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 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.
  • Voting
    • Article prepared by Companion Len Roughgarden for New Mexico: Available here
    • Review by measures.
    • Avoid chat discussion on votes.
• 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.
  • 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.