We hope your summer is going well, everyone!  

At our June meeting we got everything done for our Deputy’s Official Visit.  Thank you, Sister Helene, for all your assistance and wisdom!  Associate Conductress Salena did great with all the parts she had to do in one night! It was lovely to have Sister Karen play piano for us.  And a great big thank you to everyone who came to the meeting.  We made our quorum (just barely) and had several visitors on the sidelines to make our Friendship Night special!  Thank you, everyone!

On July 20 was the 1st Annual Lee Astorino Memorial Tea and silent auction to benefit the OES Outreach.  Sister Deborah “Deb” Winn, PM, Director of Marketing at the SLC came up from Southern California to speak about the Outreach.  There were approximately 28 present to enjoy the scrumptious treats and bid on the several baskets.  Thank you to everyone who participated!   

Next meeting is August 6 and is Game Show Night!  Brother Michael has come up with the theme and plan for this meeting.  We will have an anteroom meeting and then we will participate in our own game show(s)!  Attire is casual.  Refreshments are at 7:00.  Brief anteroom meeting is at 7:30.  Game show to happen immediately thereafter!  I hope you will all be there to join in the fun!  (I believe I heard there might be prizes involved!)

August 10 is a District 1 Summer Paint and Sip event at Fortuna Lodge at 1:00 p.m.  The cost is $25 per person.  Snacks will be provided.  Bring your favorite drink to share (alcoholic or not).  All friends and family of Eastern Star Members are invited to enjoy this event with us!  You need to R.S.V.P. to Sister Janessa so she knows how many are coming and can plan accordingly.  Thank you to Janessa for putting this together!  It should be a lot of fun!

Our September 3 meeting will be themed “Number Please” for Telephone Tuesday.  It will also be our school supply drive.  Please bring whatever school supplies you can manage to the September meeting, and we will donate them to one of the schools here in Eureka.  Meeting will be short form.  Attire will be Business, which means ladies wear a “suit (skirt or pants), nice dress, nice pants and top, jacket optional,” and gentlemen wear a “suit with tie.”

On October 1, Let’s Do a Project!  National Do Something Nice Day and World Card Making Day are both on October 5, so let’s celebrate both and do a project together before the meeting!  Please be at the Lodge by 6:45 so we can get a project done prior to the meeting at 7:30.

Grand Chapter this year is October 15-18 in Visalia.  It is not too soon to start thinking about attending this year’s state convention.  If you have not been before, it is definitely quite the experience!

November 5 will be “Thanks for the Memories” and sharing of especially special memories made with our Eastern Star Sisters and Brothers.

Star love,

Joni L. Hewston, WM
Michael Biesen, WP

PHOTOS:  Lee’s “Professor Tea” hat and flowers from his garden
and  Deborah Winn talking about the OES Outreach  

Our May meeting was a lovely evening with the Worthy Grand Matron, Grand Chaplain and his wife and our Deputy present, and enough visitors to fill in every office and still have some sideliners!  It was quite a sight from the East!  Thank you to EVERYONE who came, participated, observed. 

We had our Memorial to remember Lee Astorino, Judy Pflueger, and Gene Chancellier.  Unfortunately, because I had a bit of a coughing fit when I should have been making my remarks, I did not have the opportunity to say that the poem I read during Memorial was a slightly altered version of “She is Gone” by David Harkins. Thank you to our lovely Conductresses and Chaplain for doing their work so beautifully. 

Also thank you to Sister Karen Parlato who played for us at this special meeting.  

There was a report on delivering the prizes and donation to the library.  There were 8 prizes, 2 each for varying age groups, for the Humboldt County Library Summer Reading Program on display at our meeting so everyone could see them.  Sister Peggy and I took them to the Library with the check the following Tuesday to deliver them, and they were – as always – well and gratefully received.  The Children’s Librarian said she’d save them for the grand prize drawing! 

Coming up is our meeting on July 2, and it is a BIG one!  It is our Deputy’s Official Visit (finally!), so we will be proving the Chapter and Balloting.  I need everyone who can possibly come to be there because there are so many moving parts to this meeting that have to be members of Camellia Star!  
In addition, it is Friendship Night!  I look forward to seeing our visitors on this special occasion.  

