Grand Nest Bulletin Volume 111 111th Grand Nest Convention Issue July 11-13, 2018 Edmonton Pond Hosts the Grand Nest in Edmonton, AB Internet Address --- http://www.BlueGoose.org E-mail Address: [email protected] Future Conventions Indianapolis July 17-19, 2019 Hartford July 18-22, 2020 Mid Year Grand Nest Officers Meeting Indianapolis, IN 2016-2017 GRAND NEST OFFICERS Most Loyal Grand Gander Grand Keeper Mark Robertson Archie Gillis Challenge Insurance Group Inc. PO BOX 28103 10466 Mayfield Road Dartmouth, NS B2W6E2 Edmonton, Alberta T5P 4P4 Res: 902-434-4627 Res: 780-435-4274 Cell: 902-414-4628 Off: 780-447-7992 [email protected] Cell: 780-918-4829 Email: [email protected] Grand Supervisor Grand Wielder: Kim Bilbrey Terrence M. Maloney 145 Cousins Drive Robertson - Ryan Carlisle, OH 45005 12940 Walnut Rd. Res: 937-743-6155 Elm Grove, WI 53122 Off: 937-746-0964 Res: 262-782-7658 Cell: 937-901-7557 Off: 414-221-0341 Email: [email protected] Fax: 262-782-7608 [email protected] Grand Custodian Judge Advocate: Dan Rich Lorena Kohlruss 25 Minister Brook Drive Box 976 Simsbury, CT 06070 Ladysmith, BC V9G 1A7 Res: 860-651-5450 Res: 250-924-4777 Cell: 860-841-7833 [email protected] Cell: 587-777-2745 Grand Guardian Michael Smith Grand Nest Historian: 3419 US 301 N #800 John Bishop Tampa, FL 33619 310-3083 Olivet Street Off: 888-782-3473 Halifax, NS Cell: 407-468-4640 B3L 4R2 [email protected] Canada Res: 902-455-6332 [email protected] Blue Goose Holds Grand Nest Convention in Savannah, GA This was a convention of many firsts: First with a convention app for your mobile device. First to incorporate a charity event into the convention agenda. First to donate extra convention food to charity. First to donate newly purchased convention furniture to charity. First to hold a program for first-time attendees. 182 Ganders, spouses and guests, including six children from across the US and Canada journeyed to Savannah, GA to attend the 111th Blue Goose Grand Nest Convention from July 11-13, 2017. The convention was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in the heart of Savannah’s bustling tourist district. The hotel was located between River Street and Bay Street— an outstanding location within easy walking distance of hundreds of shops, restaurants, and attractions Tuesday July 11, 2017 The Grand Nest Officers met on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, As our families arrived to register, they found “the Nest” – a huge space that housed the registration desk, the Grand Nest historical archives, and served as a lounge and central meeting area. At the end of the convention, all of the furniture and extra supplies purchased for the Nest were donated to the local Salvation Army for their new teen center. For 42 Ganders (max capacity), the Convention’s first formal activity was boarding a bus to take us to a voluntary charity activity at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Coastal Georgia. Second Harvest sorts and repackages 14 million tons of food donations for distribution in twenty-one Georgia counties. We helped them with their backpack program for food donations to 300 state agencies. Our mission was to create weekend snack bags for school children of distressed families. The idea behind it was that when kids get school lunches, the school at least knows the kids get one good meal a day. But what exactly they ate over the weekend was unknown. So with that in mind, we divided our volunteers into three teams and set up an assembly line that stuffed zip lock bags with a fruit, canned chicken, a can of soup, a can of chili, a box of raisins, a bag of chips, a white milk, a chocolate milk, and 2 fruit bars. The assembly line experience was enhanced by music and some impromptu karaoke (tunes by Michael Jackson and Run-DMC seemed to be crowd favorites) and some Ganders stepped up their game by mixing in dance moves It was very inspirational to see our international collection of fellow volunteers working so hard, and cooperating as a team. Before we knew it, we had bagged 645 bags for the kids. What a wonderful and gratifying experience that was. In fact, we finished that task so quickly, we moved on to a second task - that of separating the countless bags and boxes of donated items into three categories - glass jars, cans, and soft goods. That night’s Welcome Party was held just a short walk from the hotel at Savannah Smiles Dueling Piano Bar, where we had a rousing good time. The entertainers were excellent! And did a great job of singing, playing, and taking song requests. One of the singers did a pretty good job of rapping for us! Some of our Ganders stormed the stage as we saw and heard a blazing hot version of “Mustang Sally” with Michigan’s Joe Coccia on drums and British Columbia’s Stacey Rose on vocals. The evening’s excellent Southern styled barbecue dinner was catered by Paula Deen & Sons, who also provided us with several items to use in a raffle. The raffle proceeds were donated to the Salvation Army. In addition, all leftover food from the Hyatt was donated to the Salvation Army. Our Ganders had a great time laughing and singing and even taking the stage. Upon registration, each convention attendee received a passport containing the convention agenda, information about the Southern Region ponds, and photos of the Grand Nest officers. A fun convention activity was having your Passport “stamped” to signify either attendance at an event or tracking down a Grand Nest Officer or a designated representative of a Southern Pond. At the welcome reception, passport photos were taken at the photo booth, passports were stamped, pins were traded, and it was a great time catching up with old friends to start the convention. Wednesday July 12, 2017 After a full breakfast, we walked over to Regency Ballroom A as the 111th Grand Nest Meeting was ready to get underway. MLGG Linda Meik welcomed the group, gaveled the meeting to order, and remarked that “Savannah welcomes you with true Southern Hospitality”. The flags were presented by the American Legion Post 184 of Thunderbolt, Georgia. The national anthems of Canada and the United States were sung by the Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters Gospel Choir, then MLGG Meik delivered the invocation and led us in the Blue Goose ritual prayer. American Legion Color Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters Gospel Choir Tables in “V” Formation Guard Linda recognized some all of the attending veterans from the Southern Region, and next introduced the Grand Nest officers at the front of the room, with a twist – because instead of the traditional long head table, each officer sat at a small individual table at the front of the stage. The tables were arranged in a “V” formation to symbolize the flight of the goose. Next to be introduced were the spouses, family and guests of the Grand Nest Officers, the attending Past Most Loyal Grand Ganders and their spouses, the Deputy Most Loyal Grand Ganders, and the Convention Planning Executive Committee of Ray Wicker, Keith Strohecker, and Mary Kay Marchetti. The morning’s speaker was Queen Quet Marquetta L. Goodwine, the Chieftess of the Gullah Geechee Nation. She entered the room singing a soulful hymn and educated us on the history of Georgia’s Gullah Geechee culture. The Gullah are descendants of African slaves from North Carolina to Florida, and the Sea Islands, noted for their distinctive language and creole ethnicity. Some of their ancestors were sold into slavery right here in Savannah, on River Street and the ballast in the slave ships ended up as cobblestone for Savannah’s streets. Queen Quet was well prepared to speak to our Convention, and noted that since our proper name is The Honorable Order of the Blue Goose, it was “nice to be among honorable people.” She spoke of Blue Goose’s belief in charity – “What a blessing….to Queen Quet Marquetta L. Goodwine fly out on blue wings to help people”. She eloquently wove the Blue Goose precepts of Character, Charity and Fellowship into Gullah Geechee history and lore. She spoke of our industry, and how “the next time the storms of life are raging”, she’ll think of “the assurance of dealing with honorable people” like us and our “one hundred and eleven years of being people of character that value charity and fellowship” Grand Wielder Terry Maloney offered some instructions to the delegates and MLGG Meik and Ray Wicker made some housekeeping and agenda announcements before we recessed for a break and moved into the Memorial Service. The Convention’s Memorial Service started with a performance of “Amazing Grace” by the Gullah Choir. The Commemoration of Departed Ganders service was conducted by Barrett Leslie and Cathy Johnson of the Tennessee Pond. The name of each Pond was called and the members of that Pond stood in unison. If a Pond lost a member during the year, the name was called and a blue feather was placed in a V-shaped frame. After the Commemoration, three PMLGGs were eulogized – Jerry Simpson (1986-87), George Harwood (1996-97), and Gerald “Jerry” Hale (2004-05). PMLGG Simpson was eulogized by his son Phil Simpson. He spoke of his father’s experience in the insurance industry with the Florida Rating Bureau, and at the agency and company levels. As MLGG, he took time from work and visited every Pond while on half salary. He attended a total of 40 conventions, of which 33 were consecutive.