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