Our Deputy wants a brief practice at 6:30.  Then, if there is time before the meeting, refreshments will be at 7:00, meeting at 7:30.  If we do not have time for refreshments before the meeting, we will have them afterward.  

The theme this meeting is International Joke Day (July 1) and What’s Your Favorite Dad Joke?  We’d love it if you would share some jokes with us.  Attire is casual.  Opening is short form.  (We have had long form meetings all year so far; it is time to relax a bit.) 

In addition, this is the night our members are to bring all the things they want to add to a basket to be auctioned at the special tea in July.  We are planning two baskets.  One has more of a garden theme, and the other is more of a tea theme.  Camellia Star members are asked to bring something to contribute to one basket or the other!  Sister Jaelen has volunteered to make the baskets all pretty for display at the tea. 

Speaking of which, the First Annual Lee Astorino Memorial Tea is on Sunday, July 20, at 2:00 in Fortuna.  We will need lots of help with setting up and cleaning up, so please put the date on your calendar and plan to help if you can.  It would be greatly appreciated.  

Our August meeting has a Game Show Night theme to it.  More information to come.   See you all soon! 
Star Love, 
Joni L. Hewston, WM 

PHOTOS: 

#1 – Donation to the Humboldt County Library Summer Reading Program

#2 – Worthy Grand Matron’s Official Visit to Camellia Star 

Spring is Springing!  Flowers are blooming! 

Our April 2 meeting was themed “Peanut Butter Jelly Time!” (Thank you, Sister Liz, for playing that song.)  Sisters Peggy and Liz brought ready-made PB&Js and also the fixings if you wanted to make your own!  Thank you, ladies!

Our May 7^th meeting is our Deputy’s O.V.  The theme is “Lost in Space!” in honor of National Space Day.  The attire will be semi-formal.  Please mark your calendar and be sure to attend so we have a quorum and can show off for our Deputy!  Refreshments at 7:00; meeting at 7:30.

June 4 will be our Memorial meeting, our Worth Grand Matron’s Official Visit, and honoring World Bicycle Day.  Those officers participating in the Memorial ceremony should wear white. This will also be a semi-formal occasion.  Refreshments at 6:45; meeting at 7:30.

Having attended the WGM’s O.V.s in both Ferndale and Fortuna, I can tell you that Sister Alice really is looking for a regular meeting and getting to meet our members.  At those meetings, she had the Grand Chaplain and his wife with her, but no huge entourage.  Camellia Star officers, please be sure to put June 4 on your calendar and come to the meeting because we really, really do need a quorum!

July 2 will be Friendship Night (and the rest of what we need to exemplify for our Deputy).  International Joke Day is just the day before the meeting, so in that spirit, we will share our favorite Dad Jokes that evening.  Come armed!  Attire will be casual.

I hope you have put July 20 on your calendar for the first annual Lee Astorino Memorial Tea in Fortuna.  Please remember that each Chapter will be responsible for providing at least one basket for the silent auction.  Other donations for the silent auction are also welcome.  Please note that all food, decorations, items for auction, etc., are to be donated by the individual and/or Chapter to maximize the donation to the Eastern Star outreach program.  We ask that anyone wishing to partake of the tea food and drink pay for a ticket, even if that person is working at the event or has made a donation.  

I have been in touch with Shoshanna at the Humboldt County Library regarding the Summer Reading Program.  The theme this year is “Level Up at Your Library.”  We generally provide 9-12 prizes for the event as well as make a cash donation to the library for books and supplies. 

Thank you all for your help, support, and participation!  Have a truly lovely spring!

Star love,

Joni Hewston, WM

Michael Biesen, WP

Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends –

I am sorry for not getting information in to the Trestleboard sooner.  I was sick for most of a good deal of November and December, missing our stated meeting on December 5, which had a “Holidays Around the World” theme.  Thank you to Sister Laird for moving to the East to preside.  Thank you to Sister Peggy for helping with the meeting and for sharing some holiday traditions from around the globe. I am so glad we had a quorum.  Thank you, everyone!

January 1, of course, we did not have a stated meeting since our by-laws specify we do not meet on New Year’s Day.  I hope everyone had a lovely day with their family and friends. Happy New Year to one and all!

