April 20, 2023 TO BE READ IN EVERY CONSTITUENT LODGE AT THE FIRST COMMUNICATION AFTER ITS RECEIPT AND BE FILED BY THE LODGE SECRETARY FOR READY REFERENCE SUMMARY OF THE 170th ANNUAL COMMUNICATION OF THE GRAND LODGE OF A. F. & A. M. OF MINNESOTA APRIL 14 and 15, 2023 - THE PARK EVENT CENTER, WAITE PARK, MINNESOTA The 170th Annual Communication of this Grand Lodge was held at the The Park Event Center in Waite Park, Minnesota on April 14th and 15th, 2023, with Most Worshipful Brother Tony R. Krall, Grand Master of Masons in Minnesota presiding. Of the 124 Constituent Lodges currently chartered by the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, 85 were represented. A total of 394 Masons registered. During 2022 there were 235 Master Masons raised, 135 affiliated, and 39 restored, for a total gain of 409. Losses were 144 withdrawn, 283 stricken, 3 suspended or expelled, and 358 deceased, for a total loss of 788; leaving a net total membership of 8,866 as of January 1, 2023. (Mergers inflate the withdrawn and affiliated numbers.) The following Grand Officers were elected and installed: Grand Master Dayton L. Berg (125-2), Rush City, MN Deputy Grand Master Foster D. Solem (1-165-176), Burnsville, MN Senior Grand Warden Robert S. Davis (113), Chaska, MN Junior Grand Warden Shawn R. Carrick (258-8), Red Wing, MN Grand Treasurer Frank J. Spevak (118), Woodbury, MN Grand Secretary Keith W. Reierson (5-158), Eagan, MN The following Grand Officers were appointed and installed: Grand L.E.O. Bradley Phelps (11-21) Grand Chaplain Douglas Pamp (155) Grand Orator Douglas Kuchera (5) Sr. Grand Deacon Charles S. Brust (21) Jr. Grand Deacon Bruce A. Carson (282) Grand Marshal Lee Dorholt (160-277) Gr. Standard Bearer Ken Friese (157-126) Grand Sword Bearer William Vice (273) Sr. Grand Steward Scott W. Rich (191-158) Jr. Grand Steward Gregory A. Vokovan (30) Grand Pursuivant Garrett Aalfs (326) Grand Tyler Jay Lietzow (205-350) Grand Piper Christopher Zack (258) Grand Organist Ralph E. Johansen (113) There were six resolutions to amend the Minnesota Masonic Code presented at the 170th Annual Communication. Five passed as presented (#1-5), one passed as amended (#6), and one was defeated as amended (#6-2): 2023 No. 1, Constitutional Amendment - Relating to Executive Succession - passed. 2023 No. 2, Constitutional Amendment - Reduce required number of MMs to form new lodge - passed. 2023 No. 5, Constitutional Amendment - Creation of Grand Master’s lodge - passed. These three resolutions will be held over to the 2024 Annual Communication for a final vote. 2023 No. 3, Standing Resolutions Amendment - Reorganization of Standing Resolutions - passed. 2023 No. 4, General Regulations Amendment - Protection of Lodge Property - passed. 2023 No. 6, General Regulations Amendment - Increase in the annual per capita from $40 to $70 - passed (as amended). This resolution was amended to extract the automatic increase provision in Section G3.01(d)(2) for separate consideration. 2023 No. 6-2 (as amended), General Regulations Amendment - Automatically increasing per capita by 10% - defeated. These resolutions will be published in an updated version of the Minnesota Masonic Code as soon as possible. Elected as Directors of the Minnesota Masonic Charities board, both three year terms: Robert L. Darling, PGM Barbara Brihn, PWGM Re-elected as Directors of the Minnesota Masonic Charities board, for additional three year terms: James H. Proctor, PM Steven R. Johnson, PGM Highlights of the Annual Communication would have to include the visit to our Annual Communication by many distinguished guests from other jurisdictions. In all, the Grand Lodge of Minnesota was honored by the attendance of twenty two representatives from ten sister jurisdictions and fifteen representatives of seven appendant or concordant bodies. The Grand Lodge Banquet served some 320 members and guests and featured a keynote speech from Il. Brother James D. Cole, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction. Another highlight would be the presentation of two Duane E. Anderson Excellence in Masonic Education Awards, one for 2020 and one for 2023 to R.W. Brother E. Oscar Alleyne, Past Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of New York (2020), and V.W. Brother Allan Casalou, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of California (2023). Formal requests for recognition were received from five foreign Grand Lodges this past year: Grand Free Lodge of Columbia, awaiting further information, no action taken; United Grand Lodge of Bulgaria, recognition granted; Grand Lodge of State Andres Qunintana Roo, recognition granted; Grand Lodge State of Puebla (Mexico), recognition granted Grand Lodge of Lebanon, recognition rejected. An Open Installation of Grand Lodge Officers, Area Deputies, District Representatives and Custodians was held Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. and was very well attended. The 171st Annual Communication will be held at the The Park Event Center, Waite Park, Minnesota, on April 12th and 13th, 2024. Constituent Lodges are asked to please do not schedule events that will conflict with the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. A full report of the actions taken at the 170th Annual Communication, along with all of the reports presented, will be printed in the 2023 Annual Proceedings, which will be available for distribution as soon as possible. The Preprinted Report booklet containing most of the reports presented at the 170th Annual Communication is available in the Annual Communication tile in Grand View. Keith W. Reierson, Grand Secretary