PENNSYLVANIA GRAND CHAPTER COMMITTEES

"All in the Family Gatherings"

Now is the time to gather as a family to learn about our related organizations and to help each other grow and to prosper.

This year the Pennsylvania Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star will emphasize "Fraternal Relations".  When considering this goal, the realization of how little we know about the other Masonic organizations come to mind.  This is especially true when we consider that all the Masonic bodies have evolved from the same ideology.

To accomplish this goal, we will spend time together in worship and fellowship. The Order of the Eastern Star will plan and organize six "All in the Family Gatherings" and all Masonic bodies have been invited to help make these events successful.

Highlights of each event will include:

*Subscription will be $12.00
*An ecumenical Church Service will start at 10;00AM.  Each organization will be recognized at the end of the Church Service.
*A light lunch will be provided after the Church Service.
*Information booths from all organizations will be set up, displaying such items as literature, pictures, scrapbook, scholarship programs, awards, charitable endeavors and of course, petitions.  It will be staffed with members dressed in full Masonic regalia.
*Demonstrations will be held by the Youth organizations.
*A craft table will be available to make a craft to be given out at the Masonic Homes and Shriner's Hospitals as tray favors.
*The event will conclude at 3:00PM

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Golden Stars

Pennsylvania Eastern Star considers their fifty year members to be their "Golden Treasures".  The Golden Star Committee exists for one purpose, which is to honor the sisters and brothers who this year have attained fifty years of membership in the Order of the Eastern Star.  Honoring these special members is accomplished at different levels and in various ways throughout the State.  They are honored in their own Chapters, at the Regional level and finally at Grand Chapter.

Chapter Representatives send cards, visit them, call them periodically, and offer them rides to meetings and social events.  The Representative along with the Worthy Matron usually plan an honor night for the Golden Stars at which time they receive their fifty year pin, perhaps a corsage and a small token of appreciation.

The Regional representatives host a luncheon or banquet to honor all the new Golden Stars in the entire region.  The event is open to all members and guests, but the Golden Stars are guests at this event.

Finally,  they are honored at a luncheon at Grand Chapter in York, PA on June 24, 2009.  After the luncheon, they are presented at the afternoon session of the Grand Chapter where Mary Ann Naugle, Worthy Grand Matron will present them with their certificates for fifty years of membership.  This luncheon is open to all friends and relatives of the Golden Stars at a minimal cost.  If anyone has any questions or would like to attend the luncheon, they may contact the Grand Chapter office at 1-800-419-7241.

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Caring and Sharing Committee

The Caring and Sharing Committee finances the Fraternal Fund which in returns helps our own Sisters and Brothers who are in need.

This year we will be having three (3) very unique “Snow Flaky” events which will occur on:

            October 18, 2008 – Western section – Holiday Inn – Beaver Falls

            November 15, 2008 – Central Section – Brossman Ballroom – Masonic Home – Elizabethtown

            January 24, 2009 – Eastern Section – Masonic Temple – Reading.

Come out and have a “Snow Wonderful” time!

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STAMP OUT MS Committee

STAMP OUT MS is a joint effort between two previously separated committees.  Each section of the state, West, Central and East, is guided by a Stamp Chairperson and a Pin Chairperson. 

To earn money to fight MS, we are collecting stamps, which we sell to a stamp buyer, and are selling the 2008-2009 MS pin.  Cancelled stamps will be collected all year and we will sell the $5.00 MS pins until we run out of them!! 

Along with raising funds, our second goal is education.  In order for our members to have a greater understanding and appreciation of the pain, both physical and mental, that faces those with MS, we will distribute MS information through pamphlets and letters.    We will be publishing the MS story of at lease one interesting person affected with MS in our Fraternal Newspaper.  Please, reach out to those afflicted with MS whether they are an OES member or not.  Let’s share the “broad mantle of (OES) charity” with others!

Everyone can help by collecting stamps and giving them to an Eastern Star Member. All we require is for you tear the envelopes in half and turn in the half with the stamp on it. However if you wish to get more involved there are three important factors governing the processing of stamps.  They are: Damaged stamps, Cutting Stamps and Sorting Stamps.