To back up just a bit, we had a very nice installation on November 17, with a theme of “Kindness costs nothing, yet it is a most precious gift” (Katrina Mayer).  Thank you to everyone who helped with this installation from those who agreed to be installing officers to the Chapter officers who agreed to take stations this year to the guests who came and supported us from the sidelines.  You are all so wonderful and helpful! 

We also had a food drive, and I took quite a carload of food donations to Food for People shortly after.  Thank you to everyone who donated.  Most of the donations were not brought upstairs but rather left in the cars so the boxes and bags would not have to be lugged up and back down again!

Some fun District-wide events either have happened or are being contemplated for this year.  One that has already happened, rather spontaneously, was attending the play “Cinderella” in Ferndale in December.

In other news, our Chapter had been having a hard time connecting with Sister Susan Bonnett to deliver to her a 25-year pin and certificate.  It turns out she is in the Santa Rosa area for medical treatment.  Sister Helene was able to visit with her and pass along the pin and certificate for us.  Helene let us know that Susan is doing well despite her illness, and she sends her love and wishes everyone a happy new year.  If you would like to send a card to Susan, please send it in care of her sister: Kristin Bonnett, 2653 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa, CA  95407.

Our February 5 stated meeting went well.  THANK YOU to everyone who came and helped with the meeting!  Our theme of the night was “For the Birds” in honor of Feed the Birds Day.  A theme-appropriate We’re So Glad You Came gift was won by Sister Salena, just back from a Conductress Weekend where she got to learn quite a bit!

Next meeting (March 5) will be “Napping Under the Apple Tree with Johnny Appleseed” in honor of Johnny Appleseed Day on March 11.  Attire will be business casual.  We will do long-form opening.

For your information, “Business Casual” means ladies wear dress, skirt/slacks outfit, jacket optional, and gentlemen wear slacks and nice shirt or polo shirt (no t-shirts).

Also for your information, our Worthy Grand Matron’s visit will be at our June 4 stated meeting, and we will do long form opening at each meeting before then to keep in practice with our Ritual work.

Just a reminder, in case you have not paid yet, dues are $85.21 general, or $75.21 for life sponsors. Dues should be sent to Secretary Peggy Mecham-Carlotti at P.O. Box 117, Bayside, CA  95524.  Thank you.

Looking ahead, our April 2 meeting theme will be “It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time!” because April 2 is Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. 

May 7 will be our Deputy’s official visit, so we will need to have brushed up on proving the Chapter, the Associate Conductress’ initiation work, balloting, etc., by then.  We will discuss this more as May approaches. 

June 4 is our Worthy Grand Matron’s Official Visit.  She wants to visit a regular stated meeting with our Chapter – not one of the all-District meetings, this one is just us and our usual visitors/helpers.  It is also Memorial, so we will be doing the Memorial Ceremony.  The Chaplain and Conductresses need to wear white for the occasion.  Also it just happens that World Bicycle Day is June 2, so we will use that as the theme for the evening, since the Worthy Grand Matron is into bicycles with baskets filled with flowers.    

Again, thank you to everyone who comes to our meetings.  We have a great group in this Chapter and in this District, and I appreciate you all very much.  For example, Sister Alice (Martha) has volunteered to do both Martha and Electa at our meetings, since she knows both parts.  Thank you for that, Sister Alice!  You are a gem!
 

Best wishes to everyone, and until we meet again,

Star love,

Joni Hewston
Worthy Matron

Camellia Star Chapter

Photos

First, Installation of the 2025 officers

Second, 2024 Food Drive

Third, most of the Worthy Matrons and Worthy Patrons of 2025

Fourth, some Brothers having a good time

Hello, everyone!

At our meeting on October 2, there was some concern for a bit as to whether we would have a quorum, but we made it!  Whew!  Because of the lack of people present for 7:00 refreshments, we held those until after the meeting.  The theme of the evening was “Teddy Bear Picnic,” and nearly everyone brought a plushy friend or two… or three… to share.  We had all sorts of fuzzy friends, including a gopher, an elephant, an owl, LOTS of bears, a German Shepard, and more! Some of the friends were old and dear treasures from childhood, and some were relatively new.  It was fun to get to meet them and hear their stories!  Thanks to all who brought their plushy friends with them!

