New Hospital Request List

Hello from your friendly Hospital Request co-charman!

I have the new list from the Shriner's Hospitals in a paper letter here.

If you want a hard copy of this, feel free to contact me or my mother (our emails are in the sidebar).

Onto the information!

First, a note from the Shriner's Hospital:

For the safety of our patients, strict infection control policies are followed.  We accept only new toys, games, and stuffed animals.  Gently used books and toys pose the risk of bacteria that could cause infections.  For this reason, used toys and books cannot be accepted.

We suggest donating your used items to your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, or other charitable organizations.

We have listed suggestions for toys and games we can use with patients of various ages.  If you have any questions about donations, please call 513.872.6059 or email Louise at lhoelker [at] shrinenet [dot] org.

Acceptable Gifts

Infants (birth to 1 year)

• Activity centers
• Infant mirrors, musical toys
• rattles and squeeze toys
• Nesting and stacking toys
• No water filled toys

Toddlers (1 to 3 years)

• Shape-sorting boxes
• Sorting and grouping toys

Preschool (3 to 5 years)

• DUPLO blocks
• Musical toys

Teenagers (11 to 18 years)

• Board games: Sorry, Trouble, Monopoly, etc
• Diaries, stationary (for 15 to 18 years)
• Teen novels, word search, crossword puzzle books, suduko books, sports books
• Teen movies, music, magazines
• Hand-held electronic games, battery operated
• Nerf balls
• Mp3 players (any brand)
• Wristwatches
• Baseball caps and t-shirts with professional and college logos (adult sizes L, XL, XXL)
• Travel sized games
• Car model glue sets

All Ages

• Paint-by-number sets
• Disposable cameras
• Scrapbooking material
• Books or CDs in Spanish
• "I Spy" books
• DVDs (G or PG rated)
• Batteries (AA and AAA)
• Uno, Skip Bo, card games
• Regular playing cards
• Small photo albums
• Chapter books

Note: Everything that is in italics is the most needed.

Over the years, we have been very fortunate to have the generous support of Shrine Centers, their clubs, units, Daughters of the Nile, and many other organizations.  Subsequently, we do not need the following items:

• Hospital gowns/dresses
• Knitted slippers/bed socks
• Infant bibs
• Pre-op dolls
• Large afghans
• Barbie dolls
• Coloring books
• Match box cars
• Wagons
• Used toys or stuffed animals
• VHS tapes
• Baby dolls
• Beanie babies
• Books for young children
  
• Playdough
• Stuffed animals
• Magic doodlers
  

They only accept new items.

Tips for donating:

Small to medium toys and games that can be used in a wheelchair or bed are preferred for our patients who have limited physical mobility.  Due to airline luggage restrictions, avoid large items: dollhouses, keyboards, race track toys, etc.  Games and books that depict violence and toy weapons are not accepted.  Sharp, glass, or breakable items are not accepted.  Gift bags are helpful but you do not need to wrap toys.  Patient privacy regulations (HIPAA) prevent us from allowing donors to personally distribute toys to the children.

Pr. Royal Amy, Co-Chairman Hospital Request Committee

Ceremonial

Our first Ceremonial for the new year is May 18, 2010 at the Saginaw Masonic Center.

We have a pro-tem candidate.  This is going to be a dress rehearsal of sorts for the Supreme Queen visit.  Please come out and support the officers in their work.

It will start at 7:30 PM with the entrance of the Pageantry Unit.  We will open and then go right into the Ceremonial.

May Message

I would like to thank all of those that attended our 59th Annual Installation of Officers on March 27th.  It turned out to be a very nice evening with 62 people in attendance.  I know that it makes all of us ladies feel proud of our beautiful order and also appreciated for what we do for the children at the Shrine Hospitals.

I would especially like to thank the Illustrious Sir, Clarence Meyer for the beautiful hand-made gavel that he made with his own hands for me as a svery special give that I will cherish forever.

