The 2009 District 19 Rebekah Convention was held in the auditorium of St. Luke's Methodist Church, St. Albans, on April 25.

Sister Maria Semintal of Charity Rebekah Lodge, Huntington, presided as District Deputy President.

Her husband, Jose, is the IOOF Grand Warden.

The convention was called to order by Brother Dennis Adkins of Charity 39. District and Rebekah Assembly officers were introduced and seated by members of Charity 39.

The welcoming address was presented by Sister Lynda Bennett of Montrose 287, St. Albans, the hostess lodge. The response was by Alice Shafer of Forest Rose 130, Poca.

Other lodges participating at the convention were Kanawha 9, Charleston, and Faith 57, Elkview.

St. Albans Mayor Richard Callaway welcomed the convention. He mentioned the city's annual Riverfest and Christmas lights; he also gave RA President Mary Ellen Stillwagoner a city map.

Other RA officers attending were Doris Carney, Warden, and Mary Bess, Secretary; Bess is a past RA President.

Sister Mary Ann Folmar, also a past PA President, also attended; she is from Clarksburg.

Sister Doris Carney, RA Warden, a member of Forest Rose 130, Poca, also attended, and she announced that the lodge will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Nov. 27.

Her husband, Mike Carney, is a past IOOF Grand Master.

Sarah Hammer of Marmet 13, DDP of Rebekah District 22, visited and participated with Faith 57 during the memorial service for the districts' deceased members. A vase of flowers was placed on the altar, in memory of the departed sisters and one brother.

Entertainment was provided by June and Lee Cox of Kanawha 9, Charleston. June sang "Help is on the Way." Then, she and Lee sang "Where We'll Never Grow Old."

Sister Roberta Russell of Faith 57, Elkview, was elected vice president for the 2010 convention at Kanawha 9, Charleston. Alice Shafer will again serve as Secretary and Rebecca Baker, as Treasurer.

A joint installation of the Districts' lodges will be held Monday, July 21, at Kanawha 9, in the hall of Kanawha Lodge 25, IOOF, Charleston.

Past RA President Mary Ann Folmar said the annual elimination dinner will be held Saturday, June 6, in the Adamston Lodge Hall, Clarksburg.

RA President Stillwagoner said she is proud to have the honor of being in the procession to decorate the Tomb of the Unknowns at the military cemetery in Arlington, Va.

She also announced that on Monday, June 8, at 11 a.m., a wreath will be placed at the Veterans Memorial near the state Capitol building in Charleston.

Her husband, Robert, is the IOOF Deputy Grand Master.

Charity 39, Huntington, had the largest delegation at the convention; one of the sisters who attended is 93. This was their lodge's first time to participate in the convention; they were formerly in District 18.

(The above article was submitted by Lee Cox of Winifrede.)