Newsletter

April 20, 2008

To all our Sisters and Brothers;

Our Chapter held the Installation of Officers on March 14^th, with Peter J. Hunt as Worthy Patron and Delores M. Burr as Worthy Matron. It was a very enjoyable evening with many Dignitaries present. The Worthy Grand Matron, Sister Joyce L. Armonath came with several of her Officers as well as 3 Past Grand Matrons and our own Past Grand Patron, Brother Herbert E. Grommeck who was installed as Associate Patron.

Brother Peter and I would enjoy seeing all of our members attend at least one of our meetings this year. If unable to attend, won’t you drop us a line to let us know how you are doing, especially if you are in need of assistance due to illness? If you have some interesting news you could share with us, we would love to hear about it. For myself, I feel that I’m at a little disadvantage as I have been away from our Chapter for a number of years working with CT Rainbow Girls. Our Chapter has consolidated with Columbia, Bigelow and Wethersfield Chapters during those years and there are many Members that I don’t know. I would like to meet each of you, if it were possible. I know that some of our members are out of state and in Health Centers, and if it were possible, I’d come and visit with you. I would love it if you could jot a note off to us and let us know how you’re doing. It would be wonderful to hear from each of you.

Peter and I would be more than happy to have a gain in our membership this year. If you know someone who you think would be an ideal candidate for our beautiful Order, how about inviting him or her to join? Or, give us their name, address and phone number and we could contact them. Or, we could send you a petition, and you could give it to them yourself. On June 20^th the Worthy Grand Matron and her Officers will be coming to the Chapter to do the Initiatory work for us. It would be great if we could have a New Petitioner joining our Chapter that evening, but we will have to work fast for that to happen.

Our "Words to Live By" this year are ‘Make New friends but keep the Old, for one is Silver and these are Gold’. Yes, we need ‘New’ Members but we also need the ‘Older’ ones, too. For it is the Older Members that bring to the Newer Members some of the little things that Truly make up the Beauty of our Order. We do need ALL ages attending the meetings. We need everyone’s thoughts and ideas and we need to get to know you and you us.

I am enclosing a copy of our Meeting Schedule. If you can join us, we would love to have you present. Do you need a ride? Tell us, we can have someone pick you up. If your unable to come, we hope that you will drop us a line telling us what is happening in your world, because we think of you often.

May you be safe, in good spirits and good health, as God Love’s each and every one of you.

Eastern Star Love and Friendship,

Delores M. Burr, Worthy Matron

Peter J. Hunt, Worthy Patron

FUND RAISING and CHARITY FOR THE CHAPTER DURING THE YEAR:

There will be a "Treasure Chest" Drawing. With Tickets being sold during the year. Tickets are $1.00 each. Drawing will be at our December 5^th Meeting. The main Gift, thus far, is a Handmade Quilt, which is being donated by me, but made by my daughter, Cathie, who is a member of our Chapter. We hope to have other Gifts in the "Treasure Chest" as well. Anyone interested in donating a gift is welcomed to do so. Please, let any Officer, or me know what you might or would be donating. All donations should be at the Lodge Hall before December 5. If your item needs to be picked up by someone, let us know, but we really would love to see you come to one of our meetings.

We are planning a regular Bake Sale on June 20-21. (With cakes, cookies, breads, etc.) Beginning on Friday evening, our last meeting before summer and Saturday Morning. Donations may be brought Friday evening. Last year, the Chapter held a Pie Sale in September, which went very well, so we have scheduled another one for September 13. We hope that our members will support this project, too.

We will be planning a Teacup Auction, Cakewalk, a 50/50 drawing and, of course, a Summer Project. If anyone has a new idea to Raise Funds for the Chapter we are open to suggestions from all members. This is Your Chapter and we would like to please You. You know, sometimes our ideas get stale and we should be trying New things.

We have Collected Food for the Town of Glastonbury Food Bank and plan on continuing that worthwhile Project this year. With the Food Collecting, we will also be collecting Re-Gifting Items, as well. The Re-gifting Items will be used for the Children to pick out a Gift for their Mom or Dad for birthday and special days such as Mother’s or Father’s Day. And, the parents may choose or pick a re-gifted item for a Child. So we plan on collecting Items appropriate for Children and Adults. Have you received a Gift that you haven’t used or don’t need and would like to donate it to someone in need please think of this project. We need Toys for all ages, boys and girls, and small Gift Items for Adults, both, female and male as well as non-perishable foods for the Food Bank. Thank you, in advance for helping with this Community Project.

HOSPITALITY FOR CHAPTER MEETINGS

As your Worthy Matron I am also the Hospitality Chairman. So, I am looking for Members who are willing to be on a Refreshment Committee for one meeting during the year. The Committee would decide what to bring for that evening; i.e.: cake, cookies, cheese & crackers, Jell-O, sandwiches, etc. The committee would need to bring cream or milk and Coffee. Plates, depending on what is being served. We can provide some paper products if you let us know in advance.

Tables would have to be set with silverware/plastic-ware, sugar & creamers, depending on what the committee is bringing that evening. I would like the Committee to help clean up afterwards. (Usually everyone pitches in, but do plan on helping.) If you’d like to bring something for Decorating the Tables, that would be up to you. We could use some ManPower, too. Tables and Chairs are not that heavy but the men seam to handle this job better than the women. So, Gentlemen, we need you, too.

As I call the Membership looking for help here are some ways that you can consider as a way to assist the Chapter on our Meeting Nights:

Come to a Star Meeting with a Star Friend and be the Refreshment Committee for one night.
If you can’t come to a meeting – offer to Bake and someone will pick it up.
If you feel you can’t come or bake can you offer a small donation to be used to defray the cost of coffee, tea, milk/cream or paper goods?
Can you offer to come, attend the meeting and leave the room just before the meeting closes to get the food ready to be served? Put cream on the table, uncover the dishes, etc. especially when we have guests. I.e.: Official visitation, Grand Representatives Night, Star Point Night. When the Officers should be visiting with the guests, this would REALLY BE A BIG HELP to us.

Give me a call at my home in Higganum if you’d like to help, and I haven’t called you. It’s Toll-free from Glastonbury or the Hartford Area. Phone No.: 860-345-4714. THNK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!