Grand Master's Conference Meets in Kansas City Grand Masters from the United States, its territories, Can- 2002, is the Conference's Executive Secretary/Treasurer. The Associations and Committees of the Conference, ada, Mexico and visiting jurisdictions from around the world convene in Kansas City this month for the annual meeting which will address relevant issues facing the Fraternity at the Conference are: the Child Idenof the Conference of Grand Masters in tification Program (CHIP), CommisNorth America. This group represents sion on Information for Recognition, the largest gathering of Grand Masters in George Washington National Masonic the world. Memorial Association, Masonic ReThe Conference is a voluntary meetnewal Committee, Masonic Service Asing of the leaders of Freemasonry, prosociation of North America (MSANA) viding an opportunity for the members and the National Masonic Foundation of the various jurisdictions to interact for Children. and learn how others approach the issues The Conference plans several social facing the Fraternity. events as well as tours of many of the This year the Grand Lodge of Misarea's attractions. It has also planned souri and the neighboring Grand Lodge Grand Master Dave Ramsey and Grand of Kansas will co-host the gathering, Secretary Ron Miller join the Grand Master a full ladies program. The Council of which meets February 17-19 at the and Grand Secretary from Kansas to serve Grand Secretaries has also planned sevhosts for this month's Conference of eral events on its own to address issues Sheraton Kansas City, Crown Center as Grand Masters in North America. specifically facing the secretaries of Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. Missouri's Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother David L. the individual jurisdictions, as Ramsey, along with the Grand Master of Kansas, Most Wor- well as a Kansas City BBQ at shipful Brother Don Newman, will serve as host Grand Mas- Independence Lodge #76 and ters. The Grand Secretaries of Missouri and Kansas, Right a tour of the Truman Library. Worshipful Brothers Ronald D. Miller and Tracy Bloom will The event culminates on Tuesserve as the host Grand Secretaries. RWB Miller is a Past day evening, February 19, with President of the Conference of Grand Secretaries of North receptions hosted by the Grand America, which meets in conjunction with the Conference of Masters and the Masonic SerGrand Masters. In addition, Most Worshipful Brother Glen vice Association, followed by a E. Means, who served as Grand Master of Missouri in 2001- grand banquet.
Missouri Masons Honor Soldiers Returning for the Holidays By WB Randy Davis Officially known as Holiday Block Leave, what we have called Troop Migration happens every year around Christmas time in December as the soldiers that are in training at Fort Leonard Wood are sent home to enjoy being with their families for a couple of weeks before reporting back. While the USO has been doing an excellent job of providing aid and comfort for all soldiers that move in and out of Lambert Airport during most of the year, the holidays, and especially the Troop Migration, puts a huge load on any kind of support system. In the past, some 8,000 to 9,000 soldiers moved through Lambert Airport on one day. 32 Spring 2013
About two years ago, Garrey Keathley, of MagnoliaEuclid Lodge started something special. He and several members of his Lodge went to the airport to shake the hands and thank all the soldiers that were there. The following year, Garrey put out the word to all the Lodges in the 27th Masonic District of Missouri that they were welcome to come and join them in talking to the soldiers. Polar Star - Rose Hill Lodge #79 and Saint Louis Missouri Lodge #1 joined these efforts last year. Not only did we go around thanking these soldiers, but we also brought along doughnuts and pastries.
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