Love it...

You should know by now I love the business side of this job. I am truly blessed to have the Leadership Team that is place this year. We had another great Board of Directors meeting in Lansing this evening.
Looking forward to the trip to the upper peninsula.

Pathways

Today I invited myself to a meeting with Cindy Bosley at Masonic Pathways. We had a great conversation. She was very gracious and we chatted about direction of the facility and our health care "arm" . She answered all my questions and some I didn't ask. We even had a chance to chat with some of the residents of the home. I hope I was able to answer hers. If you have an opportunity to tour the facility please take advantage of it.

BGP -

Monday night and I am driving to Lansing to meet with the officers of the Board of General Purposes. Great meeting and nice supper.

Peoria -

This is the weekend for the Midwest Conference of Grand Masters. A great event where all Grand Jurisdictions in this region get together and present the "status of their home jurisdictions". It provides an opportunity to steal, er research ideas from Masons in other area. My thank you to my friend, Grand Master Terry Seward AF& AM Masons of Illinois. Illinois was the host jurisdiction this year, no small task. We are at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria with a magnificent conference center adjoining.
Headed toward home in the morning.  

                      

Just where the heck is the Grand Master?

 Dinner on Friday evening.

 Grand Master Seward
welcomes his guests on
Friday evening.

He is doing it again.

go --

...it is all over but the ride home. The conferral of the 33rd degree was magnificent! The candidates have been hearing us say for a while now "we are all here for you". Today they understand. Congratulations to the class today at the Warner Theater in DC. Welcome.
A banquet fit for a king tonight, a king and 1500 of his subjects The gala event tonight at the JW featured wandering minstrels and was headlined by Norm Crosby (the master of the Malaprop).

Waiting for the degree to start

Supper time -

Monday ends with Supper at the George Washington Masonic Memorial. Our Heritage right there before us. My goodness what an event!

It all begins with a stand up reception and guided tours of the building.

The President watches over the events of the reception.

His eyes are following me, honest!

 View from the front door.

Another Great Tradition at the Michigan Council of Deliberation Supper - All the Michigan Past Grand Masters in attendance allow the new guy to be photographed with them. The leadership in this picture is not measurable.

The elders gather 

Tourist stuff -

Okay that is over with. Is there  a meeting I can go to? (we all have our strengths)

General Session -

Kudos to the team and the two Grand Commanders. The General session (for Monday) came off without an issue.It was timed wonderfully, some business, some introductions, some magic (really). A fast moving fun morning.

Grand Master Le - mons being greeted by the Commander

Mmmm gravy.






 

Seventeen Grand Masters in Attendance.

Old time religion -

Not hardly our Sunday Vespers service is ready to begin!

Sunday night in DC the Vespers event. Wow, held at the beautiful Warner Theater. It is one beautiful place.

Full House

Beautiful

Ready set - show

Sunday - in DC

Not a day off. Candidates lunch at the Grand Hyatt (about six blocks away) . A great time for those who have been elected to receive the 33rd on Tuesday. A very nice lunch and introductions of each candidate and his lady. A tribute to the hard work they have given us but MORE the beginning of the real work.
Resting a bit before the annual Vesper service.

Lobby of Hyatt

Bang!

Saturday begins at the airport - going to Washington DC for the annual Supreme Council meeting.This is a great week of non-stop social events. This is the time and place for the Coronation  of the new thirty-third degree Masons, that will happen in a magnificent ceremony on Tuesday. A point of reference, less than two percent of Masons ever get elected to receive the thirty-third degree.Beside that it is also the two hundred year celebration (how cool is that?) Checked into the fabulous JW Marriott.

Room with a view of Pennsylvania Avenue. The Hotel is about two blocks for the White House

 


Saturday Night is the Commander's Dinner. We heard a great set of remarks and a huge reminder of how Masons help Masons. When Hurricane Sandy made a left turn into land instead of a right turn to go into the Atlantic havoc ensued. Many peoples lives changed forever. Scottish Rite Masons were on the ground providing assistance to members who were in dire need. We were able to make a difference in lives all along the seaboard.

Pauline & David at the Commander's Dinner

Before the carnage 

Michigan Council of Deliberation Hospitality Room 

Templar day

Well first Red Coats, the next day Purple Coats. That kaleidoscope was over today. The coats were black. I know it sounds boring, but the ostrich feathers livened everything up. Today was the day for Grand Commandery annual session. Loads of good information and a time for me to bring remarks. My thanks to my friend Cortland Rule for the great respect and courtesies.
A special thanks to Brian Himes and his crew for an excellent session. Well done gents.

Purple Coats

Another day another color - Day two at the York Rite Grand Sessions. Today was the Grand Council Royal and Select Masons, I was happy to be there with Robert Troutman as he ran his session. The election was held and congratulations to the newly elected and installed officers.Thank you so much for allowing PMIGM Charles Myer to present me at the altar upon entering. It means an awful lot to me. Charlie is one of my mentors. Thank you for allowing me time to bring remarks to your group.

New Guys installed - 

Red Coats, Red Coats, Red Coats -

Everywhere one looks Red Coats. Today I spent the morning at the Grand Chapter Session of Royal Arch Masons. The session was held in the Lansing Lexington Hotel. I was able to see tons-o-friends. I must say I have not been at a Grand Chapter since 1995 when I was in my second term as High Priest of my home Chapter, Trenton 173.  I wish congratulations to my friend David Dossette and a very successful term as the boss. Best wishes to the newly installed group of officers. I have a whole new perspective of Grand Chapter.

New RAM guys

Tried to teach...

I spent the evening with the State team of DeMolay. I never fail to learn something from these guys.

Conclave -

The New Guy 

Last years group

The boys in the band

Ready, set, go - 

Yay!

This was the weekend for the annual Conclave for Michigan DeMolay. If you need your sleep it is not the place for you. What a weekend it was! A lot of planning and preparation was put in this event. I understand the driving/texting simulator was a big hit. MaxWELL did hit a moose. (yup Moose) I also watched the jousting competition for awhile what I could see through the tears of laughter in my eyes.  

I am extremely proud of all our youth groups and the adults that give their time to make it all happen.

As the new SMC says - Let's get to it!

Masonic Temple Association -

Tonight was the night for the monthly MTA meeting at London Park. I wish the rank and file knew what it takes to hold up that big building. The sitting board is a dedicated group of great men and Masons. A group of guys who are getting tired. Tired but great magicians, thank you fellas, you make it possible.

Home again -

Last night was a Regular communication evening at home. First was the trustee/finance meeting. It is good to be at your home Lodge and there is a certain lesson in humility involved. While they care what you think, they really do not care what you think.

Amazing day -

Saturday was the annual residents picnic at our Crown Jewel; Pathways.My guess is there were nearly one thousand residents and guests in attendance. Cindy Bosley and her team hit it out of the park. We had perfect weather (ok maybe Cindy didn't do that) and a new location on the grounds that worked much better. The residents were all served meals in less than one hour, did I mention the one thousand people?
I would like to thank the Grand Lodge leadership team for being there and helping. I also want to thank the two youth groups who were there. They all worked hard to make sure the residents were comfortable and feed. A great day to be a Mason!