An old tradition of New York DeMolay is to publish the list of those seeking to be elected or appointed to a state office, in addition to the Credentials Committee Report. Active DeMolays should feel free to reach out to any of the candidates for elected or appointed state office and engage with them, ask questions and learn more about them. The election will take place on Wednesday August 12, 2020 at the 7PM business session, please make sure you are registered and your chapter has submitted the voter registration form. We will be posting the nomination and acceptance speeches soon.
We thank each of them for stepping up to volunteer to serve DeMolay!
STATE MASTER COUNCILOR
Candidate for State Master Councilor: Br. Michael Jordan
Nomination by Br. Nick Heitmann
Acceptance by Br. Jordan
Chapter Ridge Council
Awards: Representative DeMolay, Lamp of Knowledge, Founder's Membership Award, Chevalier
What is your favorite activity?
Play video games or watch movies
How would you describe yourself?
I am really laid back, personable, easy to talk to. When it comes to the work I need to do, I am serious and down to business.
How Do you plan to help NY DeMolay?
My plan is to increase membership, As well as increase activities to keep the current brothers involved and active. I also plan to encourage everyone to learn new leadership and ritual skills while I continue to grow and learn such skills for myself. I would also like to work on continuing developing and growing communications and activities with our sister youth organizations and sweethearts. Our theme next year is “Unity” within DeMolay and among all of our Masonic Organizations.
DEPUTY STATE MASTER COUNCILOR
Candidate for Deputy State Master Councilor: Brian Ramos*
Nominated by Br. Robin Santos
Acceptance by Br. Ramos.
Chapter Knickerbocker Chapter
Awards: Representative DeMolay, Lamp of Knowledge, Chevalier Designee
What is your favorite activity?
Read books about self improvement, spend time with my little sister, practice my instruments, listen to music, keep my room tidy.
How would you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as someone who loves to inspire. Seeing people take steps forward in their lives makes me happy.
How Do you plan to help NY DeMolay?
My plan to help DeMolay grow is to inspire the members we currently have to becoming the best version of themselves they can be.
Candidate for Deputy State Master Councilor Nick Heitmann
Nominated by Br. Jorge Hernandez
Acceptance By Br. Heitmann
Chapter Trinity Chapter
Awards: Representative DeMolay, Lamp of Knowledge, Chevalier Designee
What is your favorite activity?
Play basketball
How would you describe yourself?
Nice kind, and outgoing
How Do you plan to help NY DeMolay?
Invite friends and make state events more fun.
Candidate for Deputy State Master Councilor: Richard “RJ” Larson
Nomination by Br. Greenberg
Acceptance by Br. Larson
Chapter Richmond
Awards: Representative DeMolay, Lamp of Knowledge, Chevalier Designee
What is your favorite activity?
One of my favorite activities is woodturning. It involves rotating a piece of wood known as a blank at high speeds and using cutting tools to create objects such as bowls, pens, table legs, chair legs, and other things that require rotational symmetry.
How would you describe yourself?
I never like answering this kind of question because there are so many ways to answer it and none ever feel truly satisfying. I would like to describe myself as someone who tries their hardest to be a help for others. I want to be the person who people come to when they don’t know what to do.
How Do you plan to help NY DeMolay?
In my opinion, the most important way to keep young men involved, and to get more young men interested, is to focus on the chapters. No matter what we do state-wide, a majority of DeMolay activity comes from the local chapters. The main purpose of the state level events is to keep DeMolay involved, but does very little to entice new young men into DeMolay. Working with the chapters, helping them hold prospect events, membership drives, and other things that get their name out to their community at large, is what will drive New York DeMolay to the point where it deserves to be: an organization known for helping young men.
METRO REGION MASTER COUNCILOR
Candidate for Metropolitan Region Master Councilor: Leonard Lao
Nomination by Br. Brian Santos
Acceptance by Br. Leonard Lao
Chapter Knickerbocker
Awards: Representative DeMolay, Lamp of Knowledge
What is your favorite activity?
Watch Flims
How would you describe yourself?
Friendly, outgoing, a people person, glass half full
How Do you plan to help NY DeMolay?
I want to improve our online and international presence and the best way is marketing and outreach. I want to start a podcast where I invite DeMolay related, Masonic related or neither related guest speakers.
LAKES REGION MASTER COUNCILOR
Candidate for Lakes Region Master Councilor: Aedan C. Bunch
Acceptance by Br. Bunch
Chapter Ridge Council/ Meridian Sun
Awards: Lamp of Knowledge, Hats Off Award, Representative DeMolay
What is your favorite activity?
Running and working out are my favorite activities to do in my free time.
How would you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as a kind, helpful and energetic person.
How Do you plan to help NY DeMolay?
I plan on helping New York DeMolay to grow by coming up with new events that get interest from young men in our organization. DeMolay could reach out to more areas in New York and maybe have meetings in more locations so more people could attend and learn about DeMolay. Using social media could be done more, to reach more people.
FOUR RIVERS REGION MASTER COUNCILOR:
Four Rivers Region Master Councilor: Jorge E. Hernandez
Acceptance Speech by Jorge E. Hernandez
Chapter Mohawk Valley Chapter
Awards: Founder's Membership Award, Representative DeMolay, Lamp of Knowledge, Chevalier Designee
What is your favorite activity?
Write songs
How would you describe yourself?
Chill yet excitable
How do you plan to help NY DeMolay?
Membership plans tailored specifically to each chapter, I feel that the broader programs cater more towards already larger chapters. I want to sit down with each mc and discuss plans for moving forward. I want to hear what makes their communities unique, and capitalize on that. What works in the city may not be an effective approach upstate. Each region and chapter has it's own unique properties and possibilities, strengths. I firmly believe that state-wide guidelines and programs are not enough, specialized help is needed.
APPOINTED STATE OFFICERS:
Candidate for Appointed State Office: Joseph Pepanio
Chapter Knickerbocker
Awards: Founder's Membership Award, Lamp of Knowledge, Representative DeMolay
What is your favorite activity?
Spending time with friends and family is my favorite thing to do
How would you describe yourself?
I believe I am an understanding, compassionate, hard working, diligent, and very good team worker.
How Do you plan to help NY DeMolay?
Throughout my experience with DeMolay, I have seen different leaders and styles of running things. With my personality I plan to communicate with members and ask them with what they think and want to do and speak for them at the "table". Ive been in their shoes and they need that person that will speak for them and I plan on doing that with the state team for the next term.
Candidate for Appointed State Office: Robin Christopher Santos
Chapter Knickerbocker
Awards: Founder's Membership Award, Representative DeMolay, Lamp of Knowledge
What is your favorite activity?
Video games and read
How would you describe yourself?
Confident
How Do you plan to help NY DeMolay?
I plan to make DeMolay by advertising DeMolay and be a person built from it.
*Pending adoption of bylaw change SEC #5, Brian would be qualified to run for Deputy State Master Councilor.