Oregon OES News Issue#50 November 2014

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1 Oregon OES News Issue#50 November 2014 Words from the Worthy Grand Matron Dear Sisters and Brothers, The Holiday Season is upon us. One of the real joys of the Season is the opportunity to say thank you. The dictionary defines thanks an expression of gratitude, another way of saying thank you. Giving is defined as hand over to. Very interesting when you put the two words together to make Thanksgiving which is the expression of gratitude, especially to God? I found a couple of paragraphs in a small book which I so enjoy and hope you will also. And I quote Mother Theresa once said, we cannot do great things on this earth. We can only do little things with great love Some people feel they have to be very successful to do lots of things for others. Meanwhile, there are hungry people, elderly people who could use some company, people who need to be listened to, and thousands of other little things that can be done. Mother Theresa was right. We can t change the world, but we can make the world a brighter place. All we really need to do is focus on those little acts of kindness, things we can do right now. Almost always little things give enormous satisfaction and peace of mind. The most appreciated acts of kindness are the one hour of volunteer work or a five-dollar gift to someone who can t afford anything at all. If we take great care in doing something-anything-we will feel the joy of given and will help to make our world just a little brighter To me this describes what we do as members. I want to thank all the of the Chairman s and committee members for their work in our philanthropic endeavors, it is a big job. To our Grand Representatives who represent our Order and the beautiful State of Oregon. To all the Chapters and members for their community work or whatever their involvement in helping those who are less fortunate. Continued on Page 2 Words from the Worthy Grand Patron Happy Holidays Sister and Brothers. Thanksgiving is almost upon us and a great time to spend with family and friends. I can just smell the turkey in the oven and the deep fryer. Yup I ve been frying a turkey for a number of years now, but it never seems that we have enough, so I also cook one in the oven. Last night sister Anna and I attended the Amaranth Ball and had a great time, Brother Doug Neilson, Royal Grand Patron gave a nice talk reminding us all to reflect on this time of giving not only for family and friends, but even to those less fortunate than ourselves. He is right! Please remember all in our thoughts and prayers and if you can give of your selves. If you would also say a special prayer for our valiant men and women in our Armed Forces, as they are our protectors and highly cherished individuals. The past few months have been crazy busy for me, both in Star but especially work. On our Star trail we have had so much fun with the receptions, from the powerless Grand Conductress/Grand Sentinel Hogwarts style reception, to Central Oregon for our Grand Organist and to Cottage Grove for Our Grand Ruth and Grand Martha s reception. Each one has been a very special event for us. This next month brings an Honor Night for three very special sisters that we are indebted to: Grand Secretary Chris, Grand Treasurer Connie PGM and Grand Lecturer Penny PGM. This event is scheduled for the 1 st of December and DON T forget to bring a stuffed animal or two as a donation for their local charity. Out of all of the stress of work the one shining light in my life has been the love, sharing and friendship of each and every one of you Eastern Star Members. You have lifted my soul, made me smile and help me to remember that Eastern Star CAN make a difference in our lives. Please remember to Love One Another. So yes you can really make a difference, each one of you are special not only to Sister Judy, Sister Anna and I but to each other. Keep up the good thoughts. The holidays are not complete with-out a little Holiday cheer. Sister Anna and I wish all of our Eastern Star Sister and Brothers a most joyous holiday season. Continued on Page 2

2 Continued!om Page 1 This Holiday Season may you find the Joy in Giving. May there be Peace and Harmony in your life. May God grant you good health and safe travels, and may Santa find your house! Much Star Love to my family, Judy Rooth, Worthy Grand Matron Continued!om Page 1 Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, "Mele Kalikimaka" (Hawaiian), "Feliz Navidad" (Spanish), "Nollaig chridheil huibh" (Scots Gaelic), "God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År" (Swedish) and to all a Happy New Year. Wishing you all the Hope, Wonder and Joy that this Holiday Season can bring. Star Love, Don Hot! Hot! Hot! Broxson, Worthy Grand Patron Special Projects Committee Fund Raiser Pam Kroker, Associate Matron at Marguerite #60 and Grand Committee member of Special Projects, is offering OES t-shirts to raise funds for her committee. Shirts are pre-shrunk cotton high quality t-shirts. Show your OES Pride and help raise money for our Grand Projects! To order, please contact and make checks payable to: Jeanne Kroker PO Box 2254 Lebanon OR or her at or.moonchild39.jmk@centurytel.net with the following information: Name; Chapter; Address; City; Zip; Address; Phone; No shirts will be ordered without payment in hand. Delivery is available at various events; for postal delivery it will be an extra $7.00. [Please insert X before you choice]: Ladies Mens Shirt Size Price Extra Long Shirt Color OES Color Oregon Color Extra Small White White White Small Black Black Black Medium Lt Gray Blue Blue Large Dk Gray Yellow Yellow Extra Large Yellow Green Green 2X Green Red Red 3X Red 4X Royal Blue 5X Purple 6X

