Thomas E. Pulkkinen, Junior Grand Warden 2004, Installed Grand Master of Maine

Thomas E. Pulkkinen, our 2004 Junior Grand Warden, was installed as the Grand Master of Masons in Maine on Wednesday, May 4th, 2016.

Bro. Pulkkinen was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in 1989 and has served as Master and Secretary of Bay View Lodge in East Boothbay.

In Grand Lodge, he has chaired the Long-Range Planning Committee, started the Ambassador Program and has chaired the Finance Committee for the past three years – a period when spending priorities have been refocused on strengthening the Craft and our Lodges, the per capita tax has not been increased, and Grand Lodge investments have tripled, thereby strengthening the financial condition of our Grand Lodge. He contributes regularly to the Maine Mason.

During the administration of MW A. James Ross, Bro. Pulkkinen developed and rolled out the Dirigo Leadership Seminar and the Maine Masonic Mentoring Program, and has co-chaired the Grand Lodge Membership Committee, advancing the state-wide open houses and the Rookie Program. He authored the Guide for Lodge and Personal Mentors and the Maine Masonic Mentoring Handbook, and has also worked closely with the Insurance Committee to resolve insurance issues and implement policy enhancements affecting Grand Lodge, our Lodges, York Rite bodies and the Order of Eastern Star.

He has served the York Rite as Chapter High Priest; the Red Cross of Constantine as Most Puissant Sovereign of Maine Conclave #1; the Scottish Rite as High Priest of a Council of Princes of Jerusalem and as Valley Secretary; and was awarded the honorary Thirty-third Degree in 2001 in Indianapolis. He has served as Shrine Protocol Director and a Shrine Club President.

His Masonic activities also include service as Treasurer of the DeMolay and Pine Tree Youth Foundation. He is a frequent presenter for the Grand Lodge speakers bureau, and is a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of the Androscoggin and Maine Consistory, Kora Shrine, Crescent Chapter of Eastern Star and the Maine College of Masonic Societas Rosicruciana. He has participated for several years on the Highlanders and Scottish Rite 33o Master Mason degree teams.

His communications initiatives have earned multiple Grand Lodge awards for Lodge histories and the prestigious Mark Twain Award presented by the Masonic Service Association of North America. He also organized the first Bikes for Books program in the Tenth Masonic District; the local program now partners with the Boothbay Regional Elementary School to encourage and reward reading by elementary school students.

Brother Pulkkinen has served the Craft as District Deputy Grand Master and Junior Grand Warden, directed several leadership and officer training programs, served as the Executive Editor of a Masonic magazine, authored many Masonic articles and booklets, and served as a director of a health care system that assists over 3,000 people daily.

He is a graduate of Edward Little High School in Auburn, Bentley College, and Stonier Graduate School. He had a 40 year career with the Federal Reserve System in a variety of analytical and leadership positions, and served his community for eleven years as a school committee member and selectman.

He possesses the vision, knowledge, experience, commitment and time necessary to strengthen and support our great Fraternity, and is committed to building upon the many Lodge and member oriented initiatives begun over the past few years.

Brother Pulkkinen and his wife Sharon enjoy living on the Maine coast in East Boothbay. Their daughter, Dr. Wendy Pulkkinen Loomis, resides in Seattle, Washington, where she is a genetic scientist at the University of Washington and her husband Jeff works for Microsoft.