North Central Region Happenings – November 18, 2020
Submitted by Stephen Balke, General Grand Recorder, Cryptic Masons International

Carl Lidstrom
North Central Regional Deputy General Grand Master
On November 18, 2020, a conference call was held with the North Central Region’s Recorders. A summary of the call is below.
Attendees: Michele Balke, Allan Jackson, Kevin Sample, Allan Bean, Jon Greene, John Staton, John Logan, Stephen Balke, G. Thomas Taylor, Bill Snyder, and Monty Glover.
Invocation: Tim Israel
PROPOSED AGENDA
- GGC 48 – Hitting the Ground Running.
- Decryption
- YouTube Channel
- Calendar Czar – Jon Greene, OK
- Marketplace – Stephen Dake, WI
- Video Editing – Len Roughgarden, NM
- Zoom Availability – James McNeely
- Triennial Convocation
- Triennial Assembly
- Minneapolis, MN – August – Sunday of the GEKT Triennial Conclave
- Legislation
- Chartering & Dispensations
- In-person if possible
- Register through Grand Encampment.
- 2nd Meeting 2022
- Financial Review
- Virtual Meeting
- 3rd Meeting 2023
- Full Assembly
- Minneapolis, MN – August – Sunday of the GEKT Triennial Conclave
- General Grand Master Fireside Chat
- Alan Sylvestre – Brazil – The Color Purple
- Open conversation with the General Grand Master and Leadership.
- South Central York Rite Conference After Action
- COVID effects are noticed
- Greeted 11 Companions last month – avoiding contracting the virus.
- September 11, 2021 – Grand Master’s York Rite Festival.
- Jurisdiction Events, Activities, and Programs.
- Arkansas
- Preparing for this weekend.
- Shutdown until January 1, restricted from meetings.
- Kansas
- Allowed to meet, 1st Degrees for now, no meals
- Tentative Festivals early 2021
- Sessions first part of May 2021
- Centralized dues notices and dues card issuance. Statewide mandate.
- Louisiana
- Meet and eat ok with gov/GM
- Doing Festivals and degrees Commandery due to GO14
- Commandery – Phase I – Can do 1st two Orders in short form.
- Commandery – Limited to 50 in attendance; others can attend virtually.
- Grand Sessions (All Bodies) is planned for February.
- Missouri
- GM – degrees on hold – meeting on 1st Degree, MIGM – until further notice
- Meeting ok according to ST and County guidelines. Many meetings virtually.
- Grand York Rite – WebEx available.
- GLMO – Modified degree work for facilitation?? Working.
- Scottish Rite – doing “exemplification”
- Grand Council of MO – Educational Newsletter – Started October
- Contact Kevin Sample to get on the mailing list.
- Grand York Rite of MO – New online store – York Rite Items – Under Construction.
- Regional York Rite Assembly – Trimmed CMMRF presentation.
- Oklahoma
- GM – Meeting – modifications of ritual for an opening to allow for social distancing.
- Festivals and conferrals going on – social distancing – no Commandery.
- Working on education and ritual based programs for Oklahoma – MIGM Church.
- Sessions are still planned for the end of April. (Hopefully in person.)
- Tulsa is including hybrid aspects to meetings – nothing tyled but inclusive of those who cannot be present.
- Highlighted RWB Bob Davis’ Cryptic Masonry Education Course
- Article about the training manual?
- Texas
- Truncated version of Sessions (Grand Assembly) in December.
- Arkansas
- Meeting time and day – Change to Thursday? Later in the day?
- 3rd Wednesday of the Month 7:00 PM CT
- Suggestions, Improvements, or Opportunities.
- College of Preservation –
- CMMRF – William G. Snyder, DGGM, President CMMRF Board
- VP G. Thomas Taylor – Chair of State Chairmen for CMMRF
- Raise awareness – Regional meetings of the State Chairs
- Programs
- Education
- 500K – by July – Get a STEM Cell processing unit for ICVBM to supplement VA Grant. (Total is approximately $1.4MM)
- Brian Ragain of OK – Committeeman – Medical Translation
- GGM – Fireside Chat – Open forum chat with the General Grand Master!
Benediction: William G. Snyder