The 149th annual Grand Lodge Convention was held October 15-17, 2020 at the Holiday Inn & Suites in Springfield, MO. Various Grand Lodge committees met on Thursday followed by the Grand Council meeting. The Grand Lodge Rank work was conferred upon 3 Past Chancellors over the course of convention. A Memorial Service was held Friday morning, remembering our 8 deceased Brothers. Then the business sessions were called to order with 14 voting members present. Supreme Inner Guard Don Stamm was present to represent the Supreme Lodge. Also visiting was GS/DSC Tim VanBoening from Nebraska.
Business conducted at Friday’s session included the following: approval of all reports received; 3 new Propositions were presented (2 were housekeeping matters) and a Resolution – all were approved with the necessary vote. The 3 new GL members were welcomed (Ed Choate, #437; Dylan Callahan and John Delaluz, both of new lodge #445). The body approved the issuance of a Charter for Damascus #445, Emporia, KS. The results of the annual election of Officers were:
Grand Chancellor – Dale Roller, Syracuse #437
Grand Vice Chancellor – Larry Caudle, Syracuse #437
Grand Prelate – Rick Pendleton, Fraternal #14
Grand Secretary – Steve Glise, Sicilian #39
Grand Treasurer – Randy Todd, Sicilian #39
Grand Master-at-Arms – Ace Vaughn, Sicilian #39
Patrick Hill, Syracuse #437, was appointed Grand Inner Guard and Dylan Callahan, Damascus #445, was appointed Grand Outer Guard. The installation was performed on Friday afternoon.
– Among the elected committees:
Law & Supervision – Chuck Morris, Sicilian #39 (5 yr. term, expires 2025)
Trustee – Jerry Long, Sicilian #39 (new 3 yr. term, expires 2023)
Welfare Board – No election needed; next term to expire is at 2021 Grand convention.
The annual Appropriations were approved, with Per Capita tax remaining the same ($24.00 per member), and Per Diem for the 2021 Grand Lodge convention was set at $0.00; with proposal being continued for 2021, for Grand Lodge to pay for GL members’ lodging (2 nights, 2 GL members per room). Cliff Biswell. Sicilian #39, was re-appointed to Finance (3 yr. term, expires 2023) and James Mercer, Syracuse #437, will remain as Finance Chairman. The 2020-2021 Grand Lodge Appointed Committees were determined and copy given to each GL member.
The next Grand Council meeting is planned for April 17, 2021, in the Kansas City area.
The 2021 Grand Lodge convention will be held October 7-9, 2021, site to be determined.
Again this year, an Advance Reports Booklet provided numerous reports and information, which helped save time during the convention.
Fraternally,
Steve Glise CDSC
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