January 13, 2005

Report of Publication Committee

The Publications Committee met once this year in the fall. The meeting was held at the Masonic Home Campus in Utica, New York, as this being the most central location. It started at 8:00 A.M. on Saturday and end at 2:00 P.M. Overnight accommodations were available for Friday evening on a first come basis. The meetings are open to all interested Masons and their wives.

We have changed our format and it is working quite well. Committee Chairmen have been invited as speakers. This has proved to be informative and beneficial to the Publications Committee members, as it keeps them updated on the happenings of the committees throughout the State.

This past October the Publication/Public Relations Committee held a Seminar in Utica for a group of Editors, members of the Fraternity along with their wives. The Publications/Public Relations Committee holds Seminars twice a year for the purpose of exchanging information from various committees to the state editors and others attending the Seminar.

I feel that this is one way that we can inform the Craft of what we are doing and would like to accomplish in the State of New York. I have a phrase that I like “EIEIO” Educate – Interesting – Exciting – Inspiring and designed to turn participants On.

The Senior Grand Warden R.W. James E. Sullivan was present along with his wife Gail. The following are his thoughts of what took place at the Fall Seminar.

At a recent meeting in Utica several committees updated the editors of the Masonic newspapers across the State with information on their committees. Those represented were the Trustees of the Masonic Care Community, Education Assistance Program, Veterans Services Committee, CHIP Program, Camp Turk, Public Relations Committee and Publications Committee.

Angie Caiola, representative from Masonic Home, announced that the annual Winterfest would be Dec. 5 and that the Wonderland of Lights would again be at the campus until Jan. 1. RWDon Darrohn gave updates on the Masonic Care Community and stated that “the goal of our Care Community is to be the best in the nation”.

RWTom Paglia, Veteran Services, stated that 2 Military Masonic Lodges were operating in Iraq. He talked on the Grand Master’s Military Outreach program and the committee’s payment of dues for all active military brothers for 2005. The committee distributes approximately $40,000 worth of gifts at Christmas.

RWClarence Eckhaus, CHIP Program, stated that 57 Districts are participating in the program. As of October 1, 19,803 children have been videotaped. The cost of tapes to the Districts is now free.

RWJerry Cooper, Education Assistance Program, announced that 649 students were given assistance in 2004. Applications for the 2005 program will be available on-line after Jan 1...

Dennis Rundle, Camp Turk, announced that for 2005 there will be 2 three-week session. 380 campers attended the 2004 camp sessions. August 6 will be Grand Master’ Family Day.

RW  James E. Sullivan, Senior Grand Warden feels the same as I do. We need to educate our Brothers as to what is happening in our great state and one of the ways is to have the Chairman communicate with the Brothers and Editors, so we can pass the information along to as many as possible.

The editors of the MNN will take this information home with them to publish in their next publication, which is mailed to approx. 45,000 Masons each month for 10 months of the year.

Our next seminar will be on April 9, 2005 in Utica. I would hope that I can add your name to the list of Chairmen that will speak on that day. We start at 8:00 am and continue until 2:00 PM. Come and be part of the seminar.

Contact Ron Bower and confirm that you are interested and need a room on Friday evening. There are a limited amount of rooms and we do share rooms. Your wife may also come if you wish or bring a Brother with you.

Our discussion involves both District Publications and the Empire State Mason Magazine. We always try to find out what the Brethren would like to see and read about in each of these publications. RW Gil Adams, Trustee of the Masonic Hall & Home had a brief meeting with the editors after the seminar was over. He asked each of us about the amount
of articles that we as editors could put in our publication and he would report back to the Trustees and give us editors a final report in April.

The Empire State Mason (ESM) and the Masonic New Network (MNN) are the communication hub of Masonry in New York State and the primary concern of this Committee. Both allow the submission of vital information to a central clearinghouse, for publication statewide, and distribution to District and local publications.

The Empire State Mason magazine shows the activities of Grand Lodge, which touches more members than any other publication. It is a continuous report of activities throughout the state of members and their families, individual Lodges and related organizations.

We try to make the ESM as attractive and informative as possible. We believe we are succeeding. We do expect to receive feed back from the Brothers and family members as to what they would like to see in the magazine. We hear at different times some pros and cons about the magazine. I wish we would get more so that we can respond in some way in the next issue possibly.

We have changed the requirements of how to submit articles to the magazine. Take a few moments and read those regulations which are found on page 59 and also on our web page www. ESMason.com under submit articles.

Finally, I would like to say if it wasn’t for the generosity of the Trustee of the Masonic Hall and Home the ESM would not be what it is today. Thank you Trustees.

The Publication Committee is fulfilling its Mission Statement. To present a professional publication that is informative, educational, and entertaining, while being as truly responsive to you, our reader, and the Craft as a whole.

Respectfully submitted,

Ronald N. Bower, Chairman

Publication Committee:

• Joel G. Engelbretson, Vice-Chairman
• Theodore G. Pierce, Jr., Vice-Chairman
• John Dwyer, Secretary
• Bennett K. Johnston
• Ronald P. Kamp
• James M. Taylor
• Stephen L. Zabriskie
• Stanley Schumacher
• Joseph C. Goldbloom
• Louis Irizarry II
• John F. Hughes
• Charles Waterstreet
• James R. Halbert
• Rob Lauducci
• Chuck Sincerbeaux
• Barry Lesser
• Ted Powley
• Thomas L. Nelson
• David W. Parish
• Stevan Nikolie

Committee for ESM :

• Edward R. Trosin, Grand Master, Editor-in-Chief
• Neal I. Bidnick, Deputy Grand Master, Consultant
• James E. Sullivan, Senior Grand Warden, Consultant
• Dennis A. Breheny, Junior Grand Warden, Consultant
• Vincent Libone, Grand Treasurer, Consultant
• Gilbert Savitzky, Grand Secretary, Consultant
• Ben Lee, Design-Layout-Art Director
• Melvin Eckhaus, Photographer
• Ronald N. Bower, Managing Editor