Please mark your calendars for July 17th, 2010.  Our Supreme Queen will be at our temple for her annual visit.  The more ladies we can get to show up and support our temple, the better we will be.  There will be a dinner at 5:30 PM at the Saginaw Masonic Center and then the Ceremonial will follow.

Illness:

Please keep Helen Robinson in your thoughts and prayers as she is in Covenant Rehab.  Also keep Dick and Pauline Parsons in your thoughts and prayers, as they are now residents at Masonic Pathways in Alma.  I know that they would appreciate visits and cards.

Schedule:

Tuesday, May 11: Rehearsal 6:30 PM for Ceremonial
Tuesday, May 11: Stated Session, 7:30 PM
Tuesday, May 18: Ceremonial
Supreme Session: June 13th-18th in Indianapolis Indiana

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Nile Newsletter

Everyone!

The Spring/Summer edition of the Nile Newsletter is due to be mailed today, and you should see it in your mailbox within the next couple of days.

Don't forget, if you have articles to submit to the Newsletter, contact Elizabeth H. or Ellen F. to have it put in.

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Happenings around Nile

Makere had a very successful installation.  We installed (most) all of our officers, and the ones who couldn't make it were installed at the first Session following.

The new officers are becoming proficient in their work.  Everyone did a wonderful job at the last Session.  Kudos to all.

Handchime Unit

The Handchime Unit's bylaws were read and approved at the last Session.  We are now official!  Don't forget that are taking orders for our flower fundraiser.  The website is as follows:

http://www.flowerpowerfundraising.com/campaign?campaign_id=879

Please feel free to do an online order or see Amy H., Elizabeth H., Ellen Z., Ellen F., Nancy H., or Kristy M. to fulfill orders.  We are taking them through April 23rd.  This is coming up pretty quick, so get your order in as soon as possible!

We've almost made $100 through this, so keep on ordering.  We will have other fundraisers coming up (possibly a fall flower drive) so keep your eyes and ears peeled for new and exciting things.

