Grand Chapter randomness
May. 18th, 2009 10:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
msmemory_archiveCut because most of my dear readers don't care :)
The hotel wasn't up to its usual standards. Presumably this has to do with the fact that it's changing hands & probably closing at the end of July. I was on the premium floor as one of the Stars of Hope Grand Family, so my room was fine, but I heard a lot about people who had too few towels, no extra toilet paper, etc. On the other hand, the staff was exceptionally obliging this year.
However there was no repeat of last year's insufficient food problem. Dull food in abundance. When![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jducoeur and I went out last night, my goal was "I want a GOOD meal!"
I had budgeted for a new gown from the dress vendor who comes every year. Bad me, I bought two. But I know I'll use them, and they're a little bit outside the usual style, so that's good. (Dark red gown with a square neck, Empire waist, and beading only on the bodice; very dark teal with a net panel at the neckline and a spray of bead flowers diagonally across the body) Deb also bought a red one, in a different style.
Diana, Susan, and I, as "Joanie's Angels" commissioned a silk Bible marker for Joan as our gift, embroidered with the SOH badge, her Bible verse, a spray of lilies of the valley, and her name, chapter numbers, and date. A great hit, really lovely. Perhaps now that we've gotten the badge digitized we can sell patches and things without the upfront costs.
Suzanne, the new marshal, commissioned a bottle of Crown Royal with custom label and bag with Joan's name and date of installation. Joan showed that thing off to everyone in the hotel, I think.
Pat I. is doing much more poorly than she should be, much quicker than I expected. I think she's not bouncing back well from Dick's passing or from the news that she can't afford the luxury condo to which she envisioned retiring.
The Committee on Shortening of Ceremonies very nearly didn't get to present their recommendations. Nat pointed out that they had not sent the recommendations for Jurisprudence review 30 days in advance, and was going to remand the report for next year's session, but the attendees voted to suspend the rules and discuss it anyway. Whereupon it didn't pass. There were a bunch of workable suggestions and modifications presented, but unfortunately the package had to be considered as a whole and didn't have the support of the GC in general. We could easily have passed some portion of their work, but weren't permitted to discuss line items. If they do this thing again, they ought to allow a modular review so we could pass bits (like cutting down on the number of laps the Deputy Grand Marshal makes around the room) without approving more controversial items like changing the PGMs' introductions.
Total attendance did not break 700 this year, even including the 84 Distinguished Guests from other jurisdictions. But where else would we find a venue that loves us as much as the Lowell building? Most other places don't have that kind of floor space, or wouldn't let our Hall Committee run the lighting, or something. If attendance keeps dropping, though, GC dues and the site fee won't cover our costs, even with the incentives LMA gives us.
Palestine Chapter was very lightly represented, apart from people on Joan's team. Phyllis M., Pat I., the WM & WP, Gail B., Elaine. I wish we'd been able to persuade some of the newer members, like Colleen or Barbara, to have come and seen things at the high level.
The hotel wasn't up to its usual standards. Presumably this has to do with the fact that it's changing hands & probably closing at the end of July. I was on the premium floor as one of the Stars of Hope Grand Family, so my room was fine, but I heard a lot about people who had too few towels, no extra toilet paper, etc. On the other hand, the staff was exceptionally obliging this year.
However there was no repeat of last year's insufficient food problem. Dull food in abundance. When
jducoeur and I went out last night, my goal was "I want a GOOD meal!"I had budgeted for a new gown from the dress vendor who comes every year. Bad me, I bought two. But I know I'll use them, and they're a little bit outside the usual style, so that's good. (Dark red gown with a square neck, Empire waist, and beading only on the bodice; very dark teal with a net panel at the neckline and a spray of bead flowers diagonally across the body) Deb also bought a red one, in a different style.
Diana, Susan, and I, as "Joanie's Angels" commissioned a silk Bible marker for Joan as our gift, embroidered with the SOH badge, her Bible verse, a spray of lilies of the valley, and her name, chapter numbers, and date. A great hit, really lovely. Perhaps now that we've gotten the badge digitized we can sell patches and things without the upfront costs.
Suzanne, the new marshal, commissioned a bottle of Crown Royal with custom label and bag with Joan's name and date of installation. Joan showed that thing off to everyone in the hotel, I think.
Pat I. is doing much more poorly than she should be, much quicker than I expected. I think she's not bouncing back well from Dick's passing or from the news that she can't afford the luxury condo to which she envisioned retiring.
The Committee on Shortening of Ceremonies very nearly didn't get to present their recommendations. Nat pointed out that they had not sent the recommendations for Jurisprudence review 30 days in advance, and was going to remand the report for next year's session, but the attendees voted to suspend the rules and discuss it anyway. Whereupon it didn't pass. There were a bunch of workable suggestions and modifications presented, but unfortunately the package had to be considered as a whole and didn't have the support of the GC in general. We could easily have passed some portion of their work, but weren't permitted to discuss line items. If they do this thing again, they ought to allow a modular review so we could pass bits (like cutting down on the number of laps the Deputy Grand Marshal makes around the room) without approving more controversial items like changing the PGMs' introductions.
Total attendance did not break 700 this year, even including the 84 Distinguished Guests from other jurisdictions. But where else would we find a venue that loves us as much as the Lowell building? Most other places don't have that kind of floor space, or wouldn't let our Hall Committee run the lighting, or something. If attendance keeps dropping, though, GC dues and the site fee won't cover our costs, even with the incentives LMA gives us.
Palestine Chapter was very lightly represented, apart from people on Joan's team. Phyllis M., Pat I., the WM & WP, Gail B., Elaine. I wish we'd been able to persuade some of the newer members, like Colleen or Barbara, to have come and seen things at the high level.
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Date: 2009-05-18 06:18 pm (UTC)I LOVE that The Committee on Shortening of Ceremonies almost didn't get to present - well, that shortened things, didn't it?