Second District Grand Master's Reception

Tonight was the Grand Master's Reception in my District..the 2nd Masonic District. It was supposed to culminate an entire day of Masonic activity starting with the Institution of a new Lodge at the Ohio Masonic Home, a DeMolay initiation in Dayton (where I heard 13 new members were initiated) and last prior to the GM reception was the Chapter of Research meeting in West Carrollton. Oops...it appears someone found out last night they hadn't renewed their driver's license and needed to get it done today (me). The problem was Pam already had a series of items she needed to get done first today. Luckily after she got home we got to the license bureau and renewed the license (thankfully before they closed), we at least made the Grand Master's Reception.

Millersburg Chapter #86 Inspection

Tonight was the inspection for Millersburg (located in Amish coutry in east central Ohio about an hour below Canton) in the 18th District in the Royal Arch Degree. This was the final Chapter in that district I had not been to before and I was not disappointed. Most Excellent Companion John Gartrell PGHP from this District was also present and assisted with the degree work this evening along with several from other chapters. Tonight it wasn't about the degree work for me but rather the decision this Chapter made that they were going to survive that impressed me. They have only 31 members. They basically have no funds. The Masonic bodies lost the older, larger temple they had as they could not continue to afford it any longer. It would have been easy to throw in the towel, but they didn't. A member has provided a store front for them to meet in on the second floor. They have went in and remodeled the room so it is basic but very nice looking. They are talking about how to raise more funds. They are discussing how they can get more members, very inspiring. Truly they have taken the Grand High Priest theme of I AM AN OWNER to heart.

Hamilton SEM

When I was at the Hamilton Chapter Inspection on Monday, I was asked if I could help them out with the Super Excellent Master degree being put on this evening and of course I told them I would. Since the part they needed was Nebuchadnezzar it was easy for me as I had just done it Saturday in Dayton. They put it on in conjunction with Middletown Council at the Hamilton Temple. They also had some assistance from Lebanon and Eaton Councils. In addition PGM Mike Himes was there in case they needed some assistance and RWB H. Matt Reed, current DDGM 2nd District, stopped by for a few minutes to witness the work.

Hamilton Chapter #21 Inspection

Tonight was the final Inspection for the 3rd District of the 2013-14 season. While I have not been able to make all the Inspections I wanted to make this year in the District, due to some being rescheduled and others due to work conflicts, another year is in the books. (Piqua Chapter Inspection is cancelled and they are in the process of starting a merger) I was happy to see REC Earl McWhorter PDDGHP from the 3rd District from 1990 who was my inspecting officer. He was back after a long time away from Hamilton Chapter due to his health and his wives. It was also a little bit of a rough year for the 3rd District as our new DDGHP this year REC Fred Gallo was out of commission for almost the entire year and is still working on getting back up to speed. I must thank REC Joe Fair and REC Greg Clatterbuck who filled in and did REC Gallo's Inspections for him this year. In addition, two Chapter have started the process of a merger and a third is working to keep from having to merge. Unfortunately, Piqua appears that the building they are meeting in may be sold and the other two are in desperate straights financially and with no officers. We have been working with these Chapters (some for over 10 years) to try to get them stabilized to continue but sometimes factors outside the Chapters control come into play. We are looking to put some major changes into play in the upcoming year in our District including on major new office to work directly on membership.

ROJ, Council & GHP Reception

To say today was a busy day would be an understatement. The morning started out early as our Jesters put on the Book of Play and I had a part in it. It was a little different as we had some persons from Cincinnati come up and assist us with a little bit of their form of humor for the Book of the Play. We had a nice turnout for the four new members we brought in and there was plenty of fun to go around everywhere.

Next Silver Trowel Council & Reese Council held their Inspections in the Royal Master and Select Master and afterwards the joint SEM degree was put on all at the Dayton Temple. The Grand Illustrious Master was present, Robert Rinehart along with Grand Principal Conductor of the Work Richard Amlung, Grand Recorder PGIM Bobby Campbell, Grand Fraternal Correspondent John Johnson, and Grand Aide Randall Davis. I helped out with the Nebuchadnezzar part and while the degrees all seemed to run long, we got them all done for around 7 candidates.

