The local area chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star, a service fraternal organization, will be hosting special meetings for state executives and traveling members on January 25 and January 26. Silver City Chapter #3 and Georgetown Chapter #4, located in the Mimbres, will honor state leaders, Kati Yates, Worthy Grand Matron, and Larry Holmes, Worthy Grand Patron. Yates is a member of Roswell Chapter #10 in Roswell, New Mexico, and Holmes is a member of Los Alamos Chapter #63 in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
The International Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world for both men and women with approximately 500,000 members with 10,000 chapters in twenty countries. The vision statement of the organization is “together we enhances lives and communities through service and fellowship founded on biblical principles.” The spiritual symbol of the Order is the five-pointed star of Bethlehem. Service projects vary per chapter, but chapters support state and international service efforts such as supporting Paws and Stripes, which assists in raising funds for the program whereby veterans are matched with shelter dogs, that then go through an extensive program to train the dogs to be service dogs for the veteran. With the number of military veterans returning from combat with PTSD and TBI, service dogs can help them live better lives. Other service projects include raising funds for scholarships, benevolence, an ESTARL program that provides financial assistance to people seeking religious training, food baskets for the needy, supporting Wreaths Across America, shut-in support, cancer research projects, Shriner’s charities, Scottish Rite Learning Disorders centers, serving meals at the Kiwanis Student of the Month banquets, and many others.
Sabrina Pack, from Silver City, New Mexico, was elected to the state leadership line in October, is currently serving in the position of Associate Grand Conductress. Over the next three years, she will advance the line to become state president, known as Worthy Grand Matron. Pack has been actively involved in leading a new state marketing initiative and revamp for the Grand Chapter of New Mexico, which is now also assisting sister states with their marketing and membership initiatives. According to Pack, “Many perceive the Order of the Eastern Star to have been an organization their grandparents and great grandparents belonged and don’t realize all of the significant service work that continues and that younger members are more than welcome to join, to enjoy great fellowship and service that not only impacts your community, but your world. The organization is founded on biblical principles that should adorn our lives in living a fair and upright life where we care for the members of community and help build stronger communities.”
The two local chapters this year are under the leadership of Lucia Smith, Worthy Matron, and Lloyd Page, Worthy Patron, of Geogetown Chapter, and Becky Rice, Worthy Matron, and Harvey May, Worthy Patron, of Silver City Chapter. The weekend’s events begin at Georgetown Chapter, at the Mimbres Masonic Lodge, with activities starting at 6pm on Friday, January 25. Silver City Chapter will host their official meeting on Saturday, January 26, starting at 1:30, at the Silver City Masonic Lodge, after a tour of historic downtown that morning that is planned for visitors traveling to the area for the official meetings.
Christine Fairbanks, of Silver City Chapter, is serving in the position of Grand Ruth, which is a state officer position. Some of the other area members serving in special positions within the state organization include those who are Grand Representatives of New Mexico. These include Loretta May, Missouri; Sabrina Pack, Ontario; Marilyn Page, New Hampshire; Carol Hudson, Oregon; Amber Thompson, Tennessee; and Terry Worcester, Vermont. Sabra Humphrey, from Georgetown Chapter, is a Past Grand Worthy Matron (past state president), who is very active in the organization, helping with service and just recently completed a three-year term of service at the International Level as Ambassador to Guam.
Sojourning members of the Order of the Eastern Star are invited to attend any or all of the events. Also, if you are interested in learning more about the Order of the Eastern Star and to become a member of this Masonic organization, please call 575-534-7551 or 575-313-7645.