APPOINTMENTS

In making my appointments, see attached, I tried using the serving Matrons/Associate Matrons first.  Upon trying to reach some of you, your number has been changed or no longer working, a message was left or you just did not answer.  Matrons, please make sure that the Secretary and I have your updated contact information (name, address and number).

EDICT

I have received approval from The Most Worshipful Grand Master David C. Brown; the edict for open enrollment has been renewed from August 1, 2007 – June 5, 2008.  Allowing ladies wishing to become a member of our Eastern Star Organization, who do not have a Masonic headright, is welcome to submit an application along with a doctor’s statement.  Admission subjected to voting.

GRAND CHAPTER QUARTERLY AND ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS

The quarterly Burial and Relief report, which is mailed to the Grand Custodial Secretary, Sis. Vicki Jennings (102), 3422 Yecker, KCK 66104, 913-281-3776 is past due if you have not already mailed them.  The quarters are as followed:  First Quarter – on or before July 31st; Second Quarter – on or before October 31^st; Third Quarter – on or before January 31^st, and Fourth Quarter – on or before April 15^th.  As soon as possible, please provide the Grand Secretary and Grand Worthy Matron with a copy of your Chapter’s updated beneficiary roll.  If you need forms, please contact the Grand Secretary, Ernye McNeal at (913) 299-1709. Worthy Matrons and Secretaries please adhere to the above dates and request to make sure your reports are sent in on time.

ANNUAL RETURNS

Annual Returns are to be mailed to the Grand Annual Return Chairperson, Sis. Georgia Wright (2); at 2845 Lafayette, Kansas City, KS  66104, she can be reached at 913-371-2296 if you have questions.

AUDITING COMMITTEE

Grand Secretary, Grand Treasurer and Grand Custodial Secretary, in sending out your quarterly reports, please also provide the Auditing Committee, Donna Althouse #8, 3714 Stonebridge Ct., Topeka, KS  66610 and Etta Warren #88, 1934 N 17^th St., KCK  66104, with a copy.

JURISDICTION WORKSHOP

There will be a Jurisdiction wide workshop for Order of Eastern Star Members conducted by the Grand Lecturer, PGWM Ivoe C. Dean (40).  This workshop will be open to anyone who is an O.E.S. member of the Kansas Jurisdiction only.  It will take place on Saturday, October 27, 2007; 11:00 a.m. at Prince Hall Grand East; 1234 State; Kansas City, Kansas. The cost is $10.00 (lunch included).  Please send registration fee to Grand Secretary, Ernye McNeal by October 19, 2007.  Dress is casual.

Brothers and Sisters, this will be an opportunity to get those ritualistic questions which have been on your mind answered.  I hope you can come out and be a part of this session.

QUEEN CONTEST

Grand Chapter will be crowning a new O.E.S. Queen at our 2008 Grand Session.  Matrons, I am asking each Chapter to check with your members to see if anyone would like to represent their Chapter.  Entry fee participant and Chapter will receive 10% of money raised.  The Chapter must pay an entry fee of $200.00 for their O.E.S. Queen Contest representative or the contestant may pay their own entry fee.

The $200.00 is to be mailed to the Grand Secretary, Sis. Ernye McNeal #40; 1949 N. 83^rd Terrace; Kansas City, KS  66112, 913-299-1709.  The $200.00 will be counted in the total the contestant raises.  This Grand Chapter fundraiser was a great success the last time we crowned our reigning Queen Sis. Susan Jameson, Princess #12 in 2006.  You will receive further communications concerning the Queen Contest from Chairperson, Sis. Marsha Brown (50) (mlbmw1950@yahoo.com) and her committee.  It is my hope that all Chapters within the Jurisdiction will have a 2008 Queen Contestant.

PHENOMENAL WOMAN

Minimum of $500 must be raised to be considered a Phenomenal woman any Eastern Star member who will not be running for the Queen that is active in their chapter and community is eligible.

Sis. Marsha Brown and her committee is also chairing this contest.

CHAPTER COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS

This year I will be giving out Community Service Awards.  Whatever Community Service, or volunteer work your Chapter is involved in, I would like to know so your Chapter can be recognized doing our Grand Session.

Also, Grand Chapter, this is a statewide project.  I am asking that we participate in our first Community Service Project through Habitat for Community.  This event will be held on September 15, 2007, in Kansas City, KS.  Habitat is building a home in the Argentine area; our help is needed in completing this project. Anyone wishing to participate please go to Habitat’s website and register at www.heartlandhabitat.org under the name Prince Hall Grand Chapter OES, Kansas.  We need at least

10-25 volunteers. This project is for ladies only; the next project we participate in perhaps it will be one that Grand Lodge can assist us in completing.

