Grand Commandery of Knights Templar

of the

State of New York

Grand Commander’s Address 2010

To the M.W. Grand Master Vincent Libone, R.E. Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of KT of the U.S.A. S.K. David D. Goodwin, R.E. Northeast Department Commander of Grand Encampment of KT of the U.S.A. S.K. Vincent Cowie, Past Grand Commanders, Grand Line Officers and all Sir Knights of the Constituent Commanderies of the State of New York and sister Grand Commanderies.

I first would like to thank all of you for your support and encouragement during my tenure. It has been an interesting year full of challenges and successes. We got off to a great start from a very successful Grand Conclave in Rochester. Our hats are off for a job well done by S.K. David Lathers and his committee.

Our theme for the year was “Building a brighter tomorrow” by focusing on membership and membership retention. This year at the Northeast conference New York was awarded the Trophy for having lost the least in membership with losing only 1.2% of it 2050 members. However by calendar year according to the final report of the Membership Committee we had 54 deaths, 59 Suspensions and 35 deaths and we gained 19 by restitution, 18 by affiliation, and Knighted 123 for a net gain of 11 for the 2009 year.

We scheduled 6 Regional Seminars and Zone Schools of instruction this year across the state with the focus on how to successfully apply for an Eye Foundation Grant. S.K. David Shire went through the application process and the review process used by the Eye Foundation. S.K. Don Berry went through the new Tactics changes. The attendance was mixed this year but overall well received! Oh by the way the Grand Recorder has the updated Tactic Books for sale at a cost of $15.00 per book.

The Long Range Planning committee is still meeting at least a couple of times a year and is focusing on Uniform continuity, updating the Statues and Regulation of New York, updating the Zone assignments, Inspection Reviews and Membership Recruitment. The Inspection review is showing that we are making good improvement in our tactics all across the board on Commanderies improving year after year with only a few remaining commanderies on life support and five commanderies moving into “working in progress” status. The inspection grading system has improved and is being accepted more each year as a tool to measure whether we are making any progress.

The Web site has been revamped to be more user friendly and our hats are off to S.K. Jerry Lathers for doing a great job. In the future we need to utilize this tool more as a means of communication and a reference site for information.

This year we were proud to have presented S.K. Rev. & Dr. Mark Isaac as a candidate for the Holy Land Pilgrimage and he was accepted. He went in February and had a great experience that he would like to share. Anyone looking for a nice program fell free to give him a call.

It was heartwarming to see that New York was in the top 5 contributors to this year’s Eye Foundation campaign with over $88,687 in contributions since June of 2009. Great job Sir Knights!

This year the Easter Sunrise Service was held at the Alexander Hilton Mark Center in Alexandria, Va. S.K. Charles Roberts was the coordinator. The attendance was down for the New York contingent but up overall.

The following is a list of all Dispensations granted by S.K Christos Papadopoulos:

Patchogue Commandery # 65 Oct. 23, 2009 to change meeting night one week

Trinity Commandery #68 Oct. 24, 2009 to change meeting night

Zone 11 Oct. 27. 2009 Pilgrimage in Palmyra on Dec 5

Bay Ridge Commandery # 79 Jan 4, 2010 Hold regional Seminar and School

Central City # 25 Dec 10, 2009 Change meeting nights

Nassau Commandery # 73 Jan 17, 2010 Have 5 candidates get the Order of Red

Cross and Malta @ Patchogue Com. #65

Directive #1 Feb 6, 2010 2 week layover before balloting on petition

Nassau Commandery # 73 Feb 11, 2010 Have 3 candidates get the Order of

the Temple @ Patchogue

St. George’s Commandery # 37 Mar. 19, 2010 To hold a pilgrimage on Saturday.

Morton Commandery #4 Mar. 26, 2010 To hold a special ballot on a petition.

Nassau Commandery # 73 Apr. 25, 2010 Change summons meeting day

The following is a list of all Dispensations granted by S.K. James MacConnell:

Sagoyewatha Commandery # 17 May 10, 2010 Hold special election for new Commander

Morton Commandery #4 June 9, 2010 Confer Order of Temple in Church

On April 27, 2010 I was informed by email from S.K. Christos Papadopoulos, REGC that S.K. David Passalugo has resigned as editor of the New York Supplement of the Knight Templar monthly magazine and that he was removed as Deputy Zone Commander in Zone 12. Also it was stated that S.K. Ari Chisen was removed from office of Deputy Zone Commander and was suspended from all Templary activity or functions as of April 26, 2010 pending further investigation by the jurisprudence Committee. (see attachments) On May 3, 2010 at the annual communications of Grand Lodge S.K. David Goodwin, R.E. Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the U.S.A. removed S.K. Christos Papadopoulos from the office of Grand Commander of the State of New York for violating Sect 48 (d) of the Constitution of the Grand Encampment. The violation was based on that the Grand Commander tried to suspend a Knight Templar in Good Standing from all Templar activities or functions.

Upon taking the oath of the Office of Grand Commander, I immediately moved all officers up to the next higher office and appointed S.K. Eric J. Benson, Commander of Capital City Commandery, to the Office of Grand Warder. S.K. Ari Chisen and S.K. David Passalugo have both been reinstated to their office. I then scheduled an Officers meeting for May 16, 2010 and it was agreed that we were all somewhat disappointed with what happened but it was our job to focus on the goals and tasks set forth.

As I said at the start of this message: It has certainly been an interesting year but Templary has moved onward and upward. So now is the time to seize the moment and focus our efforts in advancing this great FRATERNITY - To Build a Brighter Tomorrow!

Respectfully Submitted!

Yours in Christ;

James R. MacConnell

James R. MacConnell

Grand Commander