Miracles of Life

Grand Chapter of Louisiana

Order of the Eastern Star

Juanita Wilkinson                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Terrie C. Castay, PGM

Worthy Grand Matron                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Grand Secretary

4130 Long Pine Lane                                                                                                                                                                                                                           3211 Hyman Place

Lake Charles, LA. 70611                                                                                                                                                                                                                      New Orleans, LA  70131-7037

June 2008 – Newsletter

 

*************************************************************************************

 

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

 

May was a busy month with District Deputy Grand Matrons making their official visits to each chapter in their district, high school graduations, and Schools of Instruction. 

 

The Administrative Workshop at Natchitoches Chapter No. 13 was well attended and very informative.  Thank you Sister Linda Lamkin, PGM, and Brother Ed Lamkin, PGP, for a wonderful presentation and handouts for information studies in our Chapters.  For those who were unable to attend, we will have another one September 26th in the Baton Rouge area.

 

By the time you get this newsletter, we will have had our first Official Visit in District 7, the home District of our Worthy Grand Patron.  I am looking forward to each of the Official Visits.

 

Brother Otto Beverly, Grand Warder, has spent part of April and May in the Hospital, but he is home and recovering from two surgeries. We miss you, but know that you will be back with us soon. Please keep Judy and Otto in your prayers.

 

June is the month set aside to honor our Fathers with a special Day.  I hope each of you will spend time with your Father on Fathers Day and let him know how much you appreciate him.

 

Brother Mert, the Grand Family and I are looking forward to visiting with each of you as we travel around the state making the Official visits showing Kindness, Faith and Caring to each of our members.

 

                                                                                                Fraternally,

                                                                                                Juanita Wilkinson

                                                                                                Worthy Grand Matron

 

 

GRAND REPRESENTATIVE APPOINTMENTS:

Oklahoma - Bonnie Johnston, #191, 9210 Belle Grove Pl., River Ridge 70123

Virginia - Isabelle McMurray, #169, 2908 Lemon St., Metairie 70002

 

 

OFFFICIAL VISITS OF THE WORTHY GRAND MATRON

ACCOMPANIED BY THE WORTHY GRAND PATRON

AND OTHER GRAND OFFICERS

 

Saturday, May 31 - District 7:  Sunset Star #227.  Receiving line will begin at 5:00 p.m. Dinner will follow at 5:30 p.m. Meeting will begin promptly at 7:00 pm Sunset Star is located at 5115 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop (Hwy. 526.)  Housing Chairman is Sister Bess Chance, PM, (318) 686-6741, 6801 W. 70th Lot #17 Shreveport 71129.  Directions:  Come North on I-49 to Bert Kouns Industrial Loop (Hwy. 526); turn left and go 5.4 miles.  The lodge hall is on the left across the road from Hot Wheels Skating Palace.  Cissi White, DDGM.

Saturday, June 7 - District 15: Fairfields Lodge, 10484 Mammoth Dr., Baton Rouge.  Light refreshments at 5:00 PM - Meeting will follow after meal.  Debbie Poche, DDGM.

Sunday, June 8 - District 18:  Seventh District Recreation Center, Pearl River – Meeting at 2:00 PM and refreshments afterward. (Directions: From I-12, Exit #74, at stop sign turn left – continue to dead end. At dead-end turn, right on Hwy. 36. Travel straight to Hwy. 41 and turn right – bldg. 1/2 mile on right. From N.O. take I-10 through Slidell. At I-10 split, take I-59N. Stay on I-59 to Exit 3. At stop sign turn left. Follow around, cross RR, cross Hwy. 11. It becomes Hwy. 41N – Continue approximately 5 miles – Bldg. on left.) For more info call Ayleene King, DDGM, at 985-839-6352.

Saturday, June 21 - District 11 Cordially invite you to attend their Reception for Juanita Wilkinson, WGM; Merton Mestler, WGP; Gladys Allison, PGM; Joy Beth Williams, AGC and Otto Beverly, Grand Warder at 4:00 PM followed by Official Visit at 5:00 PM, First United Methodist Church of Leesville, 205 N. Fifth Street, Leesville (corner of Hwy 171 and 5th Street. Meal at 5:00 PM followed by meeting.

