WASHINGTON AMARANTH

NEWSLETTER

Letter From Linda (GRM): As of this edition, the

Installations of our 2011-2012 officers are complete – time

DOES fly when you’re having fun! This has been a very

exciting time for me, seeing our Royal Hearts and Court Jesters

taking their places of leadership for the Courts of Washington.

I hope this 101st year of Grand Court in Washington will be

one of dreams fulfilled and hopes realized for everyone. With

our theme: Amaranth State Fair: Celebrate Serving, I plan to

honor each member for the service you give – in Court

activities, in independent opportunities, and to each other,

members in need of assistance. Please begin now to keep a

record of the service you perform this year – and plan ahead

for the philanthropic report we will each submit at the end of

this calendar year. I hope we can have a nearly complete

collective report of our serving to share and celebrate when we

get to Grand Court in 2012. We are not used to recognizing all

we do serve our communities. Serving is a basic core value of

our beings. Our motto for this year, written by Albert Pike, a

Master Mason, is: “What we do for ourselves alone dies with

us, but what we do for others or the world remains immortal.’

When you read it a few times, it begins to seem remarkably

like the teachings of Amaranth, our link between Charity and

the wreath.

We look forward to attending the first official visits in June

(Halcyon on the 6th

and Golden Light on the 17th), and hope

you will plan to attend some of the fun, charitable, and social

events planned for the summer – our scholarship benefit at

Thorpe, our golf tournament for diabetes in Alderbrook, our

Diabetes Walk-a-Thon at Les Gove Park in Auburn, and our

campout and picnic at Royal Arch Park in Maple Valley.

Remember, all of these and like events are open and welcome

the participation of our friends and family members!

I pray for your health and safekeeping, and for your happiness

as you serve with the members of Amaranth. See you along

the way, Linda.

Growth in Washington? Let’s do it!

Yes, we have opportunities for

establishing new Court(s) right here in

our state. A core group of committed

potential members have gathered in both

Skagit County and Clark County in

hopes of creating a new Court. We need

still more folks who can join Amaranth

as new members of the Order to make

the minimum required by Supreme

Council. One meeting has been held in

Clark County and we are hoping to set

one or two in Mount Vernon during the

summer. These are times to meet

members of Amaranth, learn who we are,

and consider where it might fit into your

life – with refreshments, of course. If

you know anyone who might enjoy our

great Order and is eligible for

membership, please speak to them about

attending, or pass their contact

information along to our committee and

an invitation will be extended to them.

Our chairperson is SK George McNeil.

Committee members are HL Ramona

McNeil, HL Jennifer McGilvery, SK

Mac McGilvery, HL Ginny Rieck, SK

George Rieck, and SK Rex Hartsfield.

June, 2011

Words of Wisdom?? From your Grand Royal Patron

As I’m sitting here gazing at the blank Word page on the monitor, I realize that I’m here to write an article

for the May issue of the Amaranth newsletter. But my mind is blank and I’m typing this for filler so it looks

like I’m writing something important and _ _ _ _

OOOH! Finally a thought!!

WOW! HL Cathy and I have been busy since Grand Court traveling up and down I-5 attending Court

installations and enjoying every minute of it. I do regret that, because of scheduling, that I could not attend

all of the installations. I want to thank the Court Jesters for your attendance and support for our counterparts

during the installation schedule. As I write this we have only two left.

HL Linda and I, accompanied by HL Cathy and HL Diana Esterly, represented Amaranth at the DeMolay

Conference, held at Great Wolf Lodge, and presented two Amaranth scholarships. What a great group of

young men. Their floor and memory work was outstanding as was their tribute and presentation of the

American flag. I was thoroughly impressed and hope to attend their Conference again.

I am looking forward to the Official Visits that will be starting June 11 with Halcyon Court, and after taking

a look at the schedule, I believe I’ll be able to attend them all.

We, HL Cathy and I, will be leaving for Orlando June 25 to attend Supreme Council and returning July 9.

We are combining Supreme and a family vacation with our daughter, son in law and two grandsons. (Wish

me well!!)

Please be careful in your travels and I’m looking forward to all those HUG’s and hand shakes.

