By Wanda F. Ashcraft
The District No. 9 Rebekah, Independent Order of Odd Fellows Convention was held on Sat. June 3 in the spacious Shinnston Moose Hall. It was hosted by Shinnston Rebekah Lodge No. 47, the third oldest Rebekah Lodge in West Virginia with 129 years of continuous service to its community and fellow man.
The other Rebekah Lodge in District 9 is Ivy Rebekah Lodge No. 112.
A coffee hour/registration was held from 9 to 10 AM. Deborah A. Starkey coordinated the coffee hour.
Registrars were Marjorie F. Jackson and Melissa D. Rowan. Programs were distributed, as well as an IOOF bag of information, prepared by S. Sue Rowan.
Past District Deputy President Dortha Parsons called the meeting to order at 10 AM, after which No. 47 seated the district officers. Officers are:
Rebecca M. Long – Deputy District President, Debra S. Glaspell – Vice President, Dorothy Sandy – Secretary, Charlotte Plyman Ross – Treasurer, Dortha M. Parsons – Chaplain, Bonnie J. Paxson – Conductor, Barbara A. Carder – Marshal, Nellie J. Hamrick – Guardian, Chad M. Edwards – Flagbearer
Elected Officers of the Rebekah Assembly of West Virginia were introduced:
President – Darlene McClure, Vice President – Dewey W. Nottingham, Warden – Cornelia Bolton
Treasurer – Linda Hall
Past State Presidents of the Rebekah Assembly of West Virginia present were Wanda F. Ashcraft, Mary M. Bess, A. June Miller, Charlotte Plyman Ross, S. Sue Rowan, Dorothy Sandy, Backy Shamblin, Cheryl Workman.
Chad M. Edwards, Flagbearer, presented the US flag; pledge repeated in unison by all, after which Wanda F. Ashcraft gave a tribute to the flag, noting she did it as an honor to Charlotte A. Zimmerman, PP, who has gifted Ashcraft with a Devotion Book which contained this flag tribute.
Welcomes were extended by: Chad M. Edwards, Shinnston City Manager, on behalf of his city, and by Deborah A. Starkey, Noble Grand of No. 47, the host lodge.
The response was given by Debra S. Glaspell.
Charlotte Plyman Ross has 50 years of membership in the IOOF and is the only President of the Rebekah Assembly of West Virginia to ever have served also as President of the Theta Rho Assembly of West Virginia.
Charlotte presented her past District Deputy President Jewel to Sister Rebecca M. Long, the immediate District Deputy President, who responded with deep appreciation and said she would be honored to receive this Jewel.
The Devotions were presented by IVY RL No. 112.
The President’s Table (Darlene McClure), containing her emblems and program, was coordinated by S. Sue Rowan. The yellow rose/ calla lilly are her flowers. As introductions were made, each officer placed a rose in a vase on the table. A calla lilly was left lying on the table in front of the Bible. The State President, in her lovely official turquoise gown, presented her program.
The minutes and Treasurer’s reports were given and accepted. The District Deputy President appointed committees. The toll call of lodges and reports given by IVY No. 112 Representative Elizabeth Wilson with six present. Shinnston RL No. 47, Rep. Marjorie E. Jackson. With 11 present.
The first reading of Recommendations was done.
The Rebekah Assembly officers each spoke.
Dortha Parsons, Chaplain, gave the Blessing on the food for lunch. The tables were overlaid with blue cover, with original placemats containing a special poem. “The Tree of Odd Fellowship” thereon, with silverware sleeves featuring special verses thereon, and gifts of pepperoni rolls pamphlets ( a gift of Letitia Elliot, coordinator of the Marion County Convention Bureau), and sheets of names and addresses of Shinnston businesses for easy shopping. These lists were prepared by Katheen Panek, City Clerk of Shinnston, to whom thanks is extended.
A very tasty, bountiful lunch of rigatoni, meatballs, tossed salad, fried chicken, green beans, scalloped potatoes, bread and butter, pie and cake, coffee and tea, was enjoyed.
Special recognition is deserved for the cook, Mrs. Maria Ganoe, chef at the Moose, and her helper, Cindy. No. 47 also thanks John Ebert and his administrative assistant, Lisa Cook, for the gift of tea from Shinnston McDonalds, and also thanks Debra S, Glaspell for her gift of a delicious raspberry cake.
The touching memorial was given by Ivy No. 112. The members wore inspiring white choir robes which added much to the beauty of the service.
Committee reports were given, as well as the second reading of recommendations; treasurer’s report; a monetary donation given by District 9 to the Socks project of the SGL.
In the election of officers, Dortha Parsons was selected as Vice President and other officers were retained. Barbara Foreman, Noble Grand of Ivy Rebekah Lodge No. 112 extended the invitation to host next year’s convention.
In the closing, the “Rebekah Creed” was led by Debra S. Glaspell, Vice President, the closing prayer by the chaplain, and the Friendship Circle formed, with Wanda F. Ashcraft leading the Indian Blessing.
Special recognitions were extended to many during the course of the convention.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was founded on the North American Continent in 1819, and continues to “elevate the character of man and helping its fellow men.”