3 The night the lights went out in... Cottage Grove? It was a dark and stormy night on October 25, when Eastern Star gathered in Cottage Grove for the Grand Conductress and Grand Sentinel s Reception honoring Michelle Combs and Alan Beebe. At 2:52pm, (we know, because the clock stopped) all electricity went out and it became a truly dark and stormy night. Fortunately, the stoves were propane, so the heroic dinner preparations continued as people were mobilized and the local Walmart was inundated by people in formals buying candles and bottles of water. Generators were gathered and started for the 3 coffee pots. An Eastern Star reception can manage without lights or microphones, but it HAS to have coffee! Being that Eastern Star folk are pretty f lexible and always friendly, it was decided that we would work with what we h a d a n d continue with the fun. Flashlights and cell phones were added to the candle-lit ambiance as were several... bright and shiny costumes. There was a creative and lovely crowd with, among many others: Princesses; Cheese(y) Tacos; Guido the Mafia man; a early 19th century clerk; Bat man and Bat Girl; a Cereal Killer; several Witches and a surprise visit from Audrey Hepburn. Dinner was a delicious breakfast dinner made by Grand Martha s daughter, Becky and crew by flashlight. Josie Skeers provided the scones which were fabulous! Due to common sense, the reception continued in the dining room. Addendums were sung and played out. It was discovered that Alan has Soccer on the Brain. Everyone seemed to agree that it didn t take a Halloween Surgery to figure that out! It was a reception to remember. Partly for the unintentional ambiance; partly for the resourcefulness and good humor of the people involved; but mostly for the two wonderful people who were being honored.

4 Worthy Grand Matron and Worthy Grand Patron s Reception September 20, 2014 Oregon Eastern Star gathered in Salem on September 20 to celebrate Judy Rooth, Worthy Grand Matron and Don Broxson, Worthy Grand Patron.!!! It is always a good day when friends can mingle and chat and hug! The Reception was well attended by those far and near. It was a joyful fiesta filled with ladybugs and Chili peppers. The meal w a s delicious and the t a b l e s were festive with Bright E a s t e r n Star Colors. Enchiladas and other y u m m y M e x i c a n fare were served and all was provided by the hard w o r k i n g people in Judy and Don s Chapters. Lots of laughter and love were the rule of the day and, of course, the toe tapping music of the Go-To-Duo were heard at the Reception and a Grand time was had by all!. 4

5 Grand Organist's Reception November 1, 2014 The Eastern Star road got worn the other way for this reception, when over the mountain we trooped to honor Paula Terry, Grand Organist for the Grand Chapter. It was a beautiful drive and a great turn-out for a delightful Reception for a lovely lady. The reception included Paula preforming three marvelous songs on the piano. Each of which meant something to her, a classical, a modern and a ragtime piece. In her speech, Paula gave the audience some perspective on her busy, creative life. Her Masonic activities and musical activities have been honed since before her high school days (not THAT long ago, we were assured). The whole reception was a fun filled and delightful time. The dinner was held after the reception which worked out very well. The laughter and fellowship continued through a delicious dinner of BBQ chicken and roast. Just the smell would make anyone hungry! What a wonderful night of greeting old friends and making new ones! It truly was a tribute to a wonderful woman who makes beautiful music. Tickets: $20 5