Pr. Royal's Corner

I am still working on the cookbook initiative.  I need to schedule another "type-in" and finish working on the recipes.  I'll need some Ladies who have laptops who can come to my house and type.  I'll probably order a pizza after we're half-way through and provide pop/lemonade/iced tea.  We had fun last time, and I hope we can have fun again.  We got over 100 recipes done last time we had a "type-in"!  It was great!  I will try to schedule something either next month, or after Supreme Session.

~~~~

Don't forget that our next session is on May 11th.  We will be having a Rehearsal at 6:30 (an hour before Session) for our Ceremonial that is on May 18th.  If you are in the Pageantry Unit, please come at 6 so we can work on our floorwork before the Rehearsal and we won't interfere with the Session following.

If anyone needs help with their memory work, please contact Pr. Royal Amy to work on it.  I'll be happy to help you with your talk and response memory work.  It's much easier to learn when you have someone to "play" the other parts.

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Correction...

The Circus Appreciation dinner is on March 29th at 6 PM at Circus Park.  I neglected to mention the date in the last post.  Ooops.  It's also on the calendar to the right, if you want to add it to your calendar.

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Daughters of the Nile Upcoming Events

Wow, it's another month, and it's going to be a busy one at that!

We have many things going on this month and next.

March 25th is the practice for our Installation.  Officers need to be there by 6 PM; the Unit can practice at 5:45 PM.  We just have to go over how we're walking in; it won't be that hard.

March 27th is the Installation.  It starts at 7 PM, but Nancy (our new Queen) wants the officers there by 6 PM so we can get organized and be ready to go when everything starts.

There is a Circus Appreciation Dinner at 6 PM at Circus Park for everyone who worked at the Circus in January.  Reservations MUST be called in to the Circus Park office for this dinner.  Please contact the Recorder for the number.

April 6th is the practice for our first Session of the new year.  This is at 6 PM, and we'll be going over the floor work for the newest officers.  The Ceremonial Assistants will be there with their books to help anyone who needs it.

On April 11th, there will be a meeting for the Handchime Unit and people interested in helping with the Unit.  We will be drawing up our by-laws and passing out more information.  The meeting will be at the Pr. Recorder's house; if you need directions, feel free to call.

I hope to see as many people as possible at our Installation and the upcoming events.  Don't forget, if there's a lady who is interested in joining Daughters of the Nile, you can bring her to the Installation as a guest so she can see what we are all about.  This would be a good way to get new people in and interested about what we do.  If you are going to bring someone, contact the Recorder, and she can give you some pamphlets about Daughters of the Nile to give to the prospective member.  Eligibility is determined by relationship to a Shriner, Master Mason, or a Daughter of the Nile.

I hope we have an awesome year, and I wish Nancy the best.

Pr. Royal-Elect
Amy

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Hand Chime Unit Fundraiser

The Hand Chime Unit announces our fundraiser to raise money for our chimes.

We are selling flower bulbs from Flower Power Fundraising and we take home 50% of the profits.

Our website is here.  Please go there for your credit card orders.  You can also contact Kristy, Amy, Ellen F., Ellen Z., or Elizabeth about orders.

The deadline for orders is April 23rd.  We are in Zone 5 for bulb planting.

We look forward to the Temple's support for our Unit!

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Session Tonight

THE NILE SESSION TONIGHT IS CANCELLED!!!!!

We are getting a special dispensation to move our meeting to the 23rd.  Please mark on your calendars the change in date.

This is because of the horrendous weather today.  Our Queen has cancelled the meeting.

PLEASE LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS!

Our Queen Yvonne will probably be calling you to tell you of the change in dates.

February Messege

On January 10, 2010, I had the pleasure of attending and representing our Temple at the installation of the 2010 Potentate Clarence Meyer and his elected and appointed officers of the Divan for Elf Khurafeh Temple. Congratulations to Clarence and his lady Brigitte. We are very proud of Brigitte, who is a member of our Temple and serves as Princess Zulemia.

Congratulations to all the newly installed officers of Elf Khurafeh. We hope you have a successful and profitable year and we look forward to helping you and all the members in any capacity that we can. Daughters fo the Nile takes pride in helping our Shriners raise money for the children in the hospitals. As you all know, we also make things and supply many items for the children that the hospitals request from us. This is done by Daughters of the Nile worldwide God be with all of you in our joint effort to help our kids in the hospitals.

By the time you receive this article the Shine Circus of 2010 will be over. I hope and pray it has been a huge success for our nobles and ladies. I hoped you were able to help in some way by going to the Circus; working at the Dow Center or working at the Masonic Temple preparing the food that was served. Thank you for everything you have done; the work we do is well worth it as we all know, and it always is fun to see everyone and share in the work.

