Qualifying chapters completing ten of the eighteen requirements will receive a beautiful framed certificate which will be presented to them at the Grand Chapter's Annual Convocation in July. For the 2009-2010 capitular year, two bonus sections have been added to assist chapters in fulfilling the minimum requirements. The period of qualification spans from 1 May of each year, through 30 April of the following year. The chapter with the most requirements fulfilled will be declared grand champion.

ARCH OF EXCELLENCE COMMITTEE

C/O PAUL A SCHEELER

PO BOX B

1.  A fraternal dinner for Holy Royal Arch Masons; such dinner may be in conjunction with a stated or special convocation, and is solely for the purpose of promoting fellowship;

2.  A dinner for ladies and/or families, that includes a speaker or some type of entertainment; and/or

3.  A Past High Priests' Night dinner with some type of special recognition for these companions.

The chapter shall have donated a sum equal to or greater than US$50.00 to the Royal Arch Masons Charitable Foundation, Inc. during the subject year. These funds shall not come from an assessment, but may originate from a donation and/or a chapter fundraiser. The cheque number and value must be included on the GRAC-IL Form 401-E.

7. Chapter Membership:

Chapter membership shall have shown an adjusted net increase in the total number of companions reported to the Grand Secretary during the subject year. This increase shall be derived by subtracting the total number of companions suspended, expelled, demitted, and deceased, from the total number of companions exalted, affiliated and reinstated. Companions added as a result of consolidation, merger or plural membership, or subtracted due to death shall be excluded from the calculation. The calculations must be shown on the GRAC-IL Form 401-E.

8. Degree Work:

The chapter shall have conferred both the Mark Master Mason Degree [4°] and the Past Master (Virtual) Degree [5°] at least once each during the subject year. The dates of the degree work, cast members' names, and candidates names must be included on the GRAC-IL Form 401-E.

9. Educational Programme:

The chapter shall have offered one or more educational programmes during the subject year at a stated convocation or at special event. This programme may be open to the public. Examples include, but are in no way limited to:

For credit, the GRAC-IL Form 401-E must show the date of the meeting, the topic presented, and the number of people attending the event.

10. Degree Proficiency:

The chapter shall have opened and closed on the supreme degree of Holy Royal Arch Mason with no ritual books open (exclusive of a prompter). The GRAC-IL Form 401-E must show the officers' names, the date, and the name of prompter.

11. Visitations to Other Chapters:

The chapter shall have, during the subject year, dispatched a representative mission consisting of no fewer than two companions to make two or more visits, as a group, to stated or special convocations of a chapter other than their own. The representative missions need not consist of the same companions at each visit. The GRAC-IL Form 401-E must show the dates, the chapters visited, and the companions who made the visits.

12. Degree Conferral at Another Chapter:

The chapter shall have provided a slate consisting of at least one dais officer and three other companions to assist in conferring one of the four capitular degrees at another chapter during the subject year. The qualifying chapter shall have assisted in the conferral of the degree upon a candidate of the chapter visited. The GRAC-IL Form 401-E must show the date, degree(s) conferred, and chapters involved.

13. The Grand Chapter Veil Fund:

The chapter shall have contributed a minimum of twenty-five United States dollars (US$25.00) to the Grand Chapter Veil Fund during the subject year. The contribution shall be made by cheque. The cheque number and value must be included on the GRAC-IL Form 401-E.

14. Keystone Quest:

The chapter shall have participated in the Keystone Quest during the subject year. To qualify, the chapter must have conducted the first round of the Keystone Quest and submitted the completed materials for scoring, with a postmark dated no later than 31 December of the relevant year (as described above). The GRAC-IL Form 401-E must list the date on which the Keystone Quest was conducted.

15. Symbolic Lodge Visitation:

The Excellent High Priest and no less than two other companions shall have, during the subject year visited two or more Symbolic Lodges to promote candidacy to be a Holy Royal Arch Mason; the different visits may include different companions. The visiting companions shall have come prepared with petitions and material to present to prospective candidates; and shall have completed and filed the requisite GRAC-IL Form 451 (“Lodge Visitation Programme Report”) with the Grand Chapter's Visitation Committee.

The visiting companions are no longer required to wear the red & white Grand Royal Arch Chapter's “IFIHY” button during the visit, although the wear of the button continues to be authorised, in order to prompt brethren to ask what the letters signify and thus provide an opportunity for the companion to declare, “I found it. Have you?”. Some IFIHY buttons may still be available from the District Deputy Grand High Priests.

The GRAC-IL Form 401-E must include the visitation dates, and names and numbers of the Blue Lodges visited, the names of the visiting companions, and any results from the visitation, and must have copies of the visitation report form attached thereto.

16. District or Chapter Picnic:

Three companions shall attend the district picnic presented by their District Deputy Grand High Priest during the subject year. Alternatively, a chapter may have hosted its own picnic where at least five of the chapter's companions are present, in order to qualify for this requirement. The GRAC-IL Form 401-E must include the date and place of event, the number of guests who attended, and the names of three or five (as applicable) companions who attended.

17. Reinstatement Committee:

The chapter shall have, during the subject year, established or maintained a reinstatement committee to contact companions who have been suspended over the preceding three years, and work towards assisting them in rejoining the chapter. The GRAC-IL Form 401-E must include the number of suspended companions who were contacted and any results, but shall omit the names of the companions contacted.

18. Social Event:

The chapter shall have held at least one social event during the subject year, which included family, friends and potential candidates. Such event may consist of a picnic, holiday party, Past High Priests' night, Royal Arch Widows degree, or a chapter anniversary party. The GRAC-IL Form 401-E must include the date of the event and number of people in attendance.

Bonus Sections:

19. Additional Degree Work:

The chapter shall have conferred either the degree of Most Excellent Master [6°] or the supreme degree of Holy Royal Arch Mason [7°] during the subject year. the GRAC-IL Form 401-E must show the date(s) of the degree work, cast members' names, and candidates' names.

20. Worshipful Master Certificate Programme:

The chapter shall have presented all of the Worshipful Master certificates assigned to the chapter by the Grand Chapter for the subject year. The certificates should be framed and presented to the Worshipful Masters during their respective Blue Lodge meetings. If the Worshipful Master named on the certificate has already retired from the Oriental Chair, then the chapter should make arrangements with the current Worshipful Master for the presentation of the certificate. If any problems arise, the chapter should contact their District Deputy Grand High Priest as soon as practicable. The GRAC-IL Form 401-E must show the name on the certificate, the number of the Blue Lodge, and the date of presentation.