Sunday, June 22 - District 10:  Evening Star #71, Georgetown. Meeting at 2:00 PM and refreshments afterword. (Directions: Take 65N to Georgetown-at Butterman’s Grocery turn right-go one mile and building on right) LaJuan Durand, DDGM

Saturday, June 28 - District 17:  Fern Leaf Chapter #24, Hammond. Meal at  5:00 PM followed by meeting. (Directions: From I-55, take Exit 31 (Albany/Hammond). Travel east on Hwy 190. Highway will split, after intersecting Morrison Blvd. (Hwy 51) and be one-way E/W. Cross railroad tracks; look for Livingston Masonic Lodge on left at the corner of S. Cypress and Morris St. (Hwy 190). Stacey Milton, DDGM.

Sunday, June 29 - District 16: Baton Rouge Scottish Rite Consistory, 14598 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge. Meeting at 2:00 PM. Refreshments served after the meeting. Directions: Traveling from East, (Hammond), West, (Port Allen), or South (New Orleans), on I-12, take exit 7, (O’Neal Lane).  Proceed North to Florida Blvd and turn left (West) on to the service road. Go approximately ˝ mile to the Scottish Rite Consistory property, 14598 Florida Blvd. or Traveling from the North, turn on highway to U S 190 [Airline Highway] and travel southeast to 14598 Florida Blvd. [Highway 190] to the Scottish Rite Consistory property.   (The Consistory is on the South side of Florida Blvd. on the service road, a tall chain link fence surrounds the property, and a sign identifies the location.  The second building will be the reception area and Chapter room; the third building will be used for light meal after the meeting.  There is parking on the side of the third building.) Housing Chairman: Della Smith, PM, (225) 235-1294 or work/land (225) 664-1499. Sue S. Howes, DDGM, cell (225) 978-9418 or land (225) 664-3453. sueshowes@cox.net

Saturday, July 26 - District 9:  Many Lodge, Many. Dinner at 5 PM and Meeting at 6:00 PM. Directions:  Travel south on Hwy 171.  You will see Byles Tractor Company on your left.  You will turn left on Trace St.  Lodge will be on your left.  Travel North on Hwy 171.  You will see McDonalds on the left - just past that, watch for Trace St.  Turn right on Trace Street- Lodge will be on your left.  Kathy Warmack, DDGM. 318-256-5732

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

The Unvouched for Visitor has caused some concern about where the Committee stands and where the Visitor stands as they are exemplifying the Test Oath inside the Chapter room.  For this year, while exemplifying the Test Oath inside the Chapter room, in the Southeast, the Chairman, will stand in front of the Visitor, with the other members standing either next to the Visitor or the Chairman.  You must have one brother and two sisters on the committee; any one of the three may be the Chairman, who holds the Bible and administers the Test Oath.  Each must show their dues cards and the Visitor must give the signs and passes. I hope this will clear up the concerns.    Thank you, Juanita Wilkinson, WGM

 

Upon adoption of Resolution No. 3 at the 2008 Grand Chapter Session, the Grand Chapter now permits Plural Membership.  In our Book of Instructions, Section 17, Reception of Affiliates, pages 18 and 19, the word dual appears twice.  After conferring with our Worthy Grand Matron and the Work and Ritual Committee, we came to the conclusion that, inasmuch as only two words were involved, the change should be made with no expense to Grand Chapter.  We are requesting that you delete the word "dual" on both pages 18 and 19 and substitute the word "plural."

Velma D. Hays, PGM, and Chairman: Work and Ritual Committee

Juanita Wilkinson, Worthy Grand Matron

 

 

DATES TO REMEMBER:

June 12, 13 - Rainbow Grand Assembly, Best Western, Alexandria

June 14 - Lafayette Chapter #46 requests the pleasure of your company at our 100th birthday celebration from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at River Oaks, 800 Hugh Wallis Road in Lafayette. Directions: Enter Lafayette on US Hwy 90 (Future I49 Corridor), from North, turn Right; from South, turn Left, onto Kaliste Saloom Road, travel 6 tenths mile, turn Left onto Hugh Wallis Rd. Drive 2 tenths mile and turn right into River Oaks. Please mark your calendars to come celebrate with us.

July 18 and 19 – Eight State Exchange Visit – “Rolling on the Red”, Shreveport Convention Center and Hilton Hotel, Shreveport. 

August 8–10 – Pilgrimage to the International Peace Garden Chapel situated on the international border between Manitoba, Canada and North Dakota. If you would like a copy of the proposed schedule and registration form, contact the Grand Secretary.

