Awards for Achievement

The Bloomington Medal

• Blue Ribbon -- Service For Freemasonry - this is awarded to a member of the valley by unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees for "exceptional service for Freemasonry." Nominations may be made by any member of the Valley
• Red Ribbon -- Reunion Service - this is awarded to a member of the Valley for "exceptional reunion service and ritualistic work" (sustained service and excellence of endeavor either on a reunion committee or with degrees or in a production support role.)
• White Ribbon -- Membership Development - is awarded to a member of the Valley who demonstrates "exceptional support of the Rite" through membership development. Given on the basis of points received for each petition a member brings in to the Valley after earning 100 points a member of the Valley is awarded this achievement award.

The Meritorious Service Award (M.S.A.)

• The highest award a Valley can award its members. The Supreme Council Constitutions provide that the "Award for Meritorious Service" may be conferred upon members of the rite who by reasons of meritorious services of a masonic Character are worthy of such recognition. The recipients must have attained the Thrity-second Degree.

The Thirty-third Degree (33°)

• This is the highest or official degree which can only be granted and conferred by the Supreme Council. It cannot be applied for. Each year at the annual meeting of the Supreme Council, a number of Thirty-second Degree Masons from throughout the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction are elected to receive the Thirty-third Degree because of "outstanding service to the Fraternity or for service to others which reflects credit upon the Order." Nominations for the Thirty-third Degree are made by the Deputies of each of the fifteen States after consultation with their fellow Active Members in each State. Nominations are then submitted to the entire Active membership of the Supreme Council for ballot. Following election, candidates await the next annual meeting of the Supreme Council when the degree is conferred in full ceremonial form.

   The Gourgas Medal

• The Gourgas Medal is named in honor of the founder of this Supreme Council, an outstanding leader who is known to the Craft as the "Conservator of the Ancient And Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry." This may be conferred by the Suprime Council, or by the Sovereign Gand Commander, upon a member of our Jurisdiction, or of any other Jurisdiction with which we exchange Representatives, in recognition of notably distinguished service in the cause of Freemasonry, humanity or country. Only twenty-five awards have been made since the decoration was estabished in 1938.
  
  Ill. Brother Louis Lenway Williams of the Valley of Bloomington was a recipient of this high honor.