Southwest Regional Recorder’s Meeting – November 4, 2020
Submitted by Stephen Balke, General Grand Recorder, Cryptic Masons International

Cryptic Masons International Collar
Photo Credit; MIC John Bridegroom
On November 4, 2020, a conference call was held with the Regional Deputies. A summary of the call is below.
Attendees: Dion Newhouse, George Weil, Phil Hardiman, Craig Phillips, Reed Fanning, Michele Balke, Stephen Balke, Monty Glover.
Invocation: Dion Newhouse
PROPOSED AGENDA
- GGC Update
- Transition
- Taking stock and inventory
- Send Columbian to George and Zoom presentation
- Posthumous Veterans Medal – Approved by Trustees Yesterday
- GGM suggests the Council consider sponsoring
- Data – Internal first then external
- Transfer of resources and responsibilities
- Documentation of processes and programs
- Branding
- New Charter
- New Greeting Certificate/Patent
- Internal and new processes and tracking.
- Branding
- Taking stock and inventory
- Ad Hoc Projects
- Triennial Convocation
- Audit
- Quickbooks/Transition to UCOA
- Process and Project Management
- GSuite
- Personnel
- Calendars
- Zoom Calendar updated
- Google internal
- Moving to crypticmasons.org
- Transition
- SW Conference AAR
- The Good
- Succinct – better when shorter!
- Useful and interesting
- Good CMMRF presentation (showed the state of the art contributions)
- Could have been shorter
- Useful tidbits to take back on importance of CMMRF to Councils
- RDGGHP – Had everyone participate – Good Presentation
- The Improvable
- Zoom has limitations
- CMMRF presented to Medical Professionals – Speak to the Audience
- GEKT and GGC – Information dump – Could have been done in email.
- Talk about database and membership – who is Chapter but not Council, etc.
- The Proposed Path
- CMMRF –
- Focus on the wish list items – and what they will do
- Focus on what’s NEW – less medical details
- CMMRF –
- The Good
- SW States Update (health and wellness)
- Arizona –
- Do Chapter and Council meetings – based upon the local leadership.
- California
- Process Improvement: Contacted local Councils to work with Chapters and RAMs that are not RSM – 600 prospects
- Get them into a class to learn and ready to confer.
- Improve Marketing – Targeted processes and planning for “advertising” or inclusion of Brothers and Companions.
- Process Improvement: Contacted local Councils to work with Chapters and RAMs that are not RSM – 600 prospects
- Hawaii
- Nevada
- Marketing Program with Grand Lodge – Promote Masonry in general.
- Leadership participating in the Grand Lodge Committee
- Contact online – sent to Lodges
- 1700 inquiries about Masonry
- Staying in contact
- Lodges are meeting
- Marketing Program with Grand Lodge – Promote Masonry in general.
- New Mexico
- No more than 5 Masons meeting on property
- Using Zoom a LOT – Lodge and York Rite (Scottish Rite & Shrine)
- Lack of being able to do degree work is not benefitting membership.
- Utah
- Not going to open up 2020 – earliest is 2021 – Joint decision forthcoming.
- Covid cases are on the rise – not interested in facilitating.
- Virtual visitations and educationals – next up is Early History of Royal Arch Masonry Feat. Moises on November 18, 2020 at 7PM MST.
- Arizona –
- Closing Remarks
- Fireside Chat – Worthwhile meeting
- Good to have other jurisdictions perspectives
- The Ambassador badge is under development.
Benediction: Phil Hardiman