Why Sweethearts?

Seems like a strange question, doesn't it? Why should a DeMolay Chapter have one or more Chapter Sweethearts? To those of us who have been in the program a long time, having a Chapter Sweetheart doesn't seem strange at all, but to new advisors and new members who have never been involved with a Chapter that has a Sweetheart program, it's a very logical question.




At the Softball Tournament this summer we got our wires crossed and no instructor was present for a group of Advisors who gathered for an afternoon DAD PLUS class on the topic of Chapter Sweethearts. Not to be deterred by a lack of an instructor, the interested Advisors talked about the topic on their own, and left us a message on the white board:

I was glad to find these questions, and took a photo of the board with my DROID... and then promptly forgot the photo was there until I was trying to organize the photos this weekend.

Rather than answer these questions for them, and for any of you, I am going to answer the way I usually answer the State Officers, and say, "Let's look this up together!"

There are three documents that you should review to understand the Chapter and State Sweetheart program. The first is just a page of brief policy statements authorizing Chapters to have one or more Sweethearts, and permitting a State Sweetheart program. http://www.pademolay.org/resources/pdf/females.pdf

The second is a booklet of guidelines to help the members establish a Chapter Sweetheart program. http://www.pademolay.org/resources/pdf/statesweetheartpolicy.pdf The Chapter program is up to the young men-- the number of girls, their duties, the selection process, can be different from Chapter to Chapter. Your members set this policy, with Advisory Council consent.

The third is a booklet of policy and guidelines for the State Sweetheart Program. http://www.pademolay.org/resources/pdf/chaptersweetheartguide.pdf

I believe that this booklet and policy will be undergoing some significant changes in the next few months. The State Master Councilor and his officers have established a committee to consider the program from top to bottom to determine what can be changed to help encourage more girls to run for the position. It is a great opportunity for any service-minded girl who wants to have a chance to travel and promote the state DeMolay charity program and the Chapter Sweetheart program. Our current State Sweetheart is Miss Lauren Nace, from Lorraine Chapter, who is also interested in seeing the program improved. http://www.pademolay.org/people/youthleaders/ssw.html

If you have any thoughts on the future of the State Sweetheart program, please feel free to contact Bro. Tom Moyer, State Master Councilor, or any of his officers. If you have any questions about the policy statements, please feel free to direct them to me.

"Dad" Tom Labagh

Executive Officer in PA