Our Right Excellent Grand King was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Milburn Lodge No. 127, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of the State of Illinois, in Lake Villa on 4 August 2001, where he now serves as Worshipful Master for the 2007-2008 Masonic year. He is also a charter member of the Spanish-language Amistad (“Friendship”) Lodge No. 81 in Petah Tikva (now in Ramat Gan), Israel; and an honorary member of Batangas Lodge No. 35 in Batangas City, Republic of the Philippines; as well as a member of both the Illinois Lodge of Research in Bloomington, and Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076 in London, England.

He was advanced to the degree of Mark Master on 6 November 2001, at and exalted to the supreme degree of Holy Royal Arch Mason on 24 November 2001, both in Waukegan Chapter No. 41 in Waukegan, where he served as Excellent High Priest in 2004-2005, and Secretary in 2005-2006; and was editor of his chapter’s newsletter, The Keystone. He has been received into the Order of High Priesthood of Illinois; and is a member of the Northern Illinois Capitular Standard Club. He was elected and installed as Right Excellent Grand King of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Illinois on 27 July 2007. He is also a life member of the General Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons International.

Right Excellent Companion Santisteban  was greeted as a Select Master on 24 November 2001 and received the Super Excellent Master degree on 11 June 2005, both in Cryptic Council No. 46, Royal and Select Masters, in Palatine. He served as Thrice Illustrious Master of Cryptic Council No. 46 in 2005-2006, and of Lake Council No. 121 in Waukegan from March through July of 2005. He is a member of the Illinois Council of Thrice Illustrious Masters.

Joe was dubbed and created a Knight of the Valiant and Magnanimous Order of the Temple in Bethel Commandery No. 36, Knights Templar of the State of Illinois, in Palatine on 16 January 2002, serving as Eminent Commander in 2006-2007. He is a member of the Past Commanders Association.

He was installed into the degree of Knight of the East and West in Saint Bridget Council No. 23, Knight Masons of the U.S.A., in Glenview on 12 October 2007. He was initiated into Edwin M. Lambert Council No. 319, Allied Masonic Degrees, on 30 November 2006 at Glenview. In recognition of his service to Freemasonry, our right excellent companion was initiated into Illinois York Rite College No. 15 in Chicago. In addition to his other research bodies, he is a member of the Grand College of Rites of the United States and of the Philalethes Society.

He was created a 32° Scottish Rite Freemason and Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret on 13 November 2004 in the Valley of Chicago where he has served as a member of the Scottish Rite Army since 2006. He is a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society, and was honoured on 30 August 2006 by being installed into the Royal Order of Scotland.

Joe became a member of Gen. John J. Pershing Order No. 24 of the Sword of Bunker Hill in Peoria on 8 March 2008. Made eligible by his military rank, he was received into Lake Michigan Chapter No. 289, National Sojourners, in Libertyville, of which he is now president; and received the degree of Heroes of ‘76 in Stephen Decatur Camp; he is currently 1st Vice President of Lake Michigan Chapter / Stephen Decatur Camp. He was admitted to the Enchanted Realm and made a Veiled Prophet in El Jaala Grotto, M.O.V.P.E.R., on 29 April 2006. He was created a Noble of the Mystic Shrine on 18 May 2002 in Medinah Shriners, A.A.O.N.M.S., and has been a member of Medinah’s Chicago Shriners Hospital Committee since 2004.

Our Excellent Grand King was initiated into the Order of the Eastern Star on 12 February 2002 in Millburn Chapter No. 570 in Lake Villa, where he served as Associate Patron in 2006. Since 2 August 2005, he has also been a member of Sorosis Chapter No. 329 in Grayslake, serving as Worthy Patron in 2006-2007. He has been a member of the Worthy Patrons’ Club of Chicago and Northern Illinois since March 2007. He is also a member of the White Shrine of Jerusalem, becoming a charter member of Liberty Shrine No. 113 in Libertyville when receiving the degree on 24 August 2002, and presided as Watchman of the Shepherds in 2007; he is a member of the White Shrine Association of Northern Illinois. He has served as an elected member of the advisory board of Antioch Assembly No. 23, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, in Antioch, since 2004.

Joe also maintains an active role in numerous non-Masonic organisations. He has been a District Committee member and Spanish interpreter for the Northeast Illinois Council, Boy Scouts of America; a member of of the National Council of La Raza, Clan Wallace Society, American Horticultural Society, and the Nature Conservancy; a charter member of the Academy Graduates Association; a contributing member of the Smithsonian Institution; and a life member of the Air Force Association, the Air Force Security Police Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. As Major Santisteban, he has held numerous leadership positions in the Illinois Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, recently serving as Director of Personnel and Administration for Group 22.

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