Northeast Regional Recorder’s Meeting – December 10, 2020

Northeast Regional Recorder’s Meeting – December 10, 2020
Submitted by Stephen Balke, General Grand Recorder, Cryptic Masons International

Cryptic Masons International Collar
Photo Credit; MIC John Bridegroom

 

On December 10, 2020, a conference call was held with the Northeast Regional Recorders. A summary of the call is below.

In Attendance: Mark Irwin, John Lawson, Vernon Huebschman, Rick Howe, John Gallant, Patrick Nnaji, David Schuler, Michele Balke, Sandy Karstens, Stephen Balke, G. Thomas Taylor. William G. Snyder

Invocation: Chuck Roberts

General Grand Council – 

1. Current issues in Brazil and short history. 
2. Current office status – 
3. First Responder Award

Northeast Region

1. Time to work on programs and initiatives.
2. Dates to come for next few

Connecticut

• Christmas Observance is Saturday, December 12, 2020
  • Stu Dross/Chuck McCollum

Delaware

• Grand Master – No in-person meetings – revisit on January 11, 2021.
• A lot of participation on Zoom – Appendant Bodies working virtually.
• Sessions planning for options (hotel got sold to the County)

District of Columbia

• Special Semi-Annual 23 January – Grand Council
• Grand Lodge – 5PM December 12, 2020 – Annual Communication – Virtual – Zoom
• March 20, 2021 – Annual Assembly for Grand Council – in person (tentatively)

Maine

• Christmas Observance – Zoom – 
• 50 max for any gathering per Governor
• Guidelines for degrees and meetings – encouragement for staying in your District.
• Shutdown anticipated by the end of the year.

Maryland

• York Rite meetings at a standstill – suspensions by local bodies on a month to month basis.
• Chapters have had Candidates locally.
• 10 Greetings in November – attendance deliberately limited to degree team and Candidates.
• Maryland – County Governments are the restriction origins, some bodies are meeting in other Counties.
• January – Lodge Installations – York Rite traditionally dormant, except to welcome the new Worshipful Masters at the Lodge.
• February – Secretaries, Recorders, and Treasurers meeting/school; scheduled as a virtual session, but may go live – modules being built to break up the virtual setting.
  • General and specific topics including minutes, annual returns, 990, etc.
• Semi-Annual Meeting – May – not yet scheduled.
• Annual Meeting – October 22-23, 2021 planned in person. Ocean City, MD. Dunes Hotel.
• CMMRF Donations – New address:
  • Cryptic Mason Medical Research Foundation
  • PO Box 210
  • Brownsburg IN, 46112-0210

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

• York Rite Bodies – Suspend degree work until the New Year.
• Covid up – Zoom utilization starting to be used more.
• May Annual Sessions – still planned for in person.
• First Responder goes through the Grand Bodies.
• Grand Lodge met in November – limited to 125 people – social distancing.
• Christmas Observance last Sunday – 12/7/2020

New Jersey

New York

• Zoom for all meetings until further notice.
• Northstar program – used to funnel and schedule for degree work.
• Commandery and Masonry development across New York following the Erie Canal, Ron Brown – January 19, 2021
• Statewide – Christmas Observance – December 15, 2021
• Grand Lodge – Leadership and Development – holding Zoom meetings/training
  • Begin the process of Masonic Development – Road to the East – Master’s Development
  • Coming in January
  • Other special Programs
• Governor – 10 people gathering  – restaurants 25%
• Grand Master – DDGMs by County – based on County stats/laws
  • No county hopping – no visitations.
• MIGM in quarantine – son has COVID.
• GG Grand Commandery and Lady – COVID.
• Grand Lodge Communication – May 2021 – planned alternative/hybrid/options.
• Zoom accounts from Grand Commandery distributed throughout the Zones.

Pennsylvania

• Local bodies are doing Zoom meetings.
• Quarantine 14 days – Statewide.

Rhode Island

• Grand Lodge – We’re closed for the foreseeable future – in person.
• Zoom – Chapter/Council today.
• MIGM – Zoom meetings limited – full ritual to open/close.
• Semi-Annual Chapter and Council – Staying the same 2021-22 year.
• Christmas Observances – M/RI – Zoom Observance December 18, 2020

Vermont

• Grand Lodge/Governor – In-person events restricted/closed.
• Thanksgiving was interesting.
• Edicts last month in support of Grand Lodge from York Rite
• Shutdown until further notice.
• Christmas Observance – UNK
• Annual Session still planned for in-person tentatively.

CMMRF/GGPCW

• Working on getting things organized.
• State Chairmen Zoom meetings and learning sessions.
• Thumbdrive for the State Chairs – 
  • Literature, envelopes, memorials, etc.
  • Dr. Murphy presentation
  • “Non-medicalese” program explanation.
• Need to update CMMRF with information/State Chairs/officers, etc.
• $500,000 by July 1 – Purpose drive fundraiser.
  • Stem cell processing apparatus (stop having to send to Harvard – time and money savings)
  • Encapsulator was the last purchase – allowed for several projects to go forward.
• Provide tools and resources to explain our Charity and raise funds.

Benediction: Mark Irwin