In the last installment of our series focused on Ohio Freemasonry’s 2021 Leadership, we are spotlighting Ohio’s Grand Secretary, Brother Keith Newton, Most Worshipful Past Grand Master. Bro. Join us as we learn more about his time in Ohio Freemasonry, how he’s transitioned from Grand Master to Grand Secretary, and more.
What inspired you to join Ohio Freemasonry, and which lodge are you part of?
My father and uncle were Freemasons in Pennsylvania, my mother was active in Eastern Star, and my sister was in Rainbow girls. My dad introduced me to DeMolay as a young man and I stayed very active. I enjoyed the activities and worked my way through the offices, finally serving as Master Councilor. Life moved on for me after DeMolay; I moved away from home in Pennsylvania to Ohio and started a family. As the years passed and my children were beginning their teen years, I was ready to inquire about joining the local lodge, Wilmington Lodge #52. My friend and soon to be mentor played a key role in my positive experience with Freemasonry in Wilmington.
Could you explain what the transition has been like from Grand Master to Grand Secretary?
I was very lucky to transition from Grand Master to Grand Secretary. After 8 years in the progressive officer line, it becomes a way of life. You look forward to weekly activities all over the state. It’s a crescendo of activity, excitement, pressure, and responsibility hitting the peak in that final year as Grand Master. For most, it all comes to an abrupt halt as you close your Grand Lodge session. I’ve watched many friends experience that feeling. I was blessed to be elected to continue serving this Grand Lodge as Grand Secretary with the retirement of C. Michael Watson. I had some very big shoes to fill, but he helped me make the transition very smooth. He came in the office a few days a week through December to ensure I updated all of our accounts and was comfortable with the system in place. Having a great staff around me was the key to the smooth transition.
What are the main differences between the offices of Grand Master and Grand Secretary?
Serving as Grand Master was an honor and privilege I will never forget. Although 2020 offered extraordinary circumstances with COVID-19, I felt the challenges were much the same: promoting the craft while maintaining our Masonic Code. During that year, you are the leader keeping our membership within due bounds. The pressure can be great, but the rewards are immeasurable. It was only possible as I sought counsel with my Grand Lodge Officers, mentors, and prayer. In my first four months serving as Grand Secretary, I’m learning about the details required by the support team in the office to keep the daily operation moving forward. I am enjoying the opportunity to work with our lodges around the state, offering our members the best services available.
What are your most duties as Grand Secretary?
Communication. Easily, the most important and day-to-day responsibility I have is to communicate to our membership in a timely manner. Missing a window for timely communication to 450 lodges can make or break a project or deadline.
What separates your position from the others in the Grand Lodge line?
The Grand Secretary is the only officer that is a full time job within the Grand Lodge of Ohio. I work in the office Monday through Friday, managing daily operations. Ceremonies and meeting travel keeps me busy with the officers most weekends. Not being a progressive line officer, I will have the opportunity to assist the officers in building and implementing long range plan action items for continuous improvements.
What was your reaction when you were asked to serve as a Grand Lodge officer?
I’ll never forget the morning; I was at a Bob Evans restaurant. I thought I might be asked to serve on a committee or special project for the upcoming year. I was overwhelmed to think I was being considered to serve our fraternity at this level. For those that know me, there were many tears over that breakfast. It took a week for my wife Sharon and I to answer; I received a little nudge during church. My pastor was talking directly to me that day, and told me to Step Into The Light.
What thoughts came to mind when you found out you would be filling this role?
Filling the role of Grand Secretary is a blessing for me to continue serving this great fraternity while also supporting the future growth to come. I look forward to utilizing my skills to improve our processes for the benefit of Ohio Freemasonry.
What does Grand Master Dickerscheid’s theme “Use the Tools” mean to you, and how will you put this into practice in 2021?
I love the theme. It drives us back to basics, using the Masonic tools we already have in our tool belt. As Masons, we hone our skills to apply their use, improving ourselves daily. For me, I’m working to apply these tools to make myself a better person and my lodge a better lodge in 2021.
What has your current role taught you about being a Mason and as a leader?
Living the tenets of our profession and remembering the lessons learned along my journey in this fraternity has molded me into the Mason and leader I am today. Some brethren are exposed to these lessons, but don’t apply them. It’s only when you immerse yourself in them and practice them daily do you truly experience the joy that comes from living each day as a Mason.
What are some of the challenges of your position?
2021 is offering continued challenges with the COVID-19 meeting restrictions. Our members just want to get back together, but their new year lodge elections and officer installations have been delayed due to their inability to meet. Annual Inspections are also being rescheduled. These schedule issues are creating a lot of activity in the office. Our staff is very busy helping our lodges to update their Grand View officer entries so they have the access needed in the system.
What are some characteristics of the role that excite you?
One area that I’m really enjoying is how many family and friends reach out to us for information about their loved one from his Masonic history in our records. Helping our lodge secretaries is very rewarding. It’s a great feeling when you hear the callers’ relief when a solution is found. Our staff is committed to taking care of our membership, especially our Lodge Secretaries.
What skills do you think you have improved upon since filling this role?
My use of technology has improved greatly with new computer programs, and virtual meetings. I continue to improve my knowledge of the functionality of our Grand View membership program.
What advice do you have to give to Masons filling this role in the future? What was the most helpful piece of advice you received from the previous Grand Secretary?
Don’t implement a new process to 450 lodges until it is thoroughly tested by our expert user group – and – COMMUNICATE-COMMUNICATE-COMMUNICATE. The most helpful advice I received coming into this new role: take care of your customers; you have 70,000 Masons across this state who rely on your efforts.
What resources did you use to prepare?
The timing was right for some office equipment upgrades so we’re refitting our workstations with new equipment. Introducing new software will also offer the office staff some improved efficiencies as well as providing another working tool for our Grand Lodge Officers.
Interested in learning more about the 2021 Grand Officers? Explore the full list of our leadership and get to know our current Grand Master, MWB Richard A. Dickerscheid. Do you have any additional questions for our current leadership? Please send an email to @OhioLodgeLife@gmail.com or send us a private message on Facebook or Twitter.