Well Excitement Today ... But Not in a Good Way

This morning at about 5:30 we awoke to the police banging on the window of our bedroom telling us to get out of the house it was on fire in the back. We jumped up and got our dogs and went out the front to safety. Luckily the fire department was here very quickly and got the fire put out quickly before it could get to the house. It was completely contained to the back deck where the hot tub was located. Unfortunately, the deck and hot tub were totally destroyed. Now just waiting on the insurance company and making sure no new flare ups.

Northeast Ohio Wine Outing

 Today at Michelangelo’s Winery we held our final Grand Chapter wine outing. Bob Nilsen did a great job of coordinating this event. We had right about 20 present and luckily the weather held off as we were outside. Great food, great wine and great fellowship were definitely the theme for the day. PGHPs Addis and Thomas were also present.

Khana Shahar Grotto Meeting

Tonight I had to go to Springfield for a non Masonic event and stayed to attend the stated meeting for Khana Shahar Grotto. Many of their members are very active in the York Rite and the Chapter in particular. In fact one is going in as a District officer in the 6th District. It isn't always attending a Chapter meeting where you find out about a Chapter District. They had 16 in attendance and moved through all business at a good pace so we were done in just over an hour.

UGIC RCC Meeting

Today I attended the virtual National session for Red Cross Of Constantine as the Sovereign of Charlemagne Conclave. It was an interesting meeting as basically as a voting delegate I got to vote on officers and a couple of non-controversial subjects. The whole thing, while planned for 3 hours was done in just over an hour. While I did attend one before, I just served as a driver for some of the out of state officers during Burch Zehner’s year as Grand Sovereign.

Franz K. Hall Association (10th District) Meeting

Tonight I travelled to Galion Ohio for the 10th District Meeting. MEC Robert Crabbs was also there and this is his new Chapter where the meeting was held. They covered old business which much surrounded changes they had to make due to the death of MEC Blankehorn last fall.They also elected new officers and selected Inspection dates for all but one Chapter. It was a nice meeting and they covered a lot of business but we were still done at a good hour.

Ormus Grotto Young's Dairy Social Outing

Tonight around 20 of our members/spouses and kids attended a social outing for ice cream at Young's Dairy. It ended up being a very nice day (since they were saying it might rain while we were there but it didn't). We also had a potential candidate attend the event with his spouse. I'm excited that things continue to be looking up for the future of our Grotto. Three of those in attendance today were new members who joined last month with their spouse also with them. Afterwards the Clatterbucks and us stopped for dinner and they had an item on the menu (I kid you not) called the Most Excellent Grilled Cheese so Pam had to try it.

• The Most Excellent Grilled Cheese

  .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

  $7.99
  Mozzarella, cheddar and American cheese with lettuce and tomato on toasted sourdough, served with a dill pickle and a side of your choice
• 
  

Ormus Grotto Stated Meeting

Tonight was a great evening where we had 11 of our members present at our stated meeting. I can’t remember how long it has been since we had that many of our own members at a meeting but it was probably at least 10 years ago. Our DD Tom Schliep was also present tonight. We got several Fezzes passed out to new members and discuss two upcoming social events we have planned (one being this Sunday). 

More administration

The past couple days have again been spent on getting prepared for the details on the Grand Chapter Installation and things also supposed to be going on that day along with trying to get the Statewide calendar together for next year. When MEC Blankenhorn passed away, I asked REC Ron Hart to put it together for this year and I would take it over for next year (2020-21). REC Tom Ziegler helps to put together the website calendar but we also put together an Excel version for the Grand Officers which is what I’m doing. So far I’ve received about 15% of the information I need but given the year we have been through I expected preparing for next year was not on the top of everyone’s priority list.

