From
November-December 2004
A Response
to
“Open vs.
Secret”
Sheila and Megan Cook
The paired articles, “It’s a Secret” by
Bro. William Herbert “Skip” Boyer, KCCH, and “Open
vs. Secret” by Bro. Peter H. Jantz, 33°, in the
September-October 2004 issue of the Scottish Rite Journal have generated a very positive response from the Brethren
regarding the frequently misunderstood subject of alleged
Masonic “secrecy.” One of the most interesting
responses was from Sheila Cook, the mother of a Miss International
Job’s Daughter. Her comment and her daughter’s
address upon completing her term as Miss International Job’s
daughter follow.
Dear Mr. Jantz,
I just read your article in the newest Scottish Rite magazine
and applaud you for your thoughts. My daughter, Megan Daylynn
Cook, just finished a year as Miss International Job’s
Daughter 2003-04, and her very spirit and confidence about
the Order put a lot of misunderstandings and controversy
to rest with her confidence and knowledge in her travels
and acquaintances inside and outside the organization. I
work at several levels with Job’s Daughters, and two
questions seem to stop them in their tracks. One of them
is trying to explain Masonry and the second is trying to
explain “secrecy.” I urge them to share anything
and everything about Jobies and to even share their ritual
with their friends. I consider the responses, grip, and signs
really to be the only “private” work we participate
in. It is wonderful to hear this confirmed by someone else.
It seems to me your article could be given a huge “ditto” substituting
the words Job’s Daughters for Masons. I’d like
to have your permission to share your article with my Bethel
and the other Bethels in Idaho. May I do so? I am going to
ask those who read it to insert an implied Job’s Daughters
where Masons are mentioned. As a person who came back to
Job’s Daughters after several years absence, it becomes
more and more clear to me what “secret” insights
the Order gave me in my youth that have carried me into adulthood
where the “secrets” still serve me well.
Thank you for speaking your truth about your take on the
misunderstood controversy of privacy. Hopefully, your words
will also put the issue to rest for some of our youth.
Fraternally yours,
Sheila Cook
pizzahelp@qwest.net
Report to Supreme Guardian Council
Megan Daylynn Cook
Miss International Job’s Daughter
2003-2004
Supreme Guardian, Associate Supreme Guardian, supporters
and friends of Job’s
Daughters,
It is a privilege to be standing in front of you and addressing
this distinguished group as Miss International Job’s
Daughter 2003-2004.
This year began unexpectedly in Chicago
when I, a 16-year-old Miss of only
five weeks, was left standing shocked to my core as the crown, cape, and sash
were
placed upon me. As I tried to figure out what was actually happening all around
me, I remember catching Carmen Wilson’s attention and telling her “I
can’t feel my hands!” Then I remember I cried—a lot—and
my reign was off at a running pace. The first Miss IJD I’d ever seen had
been a little over a year before when I met Carrie Gonsor, and I had little to
no idea what happened in the Jobie world beyond my state. So it is fair to say
I have not longed to be Miss International all my life. I arrived in Chicago
with only the intention to represent my state well and have fun. But when my
preparation met with a moment of opportunity, I began one of the most amazing
adventures of my life. So many girls in this Order are capable of the same. They
simply don’t know how close they are to opportunities of this kind. I ask
you, as their adult supporters, to keep encouraging them to do their best work
and give each occasion their full effort. Just run with it; you never know where
it may take you or them. Mine took me to 20 of the United States, British Columbia
twice, to three weeks all over Brazil and nearly two weeks in Queensland, Australia.
It allowed me to scuba dive with sharks, body surf on Copacabana Beach, be a
part of two Bethel institutions, and sleep an incredibly limited amount. I became
the first Miss International to make it off the end of the “water weenie” at
Minnesota’s summer camp and also to become the second youngest to ever
reign.
I would like to take this chance to thank everyone who
supported me throughout this year. Whether it was a hug,
a little note of encouragement, a thank you
or buying one of my pins, you really did make a difference. Never stop doing
little things for people. You never know when the impact you make will be
a life-changing one. Your selfless actions each time you
opened your jurisdictions
for me were
astounding. I apologize to the jurisdictions I was not able to visit. Thank
you for understanding that sometimes I simply needed to be in class. Although
my
presence may not have been physical, you are always in my thoughts and prayers.
