Regional Deputy Conference Call – July 21, 2020
Submitted by Stephen Balke, General Grand Recorder, Cryptic Masons International
![\"General](\"https://www.crypticmasons.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Collar.jpg\")
Cryptic Masons International Collar
Photo Credit; MIC John Bridegroom
On July 21, 2020, a conference call was held with the Regional Deputies. A summary of the call is below.
- Sickness and Distress:
- Chuck Hollinger – MIL passed.
- MacArthur Davis, MIPGM AL
- Triennial Assembly – Saturday, September 26, 2020 1200 MDT (UTC-6)
- PowerPoint Presentation
- Video on YouTube Channel
- Current Status from General Grand Council
- Working on final list of permanent members.
- Regional Conferences
- GEKT went completely electronic – NE, SC, MA, NW, NC, SW. General Grand Council is on board.
- York Rite Leadership – 101 Successful, 201 debut at Northeast. Fridays will be for 201 and Saturdays will be 101. Limited to members within your Region with very few and intentional exceptions.
- NE – Sept 11, 2020 – Successful.
- SC – September 18, 2020 – Successful.
- NW – October 16, 2020 – Zoom. CMMRF – Dr. Michael Murphy will speak, registration website is https://nwyr.org. $10.00 divided between RARA and CMMRF.
- NC – October 24, 2020. Zoom – CMMRF – Dr. Michael Murphy will speak, registration will be available at https://yorkriteconference.org. $10.00 registration donation to CMMRF.
- SW – Zoom on October 30, 2020 – CMMRF – Dr. Michael Murphy will speak, Chapter AM and Council Afternoon – Jim Baum and Jason Varner. 1:00 PM PDT – Leadership & CMMRF – registrations will be available at https://swyrc.org. No attendance fee.
- EC – No change in plans for Fort Wayne.
- EU – Conference 2021
- SE – June 11,12 – Grand Encampment Hosting, Mobile Alabama
- Regional Updates
- Africa –
- Togo – Government shutdown travel and business – COVID spreading a lot now. Meetings postponed. Grand Assembly postponed indefinitely. COVID test is ~$60.00 each way for travel.
- Gabon, country is on curfew at 8PM. Waiting until November to choose venue for the Grand Annual Assembly. COVID testing leaving is actually free.
- Madagascar – No news.
- 14 days isolation when travelling. Changes may be communicated after July.
- Marc is working to setup Zoom meetings for Companions in each jurisdiction. Include Monty.
- Asia Pacific –
- Philippines – (limited overall) relaxing restrictions in Pacific and Asia – travel is still discouraged, medical clearances must be received. Grand Lodge is encouraging electronic communications, but not in person. Government has recently (Taiwan) lifted gathering but not traveling restrictions – meeting tomorrow – going to mention correspondence at the meeting (DG). Opening with less than 9 Companions, planned Festival for 4th of July. Virtual meetings are ongoing with Councils. Booked in hotel at own expense while COVID testing on travel – strict travel restrictions.
- Grand Council Sessions – will send registration link. Grand Sessions in Manila on 16-17 October 2020 –conducting virtually.
- http://www.yorkritephilippines.org/2020/08/19/2020-annual-grand-sessions-via-zoom-video-conferencing-on-october-16-17-2020/
- Friday morning – Grand Chapter
- Friday afternoon – Grand Council
- Saturday morning – Grand Commandery
- Central America – Each country is reacting differently.
- Panama is on full lockdown. Don’t foresee air transportation opening until after September. Grand Lodge is all virtual – many kinds of electronic acceptable, Grand Lodge Annual Communication happening Wednesday 10 June 2020. Working toward Zoom in October.
- Central America is working and has completed a Petition for Charter for a Grand Council.
- Estados Unidos de los Mexicanos has completed a Petition for Charter for a Grand Council
- Spanish WhatsApp back-channel for translations going into place with IC Hazael Sotello of Mexico.
- Venezuela is communicating and submitted annual returns.
- Ecuador – Quito Council No. 1 has submitted a Petition for Charter for the Council.
- Peru – Submitted AR – Submitting Petition for Grand Council Charter.
- Paraguay – Submitted AR – Submitting Petition for Grand Council Charter.
- Per Capita follow up this week, will be sent by check.
- East Central – Slowly opening back up.
- Ohio is loosening up – October 7, 2020 Zoom Session.
- College of Preservation dinner – August 12, 2020 – Successful
- Michigan – August 22, 2020 on Zoom. Successful – Hybrid session with many present, but online able to participate.
- Indiana is Officers have been installed.
- Councils are opening.
- Kentucky is September 21-23, 2020. In person – OSV today – R. William Riggs.
- Illinois – Successful Session on Saturday, August 15, 2020. Successful on Zoom, all officers have been installed.
- Ohio is loosening up – October 7, 2020 Zoom Session.
