Supreme Session - Day 5

To unwind after competing for Miss International Job's Daughter all week, we took our Miss to the mall. She and Jennifer had a pedicure, and then she and Susan had their ears pierced. The girls then went dress shopping, along with some other members of our jurisdiction.

After shopping, we met the rest of our jurisdiction for dinner.

We then attended the installation of the Supreme Bethel.

The final event of the day was a luau themed dance. The next day was the installation of the Supreme Council, but we had to leave to catch our flight home.

Supreme Session - Day 4

This morning we attended the Supreme Bethel meeting. Three girls from our jurisdiction were drawn for Supreme Bethel offices, including a floor office.

At noon, we attended the award luncheon. Although our Ritual Team didn't place, several of the team members won ribbons for ritual, performing arts, and arts and crafts. Jennifer won first place in the new member proficiency ritual and black and white photography. She also placed in four other arts and crafts categories. Here she is with the Supreme Guardian and Associate Supreme Guardian after winning her first award.

To celebrate, we took some of the girls into Chicago, to visit the American Girl Place store.

We returned to Merrillville in the evening to cheer for our Miss Job's Daughter while she competed in the pageant.  Afterwards, the whole delegation enjoyed an ice cream party in the lobby.

Supreme Session - Day 3

Today we slept in and then did some shopping. Jennifer made a bear to give to our Miss Job's Daughter. In the evening we attended the formal opening.

These daughters all raised over one thousand dollars for the Hearing Impaired Kids Endowment fund.

The International Master Councilor and Grandmaster of DeMolay addressed the crowd, along with members of other Masonic concordant bodies. The Grandmaster of Masons in Indiana spoke last.Miss International Job's Daughter and the Supreme Guardian, Associate Guardian, and Honored Queen said goodnight after the opening.

Supreme Session - Day 2

This morning, the Supreme Ritual Team members got up early to get ready to compete. After having their hair done and one last practice and robe check, they headed to the competition room.

They came out confident they had done well.

Jennifer prepared to compete in the new member proficiency competition.

That night, she attended a dance to benefit the HIKE fund.

Supreme Session - Day 1

After Conclave, Bryan headed to Boy Scout summer camp.  This time it was at Camp Meriwether, located near the ocean south of Tillamook. 

Susan and I flew with Jennifer to Indiana for Job's Daughters Supreme Session.  We checked into the Radisson in Merrillville, and did a little swimming before turning in.

The next day, we registered and walked around the hotel and convention center grounds, meeting people and trading swaps. Here's Jennifer with our Miss Job's Daughter and Miss International.

Here she is with Idaho's Miss Job's Daughter and Grand Bethel Honored Queen. Later we went shopping, then she had ritual practice.

DeMolay Conclave

Bryan had joined DeMolay in March, so this weekend we attended our first Conclave, which is similar to Job's Daughters Grand Session. It was held at the Shrine Center in Wilsonville. Once there, Jennifer helped one of the DeMolay Sweethearts sort name badges.

Later, she and our state's Miss Job's Daughter (and fellow Supreme Team member) helped decorate the boys' hats. This year, Conclave had a western theme.

While Bryan competed at ritual Friday night, Jennifer helped Bethel 66 sell cotton candy at the West Linn fair.

Saturday night was the State Officer Installation. Afterwards the new State Master Councilor presented awards. Bryan won first place in a ritual competition.

Then there was a dance. The outgoing State Master Councilor was also the International Master Councilor who initiated Bryan in March.

Treasure Hunt

In mid-July, some of the Bethel 11 Daughters went on a "Treasure Hunt" around Redmond and Bend. They used a GPS device to find "caches".
The caches they found all had to do with animals.

One of the caches was in a local rock garden.

Masonic Youth Appreciation Night

Sunday, we took our Supreme Ritual team member to Salem for the Kickoff Barbeque. It's an annual event where the leaders of many of the Bethels in the State gather to wish good luck to those traveling to Supreme Session.

After the Barbeque, the Supreme ritual team held a brief practice.

On Tuesday, we loaded up a half dozen of the Job's Daughters and a couple of our DeMolay into two cars and drove a couple of hours to a Discovery Village in Salem for a Masonic Youth Appreciation Night sponsored by a local Lodge. The Masons fed us and paid for admission into the museum, which has lots of cool exhibits on science.

Grand Session Day 3

On Saturday morning, the new Grand Bethel Officers and Choir practiced for their installation. In the afternoon, we watched the Installation of the Grand Guardian Council. In the evening was the Installation of Grand Bethel Officers. Our Honored Queen was installed as a Princess.  Jennifer was installed into the Choir.

At the close of Installation, the Grand Bethel Officers formed the cross.

After Installation, the Bryan joined a DeMolay honor guard while the State Officers performed the Rose Ceremony.

After the ceremony, the Daughters of Bethel 11 had their picture taken.