For contact information, please refer to the Directory or contact the Grand Secretary.
These are summaries of these duties to see the actual wording, please go to the Constitution and Bylaws
Click here for a list of SPECIAL COMMITTEE Duties
Appeals & Grievances
The Appeals and Grievances Committee shall consist of three members; all of whom shall have attained the rank of Worthy Matron or Patron. The chair shall be the member whose term of office next expires. The Committee shall consider all appeals and grievances referred to it by the Worthy Grand Matron or the Grand Chapter and report its findings to the Worthy Grand Matron or the Grand Chapter as the case may be.
Audit
The Auditing committee consists of three present or past Worthy Matrons or Patrons and shall make quarterly audits of the financial books of the Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer. The Chair is the member whose term of office next expires.
The Budget Committee shall consist of three members elected by vote of the Grand Chapter, one of whom may be a Past Grand Matron or Past Grand Patron and all of whom shall have attained the rank of Worthy Matron or Patron. The Chair shall be the member whose term of office next expires.
Budget
The Budget Committee consists of three members elected by vote of the Grand Chapter, all of whom shall have attained the rank of Worthy Matron or Patron. The Chair shall be the member whose term of office next expires.
The Budget Committee Duties are to prepare and submit an annual budget for the budget year and make a study of the statements and estimates required to be submitted by this section together with the report of the Finance Committee and other available information relating to the finances of the Grand Chapter.
Dorothy M Dewing Scholarship Endowment
The Dorothy M. Dewing Scholarship Endowment Committee shall consist of three members; one of whom may be a Past Grand Matron or Patron, and all of whom shall have attained the rank of Worthy Matron or Patron.
It shall be the duty of the Dorothy M. Dewing Scholarship Endowment Committee:
• To prepare rules and regulations for the granting of Scholarship Awards as hereinafter provided. These rules shall be approved by the Finance Committee and the Worthy Grand Matron.
• To investigate all applications for Scholarship Awards and to present their report concerning the same to the Finance Committee and to the Worthy Grand Matron.
Finance
The Finance Committee shall consist of three members: a Past Grand Matron or a Past Grand Patron, and either a Past or Present Worthy Matron or Patron.
It shall be the duty of the Finance Committee:
• To examine and report upon the accounts of the Grand Officers.
• To examine every account against the Grand Chapter.
• To audit and report the Returns from Subordinate Chapters.
• To meet together in person for a quarterly review of all claims against the Grand Chapter,
• To determine and direct during the vacation of the Grand Chapter, together with the Worthy Grand Matron and Worthy Grand Patron, all matters of the investment and reinvestment of the funds and securities of the Grand Chapter.
• In case of vacancy in the office of Grand Secretary or Grand Treasurer, the Finance Committee shall immediately take possession of all money, books, papers and other property belonging to this Grand Chapter.
Jurisprudence
The Jurisprudence Committee shall consist of five members; two of whom shall be either a Past Grand Matron or Patron and three of whom shall be either a Past or Present Worthy Matron or Patron, other than a Past Grand Matron or a Past Grand Patron.
It shall be the duty of the Jurisprudence Committee:
• To render written decisions on any question at any time during the year when requested by the Worthy Grand Matron
• To consider all questions of law arising from any of the Standing Committees of this Grand Chapter whether Grand Chapter is in session or not.
• To consider all questions of law arising from the business coming from the Grand Chapter session.
• To consider decisions of the Worthy Grand Matron and report thereon to the Grand Chapter.
• To consider all proposals to amend the Constitution and Bylaws of the Grand Chapter to correct any inconsistencies, conflicts or to clarify their intent and report to the Grand Chapter whether they are in proper order.
• To meet with the Revision of Constitution and Bylaws Committee of the Grand Chapter so that all legislation to be submitted by that Committee at Grand Chapter session will be in proper form
• To examine Proposed Amendments of the Constitution and Bylaws of this Grand Chapter, submitted by Chapters, to see that they are in proper form.
• The retiring Chairman of the Committee shall meet with the Grand Secretary and the retiring Chairman of the Revision of Constitution and Bylaws Committee to assist in checking and preparing all legislation adopted by Grand Chapter for submission to the Printing Committee
Masonic and Eastern Star Home
The Masonic and Eastern Star Home is an institution founded by the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Oregon and the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star of Oregon for the purpose of caring for the indigent Master Masons of this Grand Jurisdiction, their wives and mothers, the widows and mothers of deceased Master Masons of this Grand Jurisdiction, and the indigent Sisters of the Order of the Eastern Star of this Grand Jurisdiction. The title to all property and funds of the Home is and shall be in the name of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Oregon, and it shall manage and control the various funds for the use and benefit of the Home.
