NOTE: These minutes were approved as read at the February 17, 2018 Board of Directors meeting in Arlington, Texas.

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1 NOTE: These minutes were approved as read at the February 17, 2018 Board of Directors meeting in Arlington, Texas. GRAND CHAPTER OF TEXAS ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 13, 2018 ARLINGTON, TEXAS The regular meeting of the Board of Directors was called to order at 9:28am in the Conference Room of the Grand Chapter Office by Chairman Carlotta Fairchild. The Chairman welcomed all present and shared a quote on Attitude. Board Members present were: Chairman, Carlotta Fairchild; District Five; Vice Chairman, Ray Hargis District One; Secretary, Barbara Martin, District Three; James Parker, District One; Deborah Land, District Two; Cindy Echols, District Two, Darrell Albrecht, District Three; Bob Royall, District Four; Debi Fincher, District Four and Phyllis Wilson, District Five. Others present for all or part of the meeting were: Grand Secretary, Dr. Ellen Pickrell; Grand Treasurer, Greta Spradling; Past Grand Patron, Bill Crews; Susie Rodgers, Allen Rogers, Linda Hargis, Xanthe Parker and Janet Travers. Deborah Land presented the devotional on Resolutions and making time to improve yourself. Ecclesiastes 3:1-9 was referenced as there is a time for everything. A prayer was presented by Deborah Land at the end of the devotional. The Chairman presented the following Housekeeping Rules for the meeting: Only Board Members speak during discussions. If a guest has a question, the guest should present the question to a Board Member so it may be brought before the Board. Make eye contact with members in the room during the Mizpah Benediction. Birthdays: January birthdays of Deborah Land, Melissa Hudman (Worthy Grand Matron) and Lou Skidd (Grand Esther) were recognized. The February birthdays of Linda Hargis and Barbara Martin were recognized. There were no anniversaries to be recognized. Minutes: The minutes of the November 18, 2017 Board of Directors Regular Meeting in Arlington, Texas were presented. Debi Fincher moved that the minutes of the November 18, 2017 Board of Directors Regular Meeting be approved as presented. The motion was seconded by Bob Royall and adopted. Vote Ratification: The next item of business was ratification of votes conducted December and January. The following votes two (2) were grouped together for ratification.

2 December 8 th Vote that the Minutes from the November 18 th Board of Directors regular meeting be posted on the Grand Chapter website with the Caveat as shown in red below pending a vote at the January 13, 2018 Board of Directors meeting for final approval. The information contained in this document will not be official until such time as the minutes are ratified by the Board of Directors at their next scheduled meeting to be held on January 13, January 2 nd Vote to allow the Grand Secretary to transfer $45,00.00 from the Eastern Star Home Fund (9007) to the Eastern Star Home Checking (6812) in order to pay the December 2017 TMRC invoice. Darrell Albrecht moved to ratify these votes. The motion was seconded by James Parker and adopted. Correspondence: Cards sent by the Secretary included: 18 Birthday cards, 6 Anniversary cards, 1 Sympathy Card, 5 Thinking of You Cards and 8 Get Well Cards. Additional Get-Well Cards will be sent to Past Grand Matrons, Dr. Effie Mae Davis and Beulah Speer. Phyllis Macon thanked the Board for her birthday card. A letter was received from Suzanne Walters thanking the Board for her birthday gifts. Grand Secretary s Report: Grand Secretary, Dr. Ellen Pickrell, reported on the following items: Bulletin Advertising Progress: Two vendors have advertised in the Bulletin at this time. Paul s Trophy s Shop: Past Grand Matron, Jerre Lucas, has been working to get this issue resolved. Amazon Smiles Program: A total of $ has been disbursed to the Grand Chapter Office. Hurricane Harvey Relief Funds: As of January 10, 2018, $39, has been donated and $32, has been allocated to members suffering losses. Grand Treasurer s Report: The Board has been provided with the monthly financial reports. Unfinished Business: Information on ENABLE Labs was presented by Ray Hargis and Grand Secretary, Dr. Ellen Pickrell. Scanning of older data is progressing very slowly. All data will be converted to the MORI database in the future. Information on the Investment Bankers was presented by James Parker. The committee is in the process of reviewing these documents and developing their report. The Executive Committee Report was to be given by Past Grand Matron Sharon Mosmeyer. However, she was unable to attend the meeting due to illness.

3 Information on the Audit with Ratliff and Associates was presented by James Parker. The audit is near completion. Information from the 135th Grand Chapter Session is needed for completion. Information on Changing Grand Chapter s Risk Investment Limits was presented by James Parker. The Board committee has received information from J. P. Morgan and is reviewing it. New Business: Information on the Bulletin and members observations was presented by Bob Royall. Discussion followed on the costs and future of the Bulletin: Each Bulletin costs approximately $3.01 to print Yearly costs for producing and printing Bulletin is approximately $58, Members of the Grand Chapter Bulletin Committee should be asked to seek ads in addition to subscriptions. Communications concerning the Bulletin is an issue Ask the vendors who will be participating at Grand Chapter Session to submit ads and possibly coupons in the Bulletin. A committee was appointed by the Chairman to conduct research and report on opportunities to address these concerns. The committee members are: Cindy Echols (chairman), Darrell Albrecht and Debi Fincher. Committee Reports: Benevolent Aid: Phyllis Wilson reported on Benevolent Aid. Guidelines: The guidelines are being reviewed and there are no improvements to be made at this time. January 2018 Long Term Aid was paid to the following Chapters: Kerrville #24 Winnie #160 Everman #624 Alamo Heights #734 Richardson #921 South Fort Worth #835 Duncanville #1014 Emergency Aid Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund was paid to the following chapters: Orange #214 Friendswood #1131 Aransas Pass #162 Rockport #479 Katy #1121 Goose Creek #798 Temporary Aid Rio Vista #343 The totals for Benevolent Aid in January were: Long Term Aid $ 3, Emergency Aid Harvey $ 4, Temporary Aid $ Total $ 8, Additional Benevolent Aid approved: Long Term Aid for $ per month Emergency Aid for $1,500.00

