EASTERN STAR INFORMATION
INTRODUCTION..........The Order of the Eastern Star is an adoptive rite of Freemasonry whose teachings are based upon the Bible with objectives that are charitable and benevolent. It is the largest fraternal organization in the world to which both men and women may belong. The Order is dedicated to Charity, Truth, and Loving Kindness.
GOVERNMENT.........The government of the Order is vested in three bodies, named respectively, in the order of rank, General Grand Chapter, Grand Chapter, and Subordinate Chapter. The General Grand Chapter (Washington DC) has total authority within defined limits of its Constitution and Ritual. The Grand Chapter (i.e. Connecticut) has authority within its jurisdiction excepting matters controlled by General Grand Chapter. A jurisdiction is no more than a State, Province or Territory. The Subordinate Chapters (i.e. CT has 35 local chapters) operates under the authority of the Grand Chapter within its jurisdiction.
MEMBERSHIP.........There are several thousand Subordinate Chapters located in the United States and many countries of the world. The organization is truly universal. Requirements for membership are outlined in the General Grand Chapter web site. Refer to the Links page.
CHARITY.................The membership of the Order supports charitable projects such as ESTARL (Eastern Star Training Awards for Religious Leadership), Cancer Research, Arthritis Fund, Heart Fund, Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Shriner's Hospitals, and many local charities within each jurisdiction. The Connecticut Grand Chapter also administers and contributes to the OES Hospital Endowment Fund which helps to support residents at the Masonic Geriatric Healthcare Center in Wallingford, CT and the Ashlar of Newtown Healthcare Facility in Newtown, CT. Our state leaders, the Worthy Grand Matron and Worthy Grand Patron, choose special charitable projects each year to support such, activities as Food Banks, Soup Kitchens, etc.
INTERNATIONAL TEMPLE.........The International Temple, located in Washington DC, is the headquarters of the General Grand Chapter.
INTERNATIONAL PEACE GARDEN.........The Peace Garden is located on the boundary between North Dakota and Manitoba, Canada. The members of the Order of the Eastern Star donate to a Maintenance Fund which provides for upkeep of the facility.
The Eastern Star Charity Foundation of Connecticut
(Submitted by Pauline Manley--Publicity Committee)
We are taught throughout life that by patience and savings we may provide for the infirmities of age. With this thought in mind I would like to tell you about the Eastern Star Charity Foundation.
Times became hard in the early years, and the Masons, who had been sponsoring OES members, had to limit their sponsorship only to their wives. Each year, the Eastern Star had been giving a gift of the items that were needed by the Masonic Home. (In 1902, the OES converted the gas lamps to electric at the Wallingford Masonic Home and Hospital.) But, now, the Eastern Star had to start sponsoring and paying for the care of their own members. These costs which did not exceed $25,000, were paid yearly. In 1955, with 32 OES residents in the Home, each of the 32,000 members were assessed a $1.00 "Hospital Tax", but with rising costs and fewer members, this money was soon insufficient.
By 1962, there was $254,000 in the Endowment Fund. "Project Aim" was instituted and another $98,000 was realized. The Eastern Star Charity Foundation was founded in order to make these funds and those yet to be given, tax free. Its only purpose is that of providing "aid, assistance and support to aged and dependent female members of the Order of Eastern Star of CT". In order to qualify for tax exemptions on gifts, and legacies, it was necessary to separate the fraternal and the financial entities. A separate Board of Directors, comprised of 8 female and 7 male members would be elected from the entire membership of the Grand Chapter. The investments from the Hospital Tax Fund and the OES Endowment Fund were incorporated into this new foundation where they, along with all direct gifts, bequests and legacies are carefully invested in stocks, bonds and government securities. In order to qualify for its tax exempt status, the Eastern Star Charity Foundation is required to donate 85% of its annual income. This donation goes directly to the Masonic Charity Foundation to aid and support our Eastern Star members in the Masonic Geriatric Health Care Center in Wallingford and Ashlar of Newtown. These health care facilities are considered to be the finest of their kind in the entire country.
Our Order has gone from donating gifts to the Masonic home, as in earlier years, to the outright support of our Eastern Star members. From $25,000 a year to the $280,000 which was presented at this past Grand Chapter Session in April, 2000. Even this amount, although very substantial from our point of view, is merely "a drop in the bucket" with costs skyrocketing each year. Over $25 million a year is needed to run the health care facilities.
