Friday, August 7, 2020 Brother,
The Council of Administration, our advisors, and our Ritualistic Committee and I have been following closely the rapidly changing Covid-19 pandemic responses in our state and local governments. There has not been a significant reduction in cases for our state and many counties to have confidence to open public schools or allow for large indoor gatherings. In fact, many counties and cities have returned to more restrictive measures to mitigate the health risk for their citizens.
Fall District Schools of Instruction (S.O.I.) are set to start on September 19th. Our Ritualistic Committee and our Grand Lecturers and our District Deputies have been preparing for these schools with precautionary measures. However, we have been receiving notices from our brothers of some serious concerns for their safety as well as the safety of our Grand Lecturers and our Grand Lodge leadership.
Therefore, with the advice of the Council of Administration and our advisors, I have determined that the risk is too great to hold our SOI’s across our state this year in the usual format. However, the COA and our Ritualistic Committee are offering an alternative solution. Our new plan is to offer all lodges an “individual lodge ritual training class” on request.
Any Lodge that wishes to engage a class must contact our Ritualistic Committee Chairman directly and work out date’s times and details. This will help you, the leadership in our lodges to train together with a qualified instructor in your own lodge to perform the necessary Web Work and degree work safely and proficiently. If we practice and prepare, we will be ready to bring new men into our craft safely and in a quality manner that they deserve when this crisis abates.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
M∴W∴ Anthony W. Borum Grand Master, 2020-2021