New Grand Representative

The new Grand Representative of Oregon in Washington is Virgil Myers of Martha Washington Chapter in Vancouver. I traveled to Vancouver and presented Virgil with his commission to Oregon at the Saturday, Martha Washington's meeting on Saturday, February 14th. Virgil was surprised, honored and very pleased. His Chapter was also very supportive and happy for him to receive this commission. Patricia DeMuth who was just Grand Representative of Oregon in Washington was there to wish Virgil good luck. Virgil and his wife Verna can use all of our love and support while Verna is receiving additional treatments for her cancer. Star Love and Hugs, Kristine Ford AGM

Kristine Ford, Virgil Myers & Patricia DeMuth

Pictures from JPGP Rodger

Marian Whetham Gr Esther Recep 2-7-2015
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Kay Foss DIHN 2-4-2015
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Leorne Kromm GR Puerto Rico HN 2-2-2015
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Another Grand Representative

I am pleased to announce that I presented the Grand Representative commission of New Hampshire to Barbara Kaiser at Crown Chapter tonight (February 5th).  I had several officers and visitors open an envelope and read a fun fact about New Hampshire and I had a "souvenir" to go with each fact.  For example:  The first potato planted in the US was in New Hampshire, so I had a potato in the gift bag and the first state to have a lottery was New Hampshire, hence a state lottery scratch ticket was in the gift bag.  The holder of envelope #7 opened the envelope and the card stated, "Congratulations!  You are the new Grand Representative of New Hampshire".  Barbara could hardly read the card and while the audience applauded I helped her up to the East.  Barbara serves as Treasurer and is listed in the Blue Book.  She is also a charter member of Crown Chapter, so this honor was very special for me to give and for Barbara to receive.

Star Love,

Melanie Boss, Grand Ruth

Two More Grand Representatives

Last night (February 4th) I was able to give a commission to Jennie Palmer of Victory chapter.  She will be Grand Representative of New Brunswick, Canada.  I was so happy she was there because she had another foot surgery last Friday and it was iffy if she was going to make chapter. phoooo!!!!!dodged that one what is it about me and feet lol.  She is listed in the Blue Book as JPM.

Marita Bothman, Grand Electa

I am pleased to announce that I presented The Grand Representative commission of New York to Alberta “Peaches” Frye at Belfair Chapter tonight (Wed February 4, 2015).

We created a skit in honor of Valentine’s Day.  It depicted a scene from the movie Sleepless in Seattle where the couple was to meet on the Empire State Building in New York City.  We seated Peaches and Andy Withers at the table and I played the waiter.  After I opened the Martinelli’s and poured it into their wine glasses I gave them menus and asked them to order.  The whole time our Organist was playing different songs from the movie to see who could figure out what was coming.  We had written a note inside Peaches’ menu which said “I will have the same thing that the Grand Representative of New York is having”.  She read it but still didn’t understand.  I had her read it again and this time she figured it out. She was quite surprised and excited.

She is the mother of Pam Rookard, Past Grand Warder.  She is presently listed in the Blue Book as Associate Conductress of Port Orchard Chapter.

Thank you, Lee Ison, Grand Chaplain

New Grand Representative

Tuesday evening, February 3rd, I traveled to Alma Chapter in Kennewick to present the Grand Representative commission for Massachusetts in Washington.
To find our honoree, I pulled Professor Russell out of retirement and conducted a short pop quiz.  
I went to the Secretary, to Adah, to Esther, and to the Associate Conductress asking them historical questions requiring them to name a state on the east coast.  Sister Esther pleaded that she'd "failed history, don't call on me!"  She still got half-a-point for her partially correct answer.  Lastly, I went to Sister Phyllis Williams, Chapter Martha, who wrapped her arms around her head and exclaimed, "Oh, no, not me!  I can't answer questions!"  "Oh, yes you can," was my response.  And I then asked her to name a state in New England that has the oldest Grand Lodge in the nation and that had a very famous event associated with tea.  "Massachusetts," she asks hesitantly.  "Yes," I exclaimed, "and YOU are the new Grand Representative of Massachusetts in Washington!!"
Cheers and laughter, and many tears of joy followed.  Sister Phyllis was presented in the East, given her commission certificate and pin, and a hearty welcome from all present.
Calvin Russell, AGP

Places to Be

Alma Chapter in Kennewick on Tuesday, February 3^rd at 7:30 PM.

Belfair Chapter on Wednesday, February 4^th at 7:30 PM.

Crown Chapter in West Seattle on Thursday, February 5^th at 7:30 PM.

Two New Grand Representatives

I traveled to Guiding Star #99 in Sumner last evening (January 20th)  to present Tracy Williams with the commission of Grand Representative of North Carolina.

Irene G. Jacobs

Grand Secretary 

It is with love and a lot of pleasure that I announced last night (January 20th) at the Official Visit a new Grand Representative. Norma Jean Gaynor, PM, Occidental Chapter was not there and after several attempts to call her I announced it in her absence. I spoke with her this morning and she is thrilled to be the new Grand Representative of Sao Paolo, Brazil.
Love, Mary Ann, WGM

New Grand Representative

Last night (January 19th) I (Penny Norvell, Grand Marshal) had the privilege of presenting the Grand Representative commission to Virginia Goad of Chehalis Chapter.  I gave envelopes to everyone and asked them not to open until appropriate time. Then I read them clues about Alberta. After the clues were given I had them open their envelopes.(in which all said Alberta)......only by  alphabet of their first name.....so slowly we got down to "V" .......Virginia's said, "CONGRATULATIONS you are the new Grand Representing of Alberta in Washington!!!!"  Then I introduced her and the room roared!

