East Central Region Happenings
Submitted by Stephen Balke, General Grand Recorder, Cryptic Masons International

Steve Striggow
East Central Regional Deputy General Grand Master

 

On July 8, a regional conference call was held wih the East Central Region Region Grand Recorders. These calls will be mentioned in the Decryption as a way to nofify every Companion of what is happening with each Region. The Jurisdictional Highlights of the call are below. Other Regional Calls will be covered in the upcoming weeks.

1. Sickness and Distress
   1. Paula Wood – keep in thoughts and prayers.
2. Triennial
   1. General Grand Council Triennial Assembly will be fully Electronic.
      1. Held on Saturday, September 26, 2020.
   2. Voting for General Grand Council will be electronically managed, cast and tabulated.
   3. Specifics on the process will be forthcoming (planned for 15 July).
3. General Grand Resources
   1. Electronic Conferencing
      1. Zoom – Used for the last two years, no malware apparent.
         1. Upgraded to 500 users
   2. Voting
4. GGR Office
   1. Annual Returns and per capita are on your normal timeline.
   2. Awards are intended to get there on the same/usual timeline.
5. CMMRF
   1. Feedback – Dr. Murphy – All the research is on hold for now except for actual ongoing trials – still doing some research for non-human contact projects.
      1. Specific stem cells designated for a project so they were retasked to do COVID research – preliminary success for threating systems.
   2. Seeking people who are interested in running for the Board of Trustees for the At-Large positions – deadline for submission 15 July. Ensure people are ready to be a part of an active working Board.
      1. We have a 4th board space open to those who are outside the United States, specifically put in place to encourage participation outside the USA.
   3. Send any declarations of availability to cmmrf@aol.com.
6. Events
   1. Regional Conference
      1. York Rite Leadership is on for conferences.
      2. 2nd Saturday in March in Ft. Wayne.
   2. Jurisdiction Events
      1. IN – Sessions – Next April – Courtyard by Marriott, Muncie, IN.
         1. Alternative/Backup – Zoom.
      2. OKI – Cancelled.
         1. Councils are starting to have meetings this month, choice to go virtual or in person; Grand Lodge as well – social distancing – caps on people by space available.
         2. Ish Sodi Banquet 1st Saturday (3rd) in October.
      3. KY –  Still closed down to in person meetings.
         1. Grand Sessions planned in person.
         2. September 20-22, Tuesday Grand Council.
      4. MI – August – Still on, conversations on alternatives are ongoing.
         1. Electronic at least for observers. Zoom platform. Testing next week.
         2. MIGM Report, Elections, Reports and Floor – no legislation.
         3. Hotel is just now opening up.
            1. Current meeting of 50 people allowed – need 150 inside.
            2. Chapter and Council go to Saturday (morning and afternoon respectively).
            3. Side bodies closed.
            4. If Grand Commandery – Chapter/Council goes to Friday.
            5. 1 July is the drop dead date when the decision will be made.
         4. New project: virtualizing the Grand Council Proceedings 
            1. Michele will search the GGC Library for proceedings
            2. Bill sent an inquiring email to Missouri Lodge of Research/Archives.
            3. Set aside until after the Sessions.
         5. Table Council in September tentative.
7. Feedback
   1. East Central – Still in holding pattern.
   2. DGGM
      1. Triennial – Abbreviated – Holding over legislation – Special Meeting in 2021 – possibly with Grand Encampment Triennial.