New program focuses on grief support
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VOL. 119 • SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS • AUGUST 2016 - NO. 12
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GRAND LODGE, ORDER OF THE SONS OF HERMANN IN THE STATE OF TEXAS
HERMANN SONS NEWS
Healing Hearts SAN ANTONIO – For more than 155 years, Hermann Sons members have supported each other and the communities in which they live. They have been there when a member is mourning the loss of a loved one and they have been there supporting community causes with fund-raisers and volunteer hours. These are two of the principles upon which Hermann Sons was founded. Now Hermann Sons wants to bring those founding principles together in a new focused service cause – grief support. Grand Vice President-Fraternal Kim Krueger explained that by identifying grief support as a focused service cause, the Grand Lodge, local lodges and members will be able to concentrate their efforts on providing grief support to others and to supporting organizations that provide grief support services in Hermann Sons communities all across Texas. “Hermann Sons has a strong presence in our communities and we are only getting stronger,” Sister Krueger said. “Hermann Sons lodges, individual members and the home office are doing all kinds of good and covering a lot of ground in a lot of areas to assist many communities. By focusing our efforts on grief support we can make an even greater impact on our hometowns. When asked what we do, we will now be able to tell people we strengthen community and one of the ways we do that is by providing grief support to members and our communities.” Steps have already been taken to put the focused service cause into action.
First, information on grief support services can be found on the Hermann Sons website. Anyone looking for grief support can go to www.hermannsons. org and click on Benefits, then Community Service. There they will find information about hospice organizations and grief support groups that already exist all over Texas. Second, plans are under way for a Grief Support Camp that will be held next summer at Hermann Sons Youth Camp in Comfort. The half-week session will run from July 5-8 and will be open to children, members and non-members, ages 6-17. Volunteer program staff and licensed therapists will work together to make this a special stay for children who have lost a loved one. “There will be a detailed application and screening process for campers who want to attend this Grief Support Camp session to ensure we will be able to provide each child with a healthy and healing experience,” Sister Krueger said. “While we will expect each child to pay a small portion of the cost, our goal is to make the camp session as inexpensive as possible for those attending. To help cover costs, we will be conducting fund-raisers and encouraging lodges to consider giving to this cause.” Plans are to extend this service in the future by providing weekend retreats for adults suffering from a loss. And, finally, lodges are encouraged to make grief support part of their community outreach program. See FIRST, Pg. 7
Dance registration under way online SAN ANTONIO – Online registration is now under way for the 2016-2017 dance year. Registration information has been mailed to all eligible junior members who live in the areas where the 32 existing schools of dance are located. The brochure gives detailed information on how to log in to the Hermann Sons website to complete registration. A complete list of schools also is included in the brochure and can be found on the website. Because the Hermann Sons Dance Program is a benefit of membership, there is no monthly tuition fee. Each school of dance charges a one-time registration fee. Dancers are responsible for the cost of costumes but fund-raisers are held to help offset that cost. See DANCE, Pg. 9