Please note that there is a bear available for adoption.  Sister Marlene Hover left behind a beautifully dressed bear with a lovely hat.  She is very pretty and needs a new home.  If anyone is interested in adopting this sweet bear, please contact Sister Peggy Mecham-Carlotti.

The ”We’re So Glad You Came” gifts went to Sisters Liz Lorig and Tricia Coombs!  Thank you, ladies, and thanks to everyone who came to the meeting.  And a special thank you to Sisters Lynnie Horrigan who filled in as Associate Conductress and Jean Thomson who filled in as Esther.  Thank you, also, to Sister Tricia for filling both the Associate Matron and Conductress stations!  And, of course, thank you to the seven Camellia Star officers who were present.  

Another highlight of our evening, of course, was elections.  Congratulations to our newly elected officers for 2025:

                Joni Hewston, Worthy Matron

                Michael Biesen, Worthy Patron

                Laird Crandall, Associate Matron

                Liz Lorig, Treasurer

                Peggy Mecham-Carlotti, Secretary

                And – drum roll please –

                Salena Glass, Associate Conductress!

We will have an open installation on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.  Practice will be that morning at 11:00.  It has yet to be decided whether we want some sort of lunch as a group in between practice and installation.  While it was not mentioned in the meeting, please be advised the installation is semi-formal, and the colors are all the colors of the rainbow.  The theme will be something along the lines of “Kindness costs nothing, yet it is a most precious gift.”  There are no other installation details available yet, but think flowers!  There will also be a FOOD DRIVE!  So, if you would like to participate, please bring non-parishable food in non-breakable containers for our Food Drive.  Thank you!

In sadder news, it was announced that a former member of our Chapter, and a many times Past Patron, Wayne Hooper, had passed away very recently, and his memorial was held this past Thursday.  Brother Michael was at the memorial and said it was standing room only.

Looking ahead, the theme for our November 6 meeting is “Marooned Without a Compass,” and Brother Michael has already gotten into the spirit with a little game he has planned.   Attire is … whatever … we’re marooned, right?  So casual attire seems appropriate.  Sister Alice kindly offered to bring refreshments – thank you!  We will try to have refreshments at 7:00, and then the meeting at 7:30.  Meeting will be short form.  I look forward to seeing you all there!

Announcements: 

Congratulations to Helene Nicholson who is the new Deputy Grand Matron for District 1!  I am sure she will shortly be scheduling First Meeting Practices with the various Chapters.

Save the Dates:

                November 6 – “Marooned Without a Compass” – Last meeting of the term for our Chapter

                November 10 – Arcata Chapter Installation

                November 16 – Rohnerville-Redwood Chapter Installation

                November 17 – Camellia Star Chapter Practice and Installation

                November 23 – Ferndale Chapter Installation

                                      Note:  All installations are at 2:00 p.m.

                December 4 – First meeting of the new term for our Chapter – Toy Drive!

                January 1, 2025 – HAPPY NEW YEAR!  No meeting  —  enjoy the holiday with your family and friends!

Thank you, one and all!  I look forward to seeing you soon.

Star Light and Love –

Joni Hewston, Worthy Matron

Camellia Star Chapter No. 63

PHOTOS from our Teddy Bear Picnic meeting in October.

Thank you to everyone who attended our September 4th meeting.  We had 9 officers present and several guests!  It was so nice to see so many people.  It was also wonderful to see all the school supplies donated for Alice Birney School.  There were items in the East and in the West, plus I received three more bags of donations down at the cars, and more donations the following night.  Thank you to everyone who participated in this project!  You are all so much appreciated!

Along with the school supply drive, refreshments of school lunch type foods were provided prior to the meeting.  The “Thank You for Coming!” gifts went to Sisters Lisa McCombs and JoAnna Matlock!

To back up just a little bit, August 31 was a beautiful reception honoring Grand Electa, Sister Deanna Bay.  The decorations were beautiful, with hand-made gorgeous large paper roses all around the room.  Watching Deanna and her special escort (a gaggle of grandchildren) walking up to the East was adorable!

The following day, September 1, was a brunch reception for our Deputy Grand Matron, Sister Lisa McCombs, and was a lovely event, followed by a LOT of wonderful food for brunch.  Anyone who walked away hungry had only themselves to blame!

