Dear Sisters and Brothers:
You are cordially invited to attend the stated meeting on Friday, September 23, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. for the purpose of receiving petitions, balloting, and transacting any business that may legally come before the Chapter. Officers may wear colored gowns. This is our annual meeting.
Collation: Under the direction of Sister Stacy M. Desrosiers, Associate Matron, PM, assisted by Sister Judy A. Porter and Brother Robert M. Porter Jr. PP.
Installation:
You are cordially invited to the Installation of Officers for the 2016-2017 term on October 1, 2016 at 2:00pm. There will be a light collation after the Installation.
Installing Suite:
Installing Grand Matron: Gretta J. Smith, Worthy Grand Matron
Installing Grand Patron: Brian F. Godfrey, Worthy Grand Patron
Installing Grand Marshal: Jennifer A. Taylor-Arnold, Grand Marshal
Installing Grand Chaplain: Shelley M. Gullett, PGM, Grand Secretary
Sickness and Distress: Get well wishes to Sister Nancy Brooks PM who has had some health concerns of late, to Brother Wayne Bartlett PGP who had recent back surgery and is on the mend. To Brother David C Thompson PGP has had a recent health issue. Brother Ray Palmer has progressed very well through rehab after an illness earlier this summer, and is now in an assisted living facility in Londonderry. We continue to keep all our shut ins and partial shut ins in our thoughts and prayers.
Congratulations: Congrats to Sister Allison E Smith Desjardins who gave birth August 27th to a little boy- Spencer James Desjardins. Proud Grandparents are Joan and Brian Smith, and Aunt Tracey Thompson. Congrats to the following members who participated in various Grand Chapter jobs and responsibilities: Shelley Gullett, Gr Secy; Steve Bahsler, Gr Treas; Lois Taylor, Gr Martha; Gail Brown, Gr Electa; Jenny Taylor Arnold, Dep. Gr Marshal; B Judith Fenner, Parliamentarian; Bonnie Carbary, GGCM, Stacy Desrosiers, Bible Ceremony/Gr. Page; Joan Smith, Hall Committee chair and Supreme IORG; Lisa Hollis, Program Book; Ron Carbary and Lisa Proulx, Photos; Brian Smith and Tracey Thompson, Sound system; Phyllis Lackie, Aimee Busby, Jen Bean, Nancy Brooks, all Grand Pages; Jeff Brown, Asst Gr Sentinel and Installing PGP; Lisa Britko Inst Past Gr Marshal; Jacqueline J Cole, Inst Gr Organist; and the many members who attended and helped wherever needed throughout the weekend- at last count 30 Pilgrim members were in attendance. Congratulations to Sisters and Brothers installed into various offices: Shelley M Gullett, PGM, Gr Secretary, Stephen K Bahsler, Gr. Treasurer, Joan L Smith, Assoc. Gr. Conductress, Jennifer A Taylor-Arnold, Grand Marshal.
Sympathy:
Sympathy is extended to Brother Robert and Sister Karen Bianchi whose mother /mother in law Sister Josephine “Dolly” Bianchi, Past Grand Marshal in NH, passed away in July. To Sister Jenny Taylor- Arnold PM whose mother Sister Susan Taylor passed in June, and Brother Michael Arnold who mother Diane passed away in August. These two ladies are respectively mother in laws to Brother Michael and Sister Jenny. To Sister Virginia Norton PM, whose husband Stanley passed away in August.
“When the heart grieves over what is has lost, the spirit rejoices over what it has left.”
Happy Star Anniversary:
Debra Bean 7-22-11 – 5 yrs
Wendy Bean 7-22-11 – 5 yrs
Julie Marciello 9-24-87- 29 yrs
John McCarthy 9-28-01 – 15yrs
Carol Pauling 9-28-79 – 37 yrs
Richard I Poole PGP 9-11-56 – 60 yrs*
Natalie Prevo Donahe 8-3-07 – 9 yrs
Annie LK Rice 9-28-79 – 37 yrs
*not continuous”
What happened at the last meeting: At our June meeting we voted to donate to the DeMolay Conclave Ad program, and decided on a basket donation for Grand Chapter craft table. We made our summer plans for our fundraiser night at the Silver Knights, and for our Flea Market sales table for the Susan Douglas Memorial Fund. We collected items for the Nashua Children’s home, mainly books, pens, pencils, note books and a back pack. Thank you to our members who donated items, they were well received by the Nashua Children’s home.
The Finance committee made their recommendation for next years dues: It was recommended that we stay with the current dues and petition structure – Dues to be $35 (which includes the $5 per capita fee for Grand Chapter) with a $10 assessment for the Masonic Building- totaling $45 from each member- with exception of 50 yr+ members who are exempt (except the 50 year members after 2010 who pay per capita only). Petitioner fee will remain at $35, Affiliation fee to remain at $10. This was briefly discussed, and is dependent on possible changes that may occur during the summer. The recommendation for dues structure will be further discussed and voted on at our annual meeting in September.
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 Stacy Desrosiers, Mother Advisor, at 603-759-3221, or Sister Lois Taylor, AMA, at 603-377-6877. Meetings are held on the first and third Thursdays of each month (excluding July and August) at 7:00 pm.
Rainbow Pledge Group:
The pledge girls are actively looking for new members! Please call Sister Tatiana Fowler at 603/809-8357 if you know of a girl between 6 & 11 years old who would like to join. Our Sparkles- a group for girls age 4-6 years old- also meet at that time.
Important Dates:
9/10/16 OES Work Day – Bristol- Camp Mayhew- from 8am -5pm
9/11/16 Memory Makers/Promise Keepers group meeting – Warner -1pm social
9/17/16 Rainbow Motorcycle Rally – Family Fun Day fundraiser 9am -3pm at Bektash Shrine Center
9/23-25/16 NASCAR Races fundraiser for Grand Chapter – sign up with Bill Rohr if you can attend” “9/24/16 Masonic Cornerstone Ceremony at Concord State House- 10am
10/7-8/16 RI Grand Chapter
10/13-14/16 Quebec Grand Chapter
10/15/16 Masonic Open House 9am -3pm
10/22-23/16 Rainbow Leadership Camp – Meredith
10/29/16 OES School of Instruction- Penacook – 10am –approx 3pm
11/4-5/16 International weekend –New Brunswick”
Contact your secretary for more information on any of the above events. Also a full listing of the legislation voted on at Grand Chapter 2016 is now available. Contact your Secretary for that information to be mailed or emailed to you.
From the East:
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Since our last meeting, we have gone to the Flea Market to benefit the Susan I. Douglas Scholarship fund and had a great time selling items donated by you. A special thank you goes out to Sister Lisa Britko, Sister Sandi Libby, Sister Joan Smith, Sister Pam Williams, Sister Deb Bean and Sister Wendy Bean for spending the day with us and sharing in the laughs and giggles. We also had a fun time at the Silver Knight’s ball game and made a nice profit on the 50/50 raffle, as well as made a small profit on the ticket sales, thank you to all who helped sell tickets.
I have recently discovered that the Nashua Historical Society has a scholarship program. This month, I respectfully request that we do a collection that will benefit the Nashua Historical Society’s scholarship program. This would be a great way to get the name of Pilgrim Chapter out in the community.
I look forward to seeing everyone at our September meeting, please remember that this will be our Annual Meeting, and we will be voting in a new slate of officers. As well as discussing changes from Grand Chapter, which might possible affect our Chapter dues. We would appreciate your attendance and input.
