The Artisan Newsletter - 2025 Spring/ Summer Issue

2025 Spring/ Summer Issue

ARTISANS MAIN OFFICE

414 Hulmeville Ave

Penndel PA 19047

215-708-1000

www.artisansaomp.org

Officers and Directors 2025

M.E. Master Artisan

Helen Szafran

Philadelphia #1

M.E. Superintendent

Kathy Schnauffer

Philadelphia #1

M.E. Inspector

Scott Simmons

St. John's #28

M.E. Conductor

Patricia Sommers

Philadelphia #1

M.E. Sr. Master of Ceremonies

Joann Cunningham

Philadelphia #1

M.E. Jr. Master of Ceremonies

Eileen Knauss

Haddon #12

M.E. Warder

Steven Jorett

St. John's #28

M.E. Chaplain

Rev. Otto L. M. Lolk

Northwestern #54

Solicitor

Robert L. Adshead

Northwestern #54

Medical Director

Kimberly Kurtz

Philadelphia #1

DIRECTORS

Tod Davies,

St. John’s #28

Thomas A. DiLauro, PMEMA

Haddon #12

Patrick Ennis, PMEMA

St. John’s #28

Harry Flanagan, PMEMA

St. John’s #28

William Swirsding, PMEMA

Haddon #12

Dave Szafran,

PMEMA

Northweastern #54

Bryan C. Werner, PMEMA

St. John’s #28

Carla Werner

PMEMA

Philadelphia #1

Website: www.artsansaomp.org

E-mail: Grafa2@aol.com

Address:

414 Hulmeville Ave

Penndel PA 19047

Editor - Bryan Werner

Grafa2@aol.com

There are still cabins available for the MEMA Canadian/New England cruise in September. Prices may vary from the originally advertised prices.

VOICE OF THE GAVEL

Dear Brother & Sister Artisans,

It's been an exciting year so far, we have had some great events in 2025, a Super Bowl Party in February, an Easter egg hunt in April, an open house and participation in the Penndel car show in May, a bus trip to see Noah at the Sight 'n' Sound theater with lunch at the Hershey Farms restaurant, our participation in the Penndel/Hulmeville Memorial Day Parade, and then, of course, our Ocean City Family Weekend. Unfortunately we did have some intermittent rain on Saturday but everyone still had a great time. The kids and the adults enjoyed the pool despite the rain. We had our DJ, Dave Fieldhouse, playing good music and keeping the Juniors busy with games by the pool. Then after the St. John's pool party was over it was up to the boardwalk for two hours of rides, mini golf and the annual treasure hunt. There were many great prizes that our members won including t-shirts, Pizza, Johnson popcorn, Shriver's, Fralinger's and Douglas candies and of course Kohr's Bros Ice cream. Congratulations to all of the winners. There is a lot of work to put this weekend together, we owe a big thank you to the office staff and all the volunteers who helped make this event a great success.

We still have lots of of events and trips coming up. We have the Mediterranean cruise this month and the Hawaiian Luau potluck dinner on July 19th, 3 PM, at the hall in Penndel. It will be a great opportunity to see everyone again since we have no meetings during the summer. You must call me up if you plan to attend the potluck dinner and tell me what food item you will be bringing to dinner, the flyer is attached to the newsletter. I also have my MEMA nine night Royal Caribbean cruise to Canada/New England September 4th thru the 13th 2025. There is also a Phillies Game in September that is being run by the re-formed Artisan's Sports Club. There will be a bus trip to the American Music Theater to see the Christmas show Deck the Halls on Decembers 16th, this trip includes lunch at the Shady Maple restaurant. There is no date yet but there will be a trip in 2026 to the Sight 'n' Sound theater in Lancaster to see Jonah with lunch at the Hershey Farms included. In 2026 there is a British Isle's cruise that is is being run by the St. John's Cruisers. Keep checking the Facebook page and our website to keep up with all of the events, activities and great insurance and annuity deals available to you as a member of our great organization. If you have any other events that you might like us to check out, please feel free to let us know.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming events. Hope all of you have a wonderful summer. Stay safe and healthy.

Fraternally,

Helen Szafran

Most Excellent Master Artisan

SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLES AND PHOTOGRAPHS TO THE ARTISAN

Do you have an event planned, some news to report, or any other interesting bit of information that the membership might find interesting? Submit your articles and photographs to The Artisan!

All articles for publication in The Artisan must be submitted in Microsoft Word or in Word Perfect electronic format.

All articles may be edited. Articles should briefly explain the “Who, What, When and Where.”

Write your articles for the general membership who may not be familiar with your assembly, association or members. Readers will be most interested in major events, unusual events, ideas or other interesting information.

Material being sent for consideration for THE ARTISAN should be packaged (to protect photographs) and mailed to:

Artisans Order of Mutual Protection

414 Hulmeville Ave, Penndel, PA. 19047

Attention: THE ARTISAN.

The copy deadlines are December 15 for the Fall/Winter Issue, June 15 for the Spring/Summer.

The Artisans cannot assume any liability for the safe receipt of any materials submitted.

