Fayette MKM Lodge Inspection

 

Tonight at Jeffersonville was the Mark Lodge Chapter Inspection in the 5th District. MEC Jean Justice and REC Keith O'Dell were both present in addition to the Grand High Priest Don Owens. Traveling with Don was Jim Brooks, Grand Aide, and Chester Burton, Grand Chaplain. They had two candidates for the Mark Master Degree and this is the fifth year this Mark lodge has been open. GHP Don Owens also passed out his first Ritual Excellence Award. Also Thursday there will be a change in my schedule as due to a work conflict I will be attending Delaware Chapter Inspection instead of Grand River.

My Travels Week of 10/29

While often my travels are dictated by my work schedule, I am going to try keep at a running two week schedule of potential Chapter related visits/events which I plan to post every Sunday or Monday. If anyone from my area is interested in traveling with me, contact me and we will see what we can do.

Week of 10/29

• Tuesday 30 5th Jeffersonville MkM Lodge Inspection
• Thursday 1 20th District Inspection Grand River Chapter
• Friday 2     10th District Inspection Mansfield Chapter
• Saturday 3  KYCH Meeting at Hamilton
• Sunday 4    Individual Planning Meetings Chapter

Week of 11/5

• Wednesday 7 1st District Inspection Wauseon Chapter
• Thursday 8  18th District Inspection Tuscarawas Chapter
 

Grand Family & Grand High Priest Reception

Today was the Grand Family Meeting in Loveland followed by the Statewide Grand High Priest Reception. Many items were covered during the Grand Family Meeting but the main topics which kept reoccurring were presenting the Peculiar Stone Degree and focusing on Chapter membership improvement. In addition, we got to see Dale Ray more enthusiastic than the past 20 years. I think it was contagious as he helped to get several persons pumped up about membership. The Grand High Priest featured the normal introductions, speeches and dinner but we had an added treat of the McGovern Irish Dancers performing tonight.

Miami Valley York Rite College

Tonight was the York Rite College meeting in Lebanon. The York Rite College is an invitational organization which requires membership in the Royal Arch Chapter. Our current Governor is Kermit Zimmerman who is a Past Grand High Priest. We brought in seven new members. The York Rite Colleges were just reinstituted in Ohio in 2000 when MWB Jack Allen approved them to be reestablished. Their purpose is to assist the York Rite and our College had established a list of ritual performers from the York Rite with the degrees they perform.

Sandusky Chapter Inspection

Sandusky 72 Chapter Inspection was held tonight in the Mark Master degree with two candidates. They did some good work on the evening and around 35 were in attendance. The High Priest seemed very enthusiastic about Chapter and there were several 50+ year members in attendance. It was also good to see several Chapters traveling many of which had their High Priest present. The part I liked best though was since I got there a little early I was able to go the two blocks north to the lake and watch the sunset.

Haly Chapter Inspection

Tonight was the Chapter Inspection for Haly Chapter in the First District. The Grand High Priest was present along with several of his traveling team. Ernie Longberry, the new District Deputy, had his first Inspection tonight. He is very enthusiastic about trying to "make something happen" in the First District. The degree was the PM degree so luckily it was a short degree since the drive was a long one and tomorrow will also be a long drive on my way to Sandusky for their Inspection.

4th District Meeting and DDGHP/DEO Installation

Tonight was the 4th District Installation of their new DEO, Dan Vinson, and new DDGHP, Ron Hart. Afterwards they conducted the business of the 4th District. They definitely had a good number of past leaders from the district present, I believe to show their support for the new Grand High Priest, Don Owens who they are very proud (As they should be!).

My Travels Week of 10/22

While often my travels are dictated by my work schedule, I am going to try keep at a running two week schedule of potential Chapter related visits/events which I plan to post every Sunday or Monday. If anyone from my area is interested in traveling with me, contact me and we will see what we can do.