In February, Supreme Queen Vesta Marshall will be returning home to London, Ontario from her travels all over the US and Canada. At that time, Omar Temple will be having their official ceremonial. It is scheduled for February 27th at 1:00 PM at Omar Temple No. 111. Some of the ladies are hoping to attend depending on the weather. Please let me know if you are interested in going.

Sympathy:

I was very sorry to hear that Noble Jerry Young had passed away. He will be sorely missed by all know knew him. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

I was very saddened to find out that PQ Helen Robinson's husband Noble Bud Robinson passed away. Bud was very active in the Shrine and also well known in Daughters of the Nile. I know you will keep Helen in your prayers and thoughts as I will. PQ Helen is also shceduled for surgery on January 18th.

Illness:

I understand that PQ Mary Alice Parcell and PQ Ellen Zirkle were not feeling well during the holidays. I was glad to hear that they are now doing better.

My own 5 year old granddaughter Emily has been seriously ill for the past month. She is diong better but is still receiving home care from the visiting nurses form Covenant hospital. She has now been referred to the Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Please keep everyone who has been ill and in distress in your prayers and thoughts.

Queen Yvonne

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Saginaw Shrine Circus

The Shrine Circus is next week!

The shows are:

Thursday: 10 AM and 7 PM
Friday: Noon and 7 PM
Saturday: 10 AM, 2 PM and 7 PM (Walkthrough)
Sunday: 1 PM and 5 PM

Tickets:

Child (under 12 years) - $12; Adult - $14; Reserved - $16

Tickets are available at the Dow Event Center box office or through Ticketmaster.

Proceeds (of the show) benefit the Elf Khurafeh Shriners.

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The help is set for the Dow Center, but if you wish you assist with the cooking, Sharon always can use helping hands in the kitchen at the Masonic Center.

This is our BIGGEST fund-raiser of the YEAR!  It's also a lot of fun to get together and work toward a cause and help our Shriners.

Bring your kids or grandkids or yourself out and watch the show if you want!  It's always a great show.

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Blog Maintenance

Notice:

There's been some blog maintenance going on.  Somehow the calendar application I was using got discontinued from Google, so I had to grab the HTML off of the Google calendar and embed it in the sidebar.

Sorry for anyone who's been trying to access the calendar from the blog and can't because of this issue.  I'm not sure when it started happening, so I don't know how long it was this way.

Again, I apologize.

If anyone sees something amiss with the widgets on the blog, feel free to contact me directly at the email listed in the About section.

Thank you for your patience.

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January Message

Ladies of the Household:

By the time you read this another year will have almost have gone. I hope and pray that this year will be a better year for our economy and for our country. I also hope that the war will soon be over and our men and women will come home without having to wonder whether or not they will have to go back over there again.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and shared lots of good times and memories with their family and friends. I hope that you all keep the Christmas spirit, smiles and warmness of it all, throughout the year.

I have a couple of reminders. First, remember the installation of the officers of Elf Khurafeh at Circus Park is at 2:00 PM on January 10th. Please attend if you can and help support our Shriners. Also, January 12th is our annual ingathering. It's a time for good food and good fellowship. Just bring a dish to pass and your own table service, and don't forget that it starts at 6:00 PM with session starting at 7:30 PM following.

I apologize for not attending the Past Queens Christmas get-together at Spencer's on Tuesday December 1st. I understand a good time was had by all and the food was delicious. I was unable to attend due to some surgery I had to have on my mouth. I was sorry I had to miss it, but I'm glad they had fun. Past Queens will meet again the first Tuesday of January at Fuzzy's on Court St.

Illness:
Past Queen Sharon Pequignot and her noble Jim are still on the mend from the car accident they were involved in last month. Thank God they are both all right except for some cuts, bruises, and soreness. From what I was told, it could have been a lot worse; their car was totaled.

Past Queen Helen Robinson's noble Bud is home and doing better after a lengthy stay in the hospital with pneumonia. Please keep him in your prayers that he is all better soon.

Past Queen Sharon Pequignot informed me that she saw Princess Ida Marie Minnis out and about and that she was doing very well. Wonderful!

Please keep all of our ill members, friends, and family in your thoughts and prayers.

Happy New Year.

With Nile love and hugs,

Queen Yvonne Szagesh

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Handchime Unit

At the last Session, we had a vote to establish a handchime unit for our Temple!

This is very exciting.  The interested parties are as follows:

PQ Kristy Meyer
PQ Elizabeth Hussey
Amy Hussey
PQ Ellen Zirkle
Ellen Fisher

