Montana Grand Chapter Projects

WEEKEND AT THE FORT
Gather with us for a visit and relaxed weekend in Fort Benton July 25-26, 2009.

VESTS
We will be selling fleece vests, with the OES emblem on them, $30 each. See the Order Form (Word or PDF) for color selection. Men's and women's sizes will be available. The proceeds will go to the Masonic home Program, Estarl Scholarship Fund and Electa's Cup Fund.

HAPPY LABELS
Address Labels and note pads with OES logo will be available for purchase through www.happylabels.com/home/oes; only available during this term as a fund raiser. The proceeds from this will go to Youth.

50/50
We will have a 50/50 drawing at Grand Chapter in Missoula, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets will be sold for $1 each; 6 for $5; or 30 for $20. The winner will receive 1/2 of the monetary proceeds, with the other 1/2 going to our charities.

APPEALS LETTER
The appeals letter will be sent to all members to derive funds for our various charities. Members will have the option to direct their donations to the charity of their choice.

TRAVELING SKUNKS
At least 3 people (one being a line officer) from a Chapter will take the Skunk to a Chapter within their unit and get rid of the stinky thing. That chapter will in turn visit a Chapter within their unit (NOT the Chapter that Stinky just came from) and give that Chapter the skunk. Secretary of the Chapter that receives the skunk will immediately inform the Unit chairman of the whereabouts of Stinky. Unit Chairman will inform Martha Hendrickson so she can include the news in the Montana Stars and keep track of "Stinky".

There will be an award for the skunk that has traveled the most at Grand Chapter.

PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
We need to keep our Eastern Star Journal filled with stories of the good things about our Order. This committee will help each Chapter to speak about all of our Fraternal Order and their strengths as they serve each other and humanity. This will promote the membership, the necessity to pay attention to the membership loss, and work toward improving our efforts to stop our decline. This committee will be promoting the Rob Morris Membership Jewel - please have your secretaries keep track and send in the papers so we may reward those who are getting new members.

CHAPTER RESTORATION COMMITTEE
This committee will be directing its efforts toward concern for the survival of our Chapters.

SERVICE DOG PROJECT
This project is to provide awareness and possibly money to purchase dogs to those who need them for survival - seeing eye, assistance, hearing, therapy, search and rescue, and the other many jobs trained dogs might do.

MASONIC HOME COMMITTEE
This committee consists of: A) Masonic Home Program Committee; B) Masonic Home Fund Committee; C) Grounds Beautification Committee; and D) Representative to the Masonic home Board of Trustees.

MASONIC HOME FUND:
The funds collected by this committee are used for the Elder Sisters and Brothers, for the Starlight Hours and Grounds Beautification. This budget is around $2,000. Actual costs are dependent on the number of residents.
CINDERELLA SHOP:
The operation of the Cinderella Shop is made possible by the funding provided from Eastern Star. Monies derived from the Vests and donations will help support the Shop. The guests at the Home appreciate having shampoos, haircuts and perms. The budget for the Cinderella Shop is nearly $20,000. Actual costs are dependent on the number of residents and their use of these services.

FAIRY GODMOTHER'S CLOSET
The formal wear shop at Montana's Grand Chapter Session has a new name and a new slogan: "Bibbidee-Bobbidee-Boo: Old to Us and New to You." As with all Fairy Godmothers, there must be a recipient of the good things and the Cinderella shop at the Masonic Home will still be the recipient of our funds. we are planning to have LOTS of fun with our new name and a few surprises in store for our Grand Chapter Session. Don't forget to bring your clean formals, tuxes, skirts, beaded tops, etc. We also take handbags, jewelry and shoes. Wave that magic wand and clean out that closet - The Fairy Godmother's Closet is looking for your wonderful garments!

AMERICANISM
Today more than ever we should demonstrate our deep appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy, and on a daily basis recognize our responsibility for maintaining those freedoms, and pay tribute to our military men and women whenever possible. Every Chapter is encouraged to have an Americanism program and ask the community to participate. The program can include youth organizations i.e. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Rainbow, Jobs and DeMolay.

CANCER
This project has been an ongoing project of Grand Chapter for many years. Money raised for this goes to Cancer Research or the Cancer Society. Each Chapter is asked to have a moneymaking project with the proceeds going to this fund. Proceeds from the sale of canceled stamps that are collected also go into this fund. Please cut the stamps from the envelopes and give them to Chairman Frances Etzwiler (3). For more specific information about the types of stamps being collected see and print the 2-page FLYER on canceled stamps.

ESTARL SCHOLARSHIP
This committee awards the ESTARL scholarships. It does NOT collect money.

ESTARL FUND
This is the fund raising committee. Donations and memorials from the Chapters plus money from Vests will provide money for the scholarships.

ELECTA'S CUP ENDOWMENT
This committee reviews the applications for aid and determines how much money the applicants will receive. It does NOT collect any funds.

ELECTA'S CUP FUND
This is the fund-raising committee. Money from the Vests and 50/50, as well as donations, assists this fund.

HEART FUND
The funds donated to this project go to Heart Research. Each Chapter should have a program and fundraiser to make their members aware of Heart Disease and its prevention.

VOLUNTARY PREPAID LIFE MEMBERSHIP (VPLM)
This program of Grand Chapter is explained in the Statutes, Article XXXV on pages 87-89 (Word or PDF) of the Blue book. Encourage your members to purchase a VPLM. This will help to support their Chapter financially long after their move to that city not made with hands.

PRESS
This committee is responsible for sending the pictures of the WGM and WGP to the subordinate chapters along with a general press release. The chapters are encouraged to publish the press release and pictures in the local paper preceding the Official Visitation. Also, publish your Chapter events and activities/service projects in your local paper. We want people to know that OES exists and is active.

ADDRESS UPDATES
This one-person committee strives to keep an updated record of the members and their addresses. The database is only as good as the information received. Please inform the chairman of any new members, changes of address, demits or death.

TELLERS
There is a Chairman and co-chairman of this committee. The committee functions on Saturday morning of the Grand Chapter session for balloting/election of officers. Members will receive instructions from the chairman and co-chairman and then proceed to collect and count all ballots cast. The ballot results are reported to the delegation by the Chairman.

VENDORS
This committee arranges for vendors to bring their wares to Grand Chapter. The General Fund is the recipient of a percentage of the vendors' sales.

GRAND HISTORIAN
Our Historian summarizes the Grand Chapter Sessions for updating our history book.

GRAND LIBRARIAN
Our Librarian is a great resource for the Chapter. The Library accepts programs, materials and other information that can be used by chapters and members.

COURTESY
This committee will extend thanks and appreciation to all of the "Angels Among Us".

GIFTS
As a Chapter, group or individual, when thinking about a gift for the WGM or WGP, Don and Billeta would suggest that you consider a donation to one of the Montana Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinic.