2023 Triennial Crest

Report of the Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation Executive Secretary

Report of the Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation Executive Secretary
Submitted by MIC Gary Wyne

Gary Wyne, PMIGM
Executive Secretary, CMMRF

TO:     The Most Puissant General Grand Master
            The Right Puissant Deputy Grand Master
            The Right Puissant Grand Principal Conductor of the Work
            Members of the General Grand Council, Cryptic Masons International

RE:     Triennial Report of Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation Executive Secretary

Executive Summary for the Triennial Giving

CMMRF’s primary function is to raise funds supporting discovery research at the Indiana Center for Vascular Biology and Medicine (ICVBM), located on the campus of the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Indianapolis campus of the Veteran’s Administration Hospital. To that end I furnish the following table of statistics in support of our efforts and results for the calendar years 2017, 2018, and 2019.

 

Statistical Summary of Top Ten Contributing Jurisdictions

table 1

Statistical Summary of the Fifty-Eight Remaining Tracked Jurisdictions
table 2

 

  • Total contributions for the three years 2017, 2018, and 2019 were $728,163.17 

 

  • ICVBM Grants for the years 2017, 2018, and 2019 were $586,000.00.
  • Total cumulative contributions are $6,205,770.75

 

  • Cumulative ICVBM Grants are $5,081,464.86
  • Number of tracked Jurisdictions giving $0.00 over the past three years: 17.

 

 

We have been and are able to maintain our level of support through the excellent return on our investment portfolio. As it is revealed in the numbers displayed, CMMRF gives more to ICVBM than it receives. One hundred percent of our donation receipts go to discovery research at ICVBM. CMMRF is able to provide this level of support to the ICVBM by utilizing earnings from the two investment accounts.

Awards and Recognitions
For the Triennial Years 2017, 2018, and 2019 the following awards were earned:

Diamond Pins

Number of People Who Received

2 Diamonds

24

3 Diamonds

14

4 Diamonds

11

5 Diamonds

5

6 Diamonds

8

7 Diamonds

6

8 Diamonds

3

9 Diamonds

5

10 Diamonds

4

11 Diamonds

4

12 Diamonds

5

13 Diamonds

4

15 Diamonds

3

16 Diamonds

2

17 Diamonds

2

18 Diamonds

1

19 Diamonds

1

21 Diamonds

1

Total Pins

103

 

 

Individual Plaques

49

Council Plaques

38

Extender Bars

313

Investment Portfolio
At its October 12, 2019 Board Meeting, the Board of Trustees heard presentations from four financial investment planners. The Board unanimously decided to move CMMRF’s investment portfolio from Wells Fargo, under the care of Michael Engelstad to Oppenheimer, under the care of Mr. Jerald Hymen.

Research
September 30, 2017 Dr. Keith March resigned his position as the CMMRF Endowed Chairholder at the Indiana University School of Medicine. The CMMRF Chair remained vacant until July 17, 2018 when Dr. Jay Hess, Dean of the Indiana University School of Medicine, informed Most Puissant Companion David A. Grindle that Dr. Michael Murphy had been named the CMMRF Endowed Chair Holder.
Led By Dr. Michael Murphy, the Indiana Center for Vascular Biology and Medicine is addressing the following health concerns:

  • Peripheral Arterial Disease
  • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
    • Developing a Vaccine against Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
  • Juvenile Diabetes

Summary of Support
CMMRF is the philanthropy of the General Grand Council, Cryptic Masons International. CMMRF understands that most Masonic organizations or associations of Masons have their own specific philanthropy. CMMRF; however, is “up close and personal” to each of us. Few indeed are the individuals who can state that their life, the life of a loved one, or someone close to them has not been affected by one or more of the nine conditions listed. As Executive Secretary, I urge all levels of membership in General Grand Council to press forward in their efforts to support CMMRF through Table Council celebrations, participation in other social events, and the establishment of or continuation of some variation on a “Pennies for Progress” program. ICVBM has demonstrated it is willing and pleased to assist the Grand Council or local Council to develop a program for its CMMRF fund raising event.

A “Pennies for Progress” program continues to demonstrate that it is a painless manner to generate funds for CMMRF. A primary goal is to raise one penny per member per day. That will be $3.65 per member for the year 2020. Companions, this amount is less than the cost of one trip to fast food, or one visit to Starbucks, or a pack of cigarettes. Yet we spend for these noted items almost without thinking multiple times over and over and begrudge that amount to this philanthropy. If a penny seems too small an amount for your jurisdiction, then consider a nickel or a dime a day. Additionally, consider achieving the One Hundred Percent Certificate for your Council. These goals are painless and quite accomplishable. Yes, it can be done. Let’s do something great together for all mankind.

For the Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation,

Gary G. Wyne, PMIGM
Executive Secretary, CMMRF