Sunday, July 31, 2011 - The first "Prisms of Light" Grand Officers first official visit was held at Queen Esther #7 Chapter in Waterbury, Vermont. This is Grand Worthy Patron Richard Bachus home chapter. 70 people came on a perfect Vermont day to enjoy in the festivities. It started with a BBQ chicken meal where no one went away hungry. The food was excellent.

At the end of the meal, we had entertainment from a local couple who sang beautifully including a medley of patriotic songs in which the membership joined in to a serenade of "Somewhere OVer the Rainbow" for Grand Worthy Matron Patty Roussseau.

After the entertainment, 50 year pins were presented to Sister Elizabeth H. Bordeaux, Worthy Grand Chaplin, PGM and her husband Robert. It was a special moment.

The room was quickly rearranged for the meeting and the addedum was performed. WGM Patty recieved a "free lei" and a pinwill wand. The Star Points entered the room wearing wizard hats. WGM Patty was escorted by WGP Richard to receive a special gift from each wizard. Many dragonflies appeared including a ring that WGM Patty wore through out the meeting. WGP Richard was not left out of the festivities as he received a poem and gifts. WGM Patty had to work to get her next gift. She was told to jump up and down to show her excitement and then was presented by WGP Richard with her honorary membership to Queen Esther.

We then held short form meeting where we heard from Worthy Grand Chaplin Betty (PGM) on news/greetings from General Grand, WGM Patty spoke of her alter cloth, bible marker, gavel, and sounding block. She also talked about working within the Masonic family and bringing us all together. WGP Richard gave updates on the calendar and other points of business.

The officers of Queen Esther did a beautiful job as always. Thank you for a wonderful event and lots of smiles.

Vermont 2011 Grand Assembly

What a weekend! Worthy Grand Matron Patty and Worthy Grand Patron Richard spent the entire weekend (ok they didn't do the sleepless overnights) at Rainbow Grand Assembly. It was so special having them there and show their commitment to strengthening the ties with the Masonic family.

Introductions of the Masonic Family were held Friday night and the OES was well represented. It was great seeing so many presented.

Sunday was the installation of officers and the Grand Worthy Advisor is of one of our sisters - Hannah Reen. She is the daughter of sister Penny Walker-Reen and brother John Reen. All three are from Sickle Chapter.

Hannah's Chapter showed up in full-force to support Hannah. Also present were members of the other sponsoring Chapters: Coral (Morrisville) and Johnson. Sisters from Coral presented Hannah with her alter cloth and bibe marker which were gifts from her Advisory Board and all three sponsoring Chapters. The sidelines included Grand Officers and Past Grand Officers of the OES. It was one of the bigger turn-outs for installation and was so awesome to see. The Demolay came in full force as well - we even managed to get a photo of both the Rainbow and the Demolay!

All of the Sterling Assembly girls are Grand Officers this year - a first! You may recognize a few of these faces as some are grandchildren of our memebrs - three are Wescoms and one is a Salls.

Hannah's Term:

Theme: Willy Wonka

Motto: If you want to view paradise simply look around and view it with Vermont Rainbow

Song: Pure Imagination

Colors: Gobstopper Green; Orange Sickle, Bubble Gum Pink and Wonka Purple (Yep PURPLE!)

Flowers: Daises in the colors

Honored Station: Faith

Mascot: Chocolate Labrador

Charity: National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI)

Bible Verse: Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. Timothy 4:12

Fun Symbols: Lillipops, Gobstoppers, Wonka Bars and Bottlecaps.

Again thank you WGM Patty and WGP Richard and all of the members of OES for supporting the Rainbow Girls. We hope to see you at the Rainbow Grand Officers receiption in September (more details to follow)!

We have so much time, and so little to do! Strike that, reverse it.

Sister Jacque - Mother Advisor Sterling Assembly

Vermont Rainbow Grand Assembly

Come one - come all to the Vermont Rainbow Grand Assembly!!

Friday, July 22nd - 6:45 pm - Introdutions & Greetings from Masonic Family
Sunday, July 24th - 9:15 am - Installation of Officers - Sister Hannah Reen as Grand Worthy Advisor

Haven't pre-registered? No worries - if you are not having any meals - just come on by - you can register when you arrive.

Hope to see you there.
Sister Jacque - Sterling Assembly (Hannah's assembly) Mother advisor

Kingsbury, No. 77 has 2 New Members!

Plainfield, Vermont

July 17, 2011

Very Hot day but an initiation with such meaning, the GO's really impressed them, light refreshments were enjoyed afterward.

