I have set
up a network where a Massachusetts member can e-mail me on the
welfare of their chapter members and any special events that are
going on in our jurisdiction.
Cyber Chat -
I started
Cyber Chat in August 1995 as a Contentment Chapter e-newsletter when
I was Chapter Secretary. Since many of our chapter members were
dual members, it overlapped to other chapters. Before I knew it
members from across the state were interested. In 2000 I had to
change from my e-mail program to a bulk mailing using my web host to
get the word out to over 500 members.
Sadness and Sickness and Distress -
When deaths occur, we are able to quickly notify members and
advise of funeral arrangements. We also report illnesses and other
items of distress so that we "may give to our Sisters and Brothers,
sympathy in their sorrows and aid in their misfortunes."
Chapter Notices -
The agenda for the week is provided to encourage members to
visit surrounding Chapters. Information is gathered mostly from
Chapter notices that are mailed to me. Many have asked to go one
step further by having their own webpage on our website oestar.org
(click on "Chapters" to see who has a webpage).
Web pages -
Any Massachusetts chapter can have
a FREE web page within our website. This is a great opportunity for
chapters to post their chapter notices. Member's address or
telephone number will NOT be posted for safety reasons. Also, your
news on illness or joys of your chapter members will NOT be posted
unless instructed to do so.
Just ask your chapter secretary or
worthy matron/patron to email the chapter notice to cyber chat. Or
if you so incline, you may design your own web page and send the
file to cyber chat. Please use FrontPage and only one web page per
chapter.
Special Events -
Chapters submit information about upcoming Friendship Nights,
anniversaries and other events, inviting all to come visit and join
in the fun.
Reports on Events -
Following Official Visitations, Friendship Nights, and other
activities, reports appear in Cyber Chat. Members who were unable to
attend the event, can read about it in Cyber Chat. This information
is sent to cyber chat by members that are on line and who attended
the event.
Special Requests -
Members have asked me to share flyers to our members on Cyber
Chat. I have converted them to a .pdf file so that they can be
opened by everyone. There is a complete list of flyers for your
viewing only.
Chapters have solicited for
Chapter furniture, members have requested items for special projects
from previous years, and others have requested programs or skits. It
is sharing and networking at it's best.
Special Recognition -
Members have been recognized on Cyber Chat when awards were
received for their labors in Eastern Star, the Masonic family and
other personal achievements. We share information about the good
fortunes of our members.
Success -
Many of our members visit other jurisdictions and form new
friendships. Cyber Chat has become so popular it has included
information on other jurisdiction's sadness, sickness and distress
among their present and past grand families.
Jokes and Cute Stories Not Included -
The cute stories, jokes and scam warnings that are on the
Internet are not included on Cyber Chat. They circulate quite well
without any additional help. Attachments are discouraged in an
effort to avoid viruses. Only flyers that are known to be coming
will be opened. Most flyers were sent to me by our A.G.M shortly
after her All State to share with our members.
To Subscribe -
On our open page (home) scroll down and fill out the Mailing
List form.
Once you
have filled out the form on the opening page, you will receive an
e-mail from my server asking you to "confirm" that you want to be
placed on the "mailing list".
Click the
URL that is in that e-mail (not oestar.org). As soon as you do it
will bring you back to the website. Your e-mail address will be
activated at that moment. There is nothing else to do at that
point. You can close the website or enjoying the various files
within this website.
What you can do -
To
send an e-mail of the joys, sorrow, distress, of your Chapter
members, or special events taking place in your chapter, please
e-mail me at
webmaster@oestar.org Be sure to type the complete name of the
member you are reporting on and their chapter number along with
their address so that we can send a card of cheer or a card of
sympathy.
Thank you!