Amaranth Love,

SK Darrel GRP

PS. Have you ever felt like you’re diagonally parked in a parallel universe?

Ways and Means for Grand Court of Washington, The first two rest stops for Grand Court are completed. Thank you to all who participated, donated, and supported this effort. The fun continues this fall and winter. The remaining rest stops are: At Seatac: October 1st to the 5th. December 7th to the 10th, and December 17th to the 21st. At Smokey Point: December 30th to January 2nd. If you are interested in filling a shift for any of these, please contact H.L. Diana Esterly GAM. Great shifts are still open for most of the days. Seatac will probably only have graveyard shifts on the weekends. Other fundraising events will be announced as they are scheduled. If you have any ideas for something fun as well as fundraising, please don't hesitate to contact me. Again thank you to all who participated and will be participating in the future,

H.L. Diana Esterly, GAM.

GRAND COURT CAMPOUT, WALK A THON & PICNIC July 15, 16, 17, 2011

Royal Arch Park 20821 Renton Maple Valley Highway SE Maple Valley, WA 98038 425-432-2066

Campers: campsites with no hookups available for tents and trailers $10 per night

Arrive 10 AM Friday or after Call to have caretakers open gate

Day use: $5 per person

SCHEDULE

Diabetes Walk A Thon – Saturday 9 AM to 3 PM Les Gove Park, Auburn - $5 registration Car pool to Auburn and back from camp To register: www. money4diabetes.org Picnic – Saturday 4:30 PM Mexican Fiesta Theme Bring a side dish Wear Mexican if you wish Breakfast – Sunday morning

The last month has been a busy one for all of those in Washington putting their courts’

Installations together. The month of May will be just as busy with more Installations and the

Group Meeting being held in Richland on Saturday, May 14. Try to visit as many of the

Installations as you can.

The Knotty Ladies, the Conductresses, are in charge of the Grand Court Picnic at the Royal

Arch Park in Maple Valley on Saturday, July 16, at 4:30 PM. A Mexican Fiesta Theme is being

used.

Please try to reserve the weekend of July 15-17 to enjoy as many of the activities planned

Please try to reserve the weekend of July 15-17 to enjoy as many of the activities planned as

possible. Karen Ekrem is working hard to plan a successful Walk A Thon on Saturday to benefit

Diabetes Research. A fun time will be had by all who wish to come to the Campout.

Carolie Larson, Grand Conductress

Join us in our fight against Diabetes by supporting one of our activities.

Diabetes Walk-A-Thon – July 16, 2011

Les Gove Park: Auburn, WA

Golf Tournament – August 21, 2011

Alderbrook Golf Course; Shelton, WA

Diabetes Benefit – October 29, 2011

Emerald Downs, Auburn, WA

Registration and donation forms are available on our website

www.money4diabetes.org

These events are sponsored by the Grand Court of Washington,

Order of the Amaranth, a member of the Masonic Family of Organizations

100% of proceeds collected go to the American Diabetes Association

for diabetes research.

Diabetes Walk-A-Thon – July 16, 2011 Les Gove Park: Auburn, WA

The purpose of the Walk-a-thon is to raise money for Diabetes Research and to provide awareness of the impact of Diabetes on people.

You may sign up as an individual or team

Registration Fee: $5.00 per walker

General Information: Registration: 8:00 am Walk Begins: 9:00 am Walk Ends: 3:00 pm

Registration and Donation Forms are available on our Website

www.money4diabetes.org

100% of proceeds collected go to the American Diabetes Association for Diabetes Research

This Walk-a-thon is sponsored by The Grand Court of Washington, Order of Amaranth,

A member of the Masonic Family of Organizations

Golf Tournament Registration Form

Alderbrook Golf Course

August 21, 2011

The 5th

annual Amaranth Golf Tournament will be held at Alderbrook golf course which is located on the south shore of

Hood Canal, eight miles west of Belfair, Wash. The format for this tournament is a 9-hole, shot-gun start, best ball play.

Following the tournament, enjoy a barbeque lunch at the Alderbrook park. There will be special competitions including:

longest drive and closest to the pin.

