To all my Companions,

I want to share a BIG thank you to all those who helped out at the 15^th Annual Grand Master’s Class.   I know that it would be prudent to not try and thank each person individually but you all know me and know I’m a little bit crazy, so here goes nothing.  If I missed you, it was not intentional, I am just getting older every day.  I do appreciate your efforts as well.

First off.  Thanks to Grand Master Benjamin W Polston, II; Most Excellent Companion Walter D Waddell, Jr.; Most Illustrious Companion Judd J Wolfe and Right Eminent Sir Knight Ditmar W Chavez for their incredible leadership to the bodies throughout the year.  Thank you also for showing up and showing your dedication to our Craft.

To the 29 or so candidates:  Thanks for taking the time to come to Macon and to continue your Masonic journey.  I hope that you consider your day with us well spent.  I encourage you to go to more festivals and see the degree work done multiple times.  Each time I see the work, I tend to learn something new.  I also encourage you to go to your Chapter, Council and Commandery and get involved.  Our York Rite bodies are struggling with membership and participation.   Even you as an individual could have a huge impact on your local bodies.  Just showing up and participating may encourage and animate some of the older members that were struggling with staying engage.  They would love the opportunity to share with you their journeys.

To Mark Bradley, for all of his hard work and his devotion and dedication to the Grand York Rite to even cancel something that he had planned just so that he would be there to support this event and the new Companions that were in attendance.  Thanks also for the efforts that you made to provide lunch for an ever-changing number of persons in attendance.  I know that was a great job.  In reference to that, thanks to Ryan Nealey for his assistance to Mark.

To the Committee members and other workers.   Most Illustrious Dan Ricketts and Illustrious Companion Peter Bard for their efforts in pulling this thing together as well as their expertise in the work and performing the degrees that they were involved in.  Thanks to Right Eminent Tommy Marshall for helping to move through the day by making sure the degree teams were ready for their degree.  Thanks to Right Puissant Companion, James W Bard, Most Excellent Companion Bill Shepard, Excellent Companion Jay Finch, Excellent Companion Tom Chapman, Excellent Companion Matt Sanford, Rusty Bennett, Right Eminent and Most Illustrious Mark Johnson, Illustrious Companion Michael Hamlin, Billy Beckum, and Excellent Companion Bill Garrison for their efforts moving props and generally assisting the degree teams as they transitioned through the day.   Thanks to Illustrious Companion Jim Arnold and Excellent Companion Matt Sanford for manning the registration table and getting the Companions and the Candidates signed in appropriately.

To the Degree Teams (and fill-ins).   Thanks to Cherokee Chapter #13 and Jagger Phillips, Jeff Self and Billy Beckum, Augusta Chapter #A01, Steve Higgins and his DGD degree team, Marietta Council #74, Ballard Council #16 and all those who were involved in the Orders of Knighthood for your excellent degree work and your hard work to memorize the parts to ensure that they were as impactful as possible to the new Candidates.  Thanks to those who filled in at the last moment, thanks for taking on the unexpected and running with it like the true champions you are.

Fraternally and Humbly,

Mike Sampsell, MEPGHP

GM Class, 2024 Chairman