District 19 Rebekah Convention
by G.Lee Cox, Kanawha Rebekah Lodge #9, Charleston
The District 19 Rebekah
Convention was held Saturday, April 26, at St. Paul's
Methodist
Church in Nitro. District
Officers were Donna J. Stewart of Kanawha 9,
Charleston, DDP,
Narvella Batman - Vice
President and Rebecca Baker - Treasurer both from
Montrose 287,
St. Albans, and Alice Shafer -
Secretary, of Forest Rose Rebekah Lodge 143, Poca.
RA Officers attending were Mary
Ellen Stillwagoner, VP, and Mary Bess - Secretary.
Mary is a members of Faith
57, Elkview.
District and Assembly Officers
were escorted into the meeting area introduced by Pat
Harper,
and greeted by Bonnie Paxton,
both past DDP's.
Flag presentation and welcoming
address were by Sister Doris Carney; response by
Narvella Batman.
Morning devotional service was
performed by Kanawha number 9, Charleston. They sang
"What A Day That Will Be,"
then sister June Cox read the 121st Psalm, followed by
the
"Lord's Prayer."
Sister Pat Harper earned her
second seal of 2008 by successfully reciting the
Rebekahs'
secret work.
The nine ladies of Montrose
287 performed a beautiful memorial service honoring six
deceased District 19 members,
including PGM Meril E. Peak. The sisters each wore
black dresses. Sister Batman
sang "In The Garden." Sister Linda Bennett read "Angels
in My Life,' then Narvella
sang "Precious Memories."
Sister Stillwagoner announced
that sister Irma Warden of Kanawha 9 will be the next
DDP; also sister Rebekah Baker
will serve as Marshall at the 2009 RA. The District
voted to retain the current
officers for the 2009 Convention.
Past LAPM President Doris
Carney, Emergency and Disaster Fund Secretary, said IOOF
members in need may be granted
$300 immediately, also an additional $200 after review
of their application by the
fund's committee.
Sister Paxton spoke regarding
the Low Vision Committee.
Past RA President Lucille
Chandler said members are allowed to ask prospective
persons
to apply for membershi. She
noted that the state now has fewer than 50 Rebekah
Lodges;
there were 108 at one time.
Sister Mary Bess said the
Eductional Fund Committee can grant eligible student
$300 for
text books.
The VP addressed the
convention; she said "It was good to hear June and
Lee Cox sing
again." Also, she enjoyed the
Montrose memorial service and said "It was beautiful."
She
also spoke regarding women's
breast cancer survival.
Sister Jeanne Baker of St.
Albans; mother of Rebecca Baker, joined Enterprise
Rebekah
Lodge 108 in Harrison County,
March 3, 1953. After moving to Kanawha County, she
attended Myrtle 97 in
Charleston for three (3) years, then transferred to
Montrose 287
where she is a PNG and serves
as Secretary.