On Saturday, January 20^th the Grand Bethel of Maryland Celebrated their 50^th Anniversary.  The 50^th Party served as a time of reuniting of old friends and acquaintances and celebrating the future of the Grand Bethel of Maryland.  The day started with a social hour and a catered luncheon by who else a PGBHQ.  There was a program where the Grand Bethel Honored Queens from the last five decades reflected on the impact that the Grand Bethel has had on their lives.  During the special meeting the Grand Bethel welcomed two new members, and performed the majority ceremony for a member who recently turned 25 years of age.   Approximately 100 people attended the event that included current and future Grand Bethel Honored Queens, past Grand Bethel Guardians and Associate Bethel Guardian’s as well as number of Maryland’s Grand Officers.   

Traveling with the Supreme Team this year (my 7^th trip) took us to Vila Velha, Espírito Santo where we visited with the three Bethels of this state. This is a beautiful area surrounded by much water. We were able to do a mini training session with the Council members on the correct procedure for filing the necessary forms to the SGC. We also held a Ritual questions and answer session with the daughters. From here we traveled on to Itumbiara, Goiás. After a long day of travel, we were treated to a wonderful Brazilian barbecue at the home of the Worshipful Master of the Lodge. The next day was spent doing training and then a Bethel meeting at night. Bethels had traveled many miles and took part in all the days activities. It was then on to the next stop to Victoria da Conquista, Bahia for a Congress. Due to delayed flights and then a three hour road trip that turned into five hours over some very rough roads, we missed the opening of the Congress. There were over 300 people in attendance for this Congress. The morning session was questions by the daughters. After lunch time was spent in a mini training session with the adults and daughters. The rest of the afternoon was spent meeting with individual bethels to collect fees, etc. In the evening a Bethel meeting was held and we were able to present 2 charters. This is a very emotional time for those Bethels receiving their charters. This means so much to them. The next day was the closing ceremony of the Congress and many presentation were made. You might want to ask us how we managed to get a berimbau home. We then traveled back to Ilhéus to spend the night for our flight to Porto Velho, Rondonia. We had just one day with this group and it was spent doing mini training, question and answer and a Bethel meeting. From here we went to Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul. Here we were the guest of one of the Grand Lodge and stayed in the Hotel they owned. This was a new facility and was beautiful. That evening we did ritual training. The next day we did training of the Constitution, met with the daughters for a question and answer session and one with the adults and in the evening an open meeting. We were off to the airport very early the next morning to travel to our last stop of Campo Mourão, Paraná. This was the first time anyone from the US had visited this state. When we arrived at the Lodge early in the morning we were welcomed by about 60 plus daughters and adults. We spent all day doing training and question and answer session. In the evening a Bethel meeting was held with over 100 people in attendance. The next day an opening meeting was held with about 400 people in attendance. There were 13 Worshipful Master from around the state there, many had never been to a Job's Daughters meeting. A Worshipful Master in his remarks said that he wanted a Bethel in his city. Again we were able to present a charter to another Bethel. This was the end of a very busy 14 days in Brazil. The people are wonderful and so anxious to please you. We now have assisting deputies for all the states in Brazil and I am so pleased to be working with each of them. We communicate via email and they are quick to assist me when we need answers. I also spend much time answering their questions which is so important to them. Again, I found much enthusiasm for our Order. The daughters and adults want to learn and do our work correctly. Can you see the daughters in the United States or even Canada willing to spend a Saturday from early in the morning till late at night learning about our ritual and law. This happens in Brazil.

Bethel #1, Anchorage, AK was invited to Sterling Alaska to attend the installation of Sterling Lodge No 22 on January 6^th and do the “What Is A Mason” Ceremony and the Closing Cross.  How do you safely transport 14 Jobies, 1 Jobie to Bee, 1 DeMolay Master Councilor, 1 DeMolay Dad Advisor, 6 Jobie chaperones, all the robes, Jobie bags, winter gear and a mountain of backpacks containing everything necessary to sustain a group of Jobies on a seven hour road trip in the dead of winter at minus 20 below  -  and just after a snow storm deposited 3 feet of snow?  Why in a Jobie tour bus of course.