Printing
The Printing Committee shall consist of three members; one of whom shall be a Past Grand Matron or Patron, two of whom shall be either a Past or Present Worthy Matron or Patron. The Chair shall be the member whose term of office next expires.
It shall be the duty of the Printing Committee:
• To arrange and provide for the production in printed and / or electronic form of the annual Directory and the Proceedings of the Grand Chapter of Oregon. It is authorized to invite and consider sealed and competitive bids on uniform requests proposed by the Grand Secretary and the Printing Committee.
• To prepare all legislation, adopted at Grand Chapter and submitted by the Jurisprudence Committee to the Printing Committee, for reproduction and final proof reading of revised pages for the Constitution and Bylaws.
• To automatically correct typographical and grammatical errors that will not change the meaning without legislation to do so.
The Junior Past Grand Matron and Patron, Grand Secretary and members of the Printing Committee shall select and edit all matters to be published in the Proceedings except for the installation section which shall be under the supervision of the Worthy Grand Matron and Patron, Grand Secretary and members of the Printing Committee.
Under the direction of the Printing Committee, the Grand Secretary shall furnish the Subordinate Chapters printed copies of the "irregularities" in the Worthy Grand Matron's report with instruction they are to be read in Chapter.
Registration
The Registration Committee consists of three members; all of whom shall have attained the rank of Worthy Matron or Patron. The chair shall be the member whose term of office next expires. The duties of the Registration Committee at each session of the Grand Chapter:
• To have complete charge of all matters and materials pertaining to registration.
• To examine current dues cards of all persons claiming membership or rights as representatives in the Grand Chapter.
• To list properly the name and number of each Chapter with the names of those registered and report number of voting members as the first order of business in the morning of the first day's session.
Revision Of Laws
The Revision of Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall consist of three members; one of whom shall be a Past Grand Matron or Patron, two of whom shall be either a Past or Present Worthy Matron or Patron, other than a Past Grand Matron or Past Grand Patron.
It shall be the duty of the Revision of Constitution and Bylaws Committee:
• To point out any inconsistencies in the Constitution and Bylaws and recommend such changes as may be necessary to eliminate the same.
• To propose legislation as provided in Sections 13 and 251 of this Constitution and Bylaws.
• To coordinate proposed changes in the Constitution or Bylaws where inconsistencies or conflicts exist.
• To meet with the Jurisprudence Committee of the Grand Chapter before March 31 of each year so that all legislation to be submitted at the Grand Chapter Session by the Revision of Constitution and Bylaws Committee will be in proper form before being presented to the Grand Secretary for publication.
The retiring Chairman of the Committee shall meet with the Grand Secretary and the retiring Chairman of the Jurisprudence Committee within thirty days following the close of Grand Chapter to assist in checking and preparing all legislation adopted by Grand Chapter for submission to the Printing Committee for reproduction of revised pages of the Constitution and Bylaws.
Site Selection
The Grand Chapter Session Site Selection Committee shall be appointed by the Worthy Grand Matron at least two years prior to the expiration of an existing site contract. The Grand Chapter Session Site Selection Committee shall consist of three members; one of whom shall be a Past Grand Matron or a Past Grand Patron, one past coordinator and one member at large. The Worthy Grand Matron will appoint the chair of this committee.
Benevolent Fund Board
A Benevolent Fraternal Assistance Fund shall be established. The purpose of this fund is to supplement a local chapter’s resources to meet specific emergency needs of a member, or a member’s family, when that need exceeds the chapter’s established relief fund.
Applications for assistance may only be received from an Oregon chapter. The Worthy Grand Matron may grant an exception for a member or a member’s family. Traveling members from other Jurisdictions may apply through an Oregon chapter for emergency assistance.
The Investment Board may use whomever they deem necessary for further financial advice, so long as no cost to the Fund is incurred.
It is the responsibility of the local chapter to determine if a need exists, investigate and initiate action, including submitting their approved request for relief to the Governing Board.
Applications to the Governing Board will be to supplement the chapter’s relief fund.
Investigation shall be a duty of the Worthy Matron and Chapter Relief Committee. Measures must be taken to protect the identity of grant recipients.
If the need exceeds chapter capability, the form designated by the Governing board will be used to ensure all needed information is obtained.
Relief Committee approval is needed unless the Worthy Matron declares an emergency, and the Relief Committee cannot be timely convened. The reasons shall be set forth to the Relief Committee at the earliest possible date.
If a grant is approved, the Governing Board will direct all approved relief funds to the applicant chapter immediately after Board action.
