John Channon is a Past Master of Evergreen Lodge #259 and is currently Inspector of the 822nd Masonic District covering Riverside and Corona. He is also President of the Riverside Hi-12 Club and Secretary of the Riverside Area Scottish Rite Club and Secretary of the Division 8 Operation Fund Committee and serves our youth orders as Jobs Daughters Bethel 264 Guardian Treasurer, having already served 14 years as Assoc. Bethel Guardian. He is also the Chairman of the Grand Council Finance Committee. He has been the Building Manager for Evergreen Masonic Center for over 5 years and served on the Temple Association for 8 years. He is also the resident go-to-man for anything audio-visual, having designed and installed the present systems in Evergreen lodge back in 2003.
Brother Channon was raised in Evergreen Lodge in 1998 by his Father, Most Worshipful Stan Channon, who later installed John as Master twice. After serving as Master for 2004 and 2005, John served 4 more years as Secretary of the Lodge and doubled as Officers Coach for 2 years. He received the Hiram Award from Evergreen Lodge in 2006.
He chaired the program for Evergreen’s 125th anniversary event in 2005 and wrote the booklet updating the lodge history for the years since its 100th anniversary edition. Another special event was the 50 year pin program for his father who involved an Australian theme, dinner, music, and the presentation of the pin by the Grand Master, all planned and chaired by John.
Brother Channon’s vocational career in the audio-visual industry stems from Jr. Hi days and continued until recent retirement. He served in dealer management and as a manufacturer’s representative for numerous companies including Telex, Dukane, Oxmoor, and 24 years with Crestron . During that time he was involved in design and programming of AV systems for industry and hi-end homes including military bases, and TV stars , producers, and sports figures. He held the AV Industry certification as Technology Specialist and taught dealers design and programming as well as being responsible for sales in territories ranging from all of So. California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, New Mexico, (and even Mexico for a brief time). He was the Crestron Grand Award Winner in 2001.
Besides his long career in the AV industry, John was the tech-department for Calvary Church for 10 years , traveling the state helping to introduce modern Media-based services in the early 70s and handling all of the stagecraft for several plays produced there.
John was involved in the 2010 Operation Hero program in both technical and organizing as well as presentation elements of the event. The special requirements for a large screen and a powerful and somewhat complex sound system were instrumental in the effect of the program.
Last year, he wrote, chaired, and MCd the program for the project and prepared the video and audio elements. The committee this year is utilizing him as well.