Regional Deputy Conference Call – October 19, 2020

Regional Deputy Conference Call – October 19, 2020
Submitted by Stephen Balke, General Grand Recorder, Cryptic Masons International

Cryptic Masons International Collar
Photo Credit; MIC John Bridegroom

 

On October 19, 2020, a conference call was held with the Regional Deputies. A summary of the call is below.

Attending: Carl Lidstrom, Rafael Soneghet, Marc Adote, Marcos Ostrander, Jason Varner, Tom Nesbit, John Logan, Norm Draine, Sandy Karstens, Stephen Balke, G. Thomas Taylor, Monty Glover.

Called off in Advance: Mike Smith, Wayne Long

Invocation: Norman Draine

Called to Order: 10:07 UTC

GGM

• Recommendations – 1/Region for Ritual Committee
• Fireside Chat – 25 October – 4th Sundays each Month planned every month.
  • Please get the word out – ALL Cryptic Masons welcome.
  • Registration Link in Facebook/on Website!

Africa

• COVID still rampant – work in Masonry is slowed down or stopped.
• GGM – Regional Conference for Africa – Zoom initially
• Madagascar
  • Ambassador – Finding out more information
  • Check with Michel Sabatier
• Gabon
  • Ambassador – Alain Kassah-Bayone
  • Doing well, closed for October
  • November Grand Assembly TBA
• Togo
  • Ambassador – Olivier Abelim Passoli
  • Planning for work over the coming months.

Asia/Pacific – No Report Received

• At present the Philippines has 21 Constituent Councils. Japan has 2, Taiwan and Guam have 1 each.
• For the Philippines, the Ambassador is Companion Nestor V. Tampol PIGM, KYGCH
• The Grand Lodge of the Philippines has restricted all activities requiring physical presence since March 16, 2020. It has recently allowed meetings with no more than 6-9 lodge members but allows Zoom meetings. There is a possibility the Government may reduce or lessen the COVID restrictions by December but this is not certain.
• Extensive funeral rites are scheduled next month for Bro Greg Macasaet who as a doctor lost his life to COVID while serving other patients. He was declared a hero by the Philippine government for his service. It is planned to be a unique set of memorial ceremonies as Bro Greg was very active in all Masonic and appendant bodies.

Brazil

• Ambassador – Allan Sylvestre
• The General Grand Master gave an overview of current and recent activities in Brazil and made it clear that Rafael is supported by the General Grand Council.
• WhatsApp is being used for much translation channel communication.
• Working with Councils that are working toward completing the “regularization” paperwork for Councils.
• Working with John Miller to compile and create central storage for members of Subordinate Councils.
• Meeting focused on Brazil is set for this week.

Central America

• Opening up slowly. Air travel is open, becoming less stringent, including to USA.
• WhatsApp is becoming a large part of communication.
• Central America
  • Ambassador – Jose Ramon St. Feliu
• Columbia – Departamento (State)
  • Ambassador –
  • Opposition from the Supreme Council of Columbia AASR
  • Bogota – In process of requesting a Chapter UD, Council will follow.
  • Cartagena – Starting organization
  • Cali – Starting organization (has some previous members)
  • Barranquilla – Starting organization
  • Santa Marta – Starting organization
• Ecuador -Doing well as Subordinate Council.
• Panama –
  • Ambassador – Francisco Flores
• Paraguay – Doing well –
  • Ambassador – Odilon Ayala
• Peru – Doing well
  • Ambassador – Alejandro Mita
• Venezuela – Doing well
  • Ambassador – Oscar Rodriguez Luna
• Need Bylaws Templates (Council and Grand Council) – Steve
• EUM – Bilingual Education program working with Zoom Committee – also working Francisco Flores of GC of Panama.
• Mexico

East Central 

• Indiana held the Ish Sodi Banquet and we collected over $18,000.00 for CMMRF.   Indiana is experiencing a spike in covid 19   and the Governor is threatening another shutdown.
• East Central ambassadors are in place with the exception of Michigan.
• Illinois Timothy Ward
• Indiana – David Miller
• Kentucky – Russell Creech
• Michigan – TBA
• Ohio – Michael Terry

Europe

• Corona Virus is on the rise across Europe.
• Austria
  • Ambassador – TBA
• Croatia – No news.
  • Ambassador – TBA
• Cyprus Ambassador – TBA
• France
  • Ambassador – TBA
• Germany
  • Ambassador – TBA
  • Grand Council application – pending meeting in August 2021
• Greece – No news.
  • Ambassador – TBA
• Italy
  • Ambassador – TBA
  • Interim leadership is doing a good job to progress and get working.
  • Meeting focused on Italy on Wednesday.
• Portugal
  • Ambassador – Joao Cavello
• Romania – No news.
  • Ambassador – Andre Diaconescu

