Mighty Meerkat Mom
By: JoAnn Stern, State Mother Advisor for Grand Assembly 2022
Hello California Rainbow, I am Jo Ann Stern, Treasurer of the Grand Executive Committee. I was a member of Napa Assembly. My very first office was Fidelity, followed by Choir (several times throughout my tenure), Choir Director, Service and Recorder. I received the honor of the Grand Cross of Color in 1964.
I was fortunate to find the love of my life, Don in 1965; we were married in 1967 and spent 38 loving years together. We have always been extremely proud of our two children – Debbie & Michael. All four of us joined Silver Spray Chapter O.E.S.
Debbie served as Grand Representative to Maryland in 1989 and is now serving as Mother Advisor in Napa Assembly. She met a wonderful man, Michael Kmiec, who soon discovered that joining Masonry was the way to go. Mike has retired from the Air Force and is working in radiology. Debbie has her master’s degree in special education and enjoys teaching. Both are excited about being parents; Brandon, Ryan, and Zachary.
Our son, Michael, was a member of Napa DeMolay. He served as Treasurer and Master Councilor of Northern California DeMolay. Mike graduated from Sacramento State College and is now teaching eighth grade in Stockton. He is also a member of Napa Valley Lodge and served two years as Master. Brenda, Mike’s wife, is also a teacher and is serving as Bethel Guardian in Stockton. Michael is still involved in DeMolay as well as Jobs Daughters. They have two boys Jameson and Paxton.
I returned to Rainbow in 1975 and served on Napa’s Advisory Board; served as Mother Advisor in 1977, 1988, and 1989. Beginning In 1991, I spent seven years as Mother Advisor in Benicia Assembly. In 1993, I was honored as Mrs. Lind appointed me GEC Mom for the Outrageous Otters and the Mischievous Moose. In January 1996, Mrs. Lind again asked me to serve on the Grand Executive Committee, only this time it would be as Treasurer. And now in 2021, Mrs. Regier presented me with another opportunity to serve California Rainbow as the Meerkat Mom for Grand Assembly 2022.
In my spare time, I enjoy scrapbooking, embroidering, and going to band reviews.
I cannot begin to tell you just how much Rainbow has brightened my life. Working with all the girls and adults in California is such a joy. As Charity says, “There are other treasures in the Pot of Gold…” Thank you, California Rainbow; the treasures are too many to count.
