Request for help, assistance, support, contracts, housing, or job:

This letter was written to the Grand Secretary of the California Freemasons.
Copies of this letter are being sent to other masonic brethren in hope of their support and assistance also.

Dear Most Worshipful Grand Secretary Allan Casalou:

I write you this letter, because it could be the last opportunity I will have to write you until I am no longer homeless.

I am an author of many poetry books, education manuals, novels, and screenplays.  I need an agent and a book publisher.  Despite this fact, i have taught myself to how to use publishing/editing programs and self-published five books in the past five years.  Unfortunately, I am not selling enough of these books to support myself.  I hoped that in all of the California masons, I might be able to connect with a masonic attorney, book publisher/editor, or agent, but to no avail.

I am a composer, musician, performer, recording artist, recording engineer, and record producer.  I hoped I might find a masonic brother in the record business to further my career; -- this has been to no avail also.  I have self-produced, recorded, mixed, mastered, and done all the graphics to release five albums in the past five years.  I am not selling enough records to support myself.  

I was the organist of Panamericana 513 for the year of 2009. During that year I played acoustic guitar and flute.  When my guitar was stolen, I could not afford to replace it, and my lodge could not pool or donate money to replace it...so they said, "Just play the flute."  I continued playing the flute, but after 10 years, it needed to be repadded (serviced due to the pads wearing out).  The lodge could not afford to help me with this $200 expense, so I had to resign my position as organist.

In 2010, I was the Assistant Secretary of Panamericana 513.  I support myself by teaching Tai Chi and Kung Fu for the YMCA in Tujunga, California, and also as a contractor teacher for the Los Angeles Parks & Recreation.  I teach at Crescenta Valley Park, in LaCanada, California on Wednesday nights and Saturdays and Sundays.  Over the past 5 years, my attendance has diminished from 20 students to 10 students.  This has resulted in my income diminishing accordingly.  The YMCA moved their youth programs to a church in Tujunga, so I lost my afternoon youth classes.  This also resulted in a loss of hourly wages from 5 classes to 2 classes.

I had to resign my position of Assistant Secretary last year, when I could no longer pay for internet and could not perform my duties accordingly.  The lodge could not afford to pay my internet monthly fee, and I was working for free.

While performing as Organist of Panamericana 513, I composed the song, "Cinco deMayo," which the lodge greatly enjoyed during rituals and meetings.  I recorded this on my album, KING SOLOMON'S TEMPLE by American Zen.  Unfortunately, not one single member of the lodge purchased a record when it was released in 2010, and despite my promotions and emails...they still haven't purchased a copy.  I believe you also, Grand Secretary, have received some of my promotional emails.  I don't think you have purchased a copy also.  I am very proud of it, and hope you will one day purchase a copy, at least to support a fellow mason.

On June 6, 2009, I discovered my "Masonic Kung Fu," which I demonstrated to you personally at the Secretary's Retreat of 2010.  I had hoped this would be worthy of some press and publicity to fellow masons, but so far, despite my attempts, the Masonic magazine has refused to mention it or take an interest in it.  I had hoped this might also be a source of revenue for me, by performing and demonstrating at lodges, and teaching this "Masonic Kung Fu" to fellow masons, but not one mason has signed up for classes.

I would like to publish a book, write a screenplay, record a soundtrack, or research this in China further...but no support has been offered yet.  This Masonic Kung Fu is not only an opportunity for me personally, but it is a great opportunity for Freemasonry to obtain international publicity and stimulate interest in youths, and young adults.  I would like to promote Freemasonry accordingly with this "Masonic Kung Fu."  This could be as advantageous to masonry as the movie, "National Treasure."

I also have a nonprofit organization, TAI CHI YOUTH, I founded in 1996.  This 501(c)(3) charity, could also support me as executive director, or paying for me to teach youth programs, or offering free classes to local youths if scholarships were donated.  So far, in 5 years, not one mason has donated $10 or more to this charity, which would also financially benefit me personally.

In the last four years, not one mason has offered me a job or referral to any job of any type.  Despite my evictions, not one housing opportunity, or even a garage to live in has been offered to me.

I was offered services from the Masonic Service Bureau in 2010, but this has not resulted in any jobs, referrals, or connections to benefit my careers or help my family.

I moved into the skid row Midnight Mission, but after only a couple days, decided to sleep on the floor of my ex-wife's apartment, where I am now evicted from.  We have a court order to be out of this apartment by May 1, or they will lock us out and confiscate any belongings left inside.

My daughter, has moved in with friends, but my 12-year old son, ex-wife, and I still have no where to go.

