ANNUAL REPORT OF MINNESOTA JOB’S DAUGHTERS
Greetings from the Job’s Daughters of Minnesota,
This past year has brought the return of more normal activities for our members. Our number one priority has been membership. We were thrilled to initiate 21 new members into 9 of our Bethels. Unfortunately, we’re still feeling the effects of the pandemic and lost 44 members in 2022 – 14 reached Majority age, 5 demited and 25 were suspended for non-payment of dues. As of January 1, 2023, we have a total of 108 members across 11 Bethels. Bethel 85 Shakopee was closed due to lack of member participation and adult support.
In March 2022 we were finally able to hold Grand Bethel after a two-year hiatus. Our state leaders – Grand Bethel Honored Queen Madison Crooks, Miss MN Job’s Daughter Stephanie Beslin and Miss Jr Jobie Audrey Mayer – planned a successful weekend at Cragun’s. Everyone was so happy to be back together again. Julie Zeidler was installed as Grand Bethel Honored Queen and Alyssa Brendel was selected as the Miss Jr Jobie.
Sadly, we did not select a Miss MN Job’s Daughter for 2022-23 as there were not enough members interested in running. This was the first time since the program began in 1976 that we did not have a Miss MN Job’s Daughter.
The last week of July, 25 members and adults from Minnesota traveled to Port Huron, Michigan for our International Session. Many of our members participated in performing arts, ritual, and arts & crafts competitions, earning numerous awards for their efforts. We all witnessed history when the Supreme Bethel Honored Queen, and Supreme Bethel Senior and Junior Princesses selected were all 3 from Bethel’s in Brazil. This is very fitting considering the majority of Job’s Daughters membership currently is located in Brazil.
Always a highlight of the year is our annual camp held in August at Camp Lake Hubert in Nisswa. Camp is an opportunity for our members to have fun in a relaxed environment, try new activities, and learn many valuable leadership and life skills. Many of the Grand Lodge Officers attended this year. It really showed our girls the support that you have for them and our organization. We very much appreciate your donation to help offset the registration fee, and we also greatly appreciate those that took the time out of their busy schedule to attend.
In September we celebrated 100 years of Minnesota Job’s Daughters. We held a reception, Majority Ceremony, and dinner at the Heritage Center. The Grand Bethel Officers did a beautiful job with the ceremony, and everyone had a great time reconnecting and reminiscing of years past.
We continue to focus on leadership with the help of the endowment fund from the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. In April, we will hold our Leadership Summit where Job’s Daughters from all over the state will gather to learn valuable leadership development skills from a variety of speakers. In 2023, we started a series of virtual leadership activities that will continue throughout the rest of the year. We were also able to sponsor our Daughter HIKE Coordinator’s attendance at an international leadership training session in Michigan. We are grateful for the opportunities your funding has provided our members. Thank you for believing in the future of our girls and partnering with us to help them grow into strong leaders of tomorrow.
We would like to thank the Masons of Minnesota for the continued support and encouragement you have given our organization. Whether it be attending our meetings and events, letting us use your lodge buildings, financially supporting our endeavors, or being active mentors to our girls, please know that you are making a difference in the lives of our members. You are always welcome to attend Bethel meetings and show encouragement to our members. Please tell your friends and family with young women between the ages of 10 and 20 about the sisterhood and leadership opportunities of our organization. Let’s work together to help both of our organizations grow!
M’Lyse Haugen
Grand Guardian