Regional Deputy Conference Call – April 6, 2020
Submitted by Stephen Balke, General Grand Recorder, Cryptic Masons International

Cryptic Masons International Collar
Photo Credit; MIC John Bridegroom

 

On April 6, 2020, a conference call was held with the Regional Deputies. A summary of the call is below.

1. GGC Updates
   1. Triennial
      1. Everything is a \”Go\” right now
      2. Contingency Plans are being explore
   2. COVID
      1. Another letter is going out – anticipating at least the middle of May
2. Calendar Updates of York Rite Sessions (By Region)
   1. North Central
      1. Nebraska – Electronic
      2. North Dakota – Electronic – Postponed
      3. Minnesota – Electronic
      4. South Dakota – Looking at Options
      5. Iowa – Still scheduled (exploring options)
      6. Wisconsin – September 12
   2. Northwest
      1. Washington – July 2-4 – Planning live- La Quinta
      2. Oregon – August
      3. Alaska – Done
      4. Wyoming – No news
      5. Montana – No news
      6. Idaho – Electronic April 18 – Short business meeting
      7. Colorado – No news
   3. East Central
      1. Michigan – August 21 – Holding Fast
         1. Festival in June still on.
      2. Indiana – Cancelled Session – Tentatively Scheduled June 18-19 – Doing well.
      3. Kentucky – September – Full steam ahead.
      4. Ohio – Candidates – 31 May EOY Councils deciding, GA in OCT.
      5. Illinois – No Response. Still scheduled 30 July
   4. Southwest – We’re still here.
      1. Hawaii – Sessions in February
      2. Nevada – June still scheduled
      3. Utah – 9-12 July
      4. California 14-16 July
      5. Arizona August as scheduled.
      6. New Mexico – Cancelled – Exploring Options
   5. Southeast
      1. Alabama – Done
      2. Florida – Exploring Options
      3. Georgia – Cancelled – Exploring Options
      4. North Carolina– Cancelled – Exploring Options
      5. Mississippi– Cancelled – Exploring Options
      6. South Carolina – Done
      7. Tennessee– Cancelled – Exploring Options
      8. SE REGIONAL – Still Planned
   6. South Central
      1. OK – Constitutional Clause for emergency
      2. OK – Using the clause – advancing officers and have Jurisprudence approve budget. April 24
         1. Grand Master oked Video conferencing
      3. Arkansas – Postponed – 27-29 August
      4. Kansas – Limited Session last week of May
      5. Missouri – Holding regular date in June at this point.
      6. Louisiana – Done Last week of February
         1. 1 death
         2. 5 contracted the Corona Virus
      7. SOUTH CENTRAL – Still planned for September – Overland Park, KS
   7. Central America
      1. Mexico – Some Grand Lodges have shut down, including use of the Temples
      2. Estados Unidos de Mexico – Done 1st weekend of March
      3. Central America –.
         1. 5th of September
         2. GR Stuck in Ecuador.
      4. Puerto Rico – Shut down.
      5. Panama – Done – End of January
         1. Companion Manuel Arguello – Ascended to the GL Above.
         2. Full lockdown.
   8. South America
      1. Venezuela – GHP hospitalized – had a stroke
         1. Grand Council UD – Grand Lodge Shutdown
      2. Columbia – Requested help after travel is lifted
         1. To Greet 40+ Companions
      3. Ecuador – Bad with virus
   9. Northeast South
      1. New Jersey – Done
      2. Delaware – Done
      3. DC– Cancelled – Exploring Options
      4. Maryland– Mid-year Cancelled – Exploring Options
         1. OCT
      5. Virginia – NOV
      6. Pennsylvania – Cancelled
      7. NORTHEAST – ALL of NE in Fall (~Oct)
   10. Europe
       1. Cyprus – 3rd March – Done
       2. Croatia– Cancelled – Exploring Options – Grand Lodge
       3. Italy – Charter Suspended
       4. France – Public Transport – December cancelled
          1. Re-cancelled COVID
       5. ALL OTHERS CANCELLED until further notice
3. Questions and Answers
   1. AJ Johnson is working on history
   2. Annual Returns and Per Capita is on the regular schedule as directed by C&B
   3. Stay healthy and enjoy cabin fever until Louisville
   4. Our services (electronic and otherwise) to facilitate communications are available to all recognized Cryptic Bodies.