projects

Featuring our usual Charities (ESTARL, Cancer, Heart and Masonic Learning Centers) but some of our Appointed Grand Officers will be doing extra projects to raise $$. They will be contacting their counterparts in each Chapter and using a little friendly competition, see how much $$ they can raise during their month. All $$ will be sent to the Grand Chapter Secretary who will create a spread sheet/fund for distribution.

November:	Masonic Learning Centers
December:	Cancer Survivor's UNITE (Stand Up)
January:	Go Green:	Grand Martha
February:	Heart	Grand Adah
March:	Benevolence	Grand Ruth
April:	ESTARL	Grand Chaplain
May:	Cancer	Grand Electa
June:	Patriotic Pride	Grand Marshal
July:	Youth	Grand Sentinel
August:	Battered and Abused Women	Grand Esther

June 2009

June:

Patriotic Pride

Grand Marshal

June Patriotic Pride - Grand Marshal

The Marshal's project is at this time 3-fold. First we are collecting coupons to be sent to a variety of commissaries to help the military families purchase their groceries and non-food items. To date we have sent over $184,000.00 in coupons. We will be collecting these coupons through June and sending them out. Only manufacturer's coupons may be sent - please no individual store coupons.

The second phase of the Marshal project is a collecting of funds so we may decide on special gifts for our veterans. Over 40 of the VA Medical Centers have expressed a desire to receive gifts from our project - be it personal comfort items or phone cards or books. The Marshals decided at a December meeting that we would ask our members for donations to fund this portion of our project. Many of the Marshals have sent a letter co-authored by them and myself asking for $1.00 from each member. Others have simply asked their chapter for a donation; while others have asked their Worthy Matron for a single month's Sunshine Collection. All funds can be sent to the Chapter Marshal who will then either retain them until our May/June meeting or send them to me for keeping until this meeting when we once again meet to decide how best to support our veterans.

Last but certainly not least, I would like to ask anyone with a contact at a bookstore for their help asking book stores to donate children's books and cassette tapes so that we may send these items to our troops overseas so they may read the books into the tapes and then send both to their children back home; thus, being able to continue reading their children their bedtime stories while defending our country. Again, any books donated can be sent to me and I'll make sure they get into the right hands.

Should any member need further information or have any questions, please contact me via email at sflora_45373@yahoo.com or phone at 937-339-6472 ( please leave a message on the recorder) or via snail mail at 709 W Race St Troy OH 45373.

In Star Love,

Sue Flora

2009 Grand Marshal

All members of the Region and all the residents of the Browning were invited to spend the day together. The main item on the snack list was Root Beer Floats. Everyone was treated to as many Root Beer Floats as they could hold as well as tons of snack. Many games where played. The day started with each resident getting a bag of chocolate candy Sheaves of Wheat at their lunch place. It was then time for the residends to join us in Harmony Hall, and did they come. Eating, drinking and game playing went on for some time. The afternoon ended with a sign along. The DGM's of the Region presented the Browning with a Carruth Goldfish and Starfish statue for their pond area with plaques to explain their meaning on Lisa's behalf. These will hopefully bring much joy and happiness to the residents as they see them and will always remind our Lisa of her year as Grand Ruth 2009. Many asked to have a Naomi Day next year-----we'll see!!!!!!!!!!!

As all of you are aware, our Worthy Grand Matron had dedicated this year to our members with her Star Love theme. As a tribute to them, we are asking all members to send in their stories and we are going to make a giant scrapbook and presentation to display at Grand Chapter.

Everyone has a Star Love story! It could be something someone has done for you or even something you or a member has done for a non-member. Our lives are wrapped in this Star Love and that is why we Love This Order!

A dedicated email address has been created for these stories. All should be sent to starlovestories@gmail.com. Do not have any stories sent to Peg or myself and please use this email account for the Star Love Stories only. A deadline of August 1, 2009 is set for receipt of all stories.

WGM Peg and I will be working on each story as it is received to create a page in our scrapbook showcasing the story.

Should any of you have any questions, please let me know.

In Star Love,

Sue Flora
Grand Marshal

This project began with the 2007 - 2008 Grand Chapter Year. Half of the $55,000 necessary were raised during the last year. Let's raise the rest in time to full fill the project by June 28, 2009, the OES Home Day

We have been encouraged by the interest that has been shown in our Music Program. Now that we have distributed the set of 3 music CDs to enhance your Eastern Star meetings, we are sure that others will be interested in the program. You will find on this website the form to order your own set of CDs!

The CD music project was developed for those chapters which do not have an organist. It has never been our intent to replace any of our talented musicians. There is nothing that can compare to live music to make our meetings more enjoyable. The recorded music idea was to enable chapters to enjoy their meetings, even though they may not have their own organist.