I took the opportunity to travel by myself frequently this
year due to the restrictions of when my schedule would allow
me to travel. I found it was
often far more appropriate
for me as Miss International to be at a pageant or grand session than a
supreme visitation. I would ask you to pledge as dedicated
a level of support to
the next Miss regardless of how she plans her travel. This program is the
epitome
of girls leading each other in this Order. It needs your continued support
to flourish. Please be there for your jurisdictional Miss and Miss International
however she needs you. The fact I could frequently stay in homes, have
banquets complimentary, and registration fees waived allowed
me to stretch my travel
money
farther, thus travel more, and have a greater impact. You have showed me
this kind of support, and I pray it continues.
This year I was able to accomplish some personal goals
in conjunction with my reign. I earned a letter for Stagecraft
with over 300 hours spent in
my school’s
theater. I competed on the Idaho State Champion Academic Decathlon team which
placed 14th at Nationals in April. I completed my junior year with two Honors
classes and an AP (Advanced Placement) class with my 4.0 GPA intact. I spent
29 days out of school due to an allowance in the school’s code
for extraordinary educational opportunities. No class could have matched
what I learned this year.
I was officially on the road 127 days. I am now on track to return to
high school for my senior year in September and graduate as valedictorian
in May. These things
could not have been possible without the support of everyone involved
in my year.
A huge thank you goes to the Grand Guardian Council of
Idaho, more detail
will be in my financial report, but after my crowning they called my
parents and
said “We
will support her wherever she wants to go.” And they never faltered to
stand behind me 150%. I am so thankful for the heritage our state has, and it
was a privilege to represent Idaho as the state’s first Miss
International. I never could have completed this adventure without
you.
At the conclusion of her term, a Miss IJD is always asked
what she would change about her year. And I thought I would
offer some of my
observations,
and we
could discuss together where I see my lessons applicable. There are
quite a few, and
even if no action is taken regarding them, I hope they provide some
food for thought.
Everyone in this room is well aware that membership is
an issue that needs to be addressed. Far too often this year,
however, I have seen
adults talk
about
it incredibly ominously. Statements like “If you girls don’t work,
this organization could be gone within two years” undermine all we are
working for. If we as leaders of these girls stand before them with threats,
we in no way inspire them to work. Most local Jobies think things are going pretty
well in their Bethel. They are having fun activities, effective fund-raisers,
maybe even some DeMolay dances. Most Bethels have a strong core of committed
girls. And yet they see us, their leaders, those who know so much about the Order,
say things are going badly. We instantly devalue their own experience. They figure
that, as their leaders, we obviously know more about the situation than they
do. And if this Order, that which all our daughters are so committed to and love
so much, is really doing so awfully, then what incentive does that offer for
them to commit at a higher level? Threats are not effective ways to reach girls!
Our time and efforts would be much better spent talking about the exciting things
happening around the Jobie world or offering insight into the ways other regions
or jurisdictions do things. Give girls reasons to want to be involved, not threats
of what will happen if they don’t. Job’s Daughters International
is composed of some of the most talented and promising young women of the world.
Let them re-examine why they became and remain involved, and then share that
passion for service, and sisterhood, and faith with others. The words of an old
song explain it well: “accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.”
Regarding fund-raising, I have found that Bethels get weary
of car wash, after bake sale, after cake sale, after dinner.
It burns
girls
out to
put huge effort
into a project which raises only $100. Try something huge. Think
big! My Bethel holds a formal ball for 1,700 students every Valentine’s Day weekend. We
contract a photographer for a percentage of the picture sales and sell our tickets
through Select-a-Seat. It started small but grew huge. Get news out about your
projects. Jobie publicity doesn’t have to be in major papers; try school
papers, church bulletins, community event boards, or Masonic newsletters. Another
Jobie I encountered had a car donated and did a silent auction for it. Another
had a cruise donated and sold 50 tickets at $100 a piece. Supporters had a great
chance at winning, and all proceeds went to the Bethel. The fact is that it takes
money to run a Bethel and do Bethel activities, so we need to become more effective
at obtaining it. This is where we can really use some adult ingenuity. Don’t
think of how you can raise $200; think of how you can raise $10,000!