In Alaska you can’t possibly consider the long drive to Sterling without continuing on down the road for another 10 miles to visit Soldotna where resides the one and only Dairy Queen in Alaska.  That was the primary goal of this group was to eat lunch and ice cream at Dairy Queen.  We were all grateful that the tour bus operator understood the importance of this trip.  The incoming Worshipful Master also understood the Jobie logic and had us stop in Sterling to pick up Dairy Queen gift certificates before we continued on.

After a satisfying meal of burgers, chicken strips, fries and of course lots of Dairy Queen ice cream the bus loaded and it was back to Sterling for the installation.  Sterling Lodge shares meeting space in the local Senior Center so the meeting room is not your typical Lodge room.   But this is Alaska and that is what makes us unique.   After the installation we were treated to a fantastic spaghetti dinner before we had to make our way back to Anchorage.    Since it gets dark around 3 p.m. that was perfect for viewing Pirates of the Caribbean on the way home once our Master Councilor figured out how the video system on the bus worked. 

It was a great trip, we were kept warm and toasty in the bus, we were able to meet so many new Masonic friends and the ice cream was the best.   However, we did learn that in winter the bathroom in the bus freezes and has no heat and with no businesses open in the winter….well you get the idea.

Submitted by Jan Harms, Grand Secretary

Job's Daughters in PA is proud to announce that we will be instituting another Bethel in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, January 13, 2007. This is the second time in the last 5 years that we have been able to add another Bethel. In December, Job's Daughters in PA will be celebrating 70 years of tradition, fun, family, and Job's Daughters and adding more to our fantastic Order is certainly a great treat for Pennsylvania. For details on this exciting event, please contact the Grand Secretary at pagrandsec@comcast.net

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 One year ago Bethel #1 was invited by the Sr. Warden of Tanana Lodge, Mr. David Worrel in Fairbanks, AK to participate in his installation if he was elected Worshipful Master.    This was to be the 1^st installation in the brand new Tanana Lodge Masonic building.  All year long Bethel #1 waited patiently for December 2006 to arrive because Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus had also invited  Bethel #1 to their house in North Pole for cookies.

 Finally December 8^th, the day of the trip arrived.  13 Jobies dressed in their purple traveling shirts and 5 chaperones, 53 pieces of luggage and 6 boxes of candy to sell, arrived at the airport to fly to Fairbanks on Alaska Airlines.  Because the Bethel has flown on Alaska Airlines so much, many of the flight crews know us by our purple shirts.  What an exciting and scary flight it turned out to be.  There was so much turbulence that several of the girls got sick.  We were glad it is only a 50 minute flight to Fairbanks.    Last year when we went to Fairbanks it was 40 below so we also all wore long sleeve shirts and long underwear.  This year Fairbanks was in the mid 30’s so we were all dressed way too warm.  

We arrived at the Westmark Hotel and were starved after our long flight.   Our Director of Epochs immediately got on the phone and called Pizza Hut to have 10 large pizzas and sodas delivered.  Because our Associate Bethel Guardian always has his own room, the Jobies turned his room into a pizza parlor.  The cleaning staff probably wondered how one person ate so many pizzas.

The next morning after breakfast provided by Westmark we walked over to the new Masonic building.  What a beautiful building.  The new pedestals and desks were handmade from oak by lodge members in Whitehorse YT Canada and brought for this installation.  The Masonic symbols were hand carved from walnut by the Whitehorse lodge.    Worshipful Master David Worrel had the Rainbow girls escort, the Fairbanks DeMolay chapter give a talk on What is DeMolay and Bethel #1 of Anchorage did the What is a Mason Ceremony and the Closing Cross at the end of the installation.  The meeting room has perfect acoustics and never has Near My God to Thee sounded so perfect.    RWJack Boiley from the Whitehorse Lodge in Yukon Territories, Canada gave a talk about Masonary and what it means to be a Mason. 

After the installation Mr. Worrel’s reception was a luncheon.  Somehow the food always tastes better in Fairbanks.  Then it was back to the Westmark to clean out the Associate Bethel Guardian room.  We had stored our luggage in his room before we left and had to move it to another locked room downstairs.  Several of the girls learned never to bring a suitcase bigger than you are and never heavier than you can carry by yourself.  We think some of the girls brought their entire room. 

The Westmark Hotel loaned the Bethel the use of their shuttle van and a driver to take us to North Pole and Santa’s house for cookies.  We were all so excited to see Mr. and Mrs. Santa especially at this time of the year and wanted Santa to know we had all been good Jobies and to really make sure he knew what was on our Christmas list.  

Our Van driver

 After a quick stop to try out Santa’s sleigh and see his reindeer, it was in to have cookies with Mr. and Mrs. Santa and present him with a Jobie hat.    The cookies were YUMMY!!!!

 Then it was back to the Westmark where we held an open meeting in the lobby since we forgot to pick up the Masonic Center’s key.  We had many people stop and watch the meeting and inquire about Job’s Daughters.    Job’s Daughters was highly visible in Fairbanks and created a lot of interest in our organization before we left.

Finally it was time to depart and it was back to the airport and home to Anchorage on Alaska Airlines.  The flight crew was going on to Chicago and will be looking for us when we come to Supreme Session in July.    Now we are anxiously awaiting Christmas to see if Santa brings what we asked for on our Jobie Christmas list. 

Bethel #1 in Anchorage, Alaska held a service project called Trick or Treat for the Troops in Afghanistan in October.  Flyers were distributed on a Saturday after the meeting in everyone’s local neighborhood explaining what the project was about, what the troops needed and that the following day if the items were left on the front porch they would be picked by the Jobies.   Of course on Sunday Mother Nature delivered a massive snow storm to Anchorage.   The Bethel Guardian received many calls from individuals asking if the weather was halting the project.  A snow storm stop Bethel #1?  Not hardly.  

200 pounds of goodies was collected for our troops during the snow storm.  Then everything had to be repackaged into small manageable boxes and all the customs forms filled out.   During the packing process donations kept arriving and the stack of boxes kept getting larger. 

Anchorage Chapter DeMolay wanted to get involved so volunteered on one of their meeting nights to deliver all the boxes to the Airport Post Office, stand in line and pick up the cost of mailing our boxes.  Little did they know that the night of the mass mailing there would be a wind chill of minus 20 below zero.   In true DeMolay tradition the guys stepped up to the plate and arrived at the Post Office with all the boxes and only one customs form missing.   The form wasn’t missing for long as one of the DeMolay’s following the truck saw it blow off and stopped his car and retrieved it from the middle of the road.  

At final count 35 boxes weighing slightly over 300 pounds were shipped to Afghanistan.  Those going to Afghanistan will be distributed by our Bethel Council Member, Mrs. Nichols who is serving in Afghanistan has the ability to see our items get to the field troops. 

Bethel #1 and Anchorage DeMolay will be starting another service project called “Jingle the Bell for the Troops”.    We will be collecting donations again but also would like to include lots of letters.  If you would like to assist us in this project by writing letters please contact our Guardian at dwane.anderson@worldnet.att.net

By Members of Bethel #1, Anchorage, AK

 Mother Nature tried to foil Bethel #1 in Anchorage, Alaska but didn’t succeed.  The night before our Saturday meeting it rained and then froze making for some mighty slick roads which resembled ice rinks.  But everyone arrived safely for an open meeting for parents and girls to learn about Job’s Daughters.  The Bethel received 6 petitions after the meeting for the initiation to be held on November 11^th. 

After the meeting the girls broke into groups and distributed flyers for the final day of Trick or Treating for the Troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.  One of our Council members, Ms. Kelly Nichols PHQ,  is serving in Afghanistan and we were also asked to help support a Stryker Unit in Iraq.    The purpose behind the Trick or Treating for the Troops was to collect items they had asked for instead of ourselves.  The flyers asked that on Sunday items be left in grocery bags on the front porches to be collected.

On Sunday, Mother Nature decided that with the ice covered roads she would throw in a Severe Winter Snow Storm to really test the tenacity of Bethel #1.    The Bethel Guardian received many, many phone calls from individuals asking if the girls were really coming out in the snow storm to pick up the donations.   Of course, the Jobies were on a mission.  We will have more news on how much was collected in another article.   

Later that day the members of the Bethel and our Jobies to Bee met at the Masonic Center for our Annual Pumpkin Carving party and to turn in our Trick or Treat items.    Almost every one was dressed in costume and all waded through the snow.  Some of the pumpkins were so heavy they had to be rolled into the building all were carved and either taken home or donated to individuals. 

