The annual sessions of the Department Council and Grand Encampment were held at the Wheeling IOOF Hall this year. With the Department Council starting things off on Thursday, June 19 and concluding their session and Officer Installation that same day. Tracy Boyer, Past President of the IALAPM was elected as the new Department Commander.
On Friday, June 20, (West Virginia Day), the Grand Encampment session opened with Gerald Workman, Grand Patriarch presiding. The session went quite smoothly, and all business was able to be done by Saturday morning, June 21. Elected as the new Grand Patriarch was Stephen Boyd of Ellinipsico Encampment #13 in Charleston. The banquet on Friday evening, was expertly prepared by Wheeling Lodge #9 members Mary Jo and Shaye Wallace. Jeremiah Beaver was emcee for the banquet and a check for over $12,000 was presented to representatives of Camp Kno-Koma, Diabetes Camp of West Virginia. It was a pleasurable few days in the Friendly City for our Chevaliers, Patriarchs and Matriarchs. It was also an honor to have the sitting Sovereign Grand Master preside as Grand Patriarch for this session of the Grand Encampment.
Grand Encampment Officers
Grand Patriarch – Stephen Boyd
Grand High Priest – John Bailey
Grand Senior Warden – Alan Kerns
Grand Junior Warden – Jeff Cline
Grand Scribe – Ron Fletcher
Grand Treasurer – Dewey Nottingham
Grand Inside Sentinel – James Sharp
Grand Outside Sentinel – Allan White