UPCOMING EVENTS

See attached flyers

Congratulations to some of our Junior Artisans on their graduation from High School and College in 2025!

Congratulations to Victoria McPoyle, winner of the Artisans Dining Club “Meet the Challenges of a Higher Education” Scholarship for 2025. Victoria will be attending Penn State University this Fall where she will be majoring in accounting.

Victoria is planning to follow in the footsteps of many of her relatives and have a career in law enforcement after college.

Keep up the great work in your studies! We are very proud of all of the achievements of our Junior Artisans!

Pictured is Ryan Matthews with her father and mother, Richard and Tara Matthews. Ryan just graduated from Jefferson University this past May with her degree in nursing. Tara will intern at Jefferson Hospital.

Artisan scholarship winner Chase Matthews was just named the entertainment coordinator for Universal Studios theme park in Florida while still a fulltime student at UCF. Great Job Chase, keep up the great work.

M.E. SUPERINTENDENT LETTER

Dear Brother & Sister Artisans,

What an exciting year we have had so far with all of the Artisan activities that have been so far at our new hall. The game nights have been so much fun with lots of laughs, food, and fraternalism. The Junior Artisans had a wonderful time with the Easter Bunny and the egg hunt. The Sight and Sound Noah trip was fantastic. If you have never been on one of these trips you must make the effort to go next time. Everyone who attended the annual Ocean City weekend said they had a wonderful time. Fun, food, rides and friendships renewed. Despite a little rain at the pool party there were plenty of laughs and giggles at the pool with no one wanting to leave the party. It was wonderful to see so many members come out and have a good time, this has always one of my favorite things to do. The upcoming Junior events will be the St. John's Halloween party and Brunch with Santa. Keep up to date with our Facebook page and website! Enjoy your summer!!

Fraternally yours,

Kathy Schnauffer, M.E.S.

St. John's Easter Egg Hunt 2025

The annual St. Johns Easter Egg hunt was a big success again this year with all of the Juniors being treated to a lot of fun on the day of the event! Over 80 members of all ages attended this fun filled activity. Everyone enjoyed lunch and pictures with the Easter Bunny and then, of course, an egg hunt that meant all of the children went home with lots of candy and prizes that also included a free lunch at the Texas Roadhouse for all of the Juniors who attended this fun filled afternoon.

A big shout out to Tod and Geri Davies for organizing this fun filled event.

St. John's Super Bowl Party 2025

Our members celebrated the second Eagles Super Bowl win at the Hall at the annual St. John's Super Bowl party. All those who attended this fun event were treated to plenty of food and fraternal fun.

The Artisans open house

The Artisans opened our doors to the public and we had many visitors from the Penndel area, and our own membership, stop by to tour our new headquarters and talk about Artisanship. The annual car show was also held on the same day and many classic cars were on display on our parking lot.

The Artisans Game Nights that have been held in 2025 have been a lot of fun with everyone enjoying the snacks and fraternal fun.

P.M.E.M.A. Robert Noble is shown below with the Vietnam veteran that he accompanied on the Honor Flight that he participated in this past Spring.

The M.E.M.A. Bus trip to the Sight and Sound theater to see Noah and then dinner at Hershey Farms.

St. John's Ladies Night Cake contest and Bingo Blowout

The annual St. John’s Ladies night was a huge hit again this year with six cakes being entered into the cake baking contest. While the judges debated on who would be crowned this years cake baking champion, the rest of the members in attendance played three rounds of cash prize bingo. Everyone was treated to pizza and, of course, delicious cake for dessert. Our cake baking contest winners for 2025 were Raeann Simmons in 1st ^place, Helen Szafran in 2^{nd place}, and Dave Fieldhouse in 3^rd place.

The 78th annual Artisans Ocean City Family Weekend

Our annual 78th Artisan's Ocean City Weekend for 2025 was another successful event, the Artisan's sold out the Impala Inn and we also had members rooming at the Impala Suites hotel and the Wild Dunes Condo's. Hundreds of Artisans gathered for a weekend of fraternal fun. On Saturday we had our annual St. John's pool party where DJ Dave played the cool tunes and presided over a hula hoop and canon ball contests for our Junior Artisans. We had prizes for all of the children who attended the pool party along with pizza, pretzels and water ice for everyone. The Castaway Cove amusement pier and treasure hunt was a lot of fun and it gave Artisan's of all ages plenty to do. Everyone had a fun weekend and we look forward to this event next year.

A big shout out to Aggie and Harry Flanagan, Jacqueline Lahnemann, Tod and Geri Davies, Bryan and Carla Werner, Dave and Helen Szafran the office staff, our M.E. Officers, M.E. Family Members, the Directors, and everyone else who helps organize this event. A big event like this needs all hands on deck each year to ensure we have a successful family weekend.

The Most Excellent Family Visitations for the first half of 2025

Red Rose #22 Visitation

Philadelphia #1 Visitation

The Golden Artisans have been keeping busy this year with numerous activities and several interesting speakers attending their bi-weekly meetings. The Golden Artisan is our Senior group made up of Artisans who are of the age of 55+. If you would like more information on how to join this group please contact Joann Cunningham,Susan Jorett or Bonnie Green.