Week of 10/22

• Monday 22 4th District Meeting and DDGHP Installation ... at Mariemont Lodge
• Tuesday 23 1st District Inspection Haley Chapter
• Wednesday 24 9th District Inspection Sandusky Chapter
• Thursday 25 York Rite College Meeting - Lebanon
• Saturday 27 Grand Family Meeting & Statewide Grand High Priest Reception ... at Loveland

Week of 10/29

• Tuesday 30 5th Jeffersonville MkM Lodge Inspection
• Thursday 1 20th District Inspection Grand River Chapter
• Friday 2 10th District Inspection Mansfield Chapter
• Saturday 3 KYCH Meeting at Hamilton
• Sunday 4 Individual Planning Meetings Chapter

Chapter Reaffirmation Day

Today I attended the 3rd District Reaffirmation Sunday where around 30 Companions and ladies attended a very nice service and there was a good donation amount collected for Adopt America. After the meeting, those in attendance enjoyed refreshments. As a reminder they announced some changes to the inspection schedule: Xenia at 2 PM, Lebanon now Jan 14th, Palmyra now April 11th.

Grand Lodge Ohio

Today I went to Grand Lodge to represent Grand Chapter at the Grand Lodge session in Akron, Ohio. As normally happens with Grand Lodge, there were a number of introductions and important pieces of legislation. Today we will also elect our new Grand Lodge officers. In talking to many at Grand Lodge there was definitely a central theme which I think all agree which is we love Masonry and realize to see it grow and prosper some changes are inevitable. While change is sometimes painful and often not popular with some, we all believe some of the best ideas anywhere can be found through Masonic discussions. While I will only be able to be at Grand Lodge today, I'm excited to be able to participate.

9th District Ritual School

Tonight I ventured north to J A Meacham Chapter in Milan in the 9th District. It was their stated nesting and Ritual School. JA Meacham has the smallest membership in the State but they have some dedicated Masons working to keep them open. Dwight Damschroder, the DEO, put on a great interactive program and I don't think there was anyone who didn't learn at least one thing tonight. I came away very excited at the prospects for positive change in the 9th District. In addition, the District Deputy Herb Smith is working closely with the Chapters and had set up two series of Inspections at the individual Chapters which will allow candidates to progress in their degree work with top quality work but at a slower pace to allow them to absorb what they are learning. Milan is also the home town of Thomas Edison and this temple is located right on the town square.

Trinity Chapter Stated Meeting

Last Thursday, I  made my first official Masonic visit to my home Lodge Minerva #98 since being installed as Grand Master of the 1st Veil. Tonight I made my first official Chapter visit to my home Chapter Trinity #44 in Miamisburg. They were also doing the Mark Master and Past Master Degree on two candidates. We had a nice turnout of members and actually had persons on the sidelnes.

My Travels - Week 10/15

While often my travels are dictated by my work schedule, I am going to try keep a running two week schedule of potential Chapter related visits/events which I plan to post every Sunday or Monday. If anyone from my area is interested in traveling with me, contact me and we will see what we can do. I have been assigned to Region A which is the District 1, 8  & 9.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This will be my first such list:

 

Week of 10/15

• Tuesday 16 Trinity Chapter Stated Meeting...my home Chapter
• Thursday 18 9th District Instruction Meeting at JA Meacham Chapter Milan
• Sunday 21 3rd District Reaffirmation Day & DDGHP Meeting.... at Waynesville Lodge

Week of 10/22

• Monday 22 4th District Meeting and DDGHP Installation ... at Mariemont Lodge
• Tuesday 23 1st District Inspection Haley Chapter
• Wednesday 24 9th District Inspection Sandusky Chapter
• Thursday 25 York Rite College Meeting - Lebanon
• Saturday 27 Grand Family Meeting & Statewide Grand High Priest Reception ... at Loveland
• Sunday 28 3rd District Officers Planning Meeting

Grand Commandery

Today was the Annual session for the Grand Commandery being held at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky Ohio. The Grand Master of the Grand Encampment was present, David Goodwin, from New York along with our own Grand Lodge Grand Master Kevin Todd. It was good to hear several Commanderies received awards for membership accomplishments. Hopefully it is a sign things are headed in the right direction. There was no new legislation to vote on so the activities of the day were fairly subdued.

