Below are the young men who have passed the credentials committee and are qualified to be elected for the respective state offices. If they applied for one state office and are qualified for othe other offices below that they are also approved for those offices.
As a reminder: If you are voting, you must have passed your obligation proficiency.
NAME: Joseph Ferraro
Chapter:
Meridian sun
Awards: Representative DeMolay, Lamp of Knowledge, PMC-MSA, Founder’s Membership Award, Blue Honor Key, White Honor Key, Number 1 Pin
What offices? State Master Councilor and all other offices
What is our biggest challenge? Membership retention and chapter growth
How do you plan to help NY DeMolay? By implementing many membership rewards and goals that the state can do as a sort of challenge, and get rewards for
Why do you want this office? I feel as if I have been preparing for this station for the last year and feel somewhat qualified for it.
What is one challenge you have experienced?
The most memorable challenge for me was trying to find a way to make chapter meetings engaging so that young men from my chapter would show up more than they did at the time.
How would you describe yourself? A jolly guy who knows when things need to be taken seriously, but will also have fun with the serious stuff if allowed.
Favorite hobby? Coding
Do you read? What is your favorite Book? Yeah! The Green Tide by Mike Brook
NAME: Thomas Tatu
Chapter: Tuscarora
Awards: Representative DeMolay, Lamp of Knowledge, PMC-MSA, Founder’s Membership Award, Blue Honor Key, Number 1 Pin
What offices? Deputy State Master Councilor, State Senior Councilor, State Junior Councilor, Region Master Councilor and Appointed State Office
What is our biggest challenge? I feel the biggest challenge facing our state is membership growth and retention.
How do you plan to help NY DeMolay? I plan to help it grow by revamping our programs to align with what I have learned at the D.I level and from the international membership conferences I have attended.
Why do you want this office? I would like this office because I believe it to be the next step in my Demolay journey, but I also believe it to be a way to show the brethren of N.Y. State how I can do things and the changes they can make as well.
What is one challenge you have experienced?
I have experienced multiple challenges across my term as M.C. of Tuscarora at the time, with things never really going according to how I had planned them. With the experience I gained from each experience, I was able to make the next event even better, and I am committed to bringing that experience to the state line.
How would you describe yourself? Honest, Intelligent, Friendly
Favorite hobby? I love to hang out with my friends.
Do you read? What is your favorite Book: 1984
NAME: Andrew Joseph Brown
Chapter:
Meridian
Awards: Representative DeMolay, Lamp of Knowledge
What offices? Lakes Region Master Councilor and appointed state officer
What is our biggest challenge? I feel the biggest problem in New York Demolay is small memberships, not enough past master counselors to take on state roles, or an interest in state roles.
How do you plan to help NY DeMolay? By planning fun, engaging events that use critical thinking and movement of the body, you can retain membership. You can’t grow if you can’t retain members.
Why do you want this office? I really enjoy Demolay, and I believe that with the things I have learned, I can grow the region and leave it better than how I found it.
What is one challenge you have experienced?
Trying to grow a chapter with a small membership.
How would you describe yourself? Confident, kind, restless, driven
Favorite hobby? Board games(chess, MTG, DND), video games, writing and reading
Do you read? What is your favorite Book: The Seventh Raven
NAME: Brayan Backaus
Chapter:
Electric City
Awards: Representative DeMolay, Lamp of Knowledge, Number 1 Pin
What offices? State Junior Councilor, Rivers Region Master Councilor, State Scribe, Appointed State officer
What is our biggest challenge? I think the biggest challenge is everyone becoming older and having more priorities in life, and not enough time for DeMolay.
How do you plan to help NY DeMolay? I plan on helping DeMolay grow by giving it more of an online presence. I want to do that because every time someone, an advisor, or a speaker talks about spreading it among others, it’s always word of mouth or posters. Young people don’t really read posters, but they do read things that are very colorful and eye-catching. I feel like it would help a ton.
Why do you want this office? I want to continue my pathway in DeMolay, and I want to help make changes and bring more excitement to new events, and I also want to welcome new members and help them get comfortable talking to new people.
What is one challenge you have experienced?
The first challenge and the hardest for me was going to a convention for the first time and realizing how many people I didn’t know and had to get to know if I wanted to make new friends. I had to talk. I overcame that by staying with people I knew and slowly working up the courage to talk to others.