If anyone else is interested, feel free to contact PQ Kristy or anyone else on the above list about more information.  PQ Kristy is the one who has most of the information, so she'd be the best one to contact for information.

We will be working very hard to raise the money for the handchimes, as they are rather expensive.  Please support the new unit in any way you can!

December Message

Ladies of the Household,

Christmas 2009 is almost here.  The stores are filled with Christmas décor already, even though Thanksgiving is hardly here.  I for one can't believe it.  But the stores remind me every time I go shopping.  It seems as I grow older, everything comes and goes much too fast anyway.

I was very glad that four of our ladies from our Makere #99 were able to travel up to Marquette for the Supreme Queen visit there on October 29th.  Past Queens Sharon Pequinot, Elizabeth Hussey, and Ellen Zirkle were able to go, as well as Princess Tirzah Amy Hussey.  The temple in Marquette (Nefretete #110) was short a couple of officers, so two of our ladies helped out: PQ Elizabeth as Princess Attendant and Princess Amy as Princess Zuliema.  They said they had a great time.  Thank you to all of you for going up and representing our Temple.

Just to let you know, the 4-Star Bazaar on November 7th was a success again this year.  Thank you to everyone that helped to make it so and all the people that helped work.  The homemade noodles and homemade peanut brittle were a hit at our booth.  Thank you to the expertise of the Nile ladies that came out and made those things.  Also thanks to PA Helen Robinson for sharing her delicious recipe for the peanut brittle.  We also had some mighty fine baked goods that went over very well.

Past Queen Sharon Pequinot did a beautiful job giving the history of our founding fathers at our November session.  This has been a tradition shared by all Daughters of the Nile all over the country and in Canada the month of November or December every year since our founding.  Thanks again, Sharon.

Remember, we will be having our in-gathering in January before our regular stated session.  Please bring a dish to pass for the pot luck and your own place settings and have some good food with some good friends.

ILLNESSES:  I was out of commission for a couple of weeks.  Somehow I contracted the H1N1 virus and was very ill.  Thank God I'm ok now.  I just have to take it slower for awhile; and I'm trying.

I've been informed that PQ Mary Alice Parcell has been under the weather.  Please keep her in your prayers.  Also, Princess Ida Marie McInnis is having some serious surgery on November 10th. 

I have received news from Gail Stoutenberg, president of the Alpena Nile Club that Princess Mickey Towlerton is doing much better following her arm surgery.  She said that Mickey was able to attend their meeting in October and that she is doing great.  Glad to hear se is on the mend.

President Gail also informed me that the Alpena Nile Club will be making the dinner on December 8th for the installation of the new president of the Alpena Shrin Club, Wayne McWilliams.  We wish the ladies well in their endeavors and president Wayne good luck in the following year as president.

I am enclosing the following excerpt from a news article about one of our other princesses of the Alpena Nile Club.  I think it is wonderful, and it reminds us of the wonderful ladies we have in our Nile and the good work they do.  Princess Cheryl, I know your Mom and Dad (Donna “Mickey” and Art Towlerton) and your ladies in Alpena are very proud of you.  So are we and so is Michigan.  Congratulations.

“Cheryl Lemke – School Nurse of the Year

Cheryl Lemke, Alpena Public Schools nurse since 1985, is this year's Michigan School Nurse of the Year!

Superintendent Brent Holcomb said, “We are fortunate to have such a wonderful, caring nurse who serves not only our 4,400 students, but our 500 staff members as well. Cheryl goes above and beyond to make sure students and staff are taken care of in many ways. Her dedication shows she truly loves her job.”
Lemke is responsible for 11 schools spread out across the entire county. Her duties include caring for medically fragile students, responding to emergencies, heading the student immunization program, training staff to assist in a variety of medical situations, and writing protocols that inform substitute teachers and staff about what to do when help is needed. Lemke is also the school district’s representative to the medical community, collaborating with the District Health Department Number Four and Alpena Regional Medical Center.

Off-duty, Lemke sews hospital burn gowns and toy bags for children who require extended hospital stays. She is also an accomplished photographer who won first-place in the Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary River Center photography contest.

Lemke and her husband, Ron, a retired Alpena Public Schools counselor, reside in Alpena. They have a daughter, Ashley.”

Just an added note from president Gail Stoutenberg: Princess Cheryl is the hospital chairperson for the Alpena Nile Club.  She is the wonderful gal who purchases all the gifts for the hospital with the money we share with them each year.  Even her husband helps he shop.  He just purchased an entire rack of children's clothing for next year.  Since the outfits were on sale, they bought them all.  That's how they shop for our kids.  Thanks from us to princess Cheryl's husband for helping, and thanks to princess Cheryl!

I hope and pray that you and your families all have a blessed Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!

Nile Love and hugs, Yvonne Szagesh, Queen