RONALD N. BOWER Chmn. (Joan) (Western) 73, 375 N/O
37 Oliver Street,
Lockport , NY 14094-4615
R (716) 434-4946, FAX (716) 434-4946
e-mail RonNBower@aol.com
(Editor, Niagara-Orleans Masonic News)

JOHN DWYER (Sue) Secretary (Western) 375,646 N/O
187 Park Avenue
Lockport , NY 14094-2614
R (716) 434-0574
e-mail jdwyer@localnet.com

JOEL G. ENGELBREKTSON Vice Chmn. (Eastern) 434/2W-P
44 Park Street #1
Pleasantville , NY 10570-3726
R (914) 769-2198

THEODORE G. PIERCE ( Doris ) Vice Chmn. (Central) 364/C-S-T
426 Hickory Grove Road
Horseheads , NY 14845-1247
R (607)739-0875
e-mail tpierce@stny.rr.com
(Editor, Southern Tier Masonic News)

JOHN F. HUGHES (Barbara) 292/2E
159 Jeanmoor Drive
Amherst , NY 14228-3037
R (716) 691-4701 O (716) 633-4043 Fax (716) 633-2012
e-mail JACK159@aol.com
(Editor, Buffalo Masonic News)

RONALD P. KAMP (Barbara) 968/2Ono
2150 Bleecker Street
Utica , NY 13501-1787
R (315) 732-5988 O (315) 735-2217 ext 27
F (315) 735-5648
e-mail kamp@mmrl.edu
(Editor, MMRL News)

STANLEY SCHUMACHER JR 155,505/CI
PO Box 1578
Plattsburgh , NY 12901-1578
R (518) 562-0099 FAX (518) 562-3358
e-mail schumjr@westelcom.com
(Editor, Masonic Voice Essex District)

JAMES M. TAYLOR 399/B-C
419 Firth Street
Endicott , NY 13760-4617
R (607) 748-4253 FAX (607) 748-7365
e-mail taylorjim@aol.com
(Editor, Maine Family Masonic News – Broome-Chenango District)
2626 Main Street
PO Box 191
Maine , NY 13802-0191

STEPHEN L. ZABRISKIE 110/C-T
Home address: PO Box 119
Aurora , NY 13026-0119
R (315) 364-8481
Business address: The Word
PO Box 242
Liverpool , NY 13088-0242
e-mail zabled@aol.com
(Editor of the Word Syracuse areas)

JOSEPH C. GOLDBLOOM 1 M
17 East 96 th Street
New York , NY 10128-0783
R (212) 289-0874 F (212) 996-4536
(Editor, Ninth Manhattan Masonic News)

CHARLES WATERSTREET 969/Mo
H 109 Cloverland Dr.
Rochester , NY 14610-2708
(585) 381-8028

LOUIS IRIZARRY, II
304 Kings Hwy.
Orangeburg , NY 10962-1904
H (845) 359-9550
e-mail
(Editor, ORDMA Light – Orange -Rockland District )
www.geocities.com/ormdn/netnav.htm

JAMES R. HALBERT
79 Wilkshire Place
Lancaster , NY 14086-2370
H (716) 684-3572
e-mail jdhalbert@msn.com
(Editor, Amherst Lodge Tresselboard)

ROB LAUDUCCI
2150 Bleecker Street
Utica , NY 13501-1788
O (800) 322-8826 FAX (315) 798-4901
(Editor, Home Happenings)

CHUCK SINCERBEAUX
19 Clinton Street
White Plains , NY 10603
H (914) 761-2857
e-mail chuck56@email.com
(Editor, The Trowel – 2 nd Westchester-Putnam District)

BARRY LESSER
9 Suffolk Way
Marlboro , NJ 07746-1727
H (732) 536-3756
(Editor, 6 th District Sun – 6 th Manhattan )

TED POWLEY
47 State Street
Sodus , NY 14551-1142
H (315) 483-2745 O (315) 483-6944 FAX (315) 483-4189
e-mail: SodusPowleys@msn.com

William F. Gokey
201 State Street
Ogdensburgh , NY 13669-1403
Ogdensburgh Acacian Lodge No. 128
Editor

Thomas L. Nelson
36 Bronk Drive
Queensbury , NY 12804-7946
R (518) 745-0965
e-mail:
(Editor, Saratoga-Warren Masonic News)

David W. Parish
5 Crosset Rd.
Geneseo , NY 14454-1358
R (716) 243-2549
e-mail:
Livingston District
(Editor, The Livingstone)

Stevan Nikolie
5012 Vernon Blvd. Apt. 1
Long Island City , NY 11101-5734
O (718) 482-9397 Fax (718) 482-9307
e-mail: shestar@juno.com
First Manhattan District Assoc. News Editor

Empire State Mason Magazine

(4 times a year March 8 th , June8th, September 8 th , December 8 th )

www.ESMason.com

EDWARD R. TROSIN (Editor-in-Chief)
Grand Master

RONALD N. BOWER (Editor)
Publications Chairman

Neal I. Bidnick (Consultant)
Deputy Grand Master

James E. Sullivan (Consultant)
Senior Grand Warden

Dennis A. Breheny (Consultant)
Junior Grand Warden

Vincent Libone (Consultant)
Grand Treasurer

Gilbert Savitzky (Consultant)
Grand Secretary

Mr. Ben Lee (Design and Layout/Art Director) 646 N/O
120 Carmel Rd.
Buffalo , NY 14214-1008
R (716) 316-4747
e-mail BenLeeBBD@aol.com