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