Ruth Chapter No. 7

Order of the Eastern Star

Eastern Star Questionnaire

The Grand Chapter Membership Committee has asked all Subordinate chapters to submit ideas on ways to "revitalize, rejuvenate, and refresh" the Eastern Star. We have discussed this matter in chapter and would like to know your ideas. Please take the time to answer our questionnaire. Be as brief or as complete as you want. Be honest. Be creative. Sometimes the most outlandish ideas work the best. Please submit your opinions by the First of February. All responses are anonymous. Results will be printed in the next newsletter.

Grand Chapter Membership Committee

What's Wrong?

To understand the decline of our Order, we must understand that our diminished numbers are not unique in civil society. There is striking evidence that the vibrancy of American society has notably declined during the past several decades. This is a condition that we should become acutely aware of, alarmed about and committed to reversing.

The existence of a robust community, in which there is enthusiasm for participation and the engagement of colleagues and neighbors constitutes a concept called social capital. This refers to the features of social organizations such as networks, norms and social trust that facilitate coordination and cooperation for mutual benefit.

Life is easier in a community blessed with a substantial stock of social capital. Such communities encourage generalized reciprocity and the emergence of social trust.

In every aspect of our society, the decline in trust and participation in activities that serve a greater good of community then of the individual has produced apathy. From the political process of elections to voluntary participation in organizations such as fire departments, hospital candy stripers, bowling leagues, fraternal organizations and parent teacher associations, the energy that normally characterizes these unique American institutions has dwindled.

Driven by a long litany of political tragedy and scandal such as assassination, Vietnam, Watergate and Irangate, we have inherited a legacy of mistrust and cynicism which has soured our drive and has led us to believe that nothing we do as individuals makes an essential difference.

Church groups, sports groups, professional societies, labor unions, veteran's groups and service clubs have all experienced the same kind of decline that fraternal organizations are trying to come to grips with. Even the Scouting organizations and the Red Cross are not exempt. Overall decline in these organizations which depend on adults has declined fifteen percent. The statistics for fraternal organizations during the 1980's and 1990's is even more alarming. Lions (off 112 percent since 1983), Elks (off 27 percent since 1979), Jaycees (off 44 percent since 1979), and the Masons (off 39 percent since 1959).

These organizations operate today with an agenda substantially unchanged since the early 1950's. Most of the fraternal organizations have as a large component of their charter, a philosophy of charity. However, this is rarely publicized. The most common question asked about these organization that contribute billions of dollars annually is "what do you people do:" Efforts to divorce from the secretiveness of the past are afoot but must be accelerated because we are running out of time.

People who join in the hopes of making a difference are frequently left on the sidelines as spectators to a process they struggle to understand and waiting to be told or asked to participate. These groups may not be fostering community as effectively as many of their proponents would like. Some small groups merely provide occasions for individuals to focus on themselves in the presence of others. The social contract binding members together asserts only the weakest of obligations. Come if you have time. Talk if you feel like it. Respect everyone's opinion. Never criticize and leave quietly if you are dissatisfied. This is unacceptable.

If these facts have you feeling dispirited and hopeless, you must come to realize that to retreat and do nothing is not an available option. Left unattended, these deficiencies will have a legacy to our younger membership, now in their forties, only one remaining chore which will be to "turn out the lights." We have a sense of tradition and tradition is noble and good. But only to the extent that it ties the evolving needs of the present into tapestry of our origin and history. Failure to change and adapt without compromise of principle and individual accountability sets the stage for our ultimate demise.

The agendas that have repeated themselves over the last 50 years must be refreshed with elements that are relative to contemporary society. We must be aggressive in the advertisement of our charitable endeavors. We must be visible on the streets and in the Yellow Pages. We must foster an image which eliminates the need to ask the question...."what do you people do?

People will be participants in and support what they perceive has value. They cannot value us if they do not know of our existence, know what we do, know of our charities and understand the terms and conditions for membership.

Eastern Star Questionnaire

Results

What changes would increase your interest and participation in Eastern Star meetings and activities?

•               Stop all the introductions and speeches

•               Introduce a person only one time, by their highest title

•               Cut the poems and greeting from the Worthy Matron

•               Have more meeting in short form

•               Shorten the Worthy Patron's part in initiation

•               Cut the speeches of the WGM & WGP at Grand Visits, the purpose is to see how a chapter performs their ritual work

•               Spend less money on corsages and refreshments

•               Carefully mentor each and everyone, perhaps having teams of mentors

•               Let the officers wear short dress for meetings and only wear long for special nights

•               Permit slacks at the meeting, no jeans of course

•               Make meetings shorter

•               Permit secretaries to summarize the communications (with the advent of computers, you can print a lot on a page, tooooo much)

•               Someone for "pickup and deliver" of non-drivers

What changes would increase new membership in Eastern Star?

•               Launch and carry out projects that assist everyone in a community, thereby creating interest in the fraternity and probably resulting in more petitions for membership

•               Young people make good welcomers. People are more sympathetic with younger people

•               Plan activities for members to have fun together

•               Turn off the TV