Robert A. Vowell, 33°
PO Box 24, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72902–0024

Few jobs are as rewarding as helping dyslexic children learn to read.

Early this morning, I find myself at the backdoor of our Scottish Rite Temple in Fort Smith, Arkansas, loading my truck with 15 boxes. The boxes are not very heavy, and I can hardly wait until I am on the road to make this delivery. I am the General Secretary for the Valley of Fort Smith, the greatest job in the world. The normal duties of a Valley Secretary bring with them great joy and satisfaction. However, this morning is very special. Of all my duties and responsibilities, making this delivery brings a special happiness. It will affect and change the lives of hundreds now and in the future! The delivery consists of 350 one-hour videotapes to a local elementary school. It's the Dyslexia Program developed by Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC) in Dallas.

A few years ago, most of the folks in our area had never heard the word dyslexia. With patience and expertise, this condition can be treated, improved, and even overcome. As of now, our Valley has placed 22 complete TSRHC Dyslexia Programs within some of the school districts of Western Arkansas. The programs provided to the Arkansas public schools are free of charge due to the contributions of the Arkansas Scottish Rite Bodies. This is just one of the ways our Order is helping to eliminate childhood language disorders.

I am hoping we will be able to load my truck more often. If you are looking for a place to work in your Valley, volunteer to help your local Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinic, Center, or Program. Promoting the TSRHC Dyslexia Program would be a good place to start. In Arkansas our motto is: Helping our kids read and write, through the caring of Scottish Rite. It works!

Note: For more information on the TSRHC Dyslexia Program, please contact the Luke Waites Child Development Center at 214–559–7800.
  Robert A. Vowell
is General Secretary of the Western Arkansas Scottish Rite Bodies, Fort Smith, Arkansas, as well as Grand Chaplain and Grand Prelate, Grand York Rite of Arkansas. Ill. Vowell became a Mason in 1978, Scottish Rite Mason in 1979, and member of the York Rite and Shrine in 1982. He was honored as a K.C.C.H. in 1987 and I.G.H. in 1993. A Life Member of Waldron Lodge No. 132, Waldron, Arkansas, he has been an ordained minister since 1979, currently serving as Senior Minister of First Cumberland Presbyterian, Fort Smith.