Of the 2.2 million Americans who turned 65 in 1990, 45% are likely to live in nursing homes, many for 5 years or more. Over 2/3 are women and many of you may fall in this category. Will the care you require in the future be there for you? It will, if we all take stock of our estates. Have you written your last Will and Testament? Have you updated it lately? Do you know that if you pass away without a Last Will and Testament, a Living Will, a Durable Power of Attorney or one of the other legal documents available to handle your estate, your money will be distributed by Government Statutes and not necessarily the way you want it to go. Through careful financial planning for your future, you can help yourself and at the same time help your Eastern Star Sisters by considering the Eastern Star Charity Foundation as part of the development of your future financial plans.
Eastern Star Charity Foundation - Board of Directors
President:
Frederick W. Schmalz, PGP (100)
Vice-President:
Carl Anderson, PP (55)
Secretary:
Jean R. Jeanfavre, PGM (110)
Treasurer:
Lorraine R. Dengler, PM (100)
ESTARL APPLICATION FORMS
(Print or copy pages 1, 2, and 3)
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FORM
(Print or copy page 2)
THE GRAND CHAPTER OF CONNECTICUT
Order of the Eastern Star, Inc
ORGANIZED AUGUST 11, 1874
Scholarship Information and Regulations
1. Objective: The Order of the Eastern Star Scholarships have been established in order to enable and encourage young women and young men of outstanding ability and promise to procure a college or post-graduate education no matter what financial circumstances exist.
2. Eligibility: To be eligible a candidate must:
A. Be a member of a Masonic Affiliated Youth Organization in Connecticut (including Senior DeMolay and Majority Rainbow) or the child or grandchild of a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Connecticut.
B. Complete and submit the attached application accompanied by: (1) personal letter; (2) two letters of recommendation as specified on the application form; (3) Copy of unofficial transcript.
C. A complete copy of the application including all required letters and information must be received by the Chairman of the Eastern Star Scholarship no later then February 15, 2008.
3. Applications: Can be obtained on the www.ctoes.com website or from the Chairman of the Eastern Star Scholarship Committee.
4. Administration: The scholarships are administrated by the Order of the Eastern Star in Connecticut.
5. Scholarship Committee Chairperson:
Ms Nancy A. Watson
48 Elderkin Crossing
Norwich, CT 06360
Phone: 860-887-1128
Email: nawatson@snet.net
All applications must be received by the Chairperson of the Eastern Star Scholarship Committee by February 15th to be considered by the committee.
THE GRAND CHAPTER OF CONNECTICUT
Order of the Eastern Star, Inc
ORGANIZED AUGUST 11, 1874
2008 Scholarship Application
For members of Youth Organizations (including Senior DeMolay and Majority Rainbow) and Eastern Star Family Members.
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1. Name of the Applicant ____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Address ________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. City, State, and Zip Code __________________________________________________________________________________
4. Telephone ______________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Date of Birth ____________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Father’s Name ___________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Mother’s Name __________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Number of other Dependent Children in Family __________Ages ___________________________________________________
9. Applicant is a Rainbow Girl Majority Rainbow DeMolay Sr. DeMolay
Child/Grandchild of an Order of the Eastern Star Member.
10. Chapter or Assembly Name, Number, and Location ______________________________________________________________
11. School attending or desiring to attend _________________________________________________________________________
12. Address of school_________________________________________________________________________________________
13. Has the school accepted Applicant____________________________________________________________________________
14. Have you ever applied for an Eastern Star Youth Scholarship _______________________________________________________
15. TO ACCOMPANY APPLICATION:
A. Letter (maximum 1 page typed or 2 pages hand written) written personally and signed by the applicant describing Youth Organization participation and outside activities in church, school, work, community, etc. It must also include the applicant’s educational objectives.
B. One copy of Applicant’s Unofficial School Transcript and notification of acceptance, if applicable.
C. Two letters of recommendation:
a. One letter from a member of the Order of the Eastern Star of Connecticut, a Rainbow Advisory Board or DeMolay Advisory Board as appropriate.
b. One letter of recommendation from an individual familiar with the Applicant’s academic accomplishments (i.e., teacher or professor, faculty advisor, guidance councilor, or principal).
18. This award is to be used for education within 10 months. If not, the award is to be returned to the Scholarship Committee Chairman.
19. The applicant will forward the completed application packet to the Chairman of the Order of the Eastern Star Youth Scholarship Committee. Complete application packet must be received or Post-marked by February 15, 2008 to be considered.
Signature of Applicant ___________________________________________
The Grand Chapter Connecticut 134th Annual Session
