Red Cross Constantine Statewide - Ohio

Today was the statewide gathering for the RCC with the Grand Sovereign Joe Harrison in attendance at the Ohio Masonic Home. All the degree work was portrayed and over 100 members were in attendance. I think they said this was the 24th year of this activity and I think it is a good idea since each local has a max number who can belong and to put the degrees on right takes many persons and some effort for the set-up.  While we had a few more than normal conflicts this year, this activity came off great. I was glad we stayed on time since I had to leave as soon as we finished with our ritual work to head down to set up for the Luau.

Joint Elks & 3rd District Luau

Tonight at the Elks Club in Dayton we had the 3rd District Luau. We had a nice turnout and everything came off nicely. We had plenty of help setting up, prepping and tearing down. While I had several "experts" on Hawaii in the audience the trivia questions were a little tougher than most could handle but everyone got a participation prize for being good sports. Unfortunately I didn't get many pictures as I  forgot to take them until we were busy tearing down.

Royal Order of Scotland

Tonight was the second annual meeting of the Royal Order of Scotland Burns dinner in Ohio. Our speaker for the evening was MWB Doug Kaylor and the Grand Master for the Royal Order was also present. Martin Trent did a great job setting this dinner up and it is nice that an emphasis is now being put into getting the member to understand why they belong and getting them to feel a part of the organization.

York Rite College Meeting

Tonight we had our meeting in Lebanon to vote on candidates and practice for the degree work next month. I'm really glad we had a practice since you only do the part once and usually are so focused on your part that you rarely think about the next part you will do the following year.

Luau Prep

Well today we went and bought all the items for the Luau and it took the whole evening to get the items and drop them off at the Elks so we have them on Saturday. I still have some remaining prep for the games, decorations etc. but they have all been found and right now I think with maybe a couple exception are ready to go.

Caliph Grotto Stated Meeting

After spending a few days in Knoxville for parents weekend at UT, I travelled to Willoughby Ohio to attend the stated meeting for Caliph Grotto. They gad a good turnout including visitors from 5 different Grotto's. Our Grand Chapter Secretary, MEC Bob Thomas was present, as the is a Past Monarch of this Grotto.

Batavia Chapter and John H. Campbell Council Stated Meetings

Tonight I headed south to Batavia for their Chapter Stated meeting (it just happens the Council meets after them). With tonight's visit, I have been to all but one Chapter since I started in Grand Chapter Line (many multiple time). Tomorrow will mark the final Chapter for the first round and since I already have 91 a second time or greater, I'm hoping to have a second round completed before finishing as Grand High Priest (if I continue to be elected). 

Trinity Chapter Stated Meeting

Tonight we had several absent who normally attend, all with various health issues, but we still had 11 in attendance. We again practiced the opening and closing but more importantly read 3 petitions. Our biggest issue now is getting all the candidates with an open day in which they can attend. What a great problem to have!

Updates

First off today I stopped and got good news that REC John Watkins continues to make positive progress. This evening I was going to try to go to Valley Commandery as he was going to try to attend based on how he felt. Unfortunately I didn't make it as I attended a Community Foundation meeting where I was appointed as a trustee.

Future Grand Chapter Planning

Today REC Greg Clatterbuck and myself met to discuss the 2019-20 Grand Chapter year. We covered almost every topic we need to plan out and set some dates to get further information tightened up. Since the hotel and location for Grand Chapter 2020 is already booked we focused on a 2019 GHP reception and several new activities I hope to have during the year.

Irish Council #67

Today was our annual meeting at the Ohio Masonic Home and it was initiation for around 15 candidates and the final meeting for our Excellent Chief who I appointed when I was Excellent Chief several years ago. We had a very good meal prior to the Degree work and the HRAKTP grand presiding officer was present along with Grand Superintendent Dan Conley and Grand Senior Warden Martin Trent. (They had a HRAKTP prior which I was going to before hand but a last minute conflict made that impossible). They also installed Mike Himes as the new Excellent Chief at the end of the meeting.

Oops

Well tonight I made a fairly big oops. As our water bed sprung a leak it took up quite a bit of time this week cleaning it up and getting it out to get a new one. I had listed on my calendar to attend Shelby tonight. I got all the way to Shelby by Mansfield when I determined I was supposed to go to SIDNEY CHAPTER in SHELBY COUNTY.  Oh well, I guess I'll be headed back up to Shelby Chapter next Thursday as that is when their stated meeting is scheduled. The nice part is that it was a nice day and evening for a good drive and I also found gas for almost $0.40 cheaper than at home so I guess all was not lost!

Price Hill Chapter Stated

Tonight I headed down to Cleves Ohio in the 4th District for the stated meeting of Price Hill Chapter. This is one of only 3 I have not been to since I stated in Grand Chapter Line and the other two are planned prior to the Grand Chapter session in October. We had an unexpected addition of a meal prior to the meeting tonight and actually voted on a new petition. It was also nice that we finished fairly quickly so I could get back home at a reasonably early timeframe.

ROJ Luncheon and Antioch Stated meeting

Today at lunch was our month Jesters get together where we have lunch discuss upcoming events and tell a few jokes before leaving. This evening was back at Antioch for our quarterly stated meeting. We covered several orders of business but as it was prepared in advance, the meeting flowed well and we were done about as quickly as possible with all we had to cover. It was especially exciting to hear about a new fund raiser which could be a major money maker for us.

Chapter Planning Meeting

Tonight I met with some of the leadership in the 3rd District to discuss plans for our upcoming Luau and the Grand Chapter Hospitality room. Working together were determined who would be doing what and more importantly determined a couple extra items which I had not thought about needing a resolution before the events. We kept the meeting to round a hour and left with very few items needing follow up to resolve.

John Watkins in nursing rehab home

REC John Watkins, PDDGHP from Trinity Chapter, has now been at the Kingston Nursing Home (the same place I go to feed my Grandmother every morning) since he left the hospital last week. I drop by each morning to see his progress. While it will be a long recovery period, he is starting to be getting a little better each day. He is very tired and needs to rest after doing anything. He is on oxygen and his wife Carolyn needs to help him with most anything he does. I'll try to give periodic updates on his progress.

Singara Grotto

Tonight I headed up north to Sandusky to attend the stated meeting for Singara Grotto. Before the meeting, we had a nice ribeye steak dinner. This is the home Grotto for Mark McCombs who just went out as the Grand Monarch. They covered several topics during the meeting but still finished up in time that I was able to leave and make it back home just before midnight. While it rained for a few minutes on the way up the drive was nice and a good way to get back in the grove of the longer trips.

Trinity Chapter Stated Meeting

After spending the majority of last week getting some things caught up at home and spending the holiday weekend with Laura in Tennessee, I'm back on the Masonic travelling trail. Tonight I went to the stated meeting for my Chapter and who was there but a special guest, our own Grand Scribe REC Ross Black. We had several pieces of business to cover tonight and were lucky to have around 15 present as a few were still out of town and sick who normally attend. Two of the 50 year memebrs who are PHP were not doing well as one feel and is recovering at home while REC John Watkins has started on a long journey of rehab for a virus he caught.