Last year, the Worshipful master, Secretary, Treasurer, and Chaplain of Panamericana 513 told me that I had no business being at Masonic meetings if I could not support myself.  After several years of perfect attendance, only missing a few meetings each year, I was told that I should use that time to look for work and make money, instead of coming to meetings.  So I wrote my letter of resignation to the lodge and have avoided most meetings for the past year.  I have used those meeting nights instead, to write more poetry, record podcasts, and teach guitar lessons.

Despite sacrificing my masonic career and training to make money, I have obviously not earned enough to support myself anyway.

As one last plea, from a destitute mason seeking assistance from the brotherhood, I hereby list the many ways that I can be helped, or supported:

I am an author: 
Richard Del Connor, The Hippy Coyote, Buddha Zhen
	I need a literary agent:
		Books self-published:  (Shaolin Communications)
			2004	AUTUMN FLAVOURS poetry book
			2006	UTAH PHASE 1 poetry book
			2007	SID'S PLACE novel
			2008	BUDDHA KUNG FU STUDENT MANUAL
			2010	KUNG FU COWBOY ORIGINAL DRAFT poetry book
			2011	COYOTE IN A GRAVEYARD screenplay

		Books ready to published  (I lack a computer now)
				WINTER FLOWERS poetry book
				SPRING FEVERS poetry book
				SUMMER FOREVERS poetry book
				SEASONS OF FOURS poetry book
				RAINBOW IN THE SHADE poetry book
				MASONIC KUNG FU novel
				THE ANTICHRIST poetry book

I am a composer, musician, lyricist, recording engineer, record producer:
I play drums, bass, acoustic guitars, ukulele, synthesizers, organ, slide guitar, percussion, flutes, penny whistle, recorders, and sing all vocals on my albums:
	I need a entertainment attorney.
	I need a music business manager.
	I need a booking agent.
	I need a record company / distributor.
		Albums released on my Shaolin Records independent label:
			1984	TEMPTATION by Richard O'Connor
			1989	COYOTE IN A GRAVEYARD soundtrack album
			1989	"IT'S YOUR SHADOW" cassingle by The Coyote
			2005	LEVEL 1 = PEACE OF MIND by American Zen
			2007	LEVEL 2 = CHRIST KILLER by American Zen
			2008	LEVEL 3 = I WANT YOU TO LOVE ME by American Zen			2009	TAI CHI MAGIC 1 by Buddha Zhen
			2010 	LEVEL 4 = KUNG FU COWBOY part 1: KING SOLOMON'S TEMPLE by American Zen

		Albums ready to be released (already recorded -- I lack a computer = lack recording studio)
				LEVEL 4 = KUNG FU COWBOY part 2: 3RD DEGREE MASTER MASON by American Zen
				COYOTE RADIO TUJUNGA by American Zen

I am a radio disc jockey, on air personality, radio show producer, performer:  "The Hippy Coyote"
	I need promotion, advertising, sponsorship for my podcast radio shows:
		THE COYOTE POETRY PODCAST
			http://www.coyotepoetry.libsyn.com
		THE AMERICAN ZEN BUDDHIST ROCK PODCAST  "Coyote Radio .NET"
			http://www.CoyoteRadio.NET
		THE FOLK ROCK PODCAST OF SHAOLIN RECORDS
			http://www.folkrockpodcast.libsyn.com

I am a spiritual leader using the title, "Buddhist Scientist," with an audience of over 100,000:  "Buddha Zhen"
	I need promotion, advertising, sponsorship for my podcast radio show:
		THE ZEN BUDDHIST PODCAST OF SHAOLIN ZEN
			http://www.zenbuddhistpodcast.libsyn.com

I have created a free self-help website for people to improve their lives.  I noticed that some television "Life Coaches" have used some of my material from this website, "actZEN.com"
	I need promotion, advertising, sponsorship for this self-help website:
		actZEN.com
			http://www.actZEN.com

I have created a website to promote my folk rock band, American Zen.
	I need promotion, advertising, sponsorship for this free website:
		americanZEN.org
			http://www.americanZEN.org

I have created a website for each of my five albums where songs can be downloaded for 88 cents each:
	I need promotion, advertising, sponsorship for these websites to increase sales:
		LEVEL 1 = PEACE OF MIND by American Zen
			http://www.LEVEL1peaceOFmind.com

		LEVEL 2 = CHRIST KILLER by American Zen
			http://www.LEVEL2christKILLER.com

		LEVEL 3 = I WANT YOU TO LOVE ME by American Zen
			http://www.LEVEL3iWANTyoutoLOVEme.com

		LEVEL 4 = KUNG FU COWBOY part 1: KING SOLOMON'S TEMPLE by American Zen
			http://www.LEVEL4kungfuCOWBOY.com