How would you describe yourself? Intro-Extroverted, Kind, Welcoming, hard working.
Favorite hobby? Draw and Game
Do you read? What is your favorite Book? My current favorite book is Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.
NAME: Jacob Spencer
Chapter:
Crown city
Awards: Representative DeMolay, Lamp of Knowledge, Number 1 Pin
What offices? State Senior Councilor, State Junior Councilor, Region Master Councilor, Appointed State officer
What is our biggest challenge? Membership
How do you plan to help NY DeMolay? By getting us out in the communities more
Why do you want this office? Someday I’d like to be. State mc, and I think this will help me be ready for that position.
What is one challenge you have experienced?
One thing I struggled with is public speaking. I was very shy, so I decided to just give a speech and face my fear.
How would you describe yourself? A bit shy, but I love to have fun and make friends.
Favorite hobby? Dungeons and Dragons, playing soccer, and swimming
Do you read? What is your favorite Book? I don’t do a lot of reading, but I do like anime.
NAME: Collin Spencer
Chapter:
Crown city
Awards: Representative DeMolay, Lamp of Knowledge, Number 1 Pin
What offices? Rivers Region Master Councilor, Appointed State officer
What is our biggest challenge? Finding ways to get new members
How do you plan to help NY DeMolay? I would find more community service projects to benefit our communities, and be in more parades to make us more visible.
Why do you want this office? For Chaplin, I love God and love to study the Bible, and I think I would make a good Chaplain. In the River region, I enjoy visiting other chapters and being involved in fun activities. I think I can get the chapters together more often.
What is one challenge you have experienced?
I am shy, and I saw a kid who wasn’t hanging out with anyone, and I got to know him, and we are now friends.
How would you describe yourself? I have a good sense of humor, and I like making friends who are loyal.
Favorite hobby? I enjoy playing instruments, beekeeping, and Bible studies.
Do you read? What is your favorite Book: The Bible
NAME: George Melis
Chapter:
Knights Templar
Awards: Lamp of Knowledge, PMC-MSA, Blue Honor Key, Founder’s Membership Award (Chevalier designee)
What offices? State Senior Councilor, State Junior Councilor, Metropolitan Region Master Councilor and appointed State Offices
What is our biggest challenge? New York DeMolay is currently confronted with the challenge of engaging and retaining young men within the context of today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. The numerous competing interests, ranging from social media and video games to academic pursuits, extracurricular activities, and sports, can make it difficult for potential members to recognize the distinctive value that DeMolay provides. Many young individuals are either unaware of the organization or hold misconceptions about its purpose. While DeMolay fosters leadership, brotherhood, and service, the lack of broad visibility and relevant outreach efforts can cause these core messages to be overlooked.
To facilitate growth, New York DeMolay must develop innovative strategies to connect with young men both online and within their local communities. This entails enhancing digital marketing strategies, organizing more inclusive events that showcase the enjoyable aspects and advantages of membership, and making the program more accessible to contemporary youth. Furthermore, peer-to-peer outreach is of paramount importance. When current members take the initiative to share their personal experiences and encourage their peers to join, the recruitment process can appear more authentic and stimulating.
In conclusion, the underlying challenge isn’t a lack of purpose within DeMolay, but rather the need for greater awareness and exposure. By strengthening communication channels, enhancing relevance, and increasing visibility, we can ensure that the values and opportunities offered by New York DeMolay continue to flourish in the lives of future leaders.
How do you plan to help NY DeMolay? To facilitate the growth of New York DeMolay, my initiatives will concentrate on three core areas: engagement, visibility, and mentorship. I am confident that by actively cultivating these elements, we can fortify our current membership base while attracting new members who are inspired to contribute and lead.
Firstly, engagement. Contemporary young men often seek a sense of belonging, coupled with opportunities for personal development, support, and enjoyment. I aim to create more avenues for members to feel involved beyond formal meetings. This encompasses organizing impactful service projects, engaging social events, and leadership-building activities that cater to a diverse spectrum of interests. When members are genuinely engaged and enthusiastic, they are more likely to invite others, fostering organic growth.
Secondly, visibility. My plan involves enhancing DeMolay’s recognition beyond our existing networks. We can improve our presence in schools, on social media platforms, and at community events. This includes establishing a consistent and contemporary social media presence, sharing stories, achievements, and opportunities in a manner that resonates with our target demographic. By showcasing DeMolay’s impact, we can inspire individuals to become members. Creating short videos, infographics, and engaging challenges will enhance the accessibility and relatability of our message.