4 Legislation should be considered for clarification of the statement one time funds in the Code of Laws concerning Emergency Aid. Applications for Hurricane Harvey Emergency Aid have decreased. Over $3, for Hurricane Harvey fund was raised through the Worthy Grand Matron s Tee Shirt Project. Masonic Home and School has Hurricane Harvey Aid for Widows in the amount of $1, per person. The deadline for applications is the end of January. Museum: Darrell Albrecht reported on the Museum. Items are ready to go to Grand Lodge to be exhibited in the Museum. An alarm has been installed on the display case that houses the Past Grands Jewels. Small displays of museum items have been setup throughout the Grand Chapter Office. Titles, Deeds, & Properties: Cindy Echols reported on the Titles, Deeds and Properties. Cindy Echols and Gerry Sturtz will work on organizing the files. Herb Garon will be reviewing all of the files. It was suggested that the Property Management Module for Quick Books be used to record information in files. TMRC (Our Precious Ladies): Barbara Martin reported on our OES Ladies at TMRC. Laurah Cummings, one of our OES ladies passed away this month. Laurah requested an Eastern Star funeral and it was given by her parent and plural chapters. The Grand Secretary and TMRC Liaison worked with her relatives to see that all arrangements were made. Nell Russell, one of our OES ladies, had hip surgery this month. Delores Runningbear will be our Special Lady featured in the Bulletin in February. A Chapter in District 4 Section 5, will be purchasing Easter outfits and accessories for our OES Ladies. Worthy Grand Matron s Special Projects: Debi Fincher reported on the Worthy Grand Matron s Special Projects. A spreadsheet was distributed to Board members. Budget: Bob Royall reported on the budget. A date will be set for the Budget workshop. Strategic Planning Session: General Discussion by Board The Strategic Planning Session will be held on March 16 th at the Grand Chapter Office starting at 10:00am. This is a joint session for the Corporate Board and the Board of Directors. Goals and objectives are key items for the planning session. The Purposes and Policies Committee will be meeting on February 3 rd, at the Floresville School of Instruction. Legislation: Bob Royall reported on Legislation. Legislation has to be submitted to the Grand Chapter Office by May 8 th. Send any ideas or legislation to Bob Royall for consideration. The Legislation workshop will be on March 17, 2018, following the Board of Directors meeting, at the Grand Chapter office.

5 Miscellaneous: James Parker will present the Devotional at the next meeting. Chairman for the Retirement Party this year is Cindy Echols, with Darrell Albrecht as Co-Chair. February Board meeting will be February 17, 2018 at the Grand Chapter Office in Arlington. The Bankers will be attending the meeting. District Reports: District 1: Ray Hargis and James Parker reported on the following happenings: District 1 Schools of Instruction will begin in mid-february. Quitman Chapter #695 has changed their meeting night from the 2 nd Tuesday to the 3 rd Tuesday. After the School of Instruction in Carthage, there will be a Fundraising Party for Henry Martin in Longview at the Home of Bill Wyatt. Tickets $10.00 On February 12 th, Alma Lynn Bane, Acting Right Worthy Grand Secretary, General Grand Chapter and a Past Grand Matron of Texas will be presenting the Friendship Program at Greenville Chapter #189. District 2: Deborah Land and Cindy Echols reported on the following happenings: Past Grand Matron Beulah Speer is not doing well. Lubbock Chapter #76 reports a new Rainbow Assembly in their area. District 3: Barbara Martin and Darrell Albrecht reported on the following happenings: South Fort Worth Chapter #835 will be initiating Past Grand Patron Bill Crews granddaughter on January 15 th. Barbara Martin s husband, Doyle, is having a total knee replacement. Past Grand Matron Cheryl Albrecht will be having shoulder surgery on January 23 rd. Donna Noe s mother has been in the hospital with pneumonia. Numerous members are ill. District 4: Bob Royall and Debi Fincher reported on the following happenings: District 4 Schools of Instruction are in session. Texas Top Hats annual meeting is today after the District 4 Section 5 School of Instruction. Member Ray Akins passed away. Past Grand Matron, Mary Ruth White, has had two surgeries, and their house which was damaged by the flood, has still not be repaired. Multi-state is coming up in April Worth Grand Matron s cruise will be at the end of April. Associate Grand Patron Burley Jones will be honored on April 7 th The rebuilding of Huffman lodge is going well. District 5: Carlotta Fairchild and Phyllis Wilson reported on the following happenings: Schools of Instruction start at the end of January. Several chapters are having initiations this month. Past Grand Matron, Dr. Effie Mae Davis is in the hospital.

6 The Chairman reported on the Executive Session at which the Benevolent Aid and Bookkeeping recommendations were discussed. There being no further business, the Mizpah Benediction was repeated in unison. The meeting was adjourned at 11:37 am. Respectfully submitted, Janet Travers Acting Recording Secretary

NOTE: These minutes were approved as read at the March 17, 2018 Board of Directors meeting in Arlington, TX.

2017-2018-37 NOTE: These minutes were approved as read at the March 17, 2018 Board of Directors meeting in Arlington, TX. GRAND CHAPTER OF TEXAS ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR MEETING