It must have been 15- 20 degrees cooler down stairs. Several Grand officers arrived on motorcycle to participate? (5) Great day for a ride! Check with Richard or James & Melissa as I know their bikes but there were more bikes than 3 in the parking lot.

Seated Conrad (PM of the Lodge) and his wife Petra Dix

We will be off to Rainbow Grand Assembly next Friday and some will attend on Sunday 9AM for Sister Hanna Reen's installation

See you on the Star road

Barbara Coleman

Second School of Instruction - Windsor

The second of three Schools of Instruction was held in Windsor, this past Saturday. Past Grand Matrons Joanne K. Keyler and Erron J. Carey along with Jacqueline A. Carpenter were on hand to greet each arrival at the credential’s table.

The three pages (Alicia White, Marilyn Chapin and Janice Luurtsema) escorted the District Deputy Grand Instructors (Sherrill L. Gould, James Chancey, Nadine Martin and Janet Battey) to the East. The Jurisprudence members for the day were Karen Price, Joan Black, Bob Lemnah, and Jim Bennett. Our Grand Lecturer, Patricia Bowman, got the day started by calling for the entrance of the Grand Officers.

Instruction was given and duly noted as the work of the morning got underway. The Chapter was purged and formally opened followed by the reception of the various grand officers. Both forms of balloting were presented. All the Grand Officers did an excellent job with the work.

Just before lunch a few announcements were made. Richard reminded everyone of the upcoming motorcycle ride-in slash poker event that will be held on August 13. Details are now available on the website. WGM Patty updated everyone on the condition of her father, PGP Donnie Chamberlain, the surgery went well, followed by a couple days of slow progress, by the end of the week, it appeared that the Donnie is ‘back’. Noting in animated description of an orange substance that hospitals serve! Our thoughts continue to be with him. (Reminder: If you remember something you want to add just send a quick email. oesvermont@gmail.com)

The members did not disappoint, as the lunch was, I’ll quote Sister Nancy “delish”!

We were treated to potato salad, fruit salad, a baby greens with feta cheese and watermelon salad, pasta salad and assorted cold meats. Desert was homemade cakes, a lemon cake, spice cake and carrot cake.

The meeting reconvened at 1:00 PM sharp! The initiatory work was presented. Again, as mentioned at the first school, look at your Ritual to brush up on the wording before each meeting.

Credentials Committee reported that there were 77 present for the school, thank you all for attending in such a HOT day. A collection was taken for this year’s special project the Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation with $101.91 being turned over to the WGP Richard.

If you missed this School of Instruction your last opportunity will be on August 20 in Brandon. Check out the invitation section of the oes-vt website for all the details.

See you on the Star trail.

Brother Dan, DDGI #4

OES Poker Run - Motorcycle Event

July 2011


We are excited to announce the first ever Poker Run fundraiser for the Grand Chapter of Vermont, Order of Eastern Star to benefit their special project the Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation. This event is open to all members of the Eastern Star and Masons plus their family and friends. Motorcycles and automobiles are welcome to participate.


A poker run is an organized event where participants must visit several checkpoints, drawing a playing card(s) at each one. Routes to the checkpoints will be provided at the starting point. 20% of the registration fee will go to winners’ pool. There will be three prizes awarded: 75% for 1st Prize Best Hand; 15% for 2nd Prize 2nd Best Hand; 10% for 3rd Prize Worst Hand. The event has a time limit, however the participants are not timed—winning is purely a matter of chance. Entrance fee per hand is $25.


Drivers and passengers are welcome to play. Multiple hands can be played by an individual. The event will be on Saturday, August 13, 2011 starting with registration at 8 am at the Mad River #77
Masonic Lodge, Waitsfield, Vermont. Breakfast will be available, donations are welcome. Departure to the other checkpoints is staggered and people can take their own route if they desire. All participants need to be at the final destination Isle of Patmos # 17 Masonic Lodge, South Hero, Vermont by 2 pm where the results will be calculated and winners will be announced. A BBQ will be available for $10. 


Please pre‐register by e‐mailing sickle.oes@gmail.com and provide your name, number of participants (for food estimates), and whether you will be using a motorcycle or automobile.


Please share this with your Chapter/Lodge. Click here to see an event flyer.  Poker Run Flyer


Safe riding!


Sincerely,
James R. Chancey, Organizer Co‐Chair
Jacqueline M. Shiner, Organizer Co‐Chair