August 16 - Louisiana/Arkansas Exchange --"An Apple for the Teacher" Luncheon at 12:00 Noon.  Savoie's Catering, 2441 E. 70th St., Shreveport.  Price:  $24.00.  Ticket Chairman is Mrs. Rovenia McDonald, 585 Wells Rd., Haughton 71037.  318-949-1798. Cut off date is August 11, 2008.  Directions are printed on the back of the tickets.  Please include a self addressed, stamped envelope with your order for tickets.

 

 

APPRECIATION

Sister, Jane Bazzell, PGM, and I have been overwhelmed with your cards, telephone calls, e-mails and prayers by so many of our sisters and brothers of this great and wonderful order.  So many of you have been encouragers to both of us and more so to Jane due to her colon cancer surgery.  It has been a struggle for her and will continue to be, but had it not been for the wonderful people who believe in our Heavenly Father and the answer to prayer, I really do not believe that we would be where we are now.  HE has really been there for us in more ways that we can count.  I know, and believe me when I say I know, that GOD can supply all of our need according to HIS riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.  HE always brings us in contact with the right people at the right time.  Please keep praying for her and calling to encourage her, she loves every one of you. THANK YOU ALL!  Fraternal love, Robert Bazzell, PP.

 

Dear Sisters & Brothers,  Floyd and I want to thank you for all the prayers, phone calls, cards and memorials during these past few weeks in regards to his accident and the death of my sister Louise Wright. Floyd had a non displaced fracture of the upper anterior tibial plauteau of the left leg. He was instructed to stay off of it--but you know how "some men" are. He's doing better, but still having some pain and he can drive now.  We are sorry we could not be with you at Grand Chapter Session, truly missed not being there.  To Sister Diane and Brother Roy, Thank you for appointing me as one of your Deputies, it was my honor.  To Sister Juanita and Brother Mert, Your Grand Family, we wish you a successful and harmonious year.  We send our Love to everyone and hope to see you on the road soon.  Fraternally & Lovingly Yours, Floyd & Ruby Bradley

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Thank all of you for your prayers, phone calls and cards.  I am doing quite well and hope to be on the road again soon.  Thank God I wasn’t given more than two knees.  I don’t think I could do this again, and I know James couldn’t.  He has been a real soldier.  Two wars could not have been as bad as taking care of a helpless wife, not once, but twice.  Thank all of you for your love and concern.  Lois Premeaux, PM, Alice Chapter #5

 

Again we wish to express our deepest gratitude to the sisters and brothers of the Order of the Eastern Star for their donation and generosity to the Masonic Learning Center of Louisiana and the Dyslexia Training Program.  You cannot imagine the gratification we experience when parents describe the positive changes in the children who participate in this program. The beauty of it is that we are not only helping to remedy an individual human problem, but are likely making a very positive contribution to the whole of society by expanding the capability of those students to assume more demanding positions as they mature.  Thank you so much. Fraternally yours, Roy B. Tuck, Jr., PGM.

 

Barak Shrine Temple gratefully acknowledges your generous gift of $2,468.51 to the Barak Shriners Child Transportation Fund.   This Child Transportation Fund is used to support the operation of the hospital vans we use for transportation of the children in the Monroe area to the Shriner's Hospitals for treatment, and 100% of each gift is used exclusively for this purpose. Your support of this noble endeavor is deeply appreciated.  Fraternally, Clifton Hall, Jr., Potentate

 

Thank you so much for the funds given to the Rainbow Girls.  Words cannot express the meaning of this generous gift. Metairie Assembly is growing so much and these funds are helping us get some of our newer girls to Grand Assembly . . . Tara Marquez, Mother Advisor, Metairie Assembly #70

 

On behalf of the De Molay boys of Louisiana we thank you for the most generous donation to Louisiana De Molay. These monies will greatly help in the activities planned for the Order of De Molay in Louisiana.  Please extend our thanks to every member who worked so hard to make this donation possible.  Lloyd Hebert, Treasurer

 

 

Change of Address:

Page 3 and Page 7 - Pauline Rushing, PGM - 604 Walnut St., Summit, MS 39666.  601/276-9091

 

FROM THE DESK OF THE GRAND SECRETARY:

Please check out our new website - I think you will enjoy the visit.  www.laoes.org

Place your orders for the 2008/2009 Roster at your earliest opportunity.

Reminder: Petitions for Affiliation by Plural Membership must be presented in two pages - the second page contains information that must be forwarded to the Grand Secretary and the affected Chapters.

 

                                                                                Fraternally,

 

                                                                                Terrie C. Castay, PGM

                                                                                Grand Secretary

Return To Newsletter Menu