Our Visiting Committee has been busily sending cards, letters, and making phone calls and sending emails to many of our members, to do a health and welfare and check. Our members are also welcome to attend an Open Meeting Zoom Conference Call on line on Friday, April 24 at 7:00 pm. Please contact our Worthy Matron, Aimee Busby, at aimeebusby@gmail.com or 603-320-9486 to sign up to “Join the Open Meeting”. This is a great way for us to connect as members and see how we are all fairing during these troubled times, to provide encouragement and support so needed. And maybe our Worthy Patron will have a fun game for us to play together to challenge our brain cells!
Service Work:
How are you helping give back to the community during this time? The Membership Committee, with the Steering Committee and the Guidepost during this time wants to know about our unsung heroes: Do you know of Pilgrim Members who are working at soup kitchens and or pantries, or handing out meal supplies to needy families? Are you members working on front lines as medical personnel- doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacist. Hospital workers, nursing home workers, first responders? Do you know members working in auxiliary jobs who daily are helping us so that we are provided for – either stocking shelves at stores, making needed deliveries of goods and supplies, working at banks, or cashiers at stores, picking up trash etc? Perhaps you know members making supplies like masks, delivering groceries, or checking on members, or helping other members and community members during this times with food and lodging? Please send your Secretary and Worthy Matron names of those unsung heroes – as we want to report with pride what Pilgrim Members are doing to help people in need.
Are you a crafter? Looking for donations for the Grand Chapter craft table. Please contact Sister Jen Pizzi at teach1026@gmail.com
Blessing messages- are you willing to write short “blessing messages on cards for the school kids to include in their Blessings backpacks? Contact Sister Nancy Brooks PM at nancyseastar@gmail.com
Lap Quilts- we are still looking for Lap Quilts for our Shriners Hospital patients at Springfield Unit. While you are stuck at home, consider making a Lap quilt and donating it to the cause. Contact our Secretary: Joan Smith – JLSPMA@aol.com
Thinking of You: Get well wishes to Brother Mark Marden PP after his recent hospital stay. Thinking of Brother David C Thompson Jr PGP GTE who recently started dialysis. Continued prayers to Sisters Annie LK Rice, Lillian A Calloway, Cindy D Covey and Anne M Senter PM. Glad to hear recently that Sister Kay Ainsworth is doing better after recent hospital procedure, and Sisters Jane LC DeCelle and Evelyn E Dailey are continuing to improve but we are always keeping them in our prayers.
Eastern Star opportunities:
OES Educational Scholarships- The OES Educational Scholarship, Albert D Miner Scholarship, and Mabel Temple Newton Scholarship have been combined – one application is used for all 3 scholarships. There is no longer any requirement for nomination per chapter, so several applications can be submitted from one Chapter. See chapter Secretary or NH OES website for eligibility requirements and applications. Due to the committee by June 1.
The ESTARL Award Scholarship is given to candidates who are seeking to continue their education in the religious field, either as a minister, lay person, director of church music, director of youth leadership, director of religious education or any other study related to religion. ESTARL recipients do not need to have Eastern Star or other Masonic Fraternal relations. If anyone knows a minister or youth group leader who seeks to further their studies, please get an application for them. Due date for applications is June 1
A Ball for the Ages, 2020 Charity Ball – has been moved to a one day event on July 11th at the Doubletree in Nashua. Sister Lisa Proulx PM (lisajproulx@gmail.com) can be contacted for new forms and hotel/meals information.
The SOLD OUT ‘Pirates of Tortuga Isle -Curse of the Dead Mans Chest’ Murder Mystery Dinner event has been moved to Saturday June 13th; contact Jenny Taylor-Arnold PM Jennifer.taylor3@adp.com for more information.
The Pilgrim Visitation by the WGM has been moved tentatively to the stated meeting on June 26th. The plan is to have an early meeting at 5pm , with a quick dinner for officers and members, followed by the Visitation at 7:30pm. We are hopeful that we will have a May meeting to conclude much business needed prior to the June meeting. Stay tuned.
The May 1-3 Exchange with Quebec has been cancelled. The event will be held next May 2021 in Quebec. Anyone who had made a deposit can either hold it over to next year or contact Sister Karen Tuttle AGC regarding refund process
Star Anniversary:
Nashua Assembly #9 I.O.R.G.: The Rainbow Girls are actively looking for new members, as well as Majority members and Eastern Star members which they can emulate. If you wish to help out, please feel free to stop in a meeting sometime. They are always looking for new members. If you know of a girl, age 11-20 years old, who could benefit from the lessons taught therein, please call Sister Lois Taylor, Mother Advisor, at 603-377-6877. Meetings are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month (excluding July and August) at 7:00 pm. Meetings are only virtual at present due to COVID 19.
Rainbow Pledge Group: The pledge girls are actively looking for new members! Please call Sister Jessica Kellar at 978-228-0059 if you know of a girl between 6 & 10 years old who would like to join. Our Sparkles- a group for girls age 4-6 years old- also meet at that time.
Dues are due:
Dues notices were included in the December mailing by first class mail. If you are suffering from financial hardship and unable to pay dues -please contact your Sister Secretary so work out payment plan or solution. You can use PayPal to pay dues online http://blog.pilgrimchapter-oes.org/dues/ . NOTE: There is a convenience charge associated with online payment to cover the PayPal surcharge.
As always please update your Secretary with changes to you address, phone number and email. Please advise family members to update the Secretary or Worthy Matron in times of illness or distress and consider returning Past Matron or Patrons jewels to the Chapter. We love and appreciate our Pilgrim Chapter history and like to hand down those jewels to our future Matrons and Patrons so that your legacy may continue.
From the East:
Sisters and Brothers,
I hope you are all well and staying safe during this chaotic time. I would like to thank those of you who are continuing to work everyday to meet the needs of our community. I would also like to thank those of you who are staying home in an effort to avoid the spread of COVID 19. With mental health being very important to me personally, I really want to stress that it’s ok to not be ok. Especially now, it can be a very tough time. Please, if you need to talk, reach out to me or any one of our members! One uplifting activity is making a gratitude diary- list three things that you are thankful for each day. You might be surprised just how much this can help. I can’t wait to see you all again!!
Aimee K Busby, WM
Brian J Smith, PGP, WP