Plum Run Winery - Columbus & 11th District GHP Reception

Today we held a joint Central Ohio Wine Outing and Grand GHP Priest Reception for the 11th District in Columbus. As Pam and I  headed to Columbus with Grand Marshall Greg Clatterbuck and his wife Kathy, it started pouring down rain. Since we were slated to be outside this didn't look good. However shortly before we arrived the sun came out and it appeared as if there was no rain in sight. Everyone was happy and excited ... but not so fast as a few minutes later it started to pour down rain. They brought out a large canopy and large table umbrellas and it looked like a flood was happening on the patio. But after they got them all set up another stroke of luck hit and the sun came back out and dried things up quickly. While everyone got a little wet (some more than others) everyone laughed about it as they now had a memory/story for the future. MEC Don Lossaso and REC Dan Smith were also present along with several from the 11th District. It was a nice event and they passed out awards and presented us with a few gifts. It was still sunny and nice as we headed back home.

Winery Sycamore Lake -NW

Today we had a nice time with the small number present. While we were there they had lots of parties come in including a wedding party on a party bus. The food was great, the wine tasted good and the company fantastic.... what more can you ask for .... P.S. thanks to Tom Ziegler for taking a couple photos for us.

Even More Administration

The last couple of days have been busy ones preparing information for the Grand Chapter proceedings. Since there were lots of things decided that have never been done before due to the Coronavirus, I felt it was important to make sure it was documented so it could be used again as a starting point if anything similar would happen to cause a major disruption to our normal procedures.

Plans Changed

Today I had planned to meet with the Grand Secretary so we could do the annual Safe Deposit Box review and then over to the 9th District Meeting in Wakeman. Unfortunately last night I was up most of the night with back spasms and terrible pain in the hips. Luckily later in the day today after doing some walking the two things keeping me up last night night have seemed to have gone away. Well guess I’ll have to reschedule this some time that I’m headed up around Cleveland.

Administrative Work

The past couple of days were filled with some administrative Masonic work which I needed to get caught up. Surprisingly every week there is lots of administrative work which needs done and especially right now trying to get everything set up for balloting and installing of officers for next year.

Vinoklet Winery -SW Ohio

Today was our second wine outing and all who were able to attend had a nice time. While I thought originally it might be very hot outside, it turned out to not be too bad. REC Ron Hart help set this one up and we had a nice size group that could easily sit around and talk to solve all the world’s  problems. Hoping for nice weather next weekend with two more outings one near Lima on Saturday and one in the Columbus area Sunday.

Ohio Grotto Special

Well today ended up being quite different than when I had thought it was going to be about a week ago. I had two meeting today which I thought I could make both because unfortunately one changed their timing and the other one changed their location. Since Grand Family this time was Dan Smith’s, I gave him something to say and went to the Grotto Special Meeting I was requested to attend. I’m now the Ohio Grotto Association Pro-Tem Sentinel.

Royal Arch Foundation Meeting

Tonight I attended the Royal Arch Foundation Meeting.  They had a well planned and well run meeting covering all agenda items in around an hour. It was good to hear that despite the pandemic the Foundation is still trying to move forward.

Always Check Before ....

Today I was headed to Wakeman for the 9th District Meeting. Luckily, I spoke to REC Ray Hardwick who indicated that is moved to next Wednesday. Especially during this times of change and uncertainty things can change quickly (at times even more than once in the same day).  Currently health concerns and many peoples own personal situations change very rapidly. Oh well, I caught the change before heading out and actually next Wednesday potentially works better for me anyway.

I guess the no harm no foul saying works.

Lima Shrine Club Picnic

Today Pam and I travelled to Lima for their Shrine Club Picnic. It was in a large outdoor area which easily accommodated social distancing. This was not your normal picnic food as they had Filet Mignon and lots of shrimp and shrimp dishes. In addition they had several great desserts including pecan pie. It rained almost all the way to Lima and back but the sun was out all the time we were at the picnic.

Valley Commandery Meeting Online

Tonight we held a get together meeting on zoom and celebrated Past Commander Dale Evans (who now lives in assisted living in Toledo) 90th birthday. Claude Siebel also was on and got his sound and picture to work. PGHP Steve Duncan and PGC Birch Zehner also we’re present. Overall we had 10 members present.