Grand Chapter In Pictures

 

Grand Chapter - The Quest For Membership

This next year is going to prove to be both exciting and challenging. There will be many new people to meet and places to go but during the year there will be a focus on one of the greatest challenges undertaken in some time, meeting a goal to show a membership gain over the next year. There are many hurdles to leap over, paradigms to change and fires to light to get folks motivated to become part of something AMAZING and WONDERFUL! I've met many times with our Chairman Chester Burton on this subject over the past seven months in preparation to boldly go where no man has ever gone before (okay at least lately), to soar with the eagles and to do what they say can't be done (Kind on reminds me of a movie....I think with a Trans AM)

TIME FOR TALKING IS OVER AND THE TIME FOR RESULTS IS LIKE THE NIKE COMMERCIAL SAYS ... 

            

JUST DO IT!

2011-2012 Travels

This past year was great getting to meet the local Chapter officers and renewing old friendships. I was lucky to travel to Schools in London, Columbus, Norwalk, Norwood, Logan, Findlay, Warren and Middletown. Grand High Priest Receptions in Dayton, London, Mansfield, Columbus, Massilon, Athens, Zanesville, Wadsworth, Spencerville, Norwood, and Findlay. I also attended more than 50  Inspections and events around the state specifically for Royal Arch Chapter. To me, a major part of  Masonry and Chapter in particular is the friendships you make while travelling through the state. Right now, I've had the opportunity to travel to more than 110 of our 147 Chapters throughout the years. Hopefully over the next couple of years I will make it to those I still haven't had the opportunity to visit.

One of the more interesting things about travelling is the bumps in the road you run into while traveling (take into account I live near Dayton Ohio). When you:

• Get on the road and realize the GPS or directions you printed out to take with you are at home
• Show up and find out they moved the location for the meeting and didn't think it was an important detail to publish
• "Convince" your wife to attend a function with you and you find out it was casual instead of formal and there is no program for the ladies
• Get to Cleveland and realize you are not in the vehicle where you have your apron case and red coat
• Get almost to your destination and realize you left the actual address at home
• Drive four hours to get to an event only to have the weather turn bad and need to leave early so you are not stranded
• Stop for gas in Akron and realize you left your wallet at home
• Show up and find out the starting time was changed to a half hour before you arrived
• Figure out they postponed an Inspection and forget to announce it was postponed by the sign on the door of the temple
• Stop for dinner and you end up wearing more than you eat

But I wouldn't trade these experiences for anything as they are what keeps traveling interesting!

Journey Through Time

Thank you for your vote for confidence in electing me on the journey through the Grand Chapter of Ohio line.

I would first like to start off by congratulating MEC George Shell on his trip in the Grand Chapter line over the past few years representing the 3rd District. George travelled extensively and wherever he went the Companions present knew him. George you represented us well.

Now for some insight on a few changes I plan to make over the next few years in the 3rd District. First, I plan to continue the traveling throughout the state which George has done but plan to come up with some new ideas to encourage visitations in our District. I also have a new organization structure which was introduced at our Grand King/School of Instruction day. We will have a Fund Raising, Membership, Communications, and Education Committee in addition to those already in existence. Will also start having at least two social events per year and every job responsibility will have a job description. I will be talking more in detail about each of these areas in this BLOG over the upcoming weeks.

 

Another new item which I am introducing is a theme to follow me throughout the time I serve in Grand Chapter line...Journey Through Time. There will be a bee serving as our time traveler guide throughout the years and if elected Grand High Priest in the future there will be another theme for that year which ties directly into the one leading up to that point in time. Each year, I will also have a lapel pin to represent the year and plan to have an outing in conjunction with the item for which the pin is designed. The item on the pin will alternate between a mode of transportation and a piece of architecture progressing through time. For the first year it will be the High Wheel Bike as displayed in this BLOG. More information about the initial outing will be coming in the next couple of months.

I understand that over time we will be facing some tough and possibly controversial changes to ensure the continued success of the 3^rd District. We all need to be prepared to address these changes head on as I want the 3^rd District to be the one leading those changes. We have always been the largest District and quite honestly, I may be a little prejudice, but I think there is no better in many areas but we need to step things up a notch and be THE LEADER.

And what are leaders? They are innovators, they are always striving for more, they are risk takers, they are always reinventing themselves, they are doers, they are ….. LEADERS.