Coming up, Rohnerville-Redwood Chapter will host a Revelation Night party on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 7:30. Revelation Night is the evening that the 2025 Grand Officers and Deputy Grand Matrons will be revealed. R-R have a big screen in their dining room to stream live the announcements. There will be a Dessert Potluck, so if you have a favorite dessert you would like to share, please bring it.  I plan to attend, so if you need a ride, let me know.  It will be a lot of fun!

Camellia Star’s next meeting will be on October 2 and have a “Teddy Bear Picnic” theme.  Please bring with you to our picnic your stuffed best friend, whether it be a teddy bear, an elephant, a rasta banana, a bat, or whatever is your favorite plushy!  Refreshments will be at 7:00 and the meeting at 7:30.  Attire will be business casual. The meeting will be long-form for the Camellia Star officers.

The October meeting is also elections, so be sure to have your signed paper on the dais before the meeting starts stating what office you aspire to, if you are running for an elected office.  You do not have to be present to run, but I do need a paper you signed, along with two other members of our Chapter who nominate you for the office.

I mentioned at our September meeting that Brother Lee had been tickled by the fact that there is a “Marooned Without a Compass Day” in November and had wanted that theme for the November 6 meeting; however, he did not tell me what he had in mind for that meeting.  So if you have any ideas as to what to do for the “Marooned Without a Compass” theme, please let me know!  Thank you!

Best wishes to one and all –
Joni Hewston, Worthy Matron
Camellia Star Chapter No. 63

PHOTO:  Worthy Matron Joni with some of the many donations for the school supplies drive at Camellia Star’s September meeting

Our meeting on August 7 was a nice one.  We had a potluck that included hot dogs and various side dishes and desserts and enjoyed each others’ company prior to the meeting.  Then we had an ante room meeting to accomplish our business before going our separate ways. 

Reports were made of the successful Afternoon Tea benefiting Paws for Purple Hearts which raised about $1,683, plus a donation from a generous benefactor (who will be missed very much) of another $1,000, and of the delivery of the prizes and monetary donation to the Humboldt County Library for their Summer Reading Program.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, with a “Salute to Teachers!” and a school supply drive.  For your information, this was another service event that was brought up by and supported by Brother Lee.  Refreshments are at 7:00, meeting at 7:30.  Attire is business casual. Please bring school supplies to adorn the East and spill over into the West. The supplies will be donated to Alice Birney School.

In the meantime, I hope you have all RSVP’d and plan to attend the reception for our Grand Electa Deanna Bay on August 31 at 7 p.m. in Loleta and the brunch honoring our Deputy Lisa McCombs on Sunday, September 1, at 11:00 a.m. in Arcata.  Both of these ladies are very special people, and it’d be so great to support them and show them our appreciation and love.

Looking ahead, our meeting on October 2 is a Teddy Bear (and other animals) Picnic with refreshments at 7:00 and meeting at 7:30.  It is also elections night, so if you aspire to any elected office, please remember to have your signed paper on the dais stating what office you aspire to with two signatures by other members of the Chapter nominating you for that position.  You do not have to be there in person, but your paper needs to be present for me to read under elections.  Thank you!

Please remember we are a small Chapter, so it is important to attend the meetings if you are able to ensure we have a quorum so we can conduct business and vote on things. 

Both our September and October meetings will be long form for our officers so we are sure to conform to the OES rules about such things.

Also please check the articles being posted on northcoastmasons.com by our Chapter and other Chapters, by Masonic Lodges, youth groups, etc., to keep up with everything that is going on in our District area. 

I look forward to seeing everyone on September 4.

Take care, and be well, and thank you for being you –

Joni Hewston, Worthy Matron
Camellia Star Chapter No. 63

Hello, again, everyone!
    This has certainly been a busy summer!
     We had a very nice gathering on June 15 to present Sister Peggy Mecham-Carlotti with her 50-year certificate and a pin that is special to her – her mother/Sister Flora’s 50-year pin!  Worthy Matron Joni and Worthy Patron Lee started things off, and then Sister Karen Parlato read a special poem Sister Peggy had found before she presented Sister Peggy the pin and certificate.  A lunch and fellowship followed.  Thank you to all who came to help celebrate this special day.  As Sister Peggy says, “Friends are the flowers in the garden of life!”

