2023 CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

SPECIAL EVENTS

Brecksville Chapter #537 has continued to be busy this year.   During the summer we had a Chapter Picnic, attended a band concert together and went out to eat. In October 2022 and 2023, we honored our Past Matrons and Past Patrons and did a Memorial Service for those members who have passed away during the previous year.   In November 2022, we honored our Veterans for their service to our country. In March 2023 and October 2023, we awarded service pins, and their names are listed below. During the winter months we were busy preparing for our Inspection. Inspection was held in April 2023, and we passed with no irregularities. In May 2023, we had a representative speak at our meeting from the local police department and brought his K-9 partner with him.  We also had a speaker on the OES Service Dogs program at that meeting.   We had a presentation on the Grotto Dental Program for Children with Special Needs in May. We have honored Mother’s, Father’s, Valentines, and Membership Service Award recipients at our meetings. Our sunshine person has sent cards to members for Birthdays, Anniversaries, Get Well, Thinking of You, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter.

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CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

We have provided monetary donations to Cancer, ESTARL, Heart, Youth, Masonic Learning Center, our Chapter Benevolence Fund, Grand Chapter Benevolence Fund, local Police Department K-9 Unit, Regenerative Medicine, Service Dogs, Shriners Transportation, OES HOME, Educational Foundations, Eye Foundation, After the Storm and Grotto’s Dental Project to Special Needs Children to name a few. In 2022, we gave educational grants totaling $1800.00 to deserving students. We support our local food banks with monetary donations and did a sock drive with the Organizations that meet in our Masonic Center and Summit Masonic Lodge.  255 pairs of socks were donated to the Emergency Assistance Center serving Northern Summit County.  We also assisted with their food drive by sorting and labeling cans/jars/boxes with their expiration date.  Brecksville Chapter is very active with numerous organizations in the community.  Over 3000 hours were logged by 12 members this year, with many more members also providing community service. 

 

YOUTH ORGANIZATION

We sponsor Brecksville Rainbow Assembly with our Worthy Matron, Margaret Berteau (who is serving for the first time) and Worthy Patron, Robert Berteau (her husband) serving on the Advisory Board.  One of our members, Lara Ratliff, is the Mother Advisor.  Thirteen members participated in our Rainbow Assembly Diamond Jubilee by taking stations and performing the ritual work. 

 

AUXILIARIES, PUBLICITY, SOCIAL EVENTS

Our Junior Auxiliary meets monthly for fellowship and to assist with Ways and Means projects.   They have assembled the newsletters for mailing.   We reach out to our members via an active calling committee, newsletters and webpage.  We have provided articles for print and email editions of our local newspapers and articles for the Eastern Star Journal. Our Chapter provides hostesses to a local funeral home for the meal service a family receives after a funeral. Several members received the Rob Morris Award this year.   We participated in the Brecksville Masonic Center Open House in April 2023.  Our Chapter members are very active within the district and state.  Many members have attended other Chapter events including Installations, Inspections, Visitations, Receptions, Social Events and Educational Opportunities.  Chapter members have attended as a group band concerts, Chapter picnic, Steel Drum Concert, dinners at local restaurants and our Mother Daughter Luncheon. 

 

AWARDS

We held a reception for Gayle Adamek, Grand Representative of Quebec in Ohio at the completion of her commission and we were honored with the appointment of Dorothy Berman as Grand Representative of Louisiana in Ohio.

We were a recipient of the Outstanding Chapter Award, Gold Status at Grand Chapter. 

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2023 SERVICE AWARDS 

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75 YEARS - Margaret Cassidy

 

70 YEARS - Belva Smith

 

65 YEARS - Janet Anderson, Betty Patterson

 

60 YEARS - Gail Holzman

 

50 YEARS - Joyce McIntosh, Loreatta West

 

40 YEARS - Jill Kovach, Lee Pilous, Judith Revak, Cindy Riedel, Judy Siegenthaler

 

30 YEARS - Jill Moliff

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25 YEARS - Melba Crick

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