“SMILE A WHILE”
Grand Chapter of Louisiana
Order of the Eastern Star
Diane Smith
Terrie C. Castay, PGM
Worthy Grand Matron Grand
Secretary
P O Box 99
3211
Hyman Place
Mt. Hermon, LA 70450
New
Orleans, LA 70131-7037
March 2008 – Newsletter
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Dear Sisters and Brothers,
I
do, I do, I do extend my many and sincere thanks to each of you for giving me
the opportunity and privilege of serving as your Worthy Grand Matron. Time flies when you’re having fun and that’s
what you have given to me. This year
has been a very rewarding but yet a year filled with wonderful friendship,
love, laughs and many, many smiles. I
thank you, the members of this Grand Jurisdiction, for granting me this
opportunity and I sincerely hope that I have lived up to your expectations and
have represented Louisiana with honor and dignity.
Brother
Roy and I want to express our love and thanks to the Grand Officers for their
wonderful contributions to our beautiful Order this year. All of you have fulfilled our dreams in your
own special way. We also thank this
Grand Jurisdiction for accepting them as we traveled to each of your
districts. You welcomed everyone with
open arms, filled with love, hugs and kisses.
To the beautiful twenty District Deputy Grand Matrons, we thank you,
from the bottom of our hearts, for all your planning and preparations for the
Official Visits which were all so very special.
The
Past Grand Matrons and Past Grand Patrons have been such a support to us this
year and we extend our many thanks to each of you for standing by us each step
of the way. A special thanks to Sister
Terrie who is not only our Grand Secretary but has served as “My” secretary on
many occasions. Thanks, Sister Terrie!
Our
special thanks to each State Chairman and to each District Chairman for your
dedication to us and to our Order. You
have been a pleasure to work with and we appreciate the contributions you have
made.
The
Community Service Project, consisting of our happy “OES Clown Patrol Unit” has
been a tremendous asset to our Order.
Not only have you collected items for distribution to Hospitals,
Clinics, Police Departments, Fire Stations and many other needy institutions,
but you have spread the Eastern Star name throughout the State. People are hearing about our charitable
organization through your presence and also by the many newspaper articles
which have been published on behalf of the Order of the Eastern Star. Our heartfelt thanks for making this project
such a marvelous success. We all extend
our thanks to our happy “OES Clowns”!
We
hope that the new Grand Representatives will thoroughly enjoy their
appointments. Have safe travels if you
are able to attend your respective Grand Jurisdictions and I know you will make
life long friends.
On
behalf of the entire Grand Family, our appreciation is expressed to our
wonderful Personal Pages and Escorts for being with us this year and for all
your assistance in whatever was needed.
We love you!
Brother
Roy and I wish the best of success to Sister Juanita and Brother Mert as they
travel to the Grand East. We hope that
all your plans and dreams are fulfilled during this very special year.
I
have enjoyed talking with you through these monthly newsletters and even though
this is my “last”newsletter, each of you will remain in my heart forever. Thank you again for the honor of serving you
and may God bless each of you.
Many memorable moments that will last forever.
Inside my heart are the friends I behold,
That are worth to me more than diamonds or gold.
There are pets in my heart with their own special
place,
And people who are gone now that can never be replaced.
And, each of you have a place that was there from the
start,
Reserved just for you, in the bottom of my heart.
Remember to always “Share A
Smile” and “Smile A While”!
Star Love & Miles of Smiles,
Diane Smith
Worthy Grand Matron
Grand Representative Appointments:
Delaware – Denise Bonvillian,
(117), 9825 East Park Avenue, Houma 70363
Idaho – Verna Guidroz (251),
104 North 2nd St., Golden Meadow 70357
Indiana – Nolan Gamble (13),
3383 Hwy. 487, Marthaville 71450
Minnesota – Donna Ervin (94),
P.O. Box 1286, Tallulah 71284
New Jersey – Elizabeth Cuevas
(58), 7216 Hwy. 110W, Merryville 70653
Ontario – Jerrie Cooper (36),
25158 Harvey Lavigne Rd., Ponchatoula 70454
Scotland – Rex Thornhill
(162), 6306 Donnybrook Ave., Greenwell Springs 70739
DATES TO REMEMBER:
.
March 9 – Tea honoring Diane Smith, WGM; Roy Bankston, WGP; Past Grands of
District 7 and Mert Mestler, Associate
Grand Patron – Sunset Star Chapter #227, 5115 Bert Kouns Ind. Loop,
Shreveport, 2:00 – 4:00 PM.
March 18 – Ideal Lodge #367 will honor Eastern Star members (200
E. Morris St., Corner of E. Morris and S. Cypress St., Hammond, LA) 6:30 PM.
Guest Speakers will be Diane Smith, WGM, Myra Ramsey, AGC and Gwen Champlin,
Grand Chaplain
March 29 – April 2 – Louisiana Grand Chapter, Riverfront Center,
Alexandria.
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION – March 13th
.
