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

1. GGC 48 – Hitting the Ground Running.
   1. Decryption
   2. YouTube Channel
   3. Calendar Czar – Jon Greene, OK
   4. Marketplace – Stephen Dake, WI
   5. Video Editing – Len Roughgarden, NM
   6. Zoom Availability – James McNeely
2. Triennial Convocation
3. Triennial Assembly
   1. Minneapolis, MN – August – Sunday of the GEKT Triennial Conclave
      1. Legislation 
      2. Chartering & Dispensations
      3. In-person if possible
      4. Register through Grand Encampment.
   2. 2nd Meeting 2022
      1. Financial Review
      2. Virtual Meeting
   3. 3rd Meeting 2023
      1. Full Assembly
4. General Grand Master Fireside Chat
   1. Alan Sylvestre – Brazil – The Color Purple
   2. Open conversation with the General Grand Master and Leadership.
5. South Central York Rite Conference After Action
   1. COVID effects are noticed
   2. Greeted 11 Companions last month – avoiding contracting the virus.
   3. September 11, 2021 – Grand Master’s York Rite Festival.
6. Jurisdiction Events, Activities, and Programs.
   1. Arkansas
      1. Preparing for this weekend.
      2. Shutdown until January 1, restricted from meetings. 
   2. Kansas
      1. Allowed to meet, 1st Degrees for now, no meals
      2. Tentative Festivals early 2021
      3. Sessions first part of May 2021
      4. Centralized dues notices and dues card issuance. Statewide mandate.
   3. Louisiana
      1. Meet and eat ok with gov/GM
      2. Doing Festivals and degrees Commandery due to GO14
         1. Commandery – Phase I – Can do 1st two Orders in short form.
         2. Commandery – Limited to 50 in attendance; others can attend virtually.
      3. Grand Sessions (All Bodies) is planned for February.
   4. Missouri
      1. GM – degrees on hold – meeting on 1st Degree, MIGM – until further notice
      2. Meeting ok according to ST and County guidelines. Many meetings virtually.
      3. Grand York Rite – WebEx available.
      4. GLMO – Modified degree work for facilitation?? Working.
         1. Scottish Rite – doing “exemplification”
      5. Grand Council of MO – Educational Newsletter – Started October
         1. Contact Kevin Sample to get on the mailing list.
      6. Grand York Rite of MO – New online store – York Rite Items – Under Construction.
      7. Regional York Rite Assembly – Trimmed CMMRF presentation.
   5. Oklahoma
      1. GM – Meeting – modifications of ritual for an opening to allow for social distancing.
      2. Festivals and conferrals going on – social distancing – no Commandery.
      3. Working on education and ritual based programs for Oklahoma – MIGM Church.
      4. Sessions are still planned for the end of April. (Hopefully in person.)
      5. Tulsa is including hybrid aspects to meetings – nothing tyled but inclusive of those who cannot be present.
      6. Highlighted RWB Bob Davis’ Cryptic Masonry Education Course
         1. Article about the training manual?
   6. Texas
      1. Truncated version of Sessions (Grand Assembly) in December.
7. Meeting time and day – Change to Thursday? Later in the day?
   1. 3rd Wednesday of the Month 7:00 PM CT
8. Suggestions, Improvements, or Opportunities.
   1. College of Preservation – 
   2. CMMRF – William G. Snyder, DGGM, President CMMRF Board
      1. VP G. Thomas Taylor – Chair of State Chairmen for CMMRF
      2. Raise awareness – Regional meetings of the State Chairs
      3. Programs
      4. Education
      5. 500K – by July – Get a STEM Cell processing unit for ICVBM to supplement VA Grant. (Total is approximately $1.4MM)
      6. Brian Ragain of OK – Committeeman – Medical Translation 
   3. GGM – Fireside Chat – Open forum chat with the General Grand Master!

Benediction: William G. Snyder