Northeast Regional Recorder's Meeting - December 10, 2020
Submitted by Stephen Balke, General Grand Recorder, Cryptic Masons International

General Grand Council Collar
Cryptic Masons International Collar
Photo Credit; MIC John Bridegroom
 

On December 10, 2020, a conference call was held with the Northeast Regional Recorders. A summary of the call is below.

In Attendance: Mark Irwin, John Lawson, Vernon Huebschman, Rick Howe, John Gallant, Patrick Nnaji, David Schuler, Michele Balke, Sandy Karstens, Stephen Balke, G. Thomas Taylor. William G. Snyder

Invocation: Chuck Roberts

General Grand Council - 

  1. Current issues in Brazil and short history. 
  2. Current office status - 
  3. First Responder Award

Northeast Region

  1. Time to work on programs and initiatives.
  2. Dates to come for next few

Connecticut

  • Christmas Observance is Saturday, December 12, 2020
    • Stu Dross/Chuck McCollum

Delaware

  • Grand Master - No in-person meetings - revisit on January 11, 2021.
  • A lot of participation on Zoom - Appendant Bodies working virtually.
  • Sessions planning for options (hotel got sold to the County)

District of Columbia

  • Special Semi-Annual 23 January - Grand Council
  • Grand Lodge - 5PM December 12, 2020 - Annual Communication - Virtual - Zoom
  • March 20, 2021 - Annual Assembly for Grand Council - in person (tentatively)

Maine

  • Christmas Observance - Zoom - 
  • 50 max for any gathering per Governor
  • Guidelines for degrees and meetings - encouragement for staying in your District.
  • Shutdown anticipated by the end of the year.

Maryland

  • York Rite meetings at a standstill - suspensions by local bodies on a month to month basis.
  • Chapters have had Candidates locally.
  • 10 Greetings in November - attendance deliberately limited to degree team and Candidates.
  • Maryland - County Governments are the restriction origins, some bodies are meeting in other Counties.
  • January - Lodge Installations - York Rite traditionally dormant, except to welcome the new Worshipful Masters at the Lodge.
  • February - Secretaries, Recorders, and Treasurers meeting/school; scheduled as a virtual session, but may go live - modules being built to break up the virtual setting.
    • General and specific topics including minutes, annual returns, 990, etc.
  • Semi-Annual Meeting - May - not yet scheduled.
  • Annual Meeting - October 22-23, 2021 planned in person. Ocean City, MD. Dunes Hotel.
  • CMMRF Donations - New address:
    • Cryptic Mason Medical Research Foundation
    • PO Box 210
    • Brownsburg IN, 46112-0210

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

  • York Rite Bodies - Suspend degree work until the New Year.
  • Covid up - Zoom utilization starting to be used more.
  • May Annual Sessions - still planned for in person.
  • First Responder goes through the Grand Bodies.
  • Grand Lodge met in November - limited to 125 people - social distancing.
  • Christmas Observance last Sunday - 12/7/2020

New Jersey

New York

  • Zoom for all meetings until further notice.
  • Northstar program - used to funnel and schedule for degree work.
  • Commandery and Masonry development across New York following the Erie Canal, Ron Brown - January 19, 2021
  • Statewide - Christmas Observance - December 15, 2021
  • Grand Lodge - Leadership and Development - holding Zoom meetings/training
    • Begin the process of Masonic Development - Road to the East - Master’s Development
    • Coming in January
    • Other special Programs
  • Governor - 10 people gathering  - restaurants 25%
  • Grand Master - DDGMs by County - based on County stats/laws
    • No county hopping - no visitations.
  • MIGM in quarantine - son has COVID.
  • GG Grand Commandery and Lady - COVID.
  • Grand Lodge Communication - May 2021 - planned alternative/hybrid/options.
  • Zoom accounts from Grand Commandery distributed throughout the Zones.

Pennsylvania

  • Local bodies are doing Zoom meetings.
  • Quarantine 14 days - Statewide.

Rhode Island

  • Grand Lodge - We’re closed for the foreseeable future - in person.
  • Zoom - Chapter/Council today.
  • MIGM - Zoom meetings limited - full ritual to open/close.
  • Semi-Annual Chapter and Council - Staying the same 2021-22 year.
  • Christmas Observances - M/RI - Zoom Observance December 18, 2020

Vermont

  • Grand Lodge/Governor - In-person events restricted/closed.
  • Thanksgiving was interesting.
  • Edicts last month in support of Grand Lodge from York Rite
  • Shutdown until further notice.
  • Christmas Observance - UNK
  • Annual Session still planned for in-person tentatively.

CMMRF/GGPCW

  • Working on getting things organized.
  • State Chairmen Zoom meetings and learning sessions.
  • Thumbdrive for the State Chairs - 
    • Literature, envelopes, memorials, etc.
    • Dr. Murphy presentation
    • “Non-medicalese” program explanation.
  • Need to update CMMRF with information/State Chairs/officers, etc.
  • $500,000 by July 1 - Purpose drive fundraiser.
    • Stem cell processing apparatus (stop having to send to Harvard - time and money savings)
    • Encapsulator was the last purchase - allowed for several projects to go forward.
  • Provide tools and resources to explain our Charity and raise funds.

Benediction: Mark Irwin