Thirdly, mentorship. Retention is as crucial as recruitment. I intend to actively mentor new members, ensuring they feel welcome and understand the value of their involvement in the organization. While joining something new is relatively easy, maintaining membership becomes challenging when individuals feel overlooked or unsupported. By establishing a robust mentorship culture, where experienced members guide and encourage newcomers, we can ensure sustainable growth.
In conclusion, the growth of New York DeMolay is not solely about numerical expansion; it is about cultivating a culture where members feel pride, enthusiasm in inviting others, and empowerment to become leaders. I am committed to strengthening, amplifying, and enriching this culture.
Why do you want this office? I aspire to serve as State Senior Councilor, driven by my profound commitment to the future of New York DeMolay. I am confident that my experience, vision, and dedication will enable me to contribute significantly to its growth and development. Through my observations over the past several years, I have witnessed the transformative impact of DeMolay on young men, fostering leadership abilities, cultivating lasting relationships, and providing opportunities for meaningful contributions. I am eager to extend these positive experiences to a wider audience, and I believe that assuming this role represents the most effective avenue to achieve this objective.
Serving in this capacity would provide me with the opportunity to lead by example and offer comprehensive support to chapters throughout the state. I am aware of the challenges we encounter, particularly concerning growth and engagement. Some chapters struggle with member retention, while others possess the enthusiasm but lack adequate resources. I aim to collaborate closely with all chapters, providing targeted assistance to smaller chapters seeking revitalization and encouraging larger ones to maintain their exemplary standards.
A primary objective of mine is to enhance DeMolay’s visibility and accessibility. This entails assisting chapters in refining their outreach strategies, effectively communicating our values to prospective members and their families, and ensuring that our events are engaging, inclusive, and impactful. Furthermore, I am dedicated to nurturing leadership within our membership, equipping younger DeMolays with the necessary skills and confidence to assume greater responsibilities. It is through such initiatives, complemented by hands-on and interactive experiences that go beyond traditional meetings, that we cultivate a resilient future for our organization.
My motivation stems not from the title or recognition, but from the opportunity to serve and create a lasting positive influence. I am dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging for every member, providing unwavering support to each chapter, and inspiring new recruits to embrace the transformative potential of DeMolay. Having benefited greatly from DeMolay, I am prepared to contribute my full resources to its continued success.
What is one challenge you have experienced?
During my time in DeMolay, I encountered a significant challenge when my chapter experienced declining attendance and engagement. Meetings had become monotonous, and many members were no longer participating. As someone invested in the chapter’s prosperity, witnessing this decline was disheartening. I recognized that if the situation persisted, the chapter risked stagnation rather than growth.
Instead of accepting this, I initiated conversations with members who had ceased attending. I inquired about their reasons for absence, their perceptions of what was lacking, and potential strategies for their return. The feedback was insightful and candid. Several expressed feelings of exclusion, while others found meetings unengaging, and some felt the chapter’s activities were no longer significant. It became clear that the issue was not a lack of interest but rather a disconnect.
Leveraging this feedback, I collaborated with the chapter officers to implement changes. We modified the meeting atmosphere to be more welcoming, incorporated more social activities, and introduced icebreakers to foster a sense of comfort. We also diversified our event planning, organizing game nights, meaningful service projects, and leadership workshops.
Furthermore, I made a conscious effort to personally reach out to members before each meeting, reinforcing their valued presence. Gradually, attendance improved, and both returning and new members reported a more positive environment.
This experience taught me that DeMolay’s success is not solely reliant on event planning or adhering to procedures, but rather on active listening, adaptability, and ensuring that every member feels valued. DeMolay is founded on brotherhood, and it is our collective responsibility to maintain and strengthen this bond.
How would you describe yourself? I would describe myself as driven, dependable, and creative. I try to approach every challenge with a positive mindset and a willingness to learn and improve.
Favorite hobby? In my free time, I enjoy photography and working on creative art projects. They help me relax, express myself, and sometimes tell stories through visual representation.
Do you read? What is your favorite Book? I am a reader of non-fiction historical books and have recently focused on the American Revolution because of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Among the works I have consulted, “These Truths: A History of the United States” by Jill Lepore is