The Chapter Treasurer will prepare checks to the vendors providing services/supplies to that member or member’s family.
Only in rare circumstances will more than one grant per member be provided.
Regular Committees
Unfinished Business
Three members shall be appointed annually, the first named thereon to be chair.
It shall be the duty of the Committee on Unfinished Business to examine the minutes and printed proceedings of the preceding Annual Communication and report all matters pending or not determined.
Resolutions Committee
Three members shall be appointed annually, the first named thereon to be chair.
It shall be the duty of the Committee on Resolutions to prepare and submit to the membership, at the Grand Chapter Session, Resolutions and Memorials such as:
• Honorary Memberships for first time Distinguished Out of State Guests;
• Greetings to Past Grand Matrons and Past Grand Patrons unable to attend session;
• Memorials for deceased Past Grand Matrons, Past Grand Patrons and Chapter members;
• Subordinate Chapters under General Grand Chapter;
• Adoption of Special Committees;
• Disbursement of funds raised for the various committees;
• Special projects of the Most Worthy Grand Matron, if any;
• Date and location of next Grand Chapter Session; and
• Other Resolutions as deemed necessary.
Resolutions must be presented by the Resolution Committee to the Jurisprudence Committee
Eastern Star Sunshine Board
The Eastern Star Sunshine Board shall consist of Associate Matrons and Associate Patrons of Subordinate Chapters in this jurisdiction. The Associate Grand Matron and Associate Grand Patron shall be ex-officio members. The purpose of this committee is to give aid and gifts of cheer to an Eastern Star member in need when away from their own Chapter. An annual report of the Board's function shall be submitted to the Grand Chapter and the annual record of funds shall be submitted to the Grand Chapter Audit Committee by June 30.
Distinguished Out of State Guest Committee
Two members shall be appointed annually to serve as co-chairs, with additional members being appointed as needed for help at the Grand Chapter Session.
It shall be the duty of the Distinguished Out of State Guest co-chairs to oversee the following for the Distinguished Out of State Guests:
Registration packet (having been prepared by the Registration Committee)
Hospitality
Escort Cards
Transportation, when needed by guests arriving by air.
Inform Grand Officers of the names of their visiting guests.
Others as deemed necessary.
Special Committees
Banquets
Cancer Research
The Cancer committee raises funds all of which are directly donated to the OHSU Cancer Research Account and Drs. Rodney and SueEllen Pommier to assist in their research. Money Raising Projects include: selling greetings cards, community dinners, selling chances on homemade items, and many more creative ideas.
FAITH - Fraternal Activities in the Home
Faith Birthdays
Chair: Della Rolfe
Co-Chair: Cleve Rolfe
- Plans and oversee the Monthly Birthdays for our life care members.
Faith Special Activities
- Plans and oversees the special activities for our life care members. These include shopping trips and trips to the coast.
Historian
- Researches and reports on the history of the Worthy Grand Matron and Worthy Grand Patron’s Chapters and their OES career
Home Endowment
Housing
- Contracts and arranges housing for the Grand Chapter Session
Oregon OES News and Eastern Star Journal
The Worthy Grand Matron will appoint an Oregon OES News Committee consisting of one editor, one subscription chairman and committee members. This quarterly publication contains news articles of interest to O.E.S. members and subscribers.
The Editor shall be responsible for receiving, writing and publishing the Oregon OES News.
The Subscription Chairman will be responsible for receiving subscriptions, accounting for the funds generated by the subscriptions, the distribution of the publication and submission of an annual financial report.
The subscription and advertisement funds must cover the total cost of the publication.
The Worthy Grand Matron will appoint a committee member from each of the committee districts; to solicit and forward to the editor, articles, advertisements, announcements, quarterly calendar information, photographs and other pertinent materials from the chapters, associations, groups and individuals.
Page Captain(s)
Creates and coordinates the various addendum's and entertainment used in the Grand Chapter Session and coordinates the Pages and Ushers. These positions are appointed by the Worthy Grand Matron and Worthy Grand Patron
Session Coordinators
- The overseer(s) of all the set up and details that makes the Grand Session happen
Special Projects
Speaks on behalf and raises money for the various special projects of the Worthy Grand Matron and Worthy Grand Patron which include ALS and Heart Fund
Unfinished Business
It shall be the duty of the Committee on Unfinished Business to examine the minutes and printed proceedings of the preceding Annual
Communication and report all matters pending or not determined.
Yearbook
Design and publish an Annual philanthropic souvenir book of Grand Chapter members, Chapters and take submissions and orders for the book
Youth and Membership Committee
Website Development Coordinator
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