    Sister Joni and Brother Lee were in process of putting together prizes for the Humboldt County Library’s Summer Reading Program to present to the Library, along with a monetary donation toward more books and supplies for the Library.  They did have a date to go shopping for prizes; however, that got derailed when Brother Lee ended up in the hospital with a nasty infection.  And then went back into the hospital later, and is still there as of the writing of this article (July 21).  He is in the ICU.  Lee’s advice is never to do your gardening without your gloves.  This whole mess started with a spider bite while he was gardening bare-handed.  

    Our Friendship Night was on July 3 with a theme of “Hats Off to American Heroes!”  Thank you to everyone who came and made it such a special night.  Thank you to Sisters Alice and Peggy for the refreshments before the meeting – they were delicious!  For those who did not make it to the meeting due to back issues, ill, health, etc., we missed you and hope you are feeling better by now!

    July 14, 2024, was the District-wide fundraiser Afternoon Tea to benefit Paws for Purple Hearts at the Humboldt Masonic Lodge in Eureka.  Sister Terri Ewing, Past Grand Matron, was our special guest and speaker.  There was also a silent auction, and Sister Christie Smith made adorable purple paws available for a donation of $10+.  The afternoon went very well, and we raised over $1,300 plus we received a generous donation of an additional $1,000!  Thank you to all who attended and all who helped!  Also thank you to the Job’s Daughters for assisting, keeping hot water on the tables, etc.

    It was sad and unfortunate that Brother Lee could not attend the tea as he had gone into the hospital for the second time the Thursday before.  Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers, and perhaps send him a card letting him know you are thinking about him.  This hospital stay has not been fun for all the usual reasons, but in Lee’s case, he is a “social animal” cut off from so many of his friends.

    Coming up on the calendar:    
    The plan for our August meeting is a potluck at 6:30 p.m.  Sister Liz will provide hot dogs and buns, and the rest of us should bring condiments and side dishes to complement the hot dogs.  After supper will be an ante room meeting and a board game night.  Please bring simple easy-to-learn board games so we can all have a lovely time together!   While the August evening is mostly about the fun, we do still need a quorum to be able to conduct business, so it is important for all members who can to be at that meeting!

    Please keep in mind we will have a school supplies drive at our September meeting.  Please collect school supplies to bring in September.  Everything collected will be donated to one of the local schools.  Thank you!

    Our October meeting will have the theme of a Teddy Bear Picnic.  Please bring your favorite stuffed animal(s) – they do not have to be bears – to share at our Teddy Bear Picnic!  Picnic before the meeting at 7:00; meeting starts at 7:30.  This meeting is also elections, so if you aspire to any of the elected offices, be sure your written and endorsed aspiration is on the dais prior to the start of the meeting. Thank you.

    As you probably know, we are trying to update our list of addresses and emails for all of our Camellia Star members.  If you have not (or know of a member who has not) recently received a letter in the mail from Sister Joni or have not received an email from her in the past six months, please let her know so she can update the list.  You can contact Sister Joni at joni@reninet.com, (707) 499-9478, or P.O. Box 370, Eureka, CA 95502, to update her with current contact information.

    Thank you to all of our members and friends just for being you.  We look forward to seeing you all soon!

Warm summer wishes to one and all –
Joni Hewston, Worthy Matron

PHOTOS:

1-Karen Parlato making the presentation of 50-Year Pin and Certificate to Sister Peggy Mecham-Carlotti
2-Peggy Mecham-Carlotti listening to Sister Karen making the presentation of her 50-Year Certificate
3-More than 250 years of membership in District 1 represented on June 15, 2024
4-Terri Ewing, PGM, speaking at the Afternoon Tea benefiting Paws for Purple Hearts on July 14
5-Some of those in attendance at the Afternoon Tea
6-Some of the delicious food donated by the members of our District for the Afternoon Tea

PAWS FOR PURPLE HEARTS helps Veterans and Active Duty Service Members by providing trained service dogs. Community support allows this organization to continue fulfilling their mission. We invite members of our entire Masonic Family to attend this July 14th Afternoon Tea to learn more and help us spread the word. Feel free to invite friends and family as well. We do ask that you please let us know you’ll be attending (see flyer for contact information). Thank you.