MEMBERSHIP INCREASE AWARD

Re-INVENT our Order to better suit its purposes, Re-NEW interest among current, inactive and former members of our Order, and Re-CHARGE our Order by recruiting new Members. An award will be presented to the Chapter which has the greatest increase in membership during the period of

August 1, 2007 – April 15, 2008.  Even though the edict has June 5, 2008, you can still take in members; I need a cut-off date to purchase awards to present at Grand Chapter. 

2008 GRAND WORTHY MATRON VISIT

I have scheduled the following visits for 2008.  Matrons, please let me know if the following dates are available for you.

March 23, 2008 – District 6 – Leavenworth, Kansas (#3, #4 & #9)

April 19, 2008 – District 5 – Kansas City, Kansas (#2, #18, #40, #50, #59, #88 & #102)

April 26, 2008 – District 4 – Topeka, Kansas (#5, #7, #8, #10, #13 & #30)

May 2-3, 2008 – Kemp Georgia #100 - Liberal, Kansas

May 17, 2008 – District 1 – Wichita, Kansas (#12, #16, #27, #48, #96, & #97)

2008 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS

The Scholarship Committee is requesting that each Chapter start now looking for students who will be graduating from high school in 2008.  Remember the student must possess a minimum grade point of 3.0.  The committee will be mailing out scholarship applications in the near future.

ELECTA’S SONS AND DAUGHTERS

Our youth are our future.  Train up a child in the way he shall go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).  Our Youth Fraternity has not been active in a few years.  I need volunteers to re-activate our Youth Fraternity, Electa’s Sons and Daughters.  The reason I ask for volunteers is because when you volunteer yourself for a task, you will accomplish the task you set out to do.

2008 SOUVENIR JOURNAL

As you know, we start early working on our Souvenir Journal.  Members from experience since I have the knowledge and know how of putting a Souvenir Journal together, it takes time and effort to do this.  So please adhere to the deadlines of the Souvenir Journal Committee.  To make our 125^th Souvenir Journal a success, at our last Grand Session the Planning Committee passed out a notice asking all Grand officers to have their picture taken in their Regalia at the end of the Session to be placed on file for this purpose.  Therefore, I am requesting each Past Grand Matrons and Patrons, Elected and Appointed Grand Chapter Members to have their photo taken in full Regalia so when it’s time to submit your photo along with your $15.00 to the Souvenir Journal Committee you will have it ready.  This will be a memorable journal this year because we will be celebrating One Hundred and Twenty Five Years of existence.  If you would like to take out an ad in memory of one of our past or present Stars, family member, friend, etc., this will be the time to do so.

125^th ANNIVERSARY

We will celebrate our 125^th Anniversary sometime in August 2008.  The Anniversary Committee Chairperson, Sis. Patricia Lipsey (40) and her committee will be sending out information regarding the Anniversary and date soon.

MIDWEST CONFERENCE

Anyone wishing to attend the Midwest Conference of Grand Masters and Eastern Stars in Bloomington, MN across the street from the Mall of America in March please let me know.  We are looking into chartering a bus.  The colors for the Conference will be Red on Friday & Navy Blue on Saturday.

GRAND WORTHY MATRON/PATRON RECEPTION

Arrangement is being made to hold the reception for the Grand Worthy Matron and Patron on
October 13, 2007.  Time and place will be announced at a later date.

Also, The Most Worshipful Grand Master David C. Brown’s reception is scheduled for September 29, 2007 from 3p to 6p at Prince Hall Grand East, 1234 State, Kansas City, KS.

LINE OF MARCH

Everyone in the line of march is encouraged to learn their parts.

CHAPTER MEETING DATES/EVENTS

Please let me know the dates of your meetings or events your Chapter has scheduled for the 2007-2008 calendar year. That way I will make all efforts to attend.

CALLING COMMITTEE

I am soliciting a volunteer in each district to be on the Calling Committee.  If there is a death or sickness in your district, please call the person assigned to your district so they can relay the message.  Each Committee person will call the Matron of each Chapter in their assigned district, and the Matron is to inform their members of whatever the situation maybe.  The following people have volunteered so far:  District Five - Teddye Richardson #2, District Seven – Wanda Diggs #58.  I need a volunteer from Districts One (#12, #16, #27, #48, #96, & #97), Two (#1, #28, #31, #39, #44, #60 & #90), Four (#5, #7, #8, #10, #13 & #30) and Six (#3, #4 & #9).  Please call me as soon as possible if you would like to be a volunteer.