Of course, having the CDs will also be a back-up for the chapter whose organist at the last minute becomes ill, who may be away on vacation, or for whatever reason cannot attend a meeting.

You may find that some tunes on these CDs are appropriate for marching or as vocal ode accompaniment. We endeavored to provide many marches, familiar odes, and all the “Welcome” songs or tunes we have ever heard to give you a wide range of possibilities. If you are unsure of the words to a song, you will have to rely on neighboring chapters!

This music process will take practice, just like the other officers practice. However, when your “organist/music operator” becomes familiar with the player and the music, you may wish to branch out to other CDs for marching music, or instrumentals for use during presentations or the sunshine collection. You may want to use tunes geared to the Chapter’s theme or the theme of the evening, i.e. Hawaiian, Christmas or OSU music!

Another possibility would be to purchase a religious or familiar/popular tune karaoke CD with a vocal track to learn a song, and then use the accompaniment only track for an opening, patriotic or closing ode. The possibilities are endless, once you become familiar with the process.

OHIO GRAND CHAPTER EDUCATIONAL FUND

Research going back to 1978 showed this fund, established for educational purposes, had not been tapped for a large amount during that time, so Endowed Scholarships were established in 2001 at the following Universities. Ohio University in Athens, Kent State University, Miami University in Oxford and University of Toledo.

Each was established at $25,000.00 and only the interest can be used each year. Two students received $1500.00 each for two years from one of these Universities and others have been awarded various amounts from the other Universities. The Scholarships are written in the name of The Grand Chapter of Ohio, Order of the Eastern Star and can be found on the internet for any of these schools.

The criteria the Grand Trustees established are:

1. The recipients shall be U.S. citizens and current Ohio residents.

2. Recipients shall be sophomores, juniors or seniors with any major.

3. Recipients shall be selected on a combination of financial need and academic merit.

4. The scholarship is to be applied to tuition, fees or books and is not refundable.

5. The scholarship is renewable one (1) time only.

6. The selection of the recipients shall be determined by the Office of Financial Aid.

Please support our Ohio Educational Fund by designating a sunshine collection or include it in your chapter budget for this fund.

As a member of the Education Committee for General Grand Chapter from Ohio, I would like to know the following:

Does your Chapter have special projects to raise funds for Scholarships?

What amount of scholarship funds are provided by your chapter and/or group in the name of Eastern Star? Please send your response to:

Eloise Wyse, GGCCM, PGM

14129 Co. Rd. 23

Fayette, OH 43521

Honeybee43521@verizon.net

In creating the 32 Degree Masonic Learning Centers for Children, Inc. it has been our mission to provide professional treatment - free of charge - to children with dyslexia.

We're also committed to increasing public awareness of dyslexia as well as improving the standards of care through research and education. (AASR, Northern Jurisdiction)

Support of this project "will bring the joy of reading and learning to children with dyslexia." Watch for more information through your Districts and Chapters. Please help in this most worthwhile project .

A. Awards are to be made to students preparing for leadership in various fields of religious service including: Ministers, Missionaries, Directors of Church Music, Director of Religious Education or Directors of Youth Leadership.

B. Awards may be variable in amount and determined by the ESTARL Committee on the basis of funds available, number of applicants, ability and need of individuals.

C. Awards are outright gifts and are made for one year. Consideration may be given for future awards on basis of eligibility.

D. Awards are made in the form of a certificate sent to the student. The student is free to select the school of his or her choice which has an accredited course in the field of the various religious services. A check in the amount of the award is sent to the school for the use of that particular student while pursuing the studies in preparation for full-time religious service. The money is issued primarily for tuition, but may be used for books, room, board, or medical aid.

A. Applicants must be a resident of Ohio or be an Ohio High School graduate and have completed two (2) years in an accredited college.

C. Applicants must be interested in dedicating their lives to FULL TIME RELIGIOUS SERVICE. Awards will be based upon indication of scholarship, character, leadership qualities, need and evidence of self-help.

E. Preference will be given to anyone who is already training in the religious field, and needs to continue his or her education.

A. Any subordinate Chapter that feels it has an eligible scholarship candidate should write to the Chairperson of the ESTARL Committee, give the name of the Candidate and request proper application procedures.

B. The student need only be sponsored by vote of the Chapter. The sponsoring Chapter assumes no financial responsibility by this action, however, the Chapter should have available to them the financial need of the student and some background on the student as to his or her sincerity of achieving their goal in religious leadership. After sponsorship, the Chapter secretary should write to the ESTARL Chairperson requesting an application form.

Subordinate Chapters and members of the Order are urged to give enthusiastic and generous support to this program. Has your Chapter contributed recently?




		Honoring Lisa Scheider, Grand Ruth March 22, 2009 Naomi Day Browning Masonic Complex