Warm Summer Wishes to One and All –

            Our Worthy Matron Joni had a wonderful trip to Scotland in early May, and our Worthy Patron Lee had a fun adventure in Prague, Provence, etc., about the same time.  Both enjoyed their trips immensely; however, they did miss the May 1 meeting.  It was an ante-room meeting, and members and guests also enjoyed a scavenger hunt following clues through the Lodge and adjoining rooms crafted by Sister Peggy. 

            The next meeting, on June 5, was our Memorial Service and Tribute to Star Point Officers.  Refreshments of fruit salad, meat, cheese, crackers, and cupcakes were served at 7:00, and the meeting started at 7:30.  We had so many visitors that nearly all our stations were filled.  Karen Parlato volunteered to be our Organist and played wonderful live music, which was a real treat.  The special Tribute to the Star Point Officers was really lovely with Sisters Leslie N, Helene N, Jean T, and Margaret R filling in the chairs with our own Sister Alice as they read short paragraphs about their heroines.

            The Memorial Service was also beautiful with all the ladies in their white dresses around the Altar.  Thanks to Sister Lynnie H and Brother Lee A substituting for the Memorial with Sister Laird to drape the Altar. 

            Other visitors who also helped fill in offices for the evening were Sister Tricia C, and Brothers Larry N and Kirby B.  We had so many visitors, some were able just to sit on the sidelines and enjoy, including Sister Nancy B and Grand Electa Deanna B. 

            It was also good to see our own Sister Mary back after being gone from our meetings for several months.  I believe I heard she might be able to make it to more meetings in future!  And, of course, a big thank you for our own officers who came to the meeting and did a lovely job.

         The “We are so glad you came” gifts were won by Brother Kirby  and Sister Leslie!  Congratulations, and Thanks for coming to the meeting!  We’re so glad you came! 

            Again, thank you to everyone who came and filled in or just came to enjoy.  Thank you to all who helped make the evening extra special.  Your presence and your assistance are very much appreciated!

            Next on the calendar is Saturday, June 15, at 12:00 Noon at Humboldt Masonic Lodge for a 50-Year Presentation to Sister Peggy Mecham-Carlotti.  The presentation will come first, followed by lunch (sandwiches, salads, and beverages to be provided).  Please come and celebrate with our newest 50-year member!  RSVP to Sister Peggy at (707) 499-1037 or peggy@bramblemanor.com.  Remember: “Friends are the flowers in the garden of life!”

            Hopefully sometime during June, we will be putting together prizes for the Humboldt County Library’s Summer Reading Program. When we deliver the prizes, we will also deliver a check for the donation portion of our contribution to the Library and its Summer Reading Program.  The delivery will happen in July.

            Our July 3 meeting is Friendship Night and “Hats Off to American Heroes!”  Refreshments will be at 7:00 and meeting at 7:30.  Please come have fun with us, and maybe have in mind an American Hero (from history or from the present) who is meaningful to you.  We hope to see you there!

            July 14, 2024, at 2:00 is the District-wide fundraiser Afternoon Tea to benefit Paws for Purple Hearts at the Humboldt Masonic Lodge in Eureka.  Sister Terri Ewing, Past Grand Matron, will be present as a speaker.  There will also be a silent auction.  All members, prospective members, and friends are invited.  RSVP to Sister Joni at (707) 499-9478 or joni@reninet.com.  Tickets are $20 per person.

         Our August meeting is anticipated to be an ante room meeting and board game night.  Join us for fun and fellowship.  Bring your favorite game to share, and let’s have some fun!

         At our September meeting we will gather school supplies to donate to a school (yet to be determined).  Start now to collect pencils, pencil sharpeners, notebooks, pens, folders, construction paper, staplers, staples, and other school supplies to be donated to a local school.

            In October, bring your teddy bears and other stuffed companions for our “Teddy Bear Picnic” themed evening!

         Thanks again to everyone who supports our Chapter.  We could not manage without all our friends!  We look forward to seeing you all at future events!

Star Love,

Joni Hewston, Worthy Matron

Lee Astorino, Worthy Patron