Tournament Fee: General Information:

$75.00 per player (includes cart) Registration: 8:00 am / Shot-gun start: 9:00 am

$5.00 picnic only Picnic: noon – 3:00 pm

You may sign up as an individual player and we will match you up with a foursome or you may put together your own

foursome.

Individual Registration Foursome Registration

Name: Picnic Only

Address:

Email: Phone:

Name:

__________ Picnic Only

Address:

Email: Phone:

Name:

Picnic Only

Address:

Email: Phone:

Name:

Picnic Only

Address:

Email:

Phone:

Total Amount Enclose:____________________________

Check (make checks to Karen Ekrem) Credit Card Mastercard Visa

Mail Form and Payment to:

Credit Card #

Kären Ekrem

406 Pike St. N.E. 3 digit code (located on the back of the card) ________

May 6, 2011

Dear Amaranth Members,

HL Carolyn Barnett, Grand Treasurer, and I are working diligently to get the Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary offices

established and running smoothly. Part of that effort has been the establishment of a single Grand court of Washington

mailbox. H.L. Carolyn and I feel that a single mailbox, that we both access, will be the most efficient way to manage the

quantity and variety of information that is sent to our Grand Court.

The new Grand Court of Washington address is:

1402 Auburn Way North, Suite #446

Auburn, WA 98002-3309

When sending information to that address, you may use any of the following address titles:

Kären Ekrem, PGRM, GS

Carolyn Barnet, GT

Grand Court of Washington

Grand Secretary

Grand Treasurer

Diabetes Benefit

We have also established email accounts specific to our offices and would appreciate you using them when you need

information from either the Grand Treasurer or Grand Secretary.

The Grand Treasurer email is: grdtreasurer@comcast.net

The Grand Secretary email is: grdsecwa@comcast.net

Additional information that will be helpful to you is the contact information this year’s Sunshine Chairman, H.L. Tonia

Alderman, RM and Newsletter Chairman, H.L. Sandi Gordon, PRM.

H.L. Tonia Alderman RM, Sunshine Chairman:

wa.amaranth.sunshine@hotmail.com or toniaalderman@msn.com

253-845-8330 (H) 206-790-6532 (C)

H.L. Sandi Gordon PRM, Newsletter Chairman:

Gordonsandi716@gmail.com

253-414-4411

Fraternally,

H.L. Kären Ekrem, PGRM, GS

H.L. Linda Millo

Grand Royal Matron 4516 176

th Street SW, #E-4

Lynnwood, WA 98037

Grand Court of Washington

Order of the Amaranth

H.L. Karen Ekrem, PGRM, GS

1402 Auburn Way North, Suite #446

Auburn, WA 98002-3309

S.K. Darrel Smith Grand Royal Patron

3904 Pine Street. Longview, WA 98406-3804

Name__________________________________________

Address________________________________________

Phone________________Court_____________________

Adults #______@$30.00__________

Children (under 10)______@$12.00__________

Total $__________

MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO:

AMARANTH SCHOLARSHIP BENEFIT

Mail is with your check by Aug. 1 to:

Giny Rieck, 1101 Winslow Ave., Richland, WA 99354

Pick up tickets on arrival at the Party Barn

Burien Court No. 86 Order of the Amaranth

Greetings from Burien Court! Apr 27th Burien conducted its election of the 2011-2012 Officers. HL Heather Wilson was elected Royal Matron and SK Joe Graul as Royal Patron for a consecutive term. On May 14th at 2:00 pm, Burien performed its Installation of Officers. May 23rd Burien honored the mothers of the Court, read our annual reports, and performed our annual Memorial with reverence. On a sad note, Burien lost one of our prestige members, SK Herb Miller. He was succumbed to cancer on Easter Sunday, Apr 24th. Funeral services were done in private by the family and an open Memorial for SK Herb was held on May 22nd. Congratulations to Burien’s new Grand Officers: SK Joe Graul, Grand Trustee, 2 Years SK Michael Riley, Grand Representative to the Philippines & Web Master HL Kim Riley, Grand Faith HL Nancy O’Neill, Grand Musician Burien lost our major annual fund raiser and we are in the process of coming up with constructive ideas to earn money for our philanthropic projects. One idea, Burien will auction off a brand new Commandery Sword. Tickets will go for $5 per ticket and hopefully be given to the lucky person at Burien’s Official Visit of the GRM & GRP. A flyer will be submitted to the Web Master to post in the Grand Court Amaranth Website. If a Sir Knight needs a Sword and/or an Honor Lady would like to win this beautiful Sword for her Sir Knight, here is your opportunity. HL Heather Wilson and SK Joe Graul will have tickets available for purchase. No, you do not need to be at the Official Visit to win this beautiful Sword. Please help support Burien with all our endeavors. Amaranth Love, SK Joe Graul 253.332.3571 joegraul@comcast.net

