Submitted by Ethan White, Past State Master Councilor of Nebraska DeMolay

I am Ethan White, and I am a has-been. I was once the State Master Councilor of Nebraska DeMolay solidifying my DeMolay legacy as the 101 State Master Councilor of our amazing state, or as my license plate says ‘101 SMC.’ I have been asked to reflect on my Conclave and year a little bit and speak even on the future of our great order and with lots of time and thinning down, I am hoping I can pass on my team’s accomplishments as well as where we are headed. 

I was 13 years old when Kevin Grazier asked me when I would run for a state office. At this time, I was more than excited to represent the brothers I had in this order with everything I possessed in my little body; however, standing by the side of my Brother, Past State Master Councilor, Caid Bleess, as he aged out made me realize how little time I had for my year. It did not really hit me until I was sitting on the stage looking out at all the people who I had the privilege of serving with and for during my year. 

My term was ‘Slay your Dragons,’ and in Nebraska we were able to raise thousands of dollars for Relay for Life and start up an Instagram with the help of my amazing State Sweetheart, Maddie Berner. She did a phenomenal job representing us boys and was the voice of reason in our passionate and energetic team. The 2022 Conclave session was held in Grand Island, in the same hotel where I attended my first ever Conclave. Something about that hotel reminded me of all the things I worked for in hopes of one day being where I was now. I never told anyone what my Dragon for the year was, but I had my own issue I was focussed on addressing, it being: learn to be proud of who you are for more than what others can see. I can proudly say that my brothers have made me proud to be the State Master Councilor purely just by the passion that they possess and the future I see in all of them that I can now appreciate about myself. 

My Brothers, Kolyn Beard and Caleb Malousek, both have made extreme improvements in both their own lives and the lives of those around them. Kolyn stepped up at the 2021 Conclave and I was pleased to pass him the torch knowing Nebraska would be in good hands. Caleb, despite all that he and I had struggled through internally and externally, was more than ready to be Kolyn’s right hand man. The new election of Issac Barchus and Sarah Warwck as State Junior Councilor and State Sweetheart respectively proves that Nebraska DeMolay is full of some of the best youth out there! I traveled to five different states, and every single place I was more than proud to say that I was a part of Nebraska DeMolay. 

My Conclave was scheduled to the brim with ritual competitions, fun events, a hospitality room, and even a little bit of swimming and dancing! Overall, my Conclave was phenomenal, entirely due to my strong and persistent team that was willing to redirect my passion and love for our order and make it a reality. At the end of the night, when the foam swords and dragon eggs were cleared off the tables, I found myself crying about many things; all the people I had the chance to meet, to represent, and those who brought me to this moment. I could not have been happier about the Conclave I had and the people I had the opportunity to share it with.

As for the future of our order… It is ambiguous in the sense that all things in life have a level of uncertainty, but I will say here what I have preached all year: “If you build it, they will come.” Our Order has had 101 years of brotherhood and a lot has changed, beyond membership and ritual work, it is not the same organization it was when it was founded. But what hasn’t changed, is that DeMolay is about the quality of the young men that join it and enjoy our membership. 

I am excited to see what Kolyn will do with the social media focus that he intends to practice, Caleb’s crazy membership drives that he is so successful in, and even Isaacs Ideas that are still incubating to this day, but what I will say is that I was able to talk to all my boys about being the best them they could be. No matter what the outlook of the future in the real world is, DeMolay will forever be a safe haven for boys to develop and grow at an exponential and healthy way. The future of DeMolay is one of potential energy—in the sense that all energy can not be created or destroyed, only transferred. 

I wanted to make the hill that our proverbial ball is soon to roll down a little steeper so that the next many years of DeMolay can be filled with young men becoming the best version of themselves. All we need now is a little push down that large slope. One nudge to get the ball rolling and transfer some of that energy that is so ready to ignite. What that will be is entirely beyond me and thus, the uncertainty of life is found. All this to say that, though I am unaware of where we will end up, I am certain that DeMolay has lots of fight left and many new journeys and paths ahead of it. Not to say that some parts of the slope won’t be rocky, only to say that they will all be explored and new growth will be found. I like to end all of my speeches and letters with notes to sum up my thoughts and make people think just a tad bit more for themselves. This is no exception. So I will leave you all with this, “The best way to predict the future, is to create it.” Abe Lincoln.