members to split the travel between our members in Buffalo and Rochester. This could also help to recruit new members. We are actively seeking men who we feel would contribute to our organization. Bison also supports members of our consistory who are doing work to contribute to our community. GIG Thomas Beauford is the current president of the Buffalo Urban League. GIG Oswaldo Mestre Jr. is a Senior Supervisor at Buffalo City Hall and has received numerous awards for his work in the City of Buffalo and throughout New York State. SGIG Dr. Adam B. Sumlin has conducted several clinics on prostate cancer throughout the community. Sublime Prince Samuel Walker has been appointed as the contact person for all Veterans in New York State. As Utica Consistory No. 45 continues with the Grady Edge Reading Program, the movement is to extend this program throughout the valley. Schools in the southern tier of New York have been contacted to participate in the reading program. With the expansion, the program will be able to reach more students. We are still in the process of securing more supplies. Cedric T. Bolton, our coordinator, is doing an outstanding job. On Thursday, January 25th, 2024, the election and installation of officers for Long Island Consistory No. 61 were performed by Sovereign Grand Inspector General Rev. Hermon J. Simpson. Sean Gill was installed as Commander-in-Chief, Joe Louis McCray as Most Wise and Robert Lee as Thrice Potent Master. Sublime Princes Bobby Brinson was appointed Secretary and Caesar Caro as Treasurer, with Eduardo Rodriguez succeeding Rev. George Jackson as Vice President of the Commanders of the Rite. The enthusiasm by this new line of officers, as well as the Fraters in attendance, is a testament that we will continue to work and grow together not only as brothers but collectively build our ritualistic and charitable works as well as the rich legacy of Long Island 61. For years, Albany Consistory No. 90 has laid dormant, not having enough members to open a regular meeting. In the Spring of 2023, Albany was given a spark. With that spark, there became a flame. The new energy was brought in with our new Commander-in-Chief Danny Melton Sr. With this energy and reaching out to the Deputy , a plan was put together to resurrect Albany Consistory.
First, we had to find a place to meet. Second, we had to tell the members it was a new day. This was done by our 1st Lieutenant, David (Rahteik) Miller. He crafted a plan to reclaim members who had not been with the Consistory for years. This was a total of seven. It was not what we were looking for, but we were happy that we reclaimed members. Next, we had to hold the first meeting in person. This would be the first meeting in five years, and we would be able to open. On August 20th, 2023, we had our first in-person meeting. We had the pleasure of having our Deputy and Sovereign Grand Inspector General Larue present via Zoom. We had fifteen members present that day. It felt very refreshing to have an in-person meeting. Our next step was to improve Albany Consistory. We visited local Blue Lodges and promoted the Consistory. On November 4, 2024, we elevated 8 new Fraters with the help of our Deputy, who came to Albany Consistory No. 90 and helped us with the elevation. Albany couldn't thank him enough. We weren't done yet. Our 1st Lieutenant, now our Commander-In-chief, continued the push in our district. On January 6, 2024, Albany Consistory No. 90 elevated seven more new Fraters. This made fifteen new Fraters and seven reinstatements. Twenty-two members are back on the rolls for Albany Consistory No. 90. Watching our Consistory grow has been a blessing.
We call our Consistory the Phoenix. As the story said, the Phoenix will rise again from its ashes. Albany Consistory No. 90 has started a weekly Zoom study class. This is unbelievable. We have 20 to 22 members weekly on Zoom. This creates a positive flow with our monthly meeting. We must understand the more we are together, the more we know each other. We also made a positive flow by helping each other use the word TEAM. There are no starters on our TEAM. Everyone is the 6th man. Each member, no matter how small their role is, makes the flow of the TEAM strong. We have no weak links in our chain.
T HE S PRING B ULLETIN
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