JOIN US FOR

LINCOLN COURT'S HOLIDAY TOUR

---------------------------------

LEAVENWORTH CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING

SAT. DEC. 17, 2011

PRICE; $36.50 PER PERSON

NO HOST MEALS

DEPART 8:30AM FROM SPRINKER RECREATIONAL CENTER AND RETURN

14824 S "C" ST, TACOMA

(1 block west of Pacific Ave[HWY 7] on 152nd ST S)

All reservations must be pre paid no later than Dec. 7th

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:

ARLENE CRAIG

28113 16TH AVE E

ROY, WA 98580-8665

JOIN US FOR OUR ANNUAL

LINCOLN COURT MYSTERY DINNER

Saturday Jan. 28, 2012

$13.00 per person

Seatings at 1:00pm and 6:00pm

with entertainment by the

"Not Quite Ready For Broadway" players of Lincoln court.

Make reservations with Arlene or Chuck Craig

e mail to tutuarlene@people pc.com

Phone:253-843-2861

Masonic Outreach Services

By Mary Craves-Hollands, Director

It has been a year since the last Grand Lodge Annual Communications Meeting took place where Masonic Outreach Services legislation was passed to make Outreach Services part of the Masonic Code. It is a good time to go back and see what we have accomplished over the past year.

First of all, we had to get the word out about Masonic Outreach Services. If you have attended one of the eight Regional Communications Meetings you may have attended the presentation that was offered on Masonic Outreach Services. This was an opportunity for members to come and hear what the program is all about and what type of things are planned for the future. It gave us an opportunity to speak with many of you and confirm the direction you wish to see the program take. In addition, we have been invited to twenty-four lodges to give a presentation about the program and discuss the opportunities there are for volunteers in delivering services to our most vulnerable brothers and sisters. All of these presentations were an attempt to get the word out to the fraternity about the program. If you have not had us out to your lodge, please think about inviting us to come and speak to your membership.

Besides marketing the program, our staff here has been offering Information and Referral to callers and walk-ins in a variety of areas. Sometimes these are financial requests and others are for guidance when our callers and visitors find themselves in difficult situations. We are here for all of you – all you need to do is call us. As part of Information and Referral Program, we have been successful in assisting many Masonic families with filling out the paperwork needed to file applications for financial programs administered by both the State and Federal governments. Finally, we offer Case Management, not only to the former residents but all of the new clients that have called us and requested assistance in the past year.

Finally, we have been developing programs that will hopefully meet the ongoing needs of the fraternity as they age. These include, in addition to Information and Referral and Case Management, a Telephone Reassurance Program, a Transportation Program, an Adult Respite Program and a Transitional Care Program. Individual lodges have come forward and volunteered to pilot some of these programs which has been a heartwarming experience and makes us feel that the fraternity is truly behind us in our efforts.

What has become increasingly apparent is the fact that people want to age in place, close to their family, friends, church and lodge. We want to take the years of experience caring for our elder brothers and sisters here on the campus and use that to support people where they want to age – in their own homes or in retirement communities in their home towns. Please feel free to call us with any questions, comments or suggestions at:

206-878-8434/1-800-820-4630 Ext. 101; or visit our website at: masonicoutreachservices.org.

NOTE FROM SANDI: NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE IS AUGUST 1, 2011. PLEASE SEND ARTICLES BY WORD HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS NEWSLETTER, SANDI GORDON