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Regional Deputy Conference Call – October 19, 2020

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

\"General
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

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