- Europe – All countries are experiencing an increase in COVID cases.
- Portugal is having some outbreaks.
- Greece cancelled all meetings until (at least) end of year.
- France may not have a session.
- UK is under 14 day quarantine, announcing exceptions tomorrow. Doubling infected every 7 days.
- Germany needs consideration and planning for path forward.
- Italy is being negotiated by Trustees – information flowing through RDGGM.
- Cyprus is doing well.
- North Central – Overall – Testing, hospitalization and deaths are going down.
- Iowa – August 15, 2020 – Successful Session (In person).
- Minnesota, successful. South Dakota, Officers remaining, no Assembly, but a virtual conference is being discussed.
- North Dakota tried to do electronic working with RIC Dennis Newman, will follow up with MIC David and RIC Leo.
- South Dakota – September 19, 2020 – Zoom Session. 0900 CDT Successful
- Wisconsin – September 12, 2020 – Zoom Session. Successful
- Northeast South – Nothing new.
- D.C. – Possible November meeting.
- Maryland mid-year cancelled, looking forward to October, will follow up.
- Northeast North –
- Connecticut – June 3-5, 2021
- Maine – April 2021
- Massachusetts – October 31, 2020 – Sandy Karstens will attend.
- New Hampshire – May 8, 2021 – One day. Active – doing some things, some Zoom, may also be meeting in person.
- New York – August 2021 – Follow up with Session – No Grand Assembly, Officers staying in position. MWGM has ordered no voting (including on Zoom).
- Rhode Island – April 2021
- Vermont – Killington, VT – June 7, 2021. Been pretty relaxed. MMM Degrees this month – new pipeline of Candidates.
- Fall – Weather is being more permissive.
- Zoom has been quite effective and expanded the expectations and activities of Lodge, Chapter, Council, etc. … a positive boon from the COVID experience.
- Northwest – Zoom encouraged to MIGMs with IMs etc. – jurisdictional communication increases.
- Wyoming – Sessions in person – closed. September 19, 2020. Successful. OSV of Ken Badget, OSV Kit sent to Wayne. Wayne will submit report. Pretty much opened, new Grand Master has released any restrictions on meetings and degrees. Social distancing is encouraged but not mandatory.
- Colorado – Zoom September 11, 2020.
- Washington – Successful Zoom Sessions. – May 2021
- Idaho – Successful Zoom Sessions. April – 2021
- Grand Lodge meeting on Zoom. Successful. District meetings have started. Meetings open.
- Montana – Successful Zoom Grand Sessions. – June 2021
- Oregon – Cancelled – GR in Lander, Wyoming – April 2021
- Alaska – Sessions before shutdown. – March 2021
- South America –
- Paraguay – Possible opportunities for leadership process and paradigm shifts. Two Grand Lodges makes it interesting for appendant bodies.
- Venezuela – working hard to be effective after transition of leadership.
- Peru – Masonry is working.
- Brazil – working closely with General Grand Council to bring about a positive future for Cryptic Freemasonry.
- South Central – Successful York Rite Conference and York Rite Leadership. Glad for no tech issues. James McNeely did a great job at managing the meeting. Dates for Grand Sessions coming via email.
- Oklahoma – Virtual Grand Lodge Annual Communication November 14, 2020. Incoming Grand Master is an active York Rite Mason – Robert Davis.
- Schedule is forthcoming. 2021- Coming back to Kansas for the 17-18 September 2021. Will continue state by state.
- Missouri – successful Sessions electronically using WebEx.
- Arkansas Grand Session in question due to Grand Lodge Bylaws. Arkansas August 29, 2020 on Zoom.
- Southeast –.
- Alabama – March 2021. Doing degree work – Chapter/Council day on Saturday at Gadsden Bodies. Grand Lodge in November – scaled back to 1 representative from each Lodge. Grand Sessions, looking at scaling back (number of days/delegates).
- Florida – communicating a lot on Zoom. May 2021
- Open at this point.
- Georgia – May 2021
- Mississippi – July 24, 2020 Zoom conference. Successful. May, 2021
- North Carolina – March 2021
- Maggie Valley – July 2021
- South Carolina – March 2021
- Southwest – Pretty much locked down, California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico locked down.
- Fires along seacoast and moving east.
- Arizona Grand Sessions: Zoom session went well. August 2021
- California – Successful Sessions. May 8-10, 2021.
- Hawaii – February 27, 2021 – Honolulu
- Nevada on the 25th of August – June 2021
- Special Assembly on Zoom.
- New Mexico – April 2021
- Utah Successful Sessions – ~May 13-15, 2021.
- Africa –
- Final Words
- General Grand Chapter has postponed GG Chapter Triennial – November 21, 2020 virtually. No registration page published.
- Regional Deputy Reports and PICTURES.
- DGGM – Everyone stay safe and healthy