Mother Nature decided that she couldn’t out do the Jobies so gave us sunny skies and cold weather. 

Rebecca Boggs, Sr. Princess of Bethel #1 Anchorage, Alaska was the winner of Alaska Chapter #355 National Sojourners 2005 Essay Contest.   Her essay was forwarded in consideration for national recognition by the National Sojourners.  Rebecca was presented the award  and a $100 Bond prior to a regular Bethel Meeting by Mr. Al Kelley, Secretary of Chapter #355 Anchorage.  The topic for the essay contest was What Historical Event Contributed the Most to Our National Expansion.  Rebecca’s essay was The Importance of The Bill of Rights.   Rebecca, is a senior at Eaglecrest Academy and has been a very active member of Job’s Daughters for 4 years.  Rebecca did the narration for the Necrology Ceremony at Supreme Session this year and is on the AK Messengers Ritual Team.

“Printed as received”

            Supreme Guardian, Denise Noonan, Associate Supreme Guardian Tom Sapp and Miss International Job’s Daughters, Erin Weisshaar  visited the jurisdictions of British Columbia and Washington on Saturday, September 16 at Saghalie Middle School in Federal Way, Washington.

            Also honored in the East were the following Supreme Bethel Officers and Representatives:  Nicole Bogart, B.C. Supreme Bethel Recorder, Michaela Rehm, WA (Supreme Bethel Rep to Acre), Jessica Lofty, B.C. (Supreme Bethel Rep to Indiana), Jessica Lutz, WA (Supreme Bethel Rep to Manitoba) and Shannon Ingram, B.C. (Supreme Bethel Rep to West Virginia).

Presiding for the festivities were Miss Mary Davis, Grand Bethel Honored Queen of Washington and Miss Melissa Davis, Composite Bethel Honored Queen of British Columbia. 

            This is the 35^th year of the Washington/ British Columbia International Day celebration that was started by Mrs. Hazel Gray, PGG, Washington and Mrs. Bev Sewell, PGG, British Columbia.  Since that time Washington and British Columbia jurisdictions have taken turns hosting the celebration.

            The Grand Bethel of Washington and the Composite Bethel of British Columbia presented a ceremony of friendship and history of the two jurisdictions and friendship gifts were exchanged.

            The evening continued with a dinner and casual reception at Bethel 67 in Federal Way, followed by bowling at the local bowling alley.  Mrs. Noonan and Mr. Sapp are great bowlers – ask them when you see them in their travels.  Many new friends were made especially at the sleepover.  The male Grand Officers of both Washington and British Columbia provided breakfast. 

“Printed as received”

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SUPREME GUARDIAN’S REPORT  2005 – 2006 

The Installation on Saturday, August 6^th, 2005 in Fresno, California was everything that Ken and I could have ever wished for. As I stood and humbly took this Oath of Office I could only hope and pray that for the next year I would do the very best that I could possibly do for our Daughters and this entire Order. How honored I was as the new Supreme Guardian to look out and see all of my British Columbia Family and knowing how much Love and Support they had given me those past three years. 

In my address I was very adamant about what we as the Adults should remember as we watch over these young Daughters. We are there to give our love, our support, our guidance and to never forget compassion, as these Daughters are at the most emotional time of their lives.

As I traveled to the many Countries, States and Provinces of our Job’s Daughters world I continue to be amazed at the love and support for our Daughters and the many adults who continue to work unselfishly to provide guidance and direction to our leaders of tomorrow.

As Supreme Guardian, it is my duty to uphold the constitution, and as my predecessors before me I was also faced with many challenges, one of which is the law with respect to Jurisdictional Councils.  In the past couple of years, we have had to put some Grand Guardian Councils under Jurisdictional Councils and I have had to deal with two of these in my term. There has been much anger, frustration and at times many tears and I can honestly say that I wonder if we have the right structure for these jurisdictions to continue and grow. Originally Jurisdictional Councils were developed to provide a building structure for Bethels under Supreme to work towards becoming a Grand Guardian Council.  These laws were implemented at a time when our organization was flourishing.  As we see a decrease in membership in our Order, the law clearly states how we will treat a Grand Guardian Council that cannot sustain itself.  While attending a Jurisdictional Council Meeting one evening I was asked the question “what had Supreme really given them by making them a Jurisdictional Council”.  The reality, they are still Bethels under Supreme, they do not have any power and if there were problems the Supreme Deputy or the Supreme Guardian was the one to deal with them.   I believe a review of the Jurisdictional Councils needs to occur in the next year and I am confident the line officers of this organization will do their very best to put forth recommendations that will assist these councils in the future.

