Officially Closing the Door on 2012-2013

Travel totals for 2012-2013 were around 30,000 miles and 350 masonic related activiites. And since Grand Chapter is over as promised each year I am allowed to progress in the Grand Chapter line I plan to have a pin designed to provide to the travellers in my district and those traveling within the region I am assigned. Once again this year my region is District 1, 8 & 9. As I mentioned each year the pin will alternate between a piece of Architecture and a mode of transportation through time. The next year will be an exciting year and we have a major opportunity ahead of us in 2014 and as the Grand Chapter Membership Chairman, I plan to continue & expand on the enthusiasm started last year by REC Chester Burton who I have added to the team as a major player.  We have several aggressive agenda items to help us met the April 5th potential BIG opportunity date for York Rite. I will be discussing more on these initiatives next week after Grand Lodge.

Grand York Rite Week

This has already been a busy week with Grand Council on Monday and Tuesday, Grand Chapter starting Tuesday evening and ending up on Thursday afternoon then last night I went to my stated lodge meeting before getting up at three in the morning to head up to Kalahari in Sandusky for Grand Commandery. I was humbled to be elected Grand Master the Third Veil at Grand Chapter. I plan on putting some pictures of fhe session and a full account my travels fast year on this blog. 

Final Shrine Parade and Monarchs Ball

Yesterday was a busy day as we started out in New Carlisle for the final Shrine parade of the year. One of the main organizers of this event is MEC Bill Berry PGHP. Despite some rain he was standing on the side at the start of the parade making sure everything started out right. Later in the evening, I headed over to Springfield for the Monarch's Ball in Springfield. I spent some time discussing the upcoming Grand Chapter session with Companions of the 6th Capitular District.

Grotto, Commandery Drill and Scottish Rite Practice

While the last three days have not been consumed with Chapter activities, I have been busy with other Masonic duties. Tuesday, I attended the Grotto stated meeting and was happy to see the Grand Junior Deacon in attendance and the best part was he helped us out with the work for the evening. In addition I was able to meet with our Chapter District President and talk about the upcoming year and some activities we are planning. Wednesday I went for our final Commandery Drill practice prior to the actual competition. While I haven't had the time to compete for over 10 years, I made the mistake of saying I was going to start helping out my Commandery more.... Next thing you know my name appeared on the team list. Thankfully things haven't changed much on the drill but I still have difficulty remembering my left from right. Tonight was Scottish Rite 5th Degree practice and as the Director it was a real challenge as we basically have any entire new cast. After the practice tonight, I can say we don't have to worry about peaking too soon!

Urbana Shrine Parade

While the Shrine Parade season is winding down, it means Grand Chapter is just around the corner. I received my confirmation for Grand Chapter via email today. I will be hosting the hospitality suite in my room during Grand Chapter. I talked with several persons who will be attending Grand Chapter (including more than one High Priest) and also had a nice discussion with REC Harold Daniels who is a PDDGHP from the 3rd district. While he seemed to still be fairly weak health wise, he was joking around and wanting to talk about Royal Arch Masons.

Another Busy Week

Since my last entry between work, family and masonic activities; I've have no time for updates to the BLOG. Wow that has got to change....Guess I just need to make time. Let's see I've had a three activities for the Shrine, one for the Grotto, one for Council, one for Commandery, Irish Council Knight Masons and even a York Rite College Meeting. I've decided to highlight two of interest: Irish Council and Miami Valley York Rite College. Both are invitational Masonic organizations which in our area are made up of some of the most active Masons you will find. We have current and Past Grand Officers from all the York Rite Bodies in both organizations. We had initiation and brought in around 15 new members at the Irish Council and voted on around 10 at the Miami Valley College tonight. Both organizations discuss different ways they can help the Masonic organization to thrive including the creation of degree work cast lists and activities.

Chapter, Shrine, Commandery, Lodge and DeMolay

The past couple of days have been busy. First I started off with a Grand Chapter planning meeting and started to get some 2013-14 membership items clarified. Next I had a Shrine Cabiri meeting were we discussed changing the meeting dates (they ask my opinion and I indicated unless they held it at midnight I would have a conflict). Afterwards I headed to the Commandery meeting where we decided on when to practice drill but more importantly I got my new Commandery coat. Tonight was another great night as I headed to Vandalia Lodge where I met up with MWB Mike Himes and MWB Mike Watson along with RWB Randy Clark as we witnessed the presentation of the letters Temporary for a DeMolay Chapter to be restarted in Vandalia. I was proud to be there as I was able to help them out by training many of their new advisors. MWB Watson and Brenda are going to help them out on the Advisory Board. I also discussed a potential reopening of a DeMolay Chapter in Eaton of which they are planning to hold a meeting on soon. Things are looking up for DeMolay in the 2nd Masonic District area.

Oklahoma MM Indian Degree

WOW what an event... Last night over 1,000 Masons in one room witnessing several Native American who travelled from Oklahoma to Ohio to raise one of their candidates at the Dayton Masonic Center. Definitely something I won't forget. This again is something I think our Chapters should think about. Doing something unique, something that will draw folks from many locations to witness. I plan on adding a few pictures from this event but it showed what planning and promotions can do to ensure the success of this event. It was promoted over various media.... Facebook... Emails... Twitter... newsletters... websites... calendars... calls... and word of mouth to bring this crowd from all over the state and even some from out of state to make this a success.

Great Lakes Shrine Association

This weekend was a big time for Antioch Shrine. The President Doug Sorrell (from Lodge Minerva) put on a great weekend. While the GLSA consists of a 6 state 21 Shrine area and we haven't had a President of the Association in around 20 years from Antioch (who by the way was also from my Lodge), it was ran like we had just held one last year. Hundreds of emails, many planning sessions and hundreds of members were asked to help assist with the effort. Friday, I attended the Presidents dinner where several times those who helped were thanked for their efforts. This planning, organizing, controlling, delegating and recognizing those who helped method of executing the event was the key to its success. Many things never before attempted were done and the parade recognizing all areas of Masonry really highlighted the bond between the various Masonic organizations. From the York Rite to the Scottish Rite to the Eastern Star and Masonic youth groups over 100 people were in the parade in addition to hundreds of Shriners. I was proud to represent the Royal Arch Chapter in the parade.

Minerva Lodge Stated Meeting

In June, several of the members of my lodge got up and noted the dining room at our temple, while clean, really needed an updated look and feel. At the next meeting, the Worshipful Master present a budget and plan to transform a room from 1900 to today. The plan didn't involve spending large sums of money or hiring folks to do the work... It involved the members doing the work, updating broken items or possible safety issues, improving the lighting installed right after electricity was put into the building, removing the shuffle boards marked on the floors which were last used in the 40's or 50's and using the activity to build a sense of closeness among the members. While, not completely finished, the plan has worked and several hundred hours of work has been done to transform this room. It now looks brighter, larger, cleaner and more importantly more inviting as a place to spend time socializing before and after meetings. I can remember when not so long ago after our meetings folks would socialize for an hour or more but lately had fallen off as the room was really starting to show its' age. There was an excitement and anticipation voiced at the meeting over the changes. I've also noticed a closeness among those helping with the progress and a strengthened sense of pride for the lodge. Giving members the opportunity to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment for something THEY personally did is often a key between the active lodge and the one who just meets.