Dear Ladies of the Household,

Nydia Temple No. 4 is delighted to announce the initiation of one, and possibly more, new members, by an Obligation Only Ceremony prior to our October Session this Wednesday. (Keep those proposals coming in, so we can triple that number in January, or better!) 

This month we are meeting again via Zoom.  By so doing, we honor the dictum of Al Kader’s Potentate, that there be no in-person meetings held at the Shrine Center in October, due to the rise in Covid cases.

I know this is a trying time, but think of it as being able to attend Nile from the comfort of your own home.  And,  all who log on will be entered in a drawing for a special prize, to be mailed to the lucky winner by your Queen.

Stay safe and well, dear princesses, and I hope to see you online on October 6.

Nile Love, Your Queen, Gail Martin

PS – If you need the Zoom link info, contact either PQ Kathy Walliker or PQ Jennifer Moyer, Princess Recorder

Due to pandemic regulations at the Shrine Center, the October stated session will be held on Zoom, rather than in person.  But, exciting news – we will begin the stated session with an Obligation-Only Ceremony, and have a new member join us.  The Zoom link and other information will be coming out closer to the October 6^th session.  I hope many of you can join us to welcome our new member.

Hi ladies, we need your help, and we need it like never before.

The Covid19 pandemic has been unkind to us – unkind to us in many ways.  Our country, our community, our ways of life, and all the nice and wonderful things we enjoyed have suffered.  And it continues.  It has become apparent we cannot just sit back any longer, let the pandemic run its course, and hope that soon our lives will be back to normal.  While we’re doing all we can do to reduce or eliminate the virus, our lives go on; we must pay bills, we sadly must say goodbye to our faithful members.  During this time, we have been prevented from initiating new members, holding fundraisers, and just getting together to enjoy each other’s company, and support each other through these difficult months.  As a result, the temple is now experiencing budget and membership issues, which are creeping towards a crisis.  Already this year (since April 1^st) we have lost 14 members to death.

How can you help?  We are requesting, even imploring our current members to help us in getting new members, keeping the ones we have, and restoring those we have lost. 

Please, please, please, fill out and turn in proposals.  Not sure of the eligibility?  You can find that information on the website, under “About Us”, ask the Recorder, me, or any officer.  We have a ceremonial planned in January, but until then we are able to perform obligation-only ceremonies, either in person or by Zoom.

If you know of a lady who used to be a member and through time or circumstances dropped her membership, please reach out and see if she willing to join us again.    And please, stay in contact with each other.  In some areas, in-person meetings are okay, so are lunches out, picnics, etc.  If not, then phone calls, emails and zoom meetings help us stay connected.

Your Membership Committee and officers are here to help, but it’s really up to all of us.  The more on our team the better – the more we can do with each other and the more we can do to support the children at the Shriners Children’s Hospitals. 

Thank you for everything you did before the pandemic, during it, and all you’re doing as we come out of it.  God bless you all.

Past Queen Kathy Walliker, Membership Chairman

Ladies, after careful consideration, it is clear to me that it would be in the best interest of our Temple and our ladies to hold the September stated session via Zoom, rather than in person.  I am truly disappointed, however, I feel it’s important to heed the warnings of the virus and its variants, and to follow the new rules of the State of Oregon and the Al Kader Shrine Center.

The September Stated Session will be held by Zoom on Wednesday, September 1^st, starting at 12:30 pm.  There will be a Zoom Social Hour starting at 11:30 am, so feel free to join in early and visit until 12:30 when we begin the session.  Contact either PQ Kathy Walliker or PQ Jennifer Moyer for the meeting link information.  (If you wish to be added to the list to receive Zoom links automatically without asking, let PQ Kathy know.)  The line officers had planned a “welcome back” lunch, which will be postponed until we can meet and eat together again.

We initiated two ladies in July, and it’s time to start looking ahead towards our next ceremonial in January and any possible obligation-only ceremonies between now and January.  Ladies, please fill out proposals and mail or email to the Pr. Recorder before session so they can be read that day.  The health of our membership depends on current members turning in proposals, so we can get the process started.  Any questions about qualifications, the process, etc., please contact Pr. Recorder Jennifer Moyer.

I look forward to Zooming with many of you on the 1^st.  Please reach out if you have any questions.  Nile Love, Queen Gail

The pandemic lockdown has resulted in some creative ways of doing things, including a tour the Portland Shriners Hospital.  To virtually visit the hospital, go to the next screen and enjoy this video.