Pictures for JPGP Rodger

Melanie Boss Gr Ruth Recep 1-17-15
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Places to Be

Chehalis Chapter on Monday, January 19^th at 7:30 PM

Guiding Star Chapter in Sumner on Tuesday, January 20^th at 7:30 PM

OV of Greenwood/Occidental Chapters in Seattle on Tuesday, January 20^th at 7:30 PM

Grand Representative of Saskatchewan

We traveled to Adelphi Chapter last evening (January 15th) and I presented Sharon Burton with her commission as Grand Representative of Saskatchewan last evening. 
Chris Bippes, Grand Martha

Current & Former Grand Representatives pictured with Sharon Burton, Grand Representative of Saskatchewan.

Another New Grand Representative

I had the pleasure of presenting the Grand Representative of Florida appointment last night (January 14th) at Tula Chapter #26 in Coupeville to Worthy Patron George Konopik.
        Pat and I circled the chapter room with a bag of fruits and vegies asking various members what state they could be found in.  The last fruit was an orange with the Florida Grand Representative pin stuck in it.  George correctly identified Florida as the place where most oranges came from and was given the orange and pin and informed he was the new Grand Representative.  Everyone present was thrilled for this well deserved member to receive this honor.
      Oh, yes - Pat kept looking in the bag and saying, "Have we no bananas?" and I replied by singing, "Yes, we have no bananas."  What fun!
      Jim Iversen, Worthy Grand Patron

Another New Grand Representative

 I was able to present the jurisdiction of Minnesota to Florence Fitzsimmons at Spokane Chapter tonight (January 13th).  There were four grand representatives present and lots of former grand representatives to give her congratulations.   Leslie Green, Grand Warder 

New Grand Representative

Tonight, January 12^th, Nancy and I traveled to Syringa Chapter in Yakima and presented Sister Susan Seagraves with her commission as Grand Representative of Ontario. All went well except for the getting there.

According to the Blue Book and the Blog, Syringa meets at 314 S 2^nd AVE in Yakima. THEY DON”T! They meet at the Fruitvale Grange! Luckily we got to Yakima at 6:30 so we had enough time to figure out what went wrong and get there before they closed the doors on us. 

Had a great time!

Pete Peterson, Grand Sentinel

Grand Sentinel Reception Pictures

Pete Peterson Grand Sentinel Reception 1-10-15
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Two New Grand Representatives

I am pleased to announce Barbara Blankenship of Harmony Chapter as our new Grand Representative of Connecticut. She was thrilled.  So fun. Chris Bippes, Grand Martha

I traveled to Mount Baker Chapter in Mount Vernon last night and presented the Commission of Grand Representative of Mississippi to Laurel Jacobs.  She is the Treasurer at Mount Baker.

I first did a geography lesson by asking for the capitals of 5 different states, then asked what the first letter of each capital spelled. It took a few minutes and then someone (I think Jane Christianson) very quietly with a question mark said Jacobs. I went down and greeted Laurel and her first question was "Where do I go?" I then asked her what state was Jackson the capital of and she promptly said Mississippi.  It turned out that she has family near there.

A commission well deserved and a pleasure to present it.

Grand Esther, Marian Whetham

New Grand Representatives!!

Grand Orgainst Margaret Kennedy traveled to Ferndale Chapter on Jan 5th did a parade of 12 days of Christmas and Barbara Barquist was anounced Grand Representative of BC & Yukon.

Barbara is pictured with Bill Barquist former Grand Representative of BC & Yukon in WA and John Chamberlain, Grand Representative of BC & Yukon in Idaho

     On Tuesday, January 6, 2015, I had the pleasure of traveling to Maple Leaf Chapter in Bellingham to present a Grand Representative commission.

      I stood up under announcements, and read several fun facts about the state whose commission was being given.  My last line was “have you figured out what state you will be representing, Gary?”  MICHIGAN!!  I thought Gary would be surprised, BUT, the surprise was on me and everyone else in the chapter room.  It turns out that Gary’s counterpart had notification that his commission would be effective January 1, 2015, and so she called him to congratulate him at 6:45 a.m. Saturday, January 3!  As he was talking with his counterpart, he kept thinking “I’m not supposed to know this; I’m not supposed to know this.”  Too funny!!! 

     Congratulations to Gary Pitcher, Maple Leaf Chapter, Bellingham, the new Grand Representative of Michigan!

~Jean Ballard, AGC

             Jean Ballard, AGC and Gary Pitcher, Grand Representative of Michigan

AGC Reception Pictures

Associate Grand Conductress, Jean Ballard's Reception in Stanwood on January 3, 2015
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More Places to Be

Mount Baker Chapter on Thursday, January 8th at 7:30 PM.
Spokane Chapter on Tuesday, January 13th at 7:30 PM

Places to Be

Ferndale Chapter on Monday, January 5^th at 7:30 PM.

Maple Leaf Chapter in Bellingham on Tuesday, January 6^th at 7:30 PM.

Victory Chapter in Millwood on Wednesday, January 7^th at 7:30 PM.

Harmony Chapter in Waterville on Thursday, January 8^th at 7:00 PM.

Tula Chapter in Coupeville on Wednesday, January 14^th at 7:30 PM.