6 Southern Oregon Pink Lodge #1 On a day as any other day, a plan was made to have the Pink Lodge meeting. It was held at the Medford Lodge #103 Center, in Medford, Oregon. It was held right after the Mason s Family upon the East. dinner. Rumors had been flying around for some time about the Southern Oregon Eastern Stars holding a Lodge Meeting. It was told that they were calling it a Pink Lodge, but who knew what it really was. Had they gotten information on the Blue Lodge meetings? The Gavel went down at 7:00 pm by the Worthy Matron, Michelle Combs (Grand Conductress), and greeted all in attendance. She then advised the Masons and Grand Lodge Officers, Brothers Art Borland, Darrell Maple, and the Worshipful Master of Medford Lodge, Billy Thompson, and all Masons that all information should be verified right after the meeting. If we did get something wrong it was strongly suggested to set us straight. The lights dimmed, then entered the Worshipful Master, Brother Cindi Thompson and the Junior Steward, Brother Linda Oncay. The Worshipful Master advanced The Junior Steward carrying the tools of the Lodge (cannot be revealed), leaving them in the East and returned to the Officers lined up in the West. Upon the call of the Gavel, the Officers entered as practiced (well, somewhat) and took their stations. The Brothers of the Pink Lodge all adorned their Tuxes and aprons, and were greeted by the membership with a great gasp (or was it a giggle?). The Officers held their meeting with great accuracy and decorum. Escort was held in true tradition and honored all our Mason s, good and true. One of the Eastern Star Masons (which there were many ) Brother Don Broxson, Worthy Grand Patron of Oregon was escorted and introduced in keeping with tradition (we are told). Other fine Masons were Cindi Thompson, Worthy Matron, Reames Chapter #66 also introduced, Public Honors were given (not sure if this was right, but was not corrected). In the membership seating were other Brothers that were introduced from all over the state, adorning their suits and ties (fine looking brothers). Brother Worthy Grand Matron, Judy Rooth of the Grand Chapter of Oregon, Brothers, Grand Treasurer Connie Harris, Grand Secretary Chris Nacheff Manaker and other Brothers were escorted and introduced. The Worshipful Master Brother Cindi Thompson came to the floor and presented each with a Pink Ribbon to honor October Breast Cancer month. They were given a hearty welcome and were seated. A Degree was scheduled and the Goat and Initiate were brought in but a wise Junior Stewart caught that were Eastern Star in the room so it was cancelled for a later date. Pink Lodge is not new to some of Continued on Page 7 6

7 Pink Lodge!om Page 6 you but all of you know that each is different, and if you were not there... this is all you are getting from me. Thanks to Brother Worshipful Master Billy Thompson (Worthy Patron of Reames #66) and Medford Lodge #103 for allowing us to hold our Pink Lodge and Worthy Matron Billy was presented with the first Pink Lodge Apron, a white apron framed with pink ruffles and the Square and Compass with Pink Lodge #1 and WM and his name on it. He has said he will surely wear it to his Blue Lodge (how will we know?). Thanks to the following Brother cast members for making this a great Southern Oregon Pink Lodge. Worthy Matron, Michelle Combs, Josephine #26, Senior Warden, Nancy Harper, Rogue River Daylight #186, Junior Warden, Jean Shubert, Western Star #64, Marshal, Katie Hannon, Rogue River Daylight, Chaplain, Kathy Graham, Reames #66, Hot! Hot! Hot! Calling All Cooks! Secretary, Elizabeth Keene, Adarel #3, Treasurer, Joan Carlson, Reames, Senior Deacon, Nancy Pugsley, Josephine, Junior Deacon, Jamie Knecht, Reames, Senior Stewart, Kay Dye, Adarel, Junior Stewart, Linda Oncay, Western Star; Door Keeper, Maril yn Pringle Reames. Feedback was been very positive and the fellowship strengthened. Brothers, we thank you for all the laughs and taking it on the chin. We love our Masonic Family! Think you have what it takes to win the Chili Cook -off? Want to show off and have bragging rights as the best chili chef? Join us in Eugene for the Great Chili Cook Off! Contact Elizabeth A. Duell Smith at elizabeth@redheadedcyclone.com or (541) to enter. Mark your calendar! Yummy Chili ahead! On November 3rd, Marguerite Chapter was proud to give Mildred Patterson (in pink) her 60 year pin. She was escorted by her son, Buzz Mitchell and her husband, Claude, and presented with her pin by the Worthy Matron, Laura Frye. When asked if she wanted to say anything, in her common indomitable humor, she remarked that it took quite a while to earn the pin and that she had enjoyed it the whole time! Marguerite is looking forward to presenting another 60 year pin and a 70 year pin in the next year. 7

8 Associate Grand Conductress Reception October 11, 2014 Eugene Masonic Center was filled with love and laughter with those attending the Associate Grand Conductress reception honoring Gloria Varner. The delicious Dinner of meatloaf, mac & cheese, veggies and lemon bars for dessert. Anticipation was in the air as the reception proceeded. Many wondered what secrets would be revealed that evening. Soon enough there was the time for addendums. Gloria was pretty worried as Meridian Chapter wrapped her in sheets and then filled a pie pan with whipped cream... Not to worry! In the end, they didn t put it in her face... She just got booped on the nose (see right) to a great amount of laughter. Soon enough, it was time for Gloria to tell some secrets. We were introduced to the Pathfinders. The lovely group came out of the closet and revealed their pretty red dresses. Gloria explained that the Pathfinders were finding a path for the future of Eastern Star including leadership training. The colors are the shades of red; and symbols were shoes (and shoe leather) and globes. The most exciting revelation of the night was that of the man who was running for Grand It was a night full of laughter a n d Fellowship. Sentinel. After some subterfuge, it was revealed that Jay Saatkamp of Valiant-Sellwood 92 & Pioneer 28 was submitting his letter of intent as Grand Sentinel. Gloria said that she was looking for someone with enthusiasm for our Order. 8

