Grand Officers in Williston

Wednesday, November 16, 2010

“An Angel just received her wings!”

Last night we gathered for the next stop “On our Wings of Love” tour in Williston, VT.  The Entertainment of Grand Officers was hosted by Temple Chapter #75 and LaPlotte Chapter #64.  The weather was nice for our arrival, but we all feared there was ‘rain in the air’!

Registration was in the main lobby and we were surprised to see little bell angels representing the four seasons as our purging badges.  You could not go anywhere the rest of the evening without ringing  you way along. . . .  J 

At 6:00pm the smell from the dining room was our cue, after the blessing we all were treated to a very scrumptious Pot Luck meal.  Too many to describe (and I do not want to miss one) so I’ll just say NO ONE left the room wanting!

After dinner, we assembled in the chapter room for the entertainment portion of the evening.  In keeping with this our month to honor our Veterans, we had the pleasure to witness a One Act Play performed by the Scottish Rite of Vermont.  I do apologize for not getting all the participants names.  I will add it is a side of Palmer Martin that most of us had never seen before, even Nadine his wife was not without a comment!  The play was about the (events) involving President Lincoln the day after he gave his Gettysburg Address speech:

The Gettysburg Address

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
November 19, 1863

On June 1, 1865, Senator Charles Sumner commented on what is now considered the most famous speech by President Abraham Lincoln. In his eulogy on the slain president, he called it a "monumental act." He said Lincoln was mistaken that "the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here." Rather, the Bostonian remarked, "The world noted at once what he said, and will never cease to remember it. The battle itself was less important than the speech."

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

---

Source: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, edited by Roy P. Basler. The text above is from the so-called "Bliss Copy," one of several versions which Lincoln wrote, and believed to be the final version. For additional versions, you may search The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln through the courtesy of the Abraham Lincoln Association.

After the entertainment, the meeting was opened in form followed by the presentation of the Grand Officers in the East:  Kathleen Sjolander, Worthy Grand Matron and Richard Backus, Worthy Grand Associate Patron.   After which, introduction of the General Grand Chapter Committee Members,  Past Grand Matron and Patrons, and Grand Officers.

  

There was a memorial remembrance of Sister Edna Jenkins of Temple Chapter #75 .

WGM Kathy and WGP Alec and Sister Roclyn Porter were presented honorary memberships to both Temple Chapter #75 and LaPlotte Chapter #64.

The WGM and WGP had kind words for all.  The WGM addressed the Make-A Wish project and updated us on how well the cookbook sales and ‘wish list’ items were doing.  Another reminder from GAP Richard about the General Grand Chapter's Service Dog project with pins and scarves available from the Area Instructors.

Temple Chapter #75 presented the WGM with her own set of Angel Wings and a stuffed dog for the WGP, which will be delivered by BS Richard!

PGP Ronald Boudreau spoke on behalf of the Committee Members, PGP Ronald “Bud” Godin spoke on behalf of the Past Grands and Nadine Martin spoke on behalf of the Grand Officers.

The credentials committee reported and there were 63 present.  The silver collection netted $87.00 for the Make-A-Wish project.

Reminder to get rested for the trip to NYC on December 4^th and 5^th!

Our next stop on the “On the Wings of Love” tour is a ‘Three Way” event with our hosts:  Coral Chapter #16, Sickle Chapter #34 and Johnson Chapter #65 on Saturday, December 11^th in Morrisville.  Registration 11:30 – 12:30  Lunch at 12:30, followed by the meeting.

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and remember our troops!  Both home and abroad!

Hope to see you all on the Star trail!

Brother Dan, Grand Chaplain

 “Remember, friends are like angels, you don’t have to see them to know they are there!”