksgiving as it was felt there would be too many family commitments (and no discount for housing). This was also immediately preceding the Yuma Ceremonial of El Zaribah Shrine Temple, so that those desiring to join that organization would be able to do so after attending our Festival.

Bullhead City has one of the strongest and most active Shrine Clubs in El Zaribah Temple. Their assistance has been invaluable, not only to promote our Festival to prospective Candidates, but also for providing the facilities and Banquet for the first Festival.

Once these facilities were secured, housing and dining arrangements made, the next step was to request the heads of the various Grand Bodies to attend, which would not only attract Candidates, but sideliners. The head of each Grand Body and the Grand Master F&AM attended. This absolutely proved itself. We notified the Grand York Rite Bodies of California and Nevada of our festival and those attending and invited their participation. Several of their Grand Officers attended with many observers from their jurisdictions.

Kingman obtained lists from the Masonic Lodges in the area and sent a mailing to over 500 Master Masons in Mohave County, inviting them to become Candidates or, if already York Rite Masons, to join us. As a result, we received applications for 25 Candidates. Very few Candidates were obtained directly from this mailing, rather it served to reinforce the solicitation of our membership.

1991

In the 1991 Festival 43 Candidates from Arizona were conferred all the Degrees and Orders from teams from Arizona. To say that this first Colorado River Fall Festival in 1991 was a success is a true understatement. The Kingman York Rite Bodies membership increased by almost 50%, which in turn increased participation and turned our finances around. This Festival also raised the adrenaline in the rest of the state and at the end of the year each of the Grand Bodies reported a net increase of membership, the first in many years. The Festival cannot take sole credit for this, but we certainly assisted.

-1992-

In 1992 the Festival was again held in Bullhead City, at the Holiday Inn the weekend before Thanksgiving. Both the Grand Jurisdictions of California and Nevada participated in bringing Degree teams and Candidates.

62 Candidates from the three jurisdictions received the Degrees and Orders.

This was another success in not only the number of Candidates but also the quality of the work and spirit of interjurisdictional cooperation.

The 1992 Festival saw the development of State Chairmen who coordinated the activities in his jurisdiction leading to the Festival. We also made the Festival into a package with the Conferrals, rooms and meals all in the same location. Ladies Tours were first offered at this Festival.

-1993-

In 1993, the Colorado River Fall Festival went through a massive change.

We changed our location from Arizona to Nevada, meeting at Harrah's Hotel in Laughlin

We began handling all reservations ourselves.

A Candidates meeting was held prior to the Conferrals for their information.

The Royal Arch Widows Degree was offered.

The conferrals were held on weekdays instead of weekends.

88 Candidates received the Degrees and Orders including Grand Master Warren C Blomseth of California and Deputy Grand Master Ronald L Wright of Arizona. The Grand Masters of each of the three jurisdictions were present - the first Festival at which this occurred.

The participation in this Festival was overwhelming. From past experience, we had anticipated renting about 200 rooms, but it soon became apparent we would go over that number. Harrah's only allowed us 300 rooms and we obtained housing for another 50 at other Hotels in the area. We found some participants were using this Festival as an opportunity not only to see friends and Degree work, but were using it as a second "honeymoon" or mini-vacation.

One hitch that developed was easily taken care of - the team assigned the Past Master Degree did not appear as a result of some communication problem. From all the talent immediately available, a team was put together on the spot and the Festival continued with just a short delay.

-1994-

In 1994 we continued with the progress of the previous Festivals. More Committeemen were added, perhaps most importantly a Candidate Registrar, and the work spread to more people taking the load off individuals and enabling them to concentrate on specific areas.

This Festival saw a KYCH meeting and conferral for the first time.

32 Candidates from the three jurisdictions plus one each from New Mexico and Utah were conferred the Degrees and Orders.

-1995-

The 1995 Colorado River Fall Festival saw the development of Ritualistic Directors, coordinating the teams from their jurisdictions with the other jurisdictions. A meeting was held with the Degree teams prior to the Festival to coordinate and facilitate the conferrals. We also purchased a trailer for the storage of paraphernalia, reducing the need to haul paraphernalia from home and we moved the Festival to the last week of October.

