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 Bethel 11's daughter had a pedicure, and then she and Bethel 11's Guardian 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. Bethel 11's team member 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. Our Ritual Team member 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 saying 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.

Most of them then competed as individuals. Here's Bethel 11's team member preparing to compete in the new member proficiency competition.

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

Supreme Session - Day 1

After Conclave, we flew to Indiana for 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 our Ritual team member 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 had ritual practice.

DeMolay Conclave

We took our Supreme Ritual Team member with us to DeMolay Conclave. She 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 her brother competed at ritual Friday night, she helped Bethel 66 sell cotton candy at the fair.

The next night, she visited with other Job's Daughters at the DeMolay State Installation. Here is our state's Miss Job's Daughter and Grand Bethel Honored Queen giving the new State Master Councilor a present.

Treasure Hunt

We had a meeting on Wednesday, July 10, at which we installed most of the Bethel Guardian Council. Some of our Daughters and Council members weren't there because of summer vacation, but we were pleased that the Bethel Guardian and ABG of Bethel 19 came over to visit our Bethel, along with the Honored Queen and another member, who helped the girls open and close. On the following Saturday, some of the Daughters went on a "Treasure Hunt". 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

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

Supreme Kickoff Barbeque

Yesterday, we took our Supreme Ritual team member to 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.

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.

Because our Honored Queen was a incoming Princess, she was escort for the incoming Vice Grand Guardian, and sat next to her in the East, with all the VIPs.

In the evening was the Installation of Grand Bethel Officers. Our Honored Queen was installed as a Princess.

Our other Grand Bethel representative was installed into the Choir.

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

After Installation, the State DeMolay Officers performed the Rose Ceremony.

Our Grand Bethel representatives, with the Honored Queen and other Princess.

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

Our current Honored Queen and Grand Bethel Princess with the Grand Worthy Advisor of Rainbow Girls.

Grand Session Day 2

On Friday morning, the girls attended a meeting of the Grand Bethel, while the adults met with the Grand Council to elect new officers and consider bylaw changes. The girls then had fun at lunch.

After lunch, the girls went to a nearby Outlet mall to do some shopping.

In the evening, we had the task of putting up "stars" for every organization that provided donations for the dessert at which the results of the competitions would be announced.

Waiting anxiously to see if we won any awards.

Our Guardian won several awards for promotional materials she has created in the past year.

Our girls won lots of awards, including ones in baking, photography, and ritual. We were very proud, especially since this was the first Grand Session six of them had ever attended.

We got second place in the choir competition.

Our Supreme Team member won sweepstakes for ritual and photography. Here she is with the Grand Guardian, Associate Grand Guardian, and the other members of the Supreme Team.