		TAI CHI MAGIC 1 by Buddha Zhen
			http://www.TaiChiMagic.com

I have created a website for my poetry book, AUTUMN FLAVOURS.
	I need promotion, advertising, sponsorship of this website to increase sales:
		AUTUMN FLAVOURS website
			http://www.autumnflavors.com

I have created a website to promote my current albums of American Zen which currently are about Freemasonry:
	I need promotion, advertising, sponsorship of this website to increase song download sales:
		KUNG FU COWBOY website
			http://www.KungFuCowboy.com

I am a music performer who has worked with Badfinger, Fleetwood Mac, Frank Zappa, and been on television:
	I need a booking agent, promoter, or band to join, or band to back me up, financing, record deal, music publisher...
		SOLO COYOTE website (promote my being a solo performer)
			http://www.solocoyote.com

I am a music teacher of guitar, voice, and bass lessons:
	I need promotion, advertising, sponsorship, press, and online students:
		HIPPY COYOTE website
			http://www.HippyCoyote.com

I am the owner of my own independent record company that sells and distributes my albums, music videos, and poetry books:
	I need promotion, advertising, press, sponsorship, partnership investors, distribution, pressing, international releases:
		SHAOLIN RECORDS independent record label  (sole proprietorship of Richard Del Connor)
			http://www.shaolinRECORDS.com

I am the owner of my own music publishing company that licenses music to artists, radio, movies, and television:
	I need promotion, copublishing, songs in movies, songs recorded by other artists, record producer contacts...
		SHAOLIN MUSIC an ASCAP music publisher
			http://www.shaolinMUSIC.com

I am the owner of my own book publishing company that edits, prints, and publishes poetry books, novels, screenplays, and manuals:
	I need promotion, distribution, editors, webmasters, ebook publishing web designers, press, and more sales:
		SHAOLIN COMMUNICATIONS book publisher
			http://www.shaolinCOMMUNICATIONS.com

I am the president of Tai Chi Youth nonprofit education organization, a 501(c)(3) charity corporation for troubled youth:
	I need $88,000 in donations and grants to launch an online Tai Chi Youth school for youth and teens nationwide in America
	that improves health, cures drug addiction, cures sleeping disorders, cures cigarette addiction, cures heroin addiction, 
	cures sleeping disorders, eliminates need for tranquilizers, cures obesity, improves lifestyles, teaches leadership skills, 
	improves work habits and study habits, and rehabilitates criminals:
		TAI CHI YOUTH
			http://www.TaiChiYouth.org

With all my talents I should be able to support myself and my family.
	I need jobs as a recording artist, performer, teacher...
		FOLK ROCK TROUBADOUR
			http://www.folkrockTROUBADOUR.com

With all my products I should be able to sell enough units to support myself and my family.
	I need promotion, press, advertising, sponsorship, and sales:
		SHAOLIN DIGITAL
			http://www.shaolinDIGITAL.com

With all my skills I should be hired as a record producer, screenwriter, author...and be able to support myself and my family.
	I need connections to people in record companies, management firms, movie production, music supervisors...
		RICHARD DEL CONNOR record producer website (Masonic Kung Fu information is here)
			http://www.RichardDelConnor.com

With my Tai Chi and Kung Fu schools I should be able to have enough student tuitions to support myself and my family.
	I need partners, financing, investors, video producers, internet distribution...
		SHAOLIN CHI MANTIS traditional Buddhist Gongfu and Yang Taijiquan
			http://www.ShaolinChiMantis.com

I am a certified Kung Fu Master, and Tai Chi Master of the Chinese Jing-Mo Association, and Shaolin Temple:	I need students, promotion, press, sponsorship, performance opportunities, scholarships...
		BUDDHA KUNG FU  (Youth programs, Kung Fu Bootcamps, workshops, Tai Chi seminars)
			http://www.BuddhaKungFu.com

With all these products, skills, talents, businesses, and charity opportunities--why have I not found one single freemason in California to help me?

I am destitute, impoverished, with my family in jeopardy.  My mother won't help me.  My father can't help me.  My brothers can't help me, although one of my brothers gave me a car last year.  

I need board members for Tai Chi Youth.

I need donations to Tai Chi Youth.

I need to sell my records, songs, and books.

I need music industry jobs.

I need movie industry jobs.
	I graduated UCLA Motion Picture Program in 1987 with a 3.6 g.p.a.
		http://www.shaolinPICTURES.com

Please help me, or understand why I have disappeared from Freemasonry as a homeless person.

Sincerely,
Richard Del Connor
818-723-2769

Shaolin Communications
POBox 631
Montrose, CA  91021

p.s.  If my websites aren't available -- I was unable to afford web hosting.
	If my email doesn't work -- I was unable to afford my website fees.
	If my phone doesn't work -- I was unable to pay my monthly cell phone fee.
	If mail is returned -- I was unable to pay my Post Office box fees.