46 Candidates from the three jurisdictions including one each from Oregon and New Mexico and 6 from Equator received the Degrees and Orders.

-1996-

The 1996 Colorado River Fall Festival again continued the progress previously made. A sound system was purchased for the use of the Festival. It proved inadequate and will be (has been!) expanded upon.

64 Candidates from the three jurisdictions, one each from Oregon and New Mexico and 4 from Equador. The Companions from Equador advise they will be attempting to Charter Grand York Rite Bodies and are attempting to get as many individuals as possible qualified.

-1997-

In 1997 we continued our progress from previous years. We had our first visit from a General Grand High Priest, Murray E Cooke. We conferred the Degrees and Orders upon a Candidate from Paraguay for the first time. The sound system was again upgraded and , while adequate, will again be expanded. E-Mail between Committeemen was extensively and successfully used. The contract for 1998 moves our Festival from Harrah's Hotel to Riverside Hotel in Laughlin. An Internet Web Page is being (has been!) created.

-1998-

1998 finds us at the Riverside Hotel for the first time. We confer the Super Excellent Master Degree for the first time - on 172 candidates, including one from The Netherlands. Our new "Lodge Room" - the Starview Room - is spacious, quiet and comfortable, and allows for good sight lines. Two dressing rooms, well-removed from the "Lodge Room", allow for a much quieter atmosphere. The sound system upgrade program continues on, and the sound gets better each year - if you attended long ago and couldn't hear "the work", please come back - you will be very pleasantly surprised. Our Web Site moves from its old location to our new "Top Domain" location at www.crff.org.

-1999-

Still at the Riverside Hotel. A degree team from Nevada does an excellent job of conferring the "Royal Arch Widow's Degree" on 45 ladies - this is now an "every other year" degree presentation, alternating with the Super Excellent Master Degree. E-Mail, combined with this website, have really popularized the Festival and facilitated communications, not only between the staff members, but the attendees as well. Another upgrade to the sound system (eight wireless mics on the floor at one time, and our own mixer board) and the sound man/webmason and his able assistant both continue in those slots, so continuity improves with age! No complaints about the sound this year  -  if you attended in the "early years" and haven't come back because you couldn't hear the work, come back and be totally amazed!

-2000-

Riverside Hotel again - it's working well for us, and the available presentation/registration areas are the best we can get in Laughlin. Increased participation by Oregon and New Mexico, and more work coming from those two jurisdictions. If we keep going, we'll have to rename the event as "The Western States Festival" or something like that! 340 rooms sold; 350 people at the banquet - quite an increase since the first festival, at the Mohave Shrine Club in Bullhead City in 1991!

-2001-

The Riverside Hotel continues to work well with and for us, and work keeps coming in ... 62 candidates this year!

-2002-

Back at the Riverside Hotel - it's becoming "home" to us, and fits well, like an old pair of slippers. Lots of candidates ... all went well, with some absolutely superb degree work!

-2003-

"Home-away-from-Home" at the Riverside ... a good year for Candidate Counts ... the Royal Arch Degree Team from Massachusetts Grand Chapter joins us to confer all the Chapter Degrees and does a stupendous job, drawing a standing ovation at the end of the conferrals ... we look forward to seeing them again!

-2004-

Yet another good year at the Riverside ... Candidate Counts up significantly from last year ... some really good work on all the Degrees and Orders (we're getting better known for excellent work, and attracting some really good Degree Teams!).

HISTORICAL DATA         ("The Numbers")

NOTE: Totals averaged between Chapter/Council/Commandery and are not exact but are reflective.
NOTE: In the legend above the table, EQ = Equador, PARA = Paraguay, Neth'l = Netherlands.
-2006- Even bigger and better -- with your help! Make your plans NOW to be with us THEN!

 Where would YOU like to go from here?
(Other than to the Riverside in Laughlin, NV, October 19, 20, 21 2008)
to be with us at the COLORADO RIVER FALL FESTIVAL!)

   (Last modified 11/17/2007)