December 19, 2007

Dear Chapter Secretaries:

This has certainly been an eventful fall! First, I want to thank you all for your prayers and good wishes during my husband’s recent stay in the hospital. He is home now after spending 20 days in St. Vincent’s. He has a very long road ahead of him, but we are confident that he will be able to continue to live a wonderful life. Thank you again for all your love and support. I also want to thank Sister Karri Frahler, PGM and Grand Treasurer for all she did during my absence. Sister Karri manned the office herself or organized volunteers to come in so that I could be with my husband. I appreciate all she, Judy Smith and JoAnna Foster did to keep our jurisdiction continue running smoothly.

Now, back to business.

Please remember to send in yellow member cards and IHF’s immediately after initiation or affiliation! This will ensure that your new member is entered into the database and that your chapter is 100% with General Grand Chapter.

PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! When doing your annual reports, make membership corrections in RED on the roster I sent you. Please print or write legibly on the report and roster. These must be returned to the Grand Chapter office in January.

TO BE READ IN CHAPTER:

• Christmas Letter from WGM & WGP
• Letter from Grand Master and WGM re: Pin Money
• Letter from the FAITH Committee
• Requirements for proficiency from Grand Lecturer and WGM

We are currently working on the updated Secretary’s Handbook. We are hoping that it will be ready for distribution in Early November. FYI – the Finance Committee has approved the expenses of providing each chapter with one free copy of the Secretary’s Handbook. The cost of each additional copy will remain at $5.00 (hard copy or CD).

In closing, it is my sincere prayer that you will each have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Holiday Season. May we all continue to follow the Star in the East as we come to worship Him.

Fraternally,
E’Laine Armstrong
Grand Secretary

To:       All Oregon Masonic Lodges and Eastern Star Chapters

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The shorter days, cooler nights and brilliant colors of the leaves are the gradual, natural changes in the world around us that prepare us for the winter to come.

The calendar shows us, too, that the holidays are growing near, and our thoughts turn to our loved ones – family and friends – who will soon gather to celebrate the ties that bind us together.

Nowhere are these ties more evident than those to our Masonic & Eastern Star Home members.  The Home at Jennings McCall II is our No. 1 charity.  The members who live there are always close to our hearts, and never more so than during the holiday season.

Each year, at this time, we ask our Lodges and Chapters for “Pin Money” contributions.  The Masonic and Eastern Star Home Members receive $50.00 per month, with $100.00 in December as Pin Money.  In the past it has been the custom that this money was donated by the Lodges and Chapters.  Many of them have donated $650.00 to “adopt” a Home Member for an entire year.

Once again we are asking that you give what you can for this important cause.  Your gift will be appreciated many times throughout the year.  Each month our Home members will have their spending money, and your Lodge or Chapter members will have the satisfaction of knowing they helped to provide it.

We would like to thank you in advance for your gifts and continued support.

Sincerely and fraternally,

                                                     
Dennis Johnson                                                                    Sharon Baker
Grand Master                                                                         Worthy Grand Matron

 

Oregon Masons:  Make your check payable to MESH.  Mail it to: Grand Secretary, 2150 Masonic Way, Forest Grove, OR  97116-2020.  Your cancelled check is your receipt.
Eastern Star Chapters:  Please send your checks made payable to Grand Chapter to Grand Secretary, E’Laine Armstrong, at the Grand Chapter Office, 9045 SW Barbur Blvd., Suite 122, Portland, OR 97219, to assure Oregon of getting recognition at General Grand Chapter, O.E.S.