Brad Fowler—Road Warrior—and 2011 MoCHIP Coordinator of the Year

Right off the bat you’re probably asking: why Road Warrior? There are a few layers to this title earned by MoCHIP team #6 though they all point back to their leader, Brad Fowler.

Brad came to MoCHIP before he joined Masonry. Yes, you read that right. Having volunteered at a MoCHIP event and becoming enamored with the craft and the goodwill being brought into the community, something tangible, something he could contribute to, he and his father decided to join Masonry and were initiated on the same day (and proof that the MoCHIP program has aided in lifting the veil of mystery and skepticism that has delineated Freemasonry for so long, and appealing to younger members, or in this case two new members).

Brad joined Ivanhoe Lodge #446 in 2007 and is currently Senior Warden. He is also a member of Christian Lodge #392 in Oak Grove. “I love the ritual,” says Brad, “I am always going to study clubs.” And Brad also enjoyed attending MoCHIP events, to the point that then Regional Coordinator, Will Huff, suggested it was time for a yellow shirt. Brad didn’t know what this meant at the time, but quickly realized he had been drafted to the MoCHIP team, Kansas City area, number 6.

A proud member of MoCHIP team #6, Brad and Will worked the Kansas City Masonic Lodge circuit promoting MoCHIP with a PowerPoint presentation they created. Their passion was contagious, engaging steadfast team members and masonic brothers, Mark Hamilton and Dave Dowell, both of Ivanhoe Lodge #446. Before long, and out of necessity baring the pleas of administrator/event logistic coordinator Lori Cichielo, this quartet affirmed their willingness to travel wherever they were needed regardless of the distance or hazards getting there, as realized on March 7, 2009. On his way to Leeton for a MoCHIP event, driving in a late season snowstorm, Brad had an accident that totaled his car. Fortunately he was mostly unharmed, however as result of his heroic efforts to carry forth his commitment to MoCHIP, the Masonic Children’s Foundation adopted a new policy regarding inclement weather.  “Road Warrior” Brad and his crew are now required to use greater caution, cancelling an event if necessary.

When Regional Coordinator Will Huff stepped down from his position due to work constraints, Brad readily stepped in and assumed all responsibilities for team #6, including the creation of a Web site to keep team members informed. Brad’s team was also instrumental in helping MoCHIP achieve a major milestone. On May 19, 2010, team #6 in conjunction with East Gate Lodge #630 ID’d 13 year old Kaylee, MoCHIPs 100,000^th child processed through the comprehensive program. This was an exciting time for everyone involved in MoCHIP, to see the program grow from its humble beginnings of borrowed laptops and a dozen dedicated masons traveling the state (among them Grand Master John Hess!) to 90 laptops, 7 teams and nearly 19,000 volunteers carrying forth the MoCHIP mission!

Wherever team #6 goes they are wholly embraced! As a favor, Brad and his entourage traveled to Kimberling City 236 miles south of their territory. Now an annual event, team 6 is always requested by the brothers at Tablerock, and the Road Warriors would be miffed if we didn’t let them cross boundaries!