North Central Region Happenings
Submitted by Steve Balke, General Grand Recorder, Cryptic Masons International

Anthony T. Johnson
North Central Regional Deputy General Grand Master
On early June 1, a regional conference call was held wih the North Central 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.
- Electronic Meetings
- General Grand is working on alternatives and recommendations for how to navigate electronic meetings.
- The Triennial alternative plans.
- Providing platforms for electronic means.
- If electronic, Special GG Assembly at earliest opportunity (where many members will also be).
- General Grand is working on alternatives and recommendations for how to navigate electronic meetings.
- General Grand Resources
- Electronic Conferencing
- Zoom – Used for the last two years, no malware apparent.
- Upgraded to 500 users
- FreeConferenceCall.com – Not recommending due to experienced bandwidth issues.
- Zoom – Used for the last two years, no malware apparent.
- Voting
- Article prepared by Companion Len Roughgarden for New Mexico: Available here
- Review by measures.
- Avoid chat discussion on votes.
- Electronic Conferencing
- CMMRF
- 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.
- Specific stem cells designated for a project so they were retasked to do COVID research – preliminary success for threating systems.
- 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.
- 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.
- We had our first electronic board meeting, another one is scheduled for 15 July.
- North Central Conference
- Meetings in Negotiation
- Think that the hotel is contracted for 3 years.
- October
- Rancona – Contract for 21
- Updates
- Nebraska
- No in person meetings – 30 June – May be extended.
- Governor restrictions to 25 people.
- Installations over Zoom for Chapter and Council
- No other activities.
- No in person meetings – 30 June – May be extended.
- Minnesota
- Grand Officers meetings every month.
- Started a Recorders meeting every month. (Propagating to the Dais)
- June 26th – Microsoft Teams – Backup – Zoom on GGC
- Going Electronic on 6/26-27 – Grand Council 26th 1:00PM
- Iowa
- Limited to 10 people and lots of restrictions.
- Grand Commandery – 6/6
- Grand Council – In Person Meeting planned 8/15
- Grand Chapter – 8/1
- North Dakota
- Zoom – 7/11 (may adopt for future)
- Wednesday planning meeting.
- Steve will follow up with GM &/or GR
- South Dakota
- Grand Sessions Cancelled.
- Officers staying in place.
- Wisconsin
- Grand Chapter is extending offer to recombine sessions with Grand Council.
- 6/13 – Grand Commandery Meeting.
- Nebraska