DeMolay of the Month
Michael Griggers - February 2003
Michael Griggers, a member of Clayton Chapter in Ellenwood, was selected
as the Georgia DeMolay Online "DeMolay of the Month" for February
2003. Michael serves as Georgia DeMolay's State Senior Deacon and is a Past
Master Councilor of his Chapter. He has been a member of DeMolay since December
4, 1999 and attends school at Henry County High School. He is a Representative
DeMolay and a recipient of the Lamp of Knowledge Award. We sat down with Michael to
learn a little more about him....
GDO:
Michael, congratulations on your selection as GDO's February DeMolay
of the Month. We want our web site visitors to learn a little more
about you and your DeMolay career. How did you find out about and get
involved with DeMolay?
Michael:
My dad, who is a Mason, first mentioned it to me when I was 11, but I
paid little attention. It came up again when I turned 13 and my dad
attended his first DeMolay meeting at Clayton Chapter and was very
impressed with what he saw. He came back all excited, told me about
it and encouraged me to try it. I was skeptical at first, but then
I met Derrick Honea, a member of Clayton who was State Senior
Councilor at the time. He took me under his wing and invited me to
a prospect party. I found Derrick and the other DeMolays to be really
cool guys who genuinely showed an interest in wanting to know me better.
That did it. I was hooked.
GDO:
What do you like best about DeMolay?
A young Michael meets 34th International Master
Councilor Ed Taylor at the 2000 Holiday Formal.
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Michael:
You just don’t find that kind of camaraderie anywhere else. I have
friends all over the state and immediately feel like I belong whenever
I visit another Chapter. My fellow DeMolays are always supportive, and
I feel I can really trust them. I really enjoy spending quality time with
my dad, who is the Chapter Dad and very involved with the State Organization.
The seven cardinal virtues have helped build my personal value system.
GDO:
This is your first year as a Georgia DeMolay State Officer. Is it
what you expected? What are some of the challenges you've faced and
some of the successes you've had promoting the statewide agenda?
Michael:
I have been hanging out with the State Officers for some time, so I knew
what to expect. I really appreciate Mike Riley appointing me to the [state]
line and giving me this opportunity. Challenge: Entering the LCC’s into the
computer from the last Conclave has been a challenge, and I would like to help
organize a better way to grade everyone’s answers. I really take seriously my
role as a representative of the State Organization when I am wearing my State
Officer’s collar. Successes: I feel I have increased Clayton’s awareness of
state issues with my regular reports about what the State Officers are doing.
I have traveled a lot and attended both of Mike’s Schools of Instruction to
show my support of his program of ritual improvement. On promoting membership,
I have had good success with my school officials and have been working on a
school announcement to attract new members.
Michael works hard at repairs
for the Bikes-4-Kids Program.
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GDO:
You're described by your fellow DeMolays as showing "outstanding
support for the guys" and "always being there" for the
members of your Chapter. What is it about DeMolay that makes you so
dedicated to your fellow members?
Michael:
It makes me feel good to make others feel good. A smile is contagious,
don’t you think? I remember how special it made me feel in 1999 when
Derrick Honea, a big older guy, took up time with me when I was only
13. My dad taught me that one of the most important things you can
do is notice people and make an effort to remember their name, and I
have found that to be true. When you take time to know them, they
want to know more about you. It’s a win-win situation. Our Advisory
Council Chairman once said, "It’s not so much what you do in life,
but how you influence others that really counts."
GDO:
What are your goals for your future in DeMolay?
Michael:
For all it has meant to me, I hope to give something lasting back to
DeMolay. I would like to see a growth in the numbers of Chapters. I
am President of a new DeMolay Club that formed on January 9, 2003 and
meets at Hampton Lodge, and I am excited about [State Senior Councilor]
Chris Eells’ efforts to promote such DeMolay clubs to improve growth.
I really enjoy this organization and would also like to see it grow. I
have found being a part of the state leadership rewarding and hope that
I will be given an opportunity to continue serving as a state officer
next year.
Michael (right) with his
friends from Clayton Chapter.
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GDO:
Outside of DeMolay, what are your other interests and activities?
Michael:
I enjoy breaking bones (smile). Seriously, I enjoy the trampoline,
even though I recently broke my leg jumping on it. I enjoy paintball.
I lift weights and am enjoying the new mini-gym my dad just installed in
the basement. I am a gamer and spend way too much time playing video
games (or so Mom Griggers tells me). Other than that, I enjoy dabbling
with filmmaking, which is a career goal of mine.
GDO:
Thank you for your time, Michael, and congratulations again on your
selection as GDO's DeMolay of the Month!
Michael:
Thanks. Let me sum up by encouraging my fellow DeMolays to always
make a special effort to be there for new members or members that are shy
and keep in mind the following: "To the world you might be just one
person, but to that one person, you might just be the world."
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Fun FactPrior to 2002, the Georgia DeMolay Conclave was held at Middle Georgia College.
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