Overall, the Grand Guardian Councils of this organization continue to do great work for our Daughters, which reflect positively on Job’s Daughters International.  However, there are others that are challenged with membership issues and lack of adult leadership.  It is these Grand Guardian Councils that need our help and assistance and we need to focus more efforts and resources in these areas. 

On my visits outside of North America it became clear to me how serious this situation has become on an international level.  While we see Brazil growing at an alarming rate with strong adult support, the jurisdictions of Australia and the Philippines are losing ground on daughter membership and adult leadership year after year. 

My trip to the Philippines was one of the highlights of my year.  The adults and Daughters welcomed me with open arms, their enthusiasm and love of the Order was infectious and I enjoyed my time with them immensely.  Their challenge is with adult leadership and the geography of a country that has 7000 islands and a weak financial base.  In speaking with the Grand Guardian Council, they felt that they were supported more as Bethels under Supreme than they have been as a Grand Guardian Council.  They desperately need our help in order to continue.   I have accepted the position of Supreme Deputy to the Philippines and will work closely with the Supreme Guardian Council, informing them of the progress and resources required in the coming year to make the Jurisdiction stronger.

 On a positive note, I am pleased to report that 8 of our 27 Grand Guardian Council Jurisdictions saw an increase in membership over the past year.  I can only hope that this trend will continue as Job’s Daughters has so much to offer the youth of today. 

 As I come to the end of my year I am trying to keep my report on the positive side for our Daughter’s sake. I would like to address a very serious problem that seems to go on in our Jobie World much too often and that is “THE INFIGHTING WITH THE ADULTS”. This problem is very serious in some Jurisdictions and I find that these Adults are dragging Daughters right along with them. I was told that there was an instance where a new Family had been approached and asked what camp are they in. Our Daughters take an obligation to be a true and loyal friend to all members of the Order.  As adults it is our responsibility to teach the Daughters what this part of their obligation means.  We do not all have to be good friends but when we come through that Bethel door we come as equals and we must learn to get along with each other. As adult leaders, it is our influence that will prepare our Daughters to go out in the work world and be successful.  However, if you are an adult who preaches these words but does not live by them, please know that it is the Daughters that suffer and you are not adding value to our organization. 

 I have had to make many decisions this year and one very valuable lesson that I have learned was that I had to make these decisions as the Supreme Guardian of Jobs Daughter International not as your friend, Louise. If you are one of these friends and think I did wrong please know that I do still stand by those decisions. I have had many E-Mails, positive, negative and anonymous and even loud and angry confrontations from Adults in front of Daughters. I find this unacceptable and as we all know we as the Adults working in this Order are there to direct and guide these Daughters not to wreak havoc on the Bethels. In saying this, please know that we have many good, hard working Adults that are here for all the right reasons but we do not hear from them too often because they are too busy working and having fun with our Daughters. Remember these words “ONLY THE PERSON WHO IS NOT ROWING HAS TIME TO ROCK THE BOAT” God Bless all you “ROWERS” out there.

 Even with the challenges I have shared with you in my report, I can honestly say that I have seen more good than bad, heard more positive than negative and believe that we still have the best youth organization in the world.

 I now would like to finish my report by saying my very special thank yous.

 To our Vice Supreme Guardian, Denise Noonan, Vice Associate Supreme Guardian, Tom Saap, Supreme Guide Janine Coley, Supreme Inner Guard, Mike Hoglund, Supreme Marshal, Sue Cadis and Supreme Outer Guard, Bob Clore, may I say what an honor it has been to work along side all of you. We have shared everything and your love and total support goes beyond description. I do appreciate the faith you did have in me and love each and every one of you. I want to wish Denise and Tom the very best on their upcoming year as our new Supreme Guardian and Associate Supreme Guardian. I just know you two will do just great. 