As to promoting Job’s Daughters, don’t settle
for some pamphlet. I cannot think of a single girl who will
sit down and read a pamphlet. Find other
ways to branch out. The Tall Cedars are on TV, DeMolay has
an introductory CD and a movie. Promotions have to start
somewhere, even if it is just with a contact
person or a place where everyone could send their promotion
ideas. Ideas could then be compiled and mailed out to each
jurisdiction once or twice a year or
accessed via a Web site. Fresh and exciting ideas that actually
work could then start circulating.
I would like to see the development of a consistent level
of adult training. With SG, ASG, committees, Miss IJD, and
Supreme
Bethel
switching each
year, we need a strong program to continue all year long
and from year to year.
Many of
our advisors are past Daughters, so they have plenty of experience.
However, it is not the same experience, assisting a Bethel
on an advisory council
as to be a part of it. Many adults are lacking the skills
to know how to be an
advisor.
This often leads to a too possessive quality found in many
of the ridiculous political battles that ravish our Order.
Now I
am being
brutally honest,
but someone has to be the adult in a Bethel so that the girls
can be allowed to
be girls. The potential of everyone involved here is so great!
Too often we forget
to look around and see the good things happening around us.
In Brazil, I sat in on the most touching discussion of
the year. A couple of Bethels from Vitoria de Conquista had
been
fighting.
All
the girls
of the jurisdiction
sat them down and began discussing what the Order should
be about. They focused on the importance of placing personal
issues
aside
for the benefit
of the
whole group. And that love, sisterhood, and nurturing of
each other is what we need
to return to. As I sat there, the realization was so strong
that the lessons we are striving to teach are those that
are valid,
applicable, honorable,
and true in the world. People need what Masonic organizations
teach. We simply need to get out there.
It has been an amazing journey traveling the world with
the name of Job’s
Daughters. Thank you to Supreme Guardian Shirley and Associate Supreme Guardian
Ashley for being a part of that journey. Shirley, you really truly love Job’s
Daughters with all your heart. You have worked very hard this year and deserve
a welcome rest. However knowing you, it won’t be long until you are back
helping the girls. Dad Ashley is an all-around nice guy. I missed seeing you
more on the road. However with two hectic schedules, combining them can be trying
at best. It was always a pleasure to travel with you. Your unique sense of humor
and amazing musical ability astound me. Thank you for being a part of this year.
These two officers have put their heart into Job’s
Daughters International, and I appreciate them so much. I
pray God will guide you safely in all the adventures
you take on from here. Thanks for the memories!
A quick thank you needs to go out to my parents. I would
like to say thank you for sacrificing so much to make my
year the
success
it was.
You had
braced yourself
for what may happen when I headed off to Chicago for Miss
IJD, but I still know that phone call took you back a bit.
Dad,
since I was
a child,
I remember
us
talking about honor, duty, pride, and strength. There have
been days this year that doing the right thing has been difficult
or when I
simply didn’t want
to be the exemplar of Job’s Daughters any more, but
you kept me going full speed ahead. I love you very much!
Mom, this year was physically, emotionally,
and financially tiring, but your determination never faltered
in doing whatever was necessary to help me. Thank you for
listening while I ranted, laughing when
I would have rather cried, understanding when I simply wanted
to come home and sleep, and always helping remind me of where
I came from and what I stand for.
You are an amazing woman! Thanks for inspiring me. I love
you very much.
With all the travel included, I covered 90,236
miles. Thank
you to all the members of Job’s Daughters for supporting me as Miss International and as an individual.
My journey with this crown was enriched by your influence. My life wouldn’t
be the same without this experience. I am grateful for this opportunity being
provided to me. Thank you for inviting me to report today. Each of you has very
special gifts that any girl you come in contact with benefits from. I trust all
your decisions in the coming year will reflect your continued investment in the
future of Job’s Daughters. As I have all year, for one final time I will
ask each of you to consider my motto and take the time to be kind and to search
out the positive in your life. Be Brave Enough To Live Life With Joy! God Bless
and All the Best!
Megan Cook
Miss International Job’s Daughter 2003-2004
