Laura Chapter School OES

The Chapter room is set up and waiting.

It is traditional to have a display of symbols before the front podium. 

The Past Matrons Club served the luncheon.

Dorothy (left) and Jean.  They belong to Polk City Chapter.  Dorothy has been a member of Eastern Star for 74 years.  Jean is her daughter and is our District Instructor.  Great Ladies.

Two of our guests from out of town.  They both helped out by taking offices as Pro Tems.

  

Worthy Matron Tammy and the Sentinel. for once it isn't a bad picture of me.

Dorothy was our Pro Tem Secretary today.  She knows how.  She has been Secretary of  Polk City Chapter for 60 years.

Getting ready to march out after a wonderful meeting.  Thanks Jean for all your work.  (She reads the blog)

Eastern Star Masonic Home

I had an Eastern Star Masonic Home Board Meeting today.  We went on a tour of some of the projects which are going to be done in the near future.  We also are going to replace the boilers and the type of heating.  Here are some pictures of our tour.


I enjoy my work on the Board.  I was just elected to a second 5-year term and am serving as President this year due to one of our members becoming a Grand Officer and having to resign.  It is wonderful to see a place where the residents are so well cared for.  I have been in a lot of Nursing Homes but none as nice at the Eastern Star Masonic Home at Boone.

Eastern Star

I am not in these pictures because I took them It was really a nice surprise tonight, the Worthy Grand Matron (far left front row) came for a surprise visit to present a Grand Representative for Arizona for Sister Karen Kerper.
Worthy Grand Matron, Phyllis Moore, Worthy Matron Leanne Mathis, Our new Grand Rep. Karen Kerper and Worthy Patron Brian Coree.

Eastern Star is the largest fraternal order for women and men in the world. I have been Worthy Patron nine times. I am enjoying sitting outside with the big sword and guarding the door. I got to read my book.

I read until 3:00 AM last night and will finish it before I go to bed tonight. I love Steven Saylor's books. Empire is as good as the first one in the series Roma. The two books follow the same family throughout Roman History. I imagine there will be a third.

Thanks for stopping by. Hugs, j

Laura Chapter School

Today was the Eastern Star School of Inspection here in Ames. Our Instructor (on the right) is Jean who threatened me with a lawsuit if I put her pictures on here. Not to worried about it. On the left is the Secretary of the Board of Custodians and a Past Grand Matron of Iowa. These women have memorized the entire Eastern Star Ritual Opening, Closing, Initiation and they come once a year to sure that the Chapters are doing the work correctly.
Evertt and Dorothy. Dorothy is the mother of our District Instructor and lives in the Eastern Star Home at Boone. She served on the Board with me for 4 years. She has been in Eastern Star for 63 years and is the Secretary of the Chapter at Polk City. One of the reasons I enjoy Star so much is the people I meet there. I have also known Evertt for a long time. He fits the definition of a "true gentleman."

I can't take pictures when the Chapter is open but I snuck a photo in before we got started. Jean is giving some preliminary instruction prior to opening the Chapter.
This is Erma, She is a Past Matron of Laura Chapter. It was my honor to serve as her Worthy Patron. She is a great lady and I am so very proud to call her my friend.
Jean and the Worthy Matron in a pre-meeting conference. Notice the large book on Jean's lap. That is just some of the material they have to go over. I was a little surprised to hear some of Jean's opening remarks and her closing....She got them right here from the "Found For Friday" jokes. I am glad that they were of use. Here are the rest of the photo's Enjoy! Hugs, j

Eastern Star Home Update

The work continues on the Eastern Star Masonic Home at Boone. The new dining rooms in the health wing and the nurses stations are finished.

The residents were enjoying lunch as we went past.

The nurses told me they really liked the new Nurses stations.






This will be the lounge with a fireplace. It should all be finished by the middle of August.


















This is the interior area where there is a water garden and plants where the residents can enjoy the out of doors in a private secluded atmosphere. The Home is a beautiful place. One of the residents told me she had been there for 10 years and loved it. I am so glad I am able to give this service to our Home.

Eastern Star Grand Officers - Grand Exemplification

Today I was supposed to do three things. Instead I did one. I went to an Eastern Star Grand Exemplification. The daughter of our District Instructor was initiated and I wanted to be there. The birthday party was cancelled and it was too late to go to the DeMolay Degree when I got out of the Eastern Star Meeting. It is all right as I had a good time and if you are interested you can see the pictures above or you can go to the On[line album here. I have heard the Eastern Star Degrees hundreds of times and today they were given especially beautifully. The stories are timeless and it is very nice to see them done well.

BTW, Sylvia is the daughter of our District Instructor. Her grandmother is in the hospital or she would have been there. She (the grandmother) has been an Eastern Star member for 70 years and has been an officer for that long. She is one of my very favorite people and we worked on the Eastern Star Home Board until her retirement last year. She gave the quilt in the pictures to Sylvia. So she was there in spirit even though she was not there physically. As I left Sylvia and her mother were leaving to go to see Dorothy in the hospital.

Thanks for stopping by, ARTYAL. Hugs

Eastern Star Home Party

I am on the Board of the Eastern Star Masonic Home Board at Boone, Iowa. Today the Grand Officers came for their Christmas Party and Visitation. Below are some pictures of the event. It is always nice for the residents. Unfortunately they are having a bout of the flu so there were a lot of people who were not able to participate. (I had my flu shot.) You can click on any of the pictures you want to embiggen them, Thanks for stopping by , Bear Hugs, j

A Mix of Pix

From Elder Prom (Eastern Star Grand Chapter)
Click to Embiggen