The 200th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Ohio was held in Toledo on October 16 & 17, 2009 and concluded with the installation of Terry W. Posey of Tipp City as the new Grand Master of Masons in Ohio.
Bradford A. Goebel was elected and installed as Deputy Grand Master, Kevin B. Todd as Senior Grand Warden, James F. Easterling as Junior Warden. C. Michael Watson was elected and installed as Grand Secretary and Ronald L. Connelly as Grand Treasurer.
Nathan H. Pelfrey was appointed and installed as Grand Chaplain, Norman J. Mick as Grand Orator, Steven E. Cokonougher as Grand Marshal, Robert C. Rill as Senior Grand Deacon, Douglas N. Kaylor as Junior Grand Deacon, and Clifford P. Koss as Grand Tyler.
Steven A. Argast, Walter G. Barner, and Carlos Pratt were appointed as Aides to the Grand Master.
One of Most Worshipful Brother Posey’s first acts as Grand Master was to sign a dispensation to form a new Lodge in Hilliard, Ohio to be called Arts & Sciences Lodge.During the communication, the delegates of the Grand Lodge voted to increase the per capita amount paid by Lodges to Grand Lodge for each member by $1.25 for four years. They also changed the minimum residency required of individuals petitioning a Lodge to six months.
Several programs have been implemented by the new Grand Master, including 35 and 40 year service pins for members, a PR program focused on the Uniformed Services and clergymen, a Vietnam Masonic Memorial and a Korean Masonic Memorial as well as allowing a minimum of three Lodges to hold a Grand Master’s Class. A Grand Master’s blog is now available at http://GMOhio.blogspot.com.
The next Annual Communication will be held in Dayton at the Dayton Masonic Center on October 15 & 16, 2010.
