By BRITTANY FHOLER
Cove Leader-Press
Copperas Cove Chapter #1070 of the Order of the Eastern Star held its annual installation of officers for the 2026-2027 term earlier this month with a dinner followed by the formal ceremony at the Mt. Hiram Masonic Lodge.
Vicki Kieltyka presided over the ceremony as Installing Officer, supported by Gary Morrison as Installing Marshal, Connie Morrison as Installing Chaplain, Debra Hull as Installing Organist, and Grace Stovall as Installing Secretary Pro-Tem.
Introductions were offered by Jerri Young and Gary Morrison before the newly elected officers took their places.
Teresa Pio was installed as Worthy Matron, the chapter's presiding officer, alongside Worthy Patron Mike Wilbanks. They will be supported by Associate Matron Michelle Holmes, Associate Patron Frank Somera, Secretary Tami Martin, and Treasurer Nelly Somera.
Rounding out the officer line are Conductress Christy Wilbanks, Associate Conductress Lisa Jorstad, Chaplain Dianne Mueller, Marshal Daniel Rungo, and Organist Jerri Young.
The star points, which are symbolic roles rooted in the organization's biblical heroines and heroes, were filled by Lorelei "Stormie" Reed as “Adah”, Lynne Simpson as “Ruth”, Patricia Spangler as “Esther”, Juline Smith as “Martha”, and Diane Wankowski as “Electa”. Gordon Irwin was installed as Warder and Mark Spangler as Sentinel.
The Copperas Cove chapter meets at the Mt. Hiram Masonic Lodge at 802 N. 1st Street on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The Order of the Eastern Star is open to Master Masons in good standing, as well as the wives, mothers, daughters, widows, sisters, half-sisters, step-daughters and step-sisters of Master Masons who are in good standing at the time of death, as well as Rainbow Girls and Job’s Daughters who have three or more years of membership in those groups before petitioning are eligible for membership in the OES.
Founded in 1867, the Order of the Eastern Star is one of the largest fraternal organizations in the world and is open to both men and women. The core values are trustworthiness, dependability, loyalty, honesty, friendship, charity and kindness. The organization’s mission is “to make a positive difference in the world with charitable works, lasting friendships and loving kindness to all mankind,” according to the Order of the Eastern Star website. The core values draw inspiration from the stories of five Biblical heroines, which represent the five points of the star.
The Copperas Cove Order of the Eastern Star chapter was constituted in October 1961. The chapter is actively engaged in different charitable efforts and causes. Members support OES service dogs, Alzheimer's research and awareness, youth projects, and Eastern Star training awards for religious leadership. The chapter also contributes financially to cancer research, the Arthritis Fund, the Heart Fund, the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, and a network of Shriners-affiliated charities and organizations, including the Scottish Rite Hospital.
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