Friday, December 15, 2006

Demolay Installation of Officers

Recently, we were privileged to be part of this wonderful night. Our sons belong to a boys group called Demolay, an international order for young men wishing to learn leadership skills while developing integrity and fraternal bonds that will last a lifetime.
Our eldest son Andrew was installed as Master Councillor, and our younger son David installed as Chaplain. The installation of officers is a very impressive ceremony. The boys all do their work by memory. This term, our young nephew Paul joined the Order and was also installed. The boys always elect a young lady to be their 'Sweetheart". She will help them organize their activities and coordinate any functions. This term the Sweetheart is Stephanie, my daughters best friend. For this event, the hall gets decorated and food has to be planned out. Stephanie took care of all of that, and did a wonderful job.

Andrew had this idea that it would be cool if all the boys got bright pink ties to wear. One of the 'moms' surprised them with a gift of pink ties which she made for them, Andrews being a bow tie! Here are some of the guys with their ties on. Andrew is holding a rubber chicken which Stephanie bought him for his mascot. David holds the 'travelling gavel'.
Boys from other chapters can take your mascot or gavel and you can only get it back by visiting their chapter. Demolay is a family organization. Belonging to the Masonic family, which also includes Jobs Daughters, and the Order of the Easter Star. These groups always come out to support one another. Here 'Aunty Grace" poses with the Master Councillor and Sweetheart. She has been a part of the organization for so long, that all the kids call her 'Aunty". After the formalities were over, the kids had a dance. They had a great time.

In this dance, the boys lined up on one side and the girls on the other for a Demolay rendition of "Baby got Back". That's David in the black t shirt. Heidi in the burgundy dress.


Ive said it before. This is such a nice thing to be part of. Seeing my three kids enjoying themselves and sharing good friends, makes all the work of being a parent volunteer, all worth it. They are each such different people, yet still have enough in common to spend time together.
















10 comments:

Outhouse Capital of Canada said...

I seem to remember you had a visitor from the Okanagan at that meeting, his new camera would do a good job in that low light situation at the altar.

sharon said...

Well it looks like a lot of smiling went on that night. It's great that your kids are doing positive things.

Fred said...

What a great story about kids doing some very positive things and having fun along with it.

Congrats to them all.

Me said...

this looks like a fun party!! nice time, nice gathering and you seem very proud of your three kids...nice post!

poet said...

lodges are beginning to be a part of the past in my little corner of the country. the lions and lioness is still pretty big, tho the members are aging, and no one in the younger set have joined. as well, the LOL and LOBA out in the village, where i spent the better part of my life, also have aging memebers. the masonic lodge and order of the eastern star are seeing a ressurgance in that area, my ex-step son is part of that organization, and he is one of the younger ones, at 35.
nice to see your kids keeping the lodges alive.
happy holidays, poet

Unknown said...

There is nothing like the joy of the joy from children, when we are blessed with it. Wishing you and those you love a very happy merry season and all good wishes to you for a healthy, prosperous and gentle 2007.

Louisiana said...

Merry Christmas and better weather to you and yours. May your family be happy and may a full remission come to Kayla soon. God Bless.

Anonymous said...

Sou DeMolay do BraziL...
Qual seu email?

Anonymous said...

That's interesting... I thought DeMolay was supposed to be a SECRET society... when I was a DeMolay there's no way anyone would have been allowed to be inside the meeting, much less take pictures! I'm afraid Jacques would be very disappointed in this particular case. Of course, he was tortured to death, so maybe not.

Susan said...

In response to Anonymous,
This was an open installation. Meaning that anyone was welcome to attend and no secret ritual work is done in such conditions.
Demolay has changed in recent years,as now Moms and Grandmothers are permited to sit on the board of Advisors and in the closed meetings also.
I see you still consider secrecy a high priority, since you signed in under anonymous!