Many of these were described in detail in the Scottish Rite Journal article (January 2001) titled "Touring Charleston During the 2001 Celebration." These tours are available from September 26 though October 4, 2001. The actual ceremonies of the Biennial Session begin Sunday, September 30, with the Albert Pike Memorial Service, the formal greeting of visiting dignitaries, and the opening, with reception, of the Scottish Rite exhibit at the Charleston Museum. The Biennial Session then continues through to Wednesday, October 3, with that day's investiture of the K.C.C.H., conferral of the Thirty-third Degree, and Gala Banquet.

Special tours for Brethren, spouses, and guests have been arranged with Charleston Convention and Group Services, Inc. They are outlined in the January Journal article. Of course, other tours are also available to you through individual arrangement with other companies. Beginning on Saturday, September 29, all tours noted in the January Journal will depart from and end at the North Charleston Convention Center. The tours offered before Saturday and after Wednesday will leave from a downtown location. Any tours which end after transportation to and from hotels has stopped running for the day will drop passengers at their respective hotels.

So join us for four days of Masonic festivity and eight days of opportunity to enjoy one of the South's most historic, beautiful, and exciting cities. Among the many places to see and visit by bus, boat, horse-drawn carriage, or on foot in or near Charleston are:

	Fort Moultrie and Charleston's Barrier Islands
	Fort Sumpter
	Middleton Place Plantation
	Drayton Hall Plantation
	Charleston Museum
	Boone Hall Plantation
	Spirit of Carolina dinner cruise of Charleston Harbor
	A Carriage Ride through Charleston's Historic District
	Patriots Point, USS Yorktown, and Omar Shrine Temple
	Magnolia Gardens
	Charleston's Kingdom by the Sea: the Joseph Manigault House and Battery District
	Washington's Charleston Walk tracing the steps of Bro. George Washington during his state visit to Charleston in 1791.

You can receive more information about Charleston and the tours noted above by contacting:

Erin Mellen
Charleston Convention and Group Services, Inc.
PO Box 1118
Charleston, SC 29402
Tel. 1–843–722–2876; Fax 1–843–722–7133

In addition to organized tours, it is delightful to just wander through this historic city with its open markets, antique shops, specialty boutiques, quaint restaurants, historic buildings, and interesting waterfront.

Then, of course, there are the Masonic events: the Albert Pike Memorial Service; Scottish Rite Museum Exhibit; formal opening of the Supreme Council with visiting dignitaries from around the nation and the world; Gala Concert featuring Ill. Mel Tillis, 33°, G.C.; Bicentennial Observances at Masonic and historic sites; the K.C.C.H. and Thirty-third Degree Honors; and Gala Banquet.

To make your visit even more pleasant, the Supreme Council has also arranged a regular bus schedule between hotels and the Convention Center. Also, Delta Airlines is offering a 10% discount on its domestic system for travel to Charleston for our meeting based on the published unrestricted round-trip coach (706) rates. No advance reservations or ticketing is required, but if you purchase your ticker 60 days or more prior to your departure date, you can receive an additional 5% bonus discount. No discounts apply on Delta Express. To take advantage of these discounts, follow these simple steps:

1. Call Delta Meeting NetworkR Reservations at 1–800–241–6760 weekdays 7:30 am–11:00 pm or weekends 8:30 am–11:00 pm eastern time. Or, have your travel agent call Delta's toll-free number to obtain these same advantages for you. Refer to File Number 172274A.

2. These Discounts are available only for travel in the continental U.S., Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, San Juan, Nassau, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and only through the Delta Meeting NetworkR Reservations toll-free number.

3. Please point out to Travel Agents that the meeting identifier code must appear in the tour code box on all tickets issues in conjunction with this event. Failure to do so may result in a debit memo for the travel agency issuing the ticket. Contact Delta Meeting NetworkR for details.

So confirm you plans now! The Bicentennial Celebration will be here before you know it, and the sooner you make your hotel requirements known to your Valley Secretary, tour reservations, and travel arrangement, the more likely it is you will get exactly what you want and have a great time sharing in this historic event.

I look forward to seeing you in Charleston!

William G. Sizemore served on active duty in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1982. Since 1989, he has served the Supreme Council as Grand Executive Director. He has been a Master Mason since 1948 and a member of the Scottish Rite since 1955. He is a Past Master and Past High Priest, R.A.M., and an active member of several Appendant Bodies and Masonic organizations.