Front row. Muriel Stewart; back row (left to right)
Kelly Fabrey, Ellen McClelland, Janet Stewart, Joan Kriebel, JoAnn Vogan
By Janet Stewart
Clarion Chapter of the Pennsylvania Order of the Eastern Star (PA OES) had lots to celebrate and be proud of before its 2023 - 2024 Star year ended in late June 2024.
During the year, the Chapter had three members who served at the state level. Heather Seigworth was Committee Chair for Vendors and Safety at PA OES’s annual Grand Chapter which was held in Erie in late June. Janet Stewart served as PA OES’s Grand Chaplain and JoAnn Vogan as Grand Warder for the year. Their time in these roles ended on June 26, 2024 when other OES members from across Pennsylvania were installed for the 2024 - 2025 Star year.
“The purposes of the OES are charitable; educational; and fraternal so throughout the 2023 — 2024year, Clarion Chapter’s members were actively involved in many charitable and social activities.When the 2023 ~ 2024 year came to an end in June, PA OES charitable contributions totaled$ 892,700.86. For specific charitable amounts, the information is provided in the chart below.
PA OES supported many charities in 2023 - 2024
Scholarships . . . $399,000.00
Masonic Villages . . . $201,739.00
Service Dogs . . . $122,816.90
National MS Society . . . $ 70,826.86
Children’s Dyslexia . . . $ 37,646.12
Shriners Hospitals for Children . . . $ 37,500.00
Masonic Youth Organizations . . . $ 13,918.98
Northwest K9 Search and Rescue . . . $ 5,778.00
Penn State Health Cancer Research . . . $ 3,475.00
GRAND TOTAL AWARDED . . . $ 892,700.86
There were a total of 133 scholarships ($3,000 each) given out across the State and the Clarion Chapter received two of them. Recipients were Connor Hamby (son of Clarion member Dana Hamby) and Alexandria Williams (granddaughter of Clarion members Anna and Karl Emmanuelson).
Here is a picture at the Grand Chapter‘s Recognition of Scaholarship Recipients with Mrs. Dana Hamby and her son Connor Hamby.
PA OES awarded $122,816.90 in June 2024 to Service Dogs. Tara Mondock, PA OES Service Dog Committee General Chairman, said “our investment of time and financial resources in support of the service dog mission generates a far-reaching ripple effect. The lives they touch extend well beyond the initial beneficiary, bringing comfort to families, invigorating communities, and turning hope into reality.”
Throughout the year, Clarion Chapter members were active in fundraising events for Service Dogs as well as supporting each of the other charities listed above.
Both women and men join the Order of the Eastern Star to make friends, enjoy fellowship and have fun. For anyone interested in learning more about PA OES, the website is paoes.org and for anyone wanting to learn more about the Clarion Chapter, contact information is available through the PA OES Grand Secretary at gs@paoes.org.
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