Frequently Asked Questions The United Grand Chapter of Australia Order of the Eastern Star

1. Do the District Grand Committees have “white meetings”?  There are no white meetings, only committee meetings 2. How is a District Grand Committee different to an existing District Grand Chapter?  It will only be a committee and the presiding Office Bearers will be able to attend their Chapter and hold positions within that Chapter except for Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron 3. Please explain the function of the District Grand Committees?  These responsibilities will be mixture of the current guidelines for the Deputy Grand Matron’s committee with the additional empowerment of having a General fund to cover any expenses incurred

4. How will the District Grand Committee be funded? A Statutory Fee payable by each Chapter within the District and amount set by the Governing Body 5. What happens to a current District Benevolent & Distress Fund?  Divide Benevolent Distress Funds between the Chapters in a District or Area. Reason for the inclusion of Area as some Chapters not currently or soon to be out with a District may now come under a District different to the Area they currently belong to. This will particularly affect Queensland where the number of Districts may vary.  Give the funds to the Governing Body’s Benevolent Distress Fund  Ask the Governing Body to hold funds in trust for Disaster Relief in own District or Area 6. What do we do with our General Fund and Investments?  Use for correspondence relating to business of the District or Area

7. Please explain the opportunity to progress through the Order i.e. gain higher rank, given the new structure and no District Grand Chapter?  Any member who obtained the rank of Worthy Matron or Worthy Patron and has served for a period of not less than one term may be nominated for the Position of Worthy District Grand Matron or Worthy District Grand Patron.  Any suitably qualified member may nominate for the progressing Grand or Worthy Grand Offices when such occasion occurs 8. How will members be selected for Worthy District Grand Matron and Worthy District Grand Patron?  Initially by progression (if desired), the member holding the next progressive office position District Grand Associate Matron & District Grand Associate Patron. Where two Districts are involved members in progressive office would be merged for this purpose or  By selection from within the Chapters

9. Do the Worthy District Grand Matron and Worthy District Grand Patrons of current Districts continue to wear the District Grand Collars and how are the District Grand Secretaries and Treasurers installed.  Yes the Worthy District Grand Matron and Worthy District Grand Patrons will continue to use exiting collars  These office bearers could be installed utilising the method the Deputy Grand Matron follows 10. Who Marshal’s the Worthy District Grand Matron and Worthy District Grand Patron into the Chapter room?  The Chapter Marshal

11. What Regalia will the proposed Grand Chapter of Victoria wear and what Regalia will the proposed District Grand Committee of Tasmania wear.  Tasmania will have to purchase Regalia for Worthy District Grand Matron and Worthy District Grand Patron  Victoria could seek approval to use their existing District Grand Collars 12. What do we do with our paraphernalia?  As per dormancy  Badges of office to go to the Governing Body  Items of particular historical or emotive value may be vested to a Chapter with a Hall in the District or Area

13. When will this new system come into effect?  At the end of the District year following the UG Sessions and or  By recommendation to the Governing Body as is currently the practice 14. How long will the term be?  This will be a matter for continued discussion as in areas such as Tasmania and down the track other areas that may fall below a certain number of Chapters or members, it would be ideal to have these members serve for two years as do United Grand Chapter members  In other areas under the direct supervision of a Grand Chapter the term could be one year, but again this will need to be decided and it may be more practical to serve for two years. Should we be looking at Grand Chapters also serving for a two year term?

15. Can a husband and wife serve in these positions together?  Yes  Ideally it would not be desirable as this takes two members from one Chapter but in areas of vast distances to travel, it may be the safest option. This currently is an accepted practice within District Grand Chapters, but members of the same family cannot sign the same cheque but may be elected signatories 16. What is the role of the Education Officer?  To provide education and instruction to the Chapters on various matters of Ritual and Procedure, under the auspices of the Worthy District Grand Matron and Worthy District Grand Patron  These Officers would undergo a training course at a Governing Body level to ensure that instructions given were correct

17. Can we still hold Charity and Social events should we become a District Grand Committee?  Yes, a District is empowered to hold an account therefore social functions can be held.  A Worthy District Grand Matron may care to appoint someone to assist her to hold such functions  18. Q. Is postal or proxy vote be allowed?  In regard to postal voting Law U.49. states :  U.49. Every clear member of the United Grand Chapter is entitled to vote. In cases of votes being equal the Most Worthy Grand Matron, or the presiding Office-bearer, shall have a casting as well as a deliberative vote. Proxy and Postal votes are not permitted at meetings of the United Grand Chapter