North Central Regional Recorder’s Meeting – February 25, 2021

North Central Regional Recorder’s Meeting – February 25, 2021
Submitted by Stephen Balke, General Grand Recorder, Cryptic Masons International

General Grand Council Collar
Cryptic Masons International Collar
Photo Credit; MIC John Bridegroom

 

On February 25, a conference call was held with the North Central Regional Recorders. A summary of the call is below.

Invocation: Dan Hobson

Iowa

  • Rusty and Robin Hill are resigning on March 20, 2021, for the Grand Secretary/Recorder Office for Iowa, Tim Anderson will be taking over responsibilities.
  • Degree work in Burlington and up north.
    • Chapter/Council/Commandery DesMoines, IA March 20, 2021.
  • Iowa – ALL in person (not everyone attends, but showing if comfortable).
  • Grand Sessions
    • August 7, 2021 (TBD)
    • From Airport Holiday Inn to AASR Consistory.
    • Planning stages – Commandery separate.
    • Commandery – June 4-5, 2021 still in planning stages. (Drill Thursday Night)

Minnesota

  • Officers meeting (monthly) – virtually using Zoom. 
  • The second meeting of Grand Master Hiram Council happened.
    • History of the Cryptic Council – James McNeely
  • Grand Sessions – in-person
    • June 24-26, 2021
  • Most meetings are virtual presently, but migrating to in-person.
    • Restricted to spacing/social distancing requirements. No food in Lodges.
    • Both Governor and MWGM
  • Festivals are postponed until restrictions even out.

Nebraska

  • Awards have been processed.
  • Green – no restrictions from Governor – follow health department.
  • Grand Sessions
    • April 15-17 in person, Kearny, NE – Holiday Inn.
    • The hotel will have reduced table occupancy, sanitizers, social distancing.
    • DGGM attending.
    • https://neyorkrite.org 
  • Festivals (March)
    • 1st Saturday – RAM
    • 3rd Saturday – RSM
  • Councils meeting according to leadership decisions.
  • Greeted – Much activity, one Council earned Ten Percent Gain
  • RDGGM and MN contingent RSVPs.

North Dakota

  • Festivals
    • May 14-15, 2021 – Bismarck, ND
    • Grand Forks and Fargo doing degree work every meeting – culminating May 4, 2021, in Grand Forks.
  • The state is Green – MWGM enforcing social distancing.
  • Grand Sessions
    • Hybrid – Observable portions streamed – no interactive participation.
    • July 8-10, 2021 – Ramada Inn, Bismarck, ND
    • Currently in planning.
  • Awards – working on it.
  • YR is using Zoom
    • Dais are meeting monthly.
  • Candidates moving through.

South Dakota

  • Meetings
    • Green state.
    • East – Sioux Falls meetings on Zoom continuing through March. Pierre is in-person. Rapid City is on Zoom.
    • Up to leadership in the local body.
  • Festivals
    • Working in the Chapters and Councils – some have postponed.
  • Grand Sessions – Planned in-person
    • September 16-18, 2021 (Correct on Calendar)
    • Starting the planning sessions next week.
    • Tentatively – Ramada Inn, Mitchell, SD.
  • Doug McFarland is limiting his interactivities to pay attention to health.

Wisconsin

  • Shutdown – essentially
  • Grand Session
    • Chapter and Council
    • Virtual
    • May 1, 2021

CMMRF

  • 50,000.00 Matching until April 1, 2021
  • March 6, 2021, is CMMRF Day
  • Working to inform the Craft.
  • Suggest working with the Eastern Star.

General Grand Council

  • Rolling out a convergence platform on OneNote.
  • Working with getting communication up with all Grand Councils and Subordinate Councils.
  • Dates for the 1st Triennial Meeting
    • August 13-14, 2021 – Minneapolis, MN
    • First Day – Education, Training, CMMRF, etc.
    • GG Assembly – Constitution & Bylaws Changes, Grand and Subordinate Charters
    • GEKT has been the epitome of York Rite Cooperation. Essentially hosting us.
      • Registrations will be one – the GEKT will have a registration, ours will be a part of it.
      • Registrations should be available in early March.
      • Education speaker for GEKT on Sunday.
  • Mid-Term Session – August of 2022 – Budget – Virtual.
  • August/September 2023 – General Grand Assembly
    • Kevin Sample, Chair.
    • Awaiting books being closed for 2020 Triennial from General Grand Chapter.
  • International Work – Focus of the GG Officers
  • Fireside Chat – Sunday 4PM 

Benediction: Sean Gardiner

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