My theme for this year is “Guardians of the Past, Leaders of the Present and Builders of the Future.”

I believe we must continue to be “Guardians of the Past” guarding those sacred treasures which are ours through our Masonic heritage, “Leaders of the Present” leading with enthusiasm, inspiration and encouragement and “Builders of the Future“, with programs that support, train and educate our Companions so that we maintain those high standards and moral precepts for future generations.

Our ritual is very important for the growth of our Councils. It is essential that we are able to perform it with dignity and competence. I feel it is important to maintain consistency when it comes to instruction. Therefore, I am re-appointing the current District Instructors (with a couple of exceptions) again this year and with the help of the new Instructor’s Manual, I know they will continue to improve the work of our Councils.

I ask that you continue to give to our charity, the Masonic Medical Research Foundation. Our contributions provide for research in cardiovascular disease which will mean improved medical care tomorrow for you and future generations. I have also chosen a special charity this year, The Cancer Research Institute. Cancer is a disease that affects everyone. While there have been strides in the chemical, radiological, and surgical treatment of the disease, cancer continues to claim the lives of millions of people each year. There is a clear and urgent need to develop new approaches to cancer treatment and prevention. The Cancer Research Institute is dedicated to finding novel ways to harness the power of our own immune systems to conquer cancer. Website: http://www.cancerresearch.org.

We will continue to promote unity this year and the three York Rite bodies will continue to work together. The Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge of Florida have also committed to promote the cause of York Rite masonry and this can only be positive for the growth of our Bodies. This is where our members come from and we must do all we can to inform our non-York masons of the benefits of belonging. That is why we must continue the Lodge Representative Program and visit our Blue Lodges.

There will be no new programs this year. We must however continue to improve those programs that presently exist and continue to improve them. I have taken several steps to insure that this will happen.

Companions, COMMUNICATION is the key to success. It is important to communicate, through proper channels, any concerns that you may have, so that we can identify problems that may arise and quickly find solutions so that peace and harmony will prevail.

I am very excited about this year and ready to get to work serving the companions of the great State of Florida. I look forward to working with you this coming year for the advancement of our fraternity and this Grand Council.

M. Daniel Fullwood
Most Illustrious Grand Master

1. Leave the Grand Council in good financial condition.
2. Have a minimum of ten percent 10% increase in membership.
3. Proficiency card for every officer in each constituent council.
4. Increase proficiency in degree work and eliminate books and note cards.
5. Conduct at least one leadership/education workshop in every Council.
6. Conduct at least one Table Council in each district with a goal of one in each Council.
7. Have a fund raising event for the CMMRF Program and the Grand Masters special Charity.
8. Participation of 100% of councils and the collection of at least $1.50 for each member for contribution to the CMMRF Program and $1 from each member for the Grand Master’s Special Charity, the Cancer Research Institute.
9. Have each constituent council submit score sheets for the Giblimite Award.
10. Have a ritual team from each district to compete for the Keith W. Dean Ritual Competition Award.
11. Continue the Lodge Representative program.
12. Continue to update and improve the Mentor’s Manual
13. Have each constituent council present a Masonic Education talk at every stated meeting.
14. Establish a better working relationship between all Masonic organizations within the Grand Jurisdiction of Florida.

My theme for this year is “Follow our Forefathers”. Some where along the line we have drifted from that “line” established by our forefathers. From the Contributions of all our MIPGM’s, we owe them as to where we are today, but we have areas that need improvement immediately.

I have reappointed the District Instructors this year, mainly due to the fact that in my travels last year, I noted that many Councils could not open without the use of the Ritual Book. I also observed that even the floor work during the opening and closing was in some cases done improperly. The return of the District Instructors cannot eliminate all the problems, but I have instructed them to work very closely with their District’s constituent Councils and attempt to eliminate these problems. I will also be using the District Instructors and Committee on Work to concentrate on the Proficiency Card program established by MIPGM Richard Foreman. I think that this effort will reflect itself in the above mentioned Ritual problem. They will also aid in the issuance of the Circumambulation Cards.

There is another issue that we must face immediately and that is the NPD dilemma. We are in difficult times, financially and many of the NPD’s should not be occurring. Also there are other circumstances causing this problem. As I visit the Council’s in the state this year, I will be interfacing with the Recorders and Illustrious Masters as to what they are currently doing about the NPD problem and offer suggestions that may not stop this problem, but will definitely decrease the number dropped.