Next was the Grand High Priest Reception for the 3rd District in Xenia. MEC Robert Thomas was honored along with Lady Donna and we had PGHP's Jerry Crawford, Steve Duncan and George Shell all present. After a nice dinner and a short program several of us headed over to Young's Dairy for ice cream. Overall a fun day but very busy.

More Changes in Plans

Well this winter I feel like the weather along with it being my daughters senior year have really taken a big hit into my scheduled plans. This week it wasn't necessarily the weather (though I did have a couple days this week where I felt under the weather) which changed my plans. Yesterday, I planned to go to the Composite Cast Inspection in Dayton. WRONG! I had asked Laura (my daughter) what she planned to do yesterday (some time back) since it was after all her 18th birthday. She indicated she wasn't sure but would probably be going out with her friends and then doing homework. So attending the Inspection was a no brainer....that is until Laura had no homework and decided she wanted the family to go to dinner for her birthday....so I stayed home and we went to dinner (after all it was #18 and in the fall she will be headed off to college so I better take advantage of every opportunity where she WANTS to do something with mom and dad). Tonight, I had what was supposed to be a routine short ritual practice for a part I'm doing Saturday. WRONG! What should have been 45 minutes and caused me to be a few minutes late, lasted 2 hours and on top of everything it started late. So needless to say I didn't make Victory Chapter's Inspection. I know I will make to Dayton on Saturday though since I'm doing Nebuchadnezzar for them in the SEM degree.

Guernsey Council #74 Inspection

Tonight I visited my final arch in the state of Ohio so I went to all mine arches this year. I had originally planned a different inspection but unfortunately that counsel had some difficulty and didn't hold the inspection. Tonight was in Cambridge in the ninth arch in the Royal Master degree. The Grand Illustrious Master Robert Rinehart was present along with the Grand Principal Conductor of the Work Richard Amlung.

Mt. Moriah #230 Chapter Inspection

Today was the first day of York Rite Week in Dayton. Tonight several candidates received the Mark Master Degree including two from outside the temple (which was somewhat of a surprise to them). REC Hank Dodson did the lead part and several others form Mt. Moriah and other Chapters helped to round out the cast which did a nice job. One of the candidates was Bob Deam who is an officer in Solar Lodge and was Potentate of Antioch when I started into line. MEC George Shell was also in attendance.The rest of the Capitular degrees will be portrayed over the next 3 days then Friday will be the first two Orders in Commandery and Saturday will be all the Council degrees. Definitely a busy and full week. Just happy the weather cooperated.

KYCH Meeting

Today was the statewide KYCH meeting in Lebanon. I'm glad I looked at my schedule for rest of the day again this morning and mapped out the second I was attending after the KYCH meeting since I found out there was no way I could make the second event on time. 13 new KYCH's were knighted and they were maxed to capacity for dinner. Everything moved right along and there was allot of discussion afterwards about the upcoming snow storm and possible cancellations in the upcoming week. So instead of staying for dinner after the induction of new KYCH's, I headed home and we did the March Family Birthday night celebration (mine is tomorrow, Laura's on the 5th and Pam's on the 20th) at the Melting Pot. It was a fun experience especially since this is a special birthday for Laura, the big number 18.

Weekly Travels March

While often my travels are dictated by my work schedule, I am going to try keep at a running monthly schedule of potential Chapter related visits/events outside our area. If anyone from my area is interested in traveling with me, contact me and we will see what we can do.

Week of 3/3
• I'll basically be living in Dayton (except Tuesday) at the York Rite events...weather permitting

Week of 3/10
• Thursday 13 18th District Inspection Millersburg Chapter

Week of 3/17
• Monday 17 8th District Inspection Port Lawrence Chapter Toledo
• Thursday 20 11th District Inspection Ohio Chapter

Week of 3/25 (through the end of the month)
• Tuesday 25 5th District Inspection Trowel Chapter
• Friday 28 4th District Inspection Cumminsville Chapter
• Saturday 28 7th District Inspection Findlay Chapter (all day event as I then plan to attend Erie Commandery Inspection in the afternoon in Sandusky and Golden Rule Lodge in Willard that evening)
• Monday 31 8th District Inspection Fort Miami-Calumet Chapter Toledo