To our much needed Executive Manager, Susan Goolsby I cannot thank you enough for all your hard work and your very special friendship that has held me together this past year. To say that we communicated would be putting it mildly because most times we were on the phone more then anyone could possibly know. Your love and support have meant a great deal to me Susan, and I consider myself very lucky to have had you working for our Supreme Guardian Council and to almost be my right hand. You will always have a special place in my heart.

 To our Appointed Supreme Officers, how can I say thank you to such a wonderful bunch. Ken and I feel very fortunate for all the love and support that you have given us this past year – what a great Supreme Team. I would like to say a very special thank you to Wynn LeComte, our Supreme Chaplain, who did many of the travels with us. Your support was much needed at times.

 As every Supreme Guardian can tell you, it is wonderful to share your year with the Supreme Bethel Honored Queen and the Miss International.  Thank you Meghan Garibay, Supreme Bethel Honored Queen and Chelsey Galbraith, Miss International Job’s Daughter for your dedication to our Order for the past year.  We began our travels in the United States, quickly followed by Australia and then Brazil and then back to Canada and more of the United States.  It was the decision of the board that the Daughters could not visit with me in the Philippines, due to the political unrest in the country which as the Supreme Guardian I did have to support.  It was in the early spring when our Miss International made the decision to reduce her travel and the Supreme Bethel Honored Queen continued to travel with me for the remainder of the year.  Thank you Meghan for being by my side and please know that many times you were the sunshine that could make a day very special in those travels. 

 I would also like to thank the Daughters of the Supreme Bethel for their enthusiasm and commitment to promoting Job’s Daughters in their jurisdictions.  A very special thank you goes to Kelly Costa, our Supreme Bethel Guardian and Ron Johnson, our Supreme Associate Bethel Guardian for their hard work and love for this Order. You both have always put our Daughter’s first and foremost. Kelly, how can I ever thank you for the many times I called for help and you were just there doing whatever task big or small I asked of you. Please know that I love you and will always be there for you.

 Our year could not have been so successful without the dedication of our committee members.  Each of you took on the responsibility to serve Job’s Daughters International and I thank you for everything that you have done.  To our Board, once again I thank you for all your hard work and for helping to make the decisions that it takes to make this Order run efficiently throughout the Job’s Daughter world.

 To the Jurisdiction of British Columbia and Michigan, words cannot express how much Ken and I owe you for all your hard work these last four years. British Columbia, I could never have done this without all your love and support. Linda Sharpe, my friend, Thank you for taking this momentous job on after we lost our Bev Sewell. You and your Supreme Team have been awesome and I love you all. Michigan, thank you for making me feel like one of your own. You both are truly two of the greatest Jurisdictions.

 This report would not be complete without thanking everyone for the hospitality and courtesies extended to me this past year as I traveled the Job’s Daughters world.  The kindness, love and support from all of you are something I will never forget and has meant the world to me.

 To my partner, your Associate Supreme Guardian, Ken Smiley, I treasure this year for having such a wonderful and dedicated counterpart beside me. Thank You Ken for your Love, Total support and Friendship. To Marilee, Ken’s wife, I must say thank you for all the help that you have given me the last four years. I cannot tell you how much I have appreciated the sharing of your knowledge with me and I will value your very special friendship always.

 To my Family, I would like to say thank you to all of you for your love and much needed support. To my Beloved Husband, Sometime Chauffeur and Sounding Post, I could never have done this without you and I want you to know that I love you for letting me take on this position of Supreme Guardian of Job’s Daughters International. You did some of my Travels with me and I understand that you have even learned how to do the wash.  I am coming home now and am looking forward to spending time with all my Family. I do promise some home cooked meals as long as I have not forgotten how to cook.

 To the Daughters and Adults of Job’s Daughters International, I thank each and every one of you for having the faith and trust in me to do this Office as your Supreme Guardian this past year. This has been a very busy year and I will treasure all the Love and Special Friendships it has given me Today, Tomorrow and Always. May God Be With Each And Every One of You.

 Take Care, God Bless and Jobie Love,

 Louise Windbiel
Supreme Guardian, 2005-2006