Last, but not least, let us not forget our Charity, the Cryptic Mason Medical Research Foundation. I am asking each Constituent Council member to voluntarily contribute $2.00 this year. Spread over a period of twelve months, this is but a pittance, and I hope all members will hear this plea and respond accordingly, making this another banner year for CMMRF.

Zealously & Fraternally,
Howard H. Gardner, MIGM

Companions:

An updated version of the Constitution for the Grand Council Royal and Select Masters of Florida has been posted in the “Grand Council” section of the “Forms and Files” on our web site.

This version has been updated with all KNOWN legislation passed between the last update and our 2008 Convention.

In addition it has had numerous small corrections (spelling, grammar, partial phrases). For instance, the Marshal and Sentinel who were by mistake not included in the Installation Ceremonies, have been added.

Lastly, it has had an Appendix added, Appendix F, which is the approved Rulings and Decisions of the Most Illustrious Grand Masters. These have been indexed to show their appropriate spots in the Rules and Regulations.

It is my intent that by promulgating this updated Constitution, Rules and Regulations, that sufficient notice will be given the Craft to vote it’s acceptance or correction at the 2010 Convention.

Please direct any proposed corrections in the document or appendices to me. I am available at email hidden; JavaScript is required.

Zealously,
Carl E. Gilmore, MIGM

My Dear Companions:

If you are seeing this, then I have been installed as your Most Illustrious Grand Master and I want to share with you my plans for this year.

This year it is my hope and intent that the Grand Council will accomplish several worthwhile goals:

1. Demonstrate to the Local Councils that the Grand Council is profoundly interested in them and in fact exists to serve their needs.
2. Improve the preparation of the Grand Line Officers.
3. Increase the ritualistic skill of the Local Councils.
4. Increase the number of Masons who wish to join York Rite.
5. Produce an up-to_date Constitution.
6. Publish the Proceedings in a timely manner.

Our efforts to accomplish these goals include specific assignments with established dates for reporting and review.

Some of these goals involve increased travel and visitation assignments by the Grand Line Officers. With each officer traveling to a minimum of 6 Councils outside his own District and the 20 plus Councils the Grand Master intends to visit, each Council should receive a Grand Line Officer at least once and most will receive two visits. Each District Deputy is to visit each of his District’s Councils at least three times. Therefore each Council can expect frequent visitation from Grand Council Representatives and as a by-product each Grand Line Officer will become far more familiar with Councils remote from him.

Focus committees have been established to study the best way to bring the Grand Council Constitution up to date and to create increased interest and participation in individual Ritual Work certification. Some of this work will be brought as Masonic Education to Local Lodges and result, we hope, in an increase of interest in the York Rite.

Nothing breeds success like the teamwork that results from participation in an activity where the direction in which to pull has been clearly laid out. Clearly this year will ignore window dressing and emphasize the real foundation elements of our Fraternity; Fellowship, Pageantry and Spiritual Growth and above all Sincerity and Truth.

It is my fervent prayer that we leave here today with enthusiasm for the task, and also that we will return here next year with the satisfaction of having faithfully performed our duty to the Craft.

May God Bless US all and keep US in the palm of his hand.

Zealously,
Carl E. Gilmore, MIGM

The Grand Illustrious Master’s Homecoming held on Feb 7, 2009, in Tallahassee was truly successful.

The theme was a beach party in February but there was only one person wearing a bikini (she knows who she is). Seriously, the event was very well organized thanks to the Homecoming Committee, Companions Chop Bodiford, Charles Elul. Douglas Knowles and Wes Prine.

We had 71 reservations made by the cutoff date but we fed over 110 people. After all the bills were paid, I mailed a check to the CMMRF for $600.00.

My thanks and gratitude go out to everyone involved, whether you were a committee member, event worker, or just one of the ones who came to eat the good food. It was good to be with the Grand Line Officers and the MEGHP James P. Rudman and REGC SK Charles Perez again.

Thanks to all who came, hope to see you at the Grand Convention in April.

— Dencel “Denny” Smith, Most Illustrious Grand Master 2008-2009