Damaged stamps are any stamps that have been torn, cut or defaced with tape.  These stamps are of no value and must be discarded. Do not cut off the perforations.

Cutting stamps is sometimes poorly understood.  Cut the stamp from the envelope allowing ¼ inch around the stamp.  The ¼ inch margin is a nominal margin.  If you cut closer than ¼ inch, the stamp is still good providing the stamp is not damaged by cutting into it or into the perforations. 

Sorting stamps has also been misunderstood.  Sort and bag each category separately for submittal.  We must sort into these categories: Common, Commemorative, and High Value (greater than 42¢ face value), Foreign, Stamp Collections, First Day Covers, and Off Paper Stamps.  Stamp Collections and First Day Covers can be valuable and should be submitted as received.  Do not remove the stamps from the collection or the envelope.  Off Paper Stamps and stamps that have not been used should be sorted into proper category, bagged and weighed for submittal.  Un-canceled stamps are to be bagged separately and not mixed with cancelled stamps. Printed Post Card Stamps, Embossed Envelope Stamps, Metered Mail and Internet Stamps are of NO Value and should be discarded.

Foreign stamps and commemorative stamps are 10 times more valuable than common stamps when we sell them to our buyer.  We want to collect as many commemorative stamps as possible however every stamp has a value when we sell it.

We are excited about “Stamp Out MS” and we want to share our excitement with you!  We need to make the excitement contagious!!  We hope you will enjoy being a part of this great endeavor and hope that you will participate in all of our projects._________________________________________________________________________________________

BRAIN Power Committee Essentials

Bring Recycled Aluminum in Now
Recycle all of your aluminum to help to further educational opportunities of deserving youth related to OES members in Pennsylvania.  "Our Youth Are Our Tomorrows"

"Think Recycle"

Recycle used print ink jet and laser cartridges, used toner cartridges and used cell phones to support the Rett Foundation which strives to help aid children with pediatric neurological brain disorders.  "There are no two snowflakes that are alike and no two children are exactly alike, but if we all BELIEVE we can make a difference then we WILL make a difference.

Ronald McDonald House Wish List

Donate items to provide assistance to the children and families who must make the Ronald McDonald Houses their "home away from home."  Items such as: juice boxes, snack items, copier & laser printer paper, postage stamps, post-it notes, stain remover, spray starch, laundry detergent, personal care items for men and women, dish detergent, jet dry, antibacterial hand soap, AA batteries, 9 volt batteries, crib sheets, flash lights, men & women's sweat pants, men & women's shorts, socks, phone cards, computer games, Nintendo game cube cartridges......just to name a few!

"I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good for others."

Welcome to Corps
(pronounced like 'core' with the PS silent)

Community Out Reach Promoting Service
This committee has it all!!!!
Doing service, having fun and getting Eastern Star Noticed!

Mission Statement
CORPS is a committee that not only encourages members of the Order of Eastern Star to actively participate in Community Service Projects but also provides a means of creating more public awareness of who we are and what we are all about.  The goal of this Committee is to encourage the membership to become involved in their community and help create a favorable impression of the Order.  Hopefully, all this effort will become an effective tool that will attract others of good character to join the Order of the Eastern Star.
With this only being the second year for CORPS, the Committee recognizes that this is very much a work in progress.  So therefore, this year two other committees, Masonic Youth and Veterans' Outreach  have been included with CORPS.  These committees have not been dropped--they are simply working under the banner of CORPS.  It is anticipated that this approach will strengthen the CORPS program while utilizing the Youth and Veterans' Committees to their fullest potential.

"Service to Humanity" is a basic principle of every Masonic Organization.  CORPS will allow us to fulfill that principle.  "Public awareness" is for others who might want to join in on a good thing. That can be accomplished by utilizing the local media: newspaper; radio; television and our own Noteworthy News.  Through CORPS, Eastern Star can inform everyone of our beneficence and hopefully that will bring potential candidates to the Order.
CORPS needs you!
In order to fulfill the CORPS objectives of "service to humanity" and "public awareness", every Veterans' Representative, Youth Liaison, Regional Appointment and Chapter Representative is vitally important toward fulfilling the goals of CORPS.  There is plenty of room in CORPS for everyone to do service, have fun and help get the Order of the Eastern Star noticed.