Precepts Put Into Practice at the 2017 Convention

Hats off to the Southern Region for hosting an outstanding convention in Savannah, GA July 11-14.

Without the help of each Southern Region Pond/Puddle we would not have been able to assemble a convention of great Blue Goose memories.

Our convention, while having some great fun, focused on our three precepts of Character, Charity & Fellowship.

The convention was filled with many firsts for Blue Goose. We were the first to have a convention app to highlight our agenda and attendees, along with sponsors. We were the first to have a charity activity start our convention and go through out the convention. We were the first to have a “First Timers” program.

Speaking of first timers….the South had over 24 “First Timers” in attendance. This is awesome and really demonstrated how the Southern Region is coming alive with enthusiasm for this great organization.

Here is an article summarizing Charity at the 111th Grand Nest Convention.

We hope more ganders will join us next year in Edmonton, Canada for the 112th convention.

Linda Meik
Past Most Loyal Grand Gander
Honorable Order of the Blue Goose International

Meet your 2017/18 Grand Nest Officers

The Grand Nest Officers inducted at the 2017 Convention are: (front left to right) Grand Guardian Michael Smith from the Florida Pond; Grand Supervisor Kim Bilbrey from the Dayton Pond; and Grand Custodian Dan Rich from the Hartford Pond; (on screen) Most Loyal Grand Gander Mark Robertson from the Edmonton Pond. Unfortunately, Mark was unable to be at the convention at the last minute and had to Skype in for the business meetings.

Photo by Neil Miller, Edmonton Pond

Registration is open for the Pond’s annual Charity Golf Tournament on June 8

The Virginia Pond will host its 17th Annual Charity Golf Tournament on June 8th. Proceeds will benefit local charities like those listed on the Pond’s charity page. Here are the details:

- DATE: Thursday, June 8, 2017
- TIME: 1pm Shotgun Start
- PLACE: Brookwoods Golf Course in Quinton, VA

Use the below form to register online, or click the following link for a printable version to register by mail. 2017 GOLF_Blue Goose Entry Form

Registrations are due by Monday, June 5. No late registrations will be accepted!

Contact one of the following individuals for more information:

Keith Srohecker, Tournament Chair ([email protected]/804-330-7730)
Mary Kay Marchetti ([email protected])

Tidewater Puddle to host its 7th Annual Blue Goose Masters

On Friday, April 7th, the Tidewater Puddle will host its 7th Annual Blue Goose Master’s golf tournament, this year in partnership with The Institute’s CPCU Society’s Tidewater, Virginia Chapter. Proceeds will benefit Edmarc Hospice for Children.

The event will be held at Sewell’s Point Golf Course in Norfolk, VA. Registration starts at 12pm, followed by a 1pm Shotgun Start. A dinner reception will follow at 6pm. Visit the event website for additional details and registration information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blue-goose-masters-golf-tournament-in-partnership-with-cpcu-society-tickets-31933446799

SRC Update from MLGG Linda Meik

I want to take a few moments here to provide you with some updates on our Southern Region Convention. As a Regional Convention, we are calling upon each Pond and/or Puddle to undertake aspects of the convention.

We are in the final stages of finalizing lots of great stuff for the convention and we hope that we see each and every Pond and Puddle represented in Savannah from the Southern Region.

First, as many of you know at the Grand Nest Convention Welcome Party there is a lot of activity surrounding the exchange of Pond/Puddle Pins. What we thought, is to place a pin from every Pond and or Puddle in the registration bags, thus freeing each of you up that will be attending to be host or hostesses at the Welcome Party. We will have special stations for many of you to be at for this event.

In addition, we will need one representative from every Pond to be the one that will be stamping the Passports for their applicable Pond. Remember our theme is “Passport to the South” and we have created a convention Passport for every attendee. The collection of stamps/stickers in the Passport also will be connected to various prizes that will be awarded at the Grand Ball. More details to follow.

So, for now, I need to encourage each Pond or Puddle to get your pins designed and ordered. Please ship me 250 of the pins to go in the registration bags. I will need this by June 1st. If anyone needs more info here, please give me a call.

Speaking of these registration bags, for anyone that is arriving on Sunday, July 9th, we will be assembling all registration bags, which will be distributed to all registered attendees as they register and arrive for our grand convention. Rich & Chris Mancuso – North Carolina, will be leading this assembly process and we would like to have 5-6 other folks to help.

We have created a “First Timers” program. This is a program for anyone that has never been to a convention. We will have two dynamic ladies, Daphney Elliott – Texas and Cathy Hester – Alabama, acting as the mentors to these “First Timers”.

On Tuesday, prior to the Welcome Party getting under way, the Southern Region is hosting a charity event at Second Harvest Food Bank. We will be sorting food for this organization – transportation will be provided to the location. We will have a couple representatives from the Louisiana Pond and a couple from North Carolina (Raleigh & Charlotte) coordinating this function. As soon as I have the names of those attending from those two Ponds, I will get with them to provide more details. Louisiana and North Carolina, I need to encourage you to get me the names of the folks who will be at the convention by March 1st. (I would encourage these folks to also register and make their hotel reservations.) Note, after April the registration fee goes up.

The Kentucky Pond is going to do the Model Initiation at the convention. They are busy putting together a great performance. Kentucky, if you need anything from me, give me a call.

The Tennessee Pond is going to handle the Memorial Service. Tennessee, when you have the names of who from Tennessee is going to do this, please let me know. I do have a couple updates to pass onto you.

The Spouse program is being led by two other great ladies: Donna Harwood – Florida and Sonja Wicker – Texas. The Children’s Program’s lead coordinator is Jamie Meik – Texas. depending on the number of children that register, will depend on how many more coordinators we will need.

We still have other spots that we need to assign folks to coordinate, but for now this is where we are at.

Again Happy Holidays to you…..more details forth coming in the new year!

Linda Meik
Most Loyal Grand Gander
682-715-5341
Honorable Order of the Blue Goose International

Character, Charity and Fellowship since 1906

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Church Hill Activities and Tutoring (C.H.A.T.) is a Richmond neighborhood based program that is breaking the cycle of poverty for East End youth by providing the relationships, vision and opportunity they need to make good decisions. Founded and staffed by individuals in the community, it provides a deep and wide range of activities and 1:1 tutoring for kids aged 2 to 20.

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