From the desks of the Worthy Grand Matron & Worthy Grand Patron ~ September 1, 2024

Greetings Earthling Sisters and Brothers !

It's been only a semi-quiet month since Installation, which we were thrilled to see so many attend and support the Cosmonauts. We are so thankful to Sister Karen D Tuttle and Brother Dennis A Tuttle Jr for their navigational skills over the preceding year and hosting a beautiful Grand Chapter session. It was wonderful to visit with everyone, enjoying a laugh, and making wonderful memories.
We've started the year off on our rocket ship through the stars - hosting School of Instruction in August to review introductions and installation; formal introductions of the Grand Officers at the reception at the planetarium and a star show; social enjoyments at the beach with all of our Masonic family at the Unity picnic; making new friends and enjoying a mixed-jurisdiction team perform the initiatory work in Maine; and scanning tickets at the Deerfield fair.
I grew up in a Masonic family - grandfather, uncle and father are Masons, brother was in DeMolay, I am a majority Rainbow girl from Plymouth Assembly #10 in Plymouth NH and my Mum was in Rainbow in Massachusetts and a 40yr member of NH Eastern Star. She was always my biggest cheerleader and while she is no longer with us, we know that she is watching over us and cheering from the sidelines. I am honored to be able to use her gavel, from her year as Worthy Matron of Bethlehem Chapter in 1984-85. Additional honor was bestowed by Bro John Bartoszak Sr, who delicately and masterfully crafted a beautiful gavel for me.
I am grateful to be able to use the Plymouth Assembly bible in our travels this year. From humble beginnings and lessons learned in the bow stations, my love of our fraternal family continues to grow within our Star. Grand Marshal, Sister Marcey Lafleur, also carries the beautiful altar cloth she made. The wide expanse and wonder of space at its back and celtic dragonflies at the front - reminding us to embrace change, live in the moment, cultivate resilience and connect spiritually.
We will be supporting Hero Pups and have been able to have their founder, Laura, join us at several events - often with puppies in tow. We will also be collecting items for the residents at Liberty House in Manchester - who offer a safe, substance-free and accountable environment for resident Veterans, using our unique 4-Step process that progresses them through recovery, mental and physical wellness, meaningful employment, and ultimately, a successful transition to independence.
Our rocket ship has many places to land in the coming months - Bark at the Stark on Nov 9, we hope to see you in our travels. There is a QR code in the following pages with a link to our Facebook page and Google calendar.
Shoot for the moon; even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.

In Stars and Moons,


Elizabeth N Nemchick
Worthy Grand Matron

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Worthy Grand Patron's Log:
Earth date: 2024.09.01

Space: the final frontier.
These are the voyages of the starship Wanderer.
It's one-year mission: to explore strange new friendships; to seek out new and old members and new fraternal connections; to boldly go where no one has gone before!

The Starship Wanderer departed on its maiden voyage from the city of Concord, NH on a warm August evening and broke the bonds of Earth's atmosphere to begin its journey to the stars. Under the cool and confident leadership of Captain Beth Nemchick, the crew is prepared for a wonderful year of fun, adventure and fraternal connections. It is our hope that by trying things that have never been done before, we can renew the spirit of our beloved fraternity to every member we encounter.

Although we are only two weeks into our journey, I am excited and overwhelmed by the outpouring of enthusiasm from our members and crew. The years and months of preparation and planning is finally coming to fruition, one never knows how their ideas and plans are going to be received. What is exciting to you may not be embraced by others with the same enthusiasm and passion that you have for it. But, my heart is excited and filled with joy about how the members are transforming them into something bigger than I expected or imagined.

One small aspect of my travel program - taking ice cream selfies at an independent ice cream shop and sharing to the Cosmic Wanderers Facebook group - has grown and multiplied faster than a single Tribble in a Space Station. In just two weeks, pictures started pouring in from Pittsburg, NH, to Orlando, FL, to Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, to Sanford, Maine, and everywhere in between! What a wonderful travel experience where we are all united by the power of ice cream. I have been saving all of your photos and have over 50. Keep the visual documentation of your frozen dairy adventures coming! It's only logical.

Our next mission is the Grand Officer Trading Card Contest. As a kid, I collected trading cards of all kinds: baseball, football, Star Wars, Star Trek, Indiana Jones and on and on. I received a great deal of joy and satisfaction from the collection, as well as the completion of a set of cards. I hope to pass some of that excitement on to you. Each Cosmonaut Grand Officer will have their own unique trading card with their picture, name, USS Wanderer duty assignment, Grand Office, Earth name, card number and the back is their Sci-Fi themed bio. There are a total of 25 cards - 21 Grand Officers and 4 General Grand Chapter Committee Members.

The rules of the contest are simple:
- Each Grand Officer has a supply of their own card.
- Cards can only be obtained at an Official Visitation.
- Cards can only be obtained by asking Grand Officers for them; cards will not be just handed out.
- Should a Grand Officer run out of cards at a Visitation, have them take your name and I will print more off for them and you.
- Once you have a complete set, take a picture of your cards and send it to me or show them to me in person during our travels. You will be awarded a Certificate of Completion at Grand Chapter and your name will be entered to win a special Grand Prize.
- Grand Officers are also eligible to collect cards and be a part of the contest.

My fondest hope is that this will not only promote travel by members, but also encourage Grand Officers to travel so that members can obtain their card. Good luck and boldly go where no one has gone before.

Until we meet again - Live Long and Prosper and May the Force be with you.

Hailing Frequencies Closed.
Wilmer J Nemchick
Worthy Grand Patron