North Central

• https://yorkriteconference.org – North Central Conference virtual event.
• Presentation by Dr. Michael Murphy of CMMRF
• Minnesota – updates available at https://mnyorkrite.org
  • Ambassador – Dave Emery
  • Planning 1 day Festivals
  • Chapter 30 January 2020
  • Council – Mid-February TBD
  • Commandery – March TBD
  • Eating not at Lodges/Bodies – COVID related
  • New Virtual Research (Education) Council had their premier meeting last Saturday
    • Contact RIC Marv Schendel for invitation to the Council
    • Meetings are credentialed.
    • Dates TBA (3rd Saturdays?)
  • Recommend virtual as opportunity for Cryptic Education
• Iowa – Doing well – NTR –
  • Ambassador – Wade Sheeler
• Nebraska – Doing well – NTR –
  • Ambassador – Ed Nolte
• North Dakota – Doing well – NTR –
  • Looking for an Ambassador
• South Dakota – Doing well – NTR –
  • Ambassador – Herb Cooke
• Wisconsin – Doing well
  • Ambassador – John Pratt
  • Successful Sessions via Zoom last month with progression of officers.
  • New website/redesign – https://grmswis.org

Northeast North

• Ambassador gathering virtual meeting (M/T – in evening)
• Connecticut
  • Ambassador – TBA
• Maine
  • Ambassador – Ken Caldwell
• Massachusetts
  • Ambassador – TBA
  • 31 October 2020 Session – Zoom Session – Registration
• New Hampshire
  • Ambassador – Paul C. Smith
  • Performing degree work (GO12 for Commandery)
• New York
  • Ambassador – Richard Fowler
• Rhode Island
  • Ambassador – Mark Thompson
• Vermont
  • Ambassador – Kirk White
  • Doing degree work (GO12 for Commandery)
  • Now allowing 3rd Degree (MWGM) – 5 PTS separated.
• NE Educational Zoom meeting
  • Request email of the NEN RDGGM
• SEM Degree desired for the Tri-State (March) – Getting on the calendar.

Northeast South – No Report Received

• Delaware – Monthly Zoom calls – combined York Rite, educational program 1/month on Zoom – successful
  • Ambassador – William F. Lott
• Maryland – Grand Session in person recently.
  • Ambassador – Patrick A. Curtis
• New Jersey
  • Ambassador – Newlin R. Williams
• Washington D.C. – March 19-20, 2021 – Grand Sessions hoping in person – Council 20 – November 21st – Virtual 13:00 EDT – December 12 – limited attendance in person. Meeting virtually right now through December 31, 2020. Encouraging presentations – Teko Foly presenting for Commandery. Using Grand View for membership database – using for election of officers.
  • Ambassador – Marcel J. Desroches, Jr.

Northwest 

• Northwest Regional Conference successful this last weekend. Virtually using Zoom.
• Alaska – Ambassador Harry Telling
• Colorado – Ambassador – Robert Farrow
• Montana – Ambassador – Roger Cathel
• Oregon – Ambassador – TBA – Shut down until April 2021
• Washington – Ambassador – TBA
• Wyoming – Ambassador – Richard Lewis

South Central

• Ritual Committee – Clyde Schoolfield, Degree Director SEM
• 2021 Regional Session in planning stages (dates – same location/hotel is planned)
• Arkansas
  • Ambassador – Paul Wilson
• Kansas
  • Ambassador – Wayne Rollf
• Louisiana
  • Lake Charles area is suffering from the hurricanes
  • Ambassador – Camile “Buddy” Guidry
• Missouri
  • Ambassador – Aaron Shoemaker
• Oklahoma
  • Ambassador – James Cloud
  • 24 October 2020 – Festival planned in Oklahoma City
  • 14 November 2020 – Virtual Grand Lodge
  • 15 November 2020 – Grand Lodge Installation Grand Master restrictions apply at all degree work.

Southeast

• Except as noted – fairly open and conferring degrees.
• Alabama
  • Ambassador – Troy Artis Brown
  • Chapter/Council Day coming up on both sides of the state.
  • Planned for a one day session at the end of February.
• Florida
  • Ambassador – Larry R. Gillespie
• Georgia
  • Ambassador – Wade Smith
• Mississippi
  • Ambassador – Billy Wayne Sloan
• North Carolina
  • Ambassador – TBA
• South Carolina
  • Ambassador – (GGM to follow up)
  • Grand Master locked down – not even Zoom/Conference calls.
• Tennessee
  • Ambassador – TBA

Southwest

• No one is really meeting in person
• SWYRC – 130 registrations
  • Council starts at 1:00 PM PDT on 30 October 2020
  • Dr. Murphy is presenting for CMMRF
• Arizona
• California
• Hawaii
  • Ambassador – Mark Leo
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• Utah

Benediction: Rafael Soneghet