9 Calendar of Events Please refer to the Grand Chapter Calendar for more information. Dates are subject to change December March 8! Nydia Temple Installation Dec 1!! Honor Night for Grand March 12-14!Amaranth Grand Court!!! Secretary & Grand Treasurer March 13! FAITH Birthday Party Dec 12! MESH Christmas/Birthday March 14! Secretary s Training - East Dec 13! Grand Family Christmas March 21! Potentate s Ball Dec 13!! Barzallai & St. Mary s Honor Night March 26! Masonic Family Night Dec 14! Worthy Matrons and Worthy Patrons March 28! Line Officers meeting!!! Christmas March 28! Grand Marshal Reception Dec 25! Grand Chapter Office Closed April January April 9-11! Grand York Rite Jan 1!! Grand Chapter Office Closed April 10! FAITH Birthday Party Jan 3!! Al Kader Installation April 18! White Shrine Jan 9!! FAITH Birthday Party April 19! Gervais Chapter 100th Anniversary Jan 17! Luau Murder Mystery - Salem May Jan 17! York Rite Session May 2!! Hands Across the Border Jan 24! Grand Chaplain Reception May 2! Masonic Heritage Day Jan 24! Secretary's Training - Portland May 8! FAITH Birthday Party Jan 25! Grand Adah Reception May 16! Line Officers Meeting February May 16! AGM & AGP Reception Feb 6!! Cancer Research Concert May 17! Page Banquet Feb 13! FAITH Birthday Party May 21! Proficiencies Must be turned in Feb 14! Willamette Valley Valentine's Day May 22-23! DeMolay Conclave and Installation!!! Party Feb 15! Grand Esther Reception June Feb 21! Grand Electa & Grand Warder June 3-5! Grand Lodge and Installation!!! Reception June 6! FAITH Birthday Party Feb 22! Grand Chaplain Reception June 20-24!Oregon Grand Chapter Feb 28! Secretary s Training Eugene June 29-July 1! Washington Grand Chapter July March July 25! All-Masonic Picnic March 7! DJR Day Want events from your Chapter in the newsletter? Send it in! oesnews@redheadedcyclone.com or mail to: st St., Springfield OR

10 ! You Are Cordially Invited To A Reception Honoring Sister Becky Hamshar, Grand Chaplain Sunday February 22, 2015 St Helens Shrine Club 315 N. 18th Street St Helens, Oregon Luncheon starts at 12:30pm with the Reception to follow Menu: Hearty Beef Stew, Salad, Rolls, and Dessert $10 RSVP: Michael Hamshar Grand Officers and Escorts Regrets Only 10

11 October 13, 2014 Letters of Intent To Worthy Grand Matron Judy Rooth, Worth Grand Patron Don Broxson, Grand Secretary Chris Nacheff Maneker and members of Oregon Order of the Eastern Star. I, Jay Saatkamp, am submitting this letter of my intent to be a candidate for the office of Grand Sentinel of the Grand Chapter of Oregon. I have been asked by Sister Gloria Varner, Associate Grand Conductress to stand with her in setting a course for the future as her Worthy Grand Patron. This is a great privilege and honor to serve our Grand Chapter with her and represent the Order of the Eastern Star in Oregon. I have the support of my wife, Sister Pam, and my family. My chapters, Valiant Sellwood 92 and Pioneer 28 have given me their support and dedication in my journey to the East. I am looking forward to working for the wonderful members to make our Orders flourish. Fraternally! Jay Saatkamp A Concert for Cancer Research Featuring Michael Allen Harrison and other Talented Musicians February 6, 2015 at 7pm First United Methodist Church Newberg, Oregon Tickets $15.00 Ticket Information to follow Contact Donna Bly for information

12 Oregon OES News Editor Elizabeth A. Duell Smith st St Springfield OR Join the list! Get the newsletter for free! OES News is a bi-monthly publication. Issues are printed in: July, September, November, January, March and May Submissions are taken at any time. Send Submissions, Comments & Questions to: Elizabeth A. Duell Smith OESNews@redheadedcyclone.com Address: st St; Springfield OR Get this newsletter IN COLOR for FREE! Go to and click on OES News and sign up for our FREE Digital copy! Subscriptions are sent to: Laura A. Frye PO box 826 Lebanon OR Editing rights are reserved. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the Grand Chapter nor endorsement thereof.