Potentate’s Notes March 2023

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Greetings Nobles,

A great time was had by all at the Walleye game. For those who were not able to make it, our very own Noble Hank Briggs was the Hometown Hero. It was great to see his friends and family there to support him. With our most recent Friendship Night, there were many new faces to learn about Masonry and Shriners. I am hoping we will see many new candidates for our Spring Ceremonial in May. If you know of someone interested in Shriners, tell them about your experience and how you are involved with Zenobia. Give them a pe­tition and create a new member to our great organization.

Please come out and support the 71st Zenobia Shrine Circus, March 16 to 19, as we need this to be a successful fund-raising event. This is our main fund-raising event for the Temple, and is only suc­cessful with your help to promote it, as well as to help with your services. There are many opportunities for you to volunteer, even if for only one show. There are jobs that can be done while sitting and others when standing. If you able to find some time to volunteer, please contact myself or Illustrious Dennis Gable.

Other events coming up: Saturday, April 1, include supporting Northern Light Lodge’s pancake breakfast, then come out to Zenobia for our Meat Feztival (formerly known as our Meat Raffle) to fill your freezer with plenty of meat, as this will be a lucky day with your winning lucky number. Tickets are selling fast and must be pur­chased from Illustrious Ty Stout (419-355-3996) – call or text. After this event, others of us may then be going to the 11th District Grand Master’s Reception that evening to honor our own Noble, Grand Master, MWB Steven Grindle. What a great day for Masonry, fel­lowship and brotherhood!!

Please spread the word about our annual Children’s Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 2. Invite your grandkids, children and/or neighbors, as this is an open event to the public. The John Hoffman Memorial Golf Outing will be here before we know it, in August. I have challenged the Divan team to get their teams organized before April and now I challenge you to start registering your teams. We have a new location this year at Hidden Hills Golf Course with a 2 p.m. tee time and dinner to follow.

We are still looking for a janitor to help clean our facility and setup up for events; this position would likely be 10 to 15 hours/week. If you have a financial background and would like to share your skills as treasurer with our Divan team and your Nobles, please contact me for more information.

Last, not by not least, Lady Melissa and I would like to thank those that went on our Potentate’s trip to the Bahamas, as it was a great time had by all. New friendships were made with our brothers from Aladdin Shrine and the warm weather was WONDERFUL. Thank you also to Mark and Patty Froelich, from Aladdin, to allow US to coordinate this event together.

Potentate’s Notes February 2023

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Greetings Nobles,

I can’t believe it has been six years Lady Melissa and I have been in the Divan line, and am now serving as Zenobia’s 2023 Potentate. It truly is an honor to serve Zenobia and help with our children’s needs.

We had a great New Year party; thank you to Nathan and Kailee Weiker for a great new event. Many of us learned how to play Roulette, Black Jack and Craps, without spending any addi­tional money of our own. It was a fun experience, without blow­ing it at the casino. There were many new faces at this event and we hope to continue to see them at the many other upcoming events.

Lady Melissa and I would like to thank our Chief Aide, Barry and Hallie VanHoozen, and all A-team members for ensuring that those who attended installation were well taken care of by tending bar, serving food, disbursing calendars/pins and helping with setup and tear down. THANK YOU again, it was a wonderful event!!

As we move into 2023, do not forget to buy your Walleye tick­ets and make this another great event. We will be honoring one of our own Nobles as the Hometown Hero, participate in the puck drop and some will get to enjoy a ride on the Fanboni. If you have not been to this event before, you must check it out as it is AL­WAYS a great time!

We will be hosting a luncheon on Wednesday, February 15, at the Shrine, with start time at noon. A light lunch will be provided and Mark Harris will be the guest speaker. This event is open to any Masonic brother. We hope many of you can make it for this gathering of fellowship, and hoping to do this monthly, depending on attendance.

If you know anyone who has interest in cleaning and setting up the temple for events or who may be interested in secretarial/bookkeeping tasks, please reach out to the office for further information. We also will be looking for a new treasurer, as Dave Coy intends to retire from this position in July. Lots of changes coming to Zenobia and we would like to make a smooth transition with all, if able.

Potentate’s Notes January 2023

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Greetings Nobles,

My time serving as Potentate of Zenobia has come to a close. It was truly an honor to serve our nobility and represent you at the imperial sessions and throughout Shrinedom. The ride from being appointed Second Ceremonial Master by Illustrious Sir Charles Murphy, to being elected to serve as your Potentate for 2022, has been a memorable seven years. Lady Alisha and my­self have made life-long friends that we love like family.

We truly hope that you enjoyed the events and activities that were planned throughout the calendar year of 2022. With our fraternity ever changing, family and fellowship were our goals for the year. With your support we nailed it!

As we look to the future, Zenobia is in good hands. Your Po­tentate Elect Todd Miller and his Lady Melissa have a wonderful year planned with many family friendly events. Please get out and support these events.

Well Nobles, as this is my final Pote’s Notes I would like to personally thank a few individuals for their hard work for the year 2022. Firstly, thank you Dave and Susan Black for serving as chief aides for lady Alisha and myself. Your continued hard work for Zenobia is greatly appreciated. Next, Nobles Steve Horton and Dave Hefflinger. You two were always there in the thick of the fight and saved a few events with your culinary skills. Noble Horton also served as my personal aide and was always helping in any way he could, going above and beyond what the position entailed. Next, Noble Greg Bowlus. As an “unofficial” member of the A-Team, your hard work and devo­tion for our fraternity is inspiring. Your work at events for both Zenobia and the Pitmaster unit is truly appreciated. Finally, I would like to thank all of Zenobia’s members for their kind words, thoughts and prayers after the death of my father, Noble Ron Stout, shortly after my installation as Potentate in January. Without his words of wisdom and getting me involved in the Fremont Shrine Club I would not be where I am today. Thanks, Dad!

Nobles, thank you for the opportunity to serve as your poten­tate. Let’s support your newly elected divan and all our club and unit officers for 2023.

Until next time, keep a warm heart and a big smile!