Thursday, May 3, 2007

Adams begins year as Worthy Grand Matron of state OES

by Sara Peterson-Davis

The Order of the Eastern Star has been a part of Isabel Adams’ life for about as long as she can remember.

Isabel Adams

She tagged along with her mother tomeetings when she was a little girl.
And when she turned 18, she joined the fraternal order for herself.

Now 50 years later, Adams is Worthy
Grand Matron of the Kansas Grand
Chapter Order of the Eastern Star.

“It’s something I would never have
thought I ever would be able to do,”
said the Ozawkie resident, who was installed in the office at the Kansas Grand Chapter Session last month in Topeka.

As worthy grand matron, Adams will work with the organization’s worthy grand patron, Mike Towner of Ottawa, to guide the Eastern Star chapters throughout the state during the next year.

Adams was welcomed to her new role by the more than 500 people who attended this year’s grand session.

“I’ve never hugged so many people in my life, but I’m not complaining,” said Adams, who belongs to OES Chapter 399 in Meriden. “I think we’re going to have a good year.”

The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world to which both men and women may belong. There are about 1 million members worldwide, according to the order’s website.

As Worthy Grand Matron, Adams will spend much of the next year traveling around Kansas visiting Eastern Star Chapters throughout the state and officiating at various events of the order, as well as those of affiliate orders, such as Job’s Daughters, DeMolay and Rainbow Girls.

“There will be a couple of weeks in there where I’ll be gone all week traveling,” said Adams, who retired after 34 years with Southwestern Bell.

Like other Masonic orders, the Order of the Eastern Star is involved in raising money for a number of charities. In addition to assisting the Masons and Shriners with their charities, Adams said the Kansas Grand Chapter raises money to fight Alzheimer’s and heart disease, as well as for cancer research. The order also raises money for the Ronald McDonald House by collecting tabs from aluminum cans. In the last four years, the order had raised $2,078 for the charity.

The Eastern Star also provides scholarships to seminary and pastoral care students through its ESTARL program.

The Masonic tradition runs deep in Adams’ family. While her mother was active in Eastern Star, her father was a Mason. Adams’ husband, Eldon, is also a Mason, as are two of their sons. One of their daughters is a member of Eastern Star.

“My dad was a strong Mason and it meant a lot to him,” said Adams.

She can remember men coming to their farm so her father could give them the instruction they needed to join the Masons.

When she was working and raising five children, Adams said the Eastern Star gave her a much-needed social outlet.

“I got out and was able to see people other than the ones at work and family,” Adams said. “You just meet some awfully nice people.”

Adams’ responsibilities as worthy grand matron started almost as soon as she was installed. In the first week she was back home, she wrote more than 250 letters to members and committees throughout the state. She has already begun organizing efforts for next year’s grand session that will mark the end of her term as worthy grand matron.

But her time as worthy grand matron won’t be all work. Adams and her husband will attend several fun events, including a trip to Branson, Mo., in August that will bring together Eastern Star members from Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska for three days.

Adams is looking forward to the year ahead with a sense of humor.

“One year from last night it will be somebody else’s baby,” she laughed. “I have no business doing this, but I’m doing it anyway.”