DEADLINE FOR TICKET ORDERS – March 15th
INFORMATION FOR GRAND CHAPTER
SPECIAL NOTICE
Anyone requiring a wheelchair or scooter during use at
Grand Chapter can contact Louisiana Mobility – Phone No. 888-821-3300. We have
received a discounted quote of $200.00 for the week for a Scooter and $6.00 per
day for a wheelchair. Please ask for Melody and mention LA OES.
Also, our lovely
District Deputy Grand Matrons will serve as "Greeters" this year.
They will be located at the Holiday Inn and Best Western with
"Handouts" of information you may need prior to receiving your
Registration packages. Please greet our
"Greeters" with a "Smile"!
All current and
past Grand Representatives that would like to be a part of the Cavalcade of
Flags during the Informal Opening of Grand Chapter on Monday night, March 31,
please meet with the Grand Marshal on Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. in the
Alexandria Riverfront Center (Grand Chapter Room) for a short practice. Also,
if your counterpart is attending, please ask them to join you. If you have any
questions, please call Linn McNary at (225) 292-2945.
We will need assisting Grand
Warders, Grand Sentinels and also members to participate in our Grand
Choir. If you are willing, able and
interested in helping, please contact the following:
For Assisting Grand Warders
call: Brother Joe Cox, Grand Warder at
(225) 658-1776. For Assisting Grand
Sentinels call: Brother Al Frazier,
Grand Sentinel at (318) 797-8612. For
our Grand Choir call: Sister Rovenia
McDonald at (318) 949-1798.
Your help, assistance and
participation is greatly appreciated.
Diane Smith, WGM
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
April 10 – Sunset Star #227 and
Greenwood #202 invite you to the HOMECOMING of our incoming Worthy Grand
Patron, Brother Merton Mestler. Location: Sunset Star Chapter #227, 5115 Bert
Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport. Meal at 6:00 P.M. Meeting at 7:00 P.M.
April 18 – Texas/LA Exchange – Deep
in the Heart of Texas “Stars at Night” Banquet. 6:00 PM. Central Baptist Church
Activity Center, 220 W.Sabine St., Carthage, TX (one block off downtown
square). Casual wear dresses/Western
dress. Donation $23.00 Send SASE & your title, 934 CR 186, Carthage,
TX 75633, Phone: 903-693-2809.
Deadline date: April 12, 2008. MOTEL ACCOMODATIONS: Best Western Inn 2332 SE Loop 436, Carthage,
TX 75633. Phone:
903-694-2809. Rate: $65.00 + tax
(Mention OES). Deadline date:
April 10, 2008. HOSPITALITY ROOM: Best Western Inn, 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
April 19 – LA/Texas Exchange - "Angels All Around" – 12:00 p.m.
Noon. Savoie's Catering Place, 2441 E. 70th Street, Shreveport.
Directions: Coming from I-20 West - Exit Industrial Loop
- continue as it turns into Bert Kouns - then right onto E. 70. Street. Coming
from I-20 East - Exit I-49 South. Exit Bert Kouns and turn East and
follow above directions. Price: $24.00. Cut Off Date: April 11,
2008. Ticket
Chairman: Margaret Ann Taylor, 8932 Acacia Lane,
Shreveport 71118. Phone 318-686-6974. Chairman: Elizabeth T. Roach,
PGM
July 18 and 19, 2008 – Eight State Exchange
Visit – “Rolling on the Red”, Shreveport Convention Center and Hilton Hotel,
Shreveport. More information will
follow.
August 8 – 10, 2008 – Pilgrimage to the
International Peace Garden Chapel situated on the international border between
Manitoba, Canada and North Dakota. If you would like a copy of the proposed
schedule and registration form, contact the Grand Secretary.
APPRECIATION
As
a Special Appointment of G.G.C. I would like to thank our W.G.M. W.G.P., their
Grand Officers and all our sisters and brothers for a great year filled with a
lot of fun, fellowship and much love.
It is a year I will always remember.
Faye McDowell, PM, “Friend of a Feather” (Fuzzy, Friendly, Feather)
We
received your fabulous donation of $529.50 from pull tabs for the Ronald
McDonald House. Truly, my words are inadequate to convey how much your
donation means to the well being of the house. The House has been at full
occupancy all year. Daily, our houseguests express gratitude to the
community for a home-away-from-home. More and more our houseguests are adult
cancer patients. The House works so well for them since it would be
debilitating to drive back and forth every day for two months receiving chemo
or radiation. The cancer patients are able to stay with us during the
week while receiving treatments and go home on weekends to check on their
personal affairs. it is always a celebration when they complete their
protocol. We value your friendship and support!!! Thank you being a part
of the House That Love Built!! Keep saving those little pieces of metal
for us. Gratefully, Georgia Street, Executive Director, Monroe, La.
ROSTER CHANGES:
Page 1 and 33 – Linn
McNary email address: LMcNary2@cox.net
Page 43 – Calcasieu #164 –
Meeting time change to 7:00 PM
FROM THE DESK OF THE GRAND SECRETARY:
Secretaries: The
Credentials/Proxy forms were mailed and if you have not received the set for
your Chapter, please contact me as soon as possible.
Fraternally,
Terrie
C. Castay, PGM
Grand
Secretary