Ismailia Shriners

Buffalo, New York

Potentate’s Message – November 2024

Potentate’s Message – November 2024

Nov 6, 2024 | Potentate's Message

I want to start this off on a personal note.
On behalf of Lady Suzanne, Joe, and myself I want to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Ruthie Degener. Ruthie was a great person and friend and her loss will be felt, by all who knew her, for years to come. October 5 was our jewelry raffle and I want to thank all the Nobles, Ladies, and Triangle girls for all their help at the jewelry raffle this year.
We had over100 people in attendance and it was well received. We would also like to congratulate all of our winners, 3 of which were from NYOSA temples and purchased tickets at either a Potentates ball or a NYOSA conference.
On  November 15 we will have our fall ceremonial. Please come and sup- port our new Nobles. November 17 begins set up for the Feztival of  Trees so if anyone has any time to come up and help, it would be greatly appreciated. Friday November 22 we will have a preview and  Hors d’oeuvres for those that donated a tree, volunteers, and our vendors prior to opening the Feztival to the public.
We are still actively looking for vendors and tree donations.
New this year is a “grandma’s attic” section so if you have any gently used holiday decorations you want to donate to benefit the shrine, please reach out to me and let me know.
The Feztival will run for 2 weekends again this year 11/22-11/24 and 11/29-12/1.
If you have some time to volunteer come on out; we could always use the help selling tickets, cooking, or just being there with your fez on.
Our annual holiday party will be on December 14 and it will be an adult and kids party at the same time, so please RSVP and get your kids’ names and ages in to the office asap so we can plan accordingly.
Also on that day will be Cassiopeia Triangles “Paint the Potentate” event where they will be raising money for both Shriners Children’s and Triangle.
We hope to see you all there.
With that said I want to wish all of you a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving.
 Fraternally, Mike P. Ferraro

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Potentate’s Message – November 2024

Potentate’s Message – October 2024

Oct 1, 2024 | Potentate's Message

Fall is upon us, schools are in full swing as are our fall fundraisers: the sportsman raffle was on September 14 and we had over 100 people in attendance. I would like to thank all of those who helped man the side raffle tables, bartend, cooked and prepped in the kitchen, and helped to setup and clean up the room. Next up is the jewelry raffle which will be on October 5 and then the feztival of trees on November 22-24 and November 29 – December 1. If your club or unit would like to donate a tree, please let the office know. Also we have the $10k raffle – on the tickets this year there is a spot to mark if you plan on attending so we
can have the proper amount of food, although there is also a “maybe” spot – please only check yes or no. Other fundraisers that are happening at Ismailia are: the Directors are raffling off dinner for 2 and a night at Russell’s and the Legion of Honor is doing their Basket of Cheer raffle; please support both groups. October 7 we will host the Daughters of the Nile Supreme Queen; please consider com- ing to the dinner and welcoming her. In December the Triangle will be doing a fundraiser called “Paint the Pote” – the more money they raise the more makeup they put on yours truly. It is sure to be a fun time. The Shrine holiday party will be on December 14 – please get your kids info into the shrine office as soon as possible; there is a lot of legwork and preparation to pull this off. I am writing this from my hotel in Springfield Mass. as tomorrow I am attending the Board of Governors meeting and I am excited to announce that as of January 1, I will be an associate member of the Spring- field Board of Governors. If you’ve never been to the Springfield Clinic it is truly remarkable and they treat just about everything Shriners has to treat, so if you’re ever in the area please stop by – they would be happy to give you a tour. Friday November 15 is our next ceremonial, so if you have someone who wants to be a Shriner, please get their information into the office. The Oasis is also open again on the first and third Fridays of the month – come out for dinner and a drink. That’s all I have for now, I hope you and your families have a very happy and safe Halloween.

Fraternally,
Mike P. Ferraro

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Potentate’s Message – November 2024

Potentate’s Message – September 2024

Sep 1, 2024 | Potentate's Message

I really don’t have a lot to say this month. August is over, and fall is upon us – where did the summer go? September brings us lots of joy as our kids return to school. For all of you teachers out there, I hope you enjoyed your break and thank you for all you do to broaden our kids minds.

This month we have a “Help Wanted” article looking for volunteers to assist with upcoming shrine fundraisers. Please consider donating some time to help raise funds for lsmailia. Cassiopeia Triangle will be holding a fundraiser later this year – look for their article titled “Paint the Potentate”.

A big thank you to the Lockport Shrine Club. They held their annual Cigar-B-Cue on August 10, and it was another successful event with roughly 60 people in attendance. Thank you for all you do to help the kids and thank you for being a Shriner – and to all of our Ladies, thank you for putting up with us.

Enjoy your September and remember to watch for stopped school buses and kids crossing the streets on their way to and from school.

Fraternally, Mike P. Ferraro

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Potentate’s Message – November 2024

Potentate’s Message – August 2024

Aug 24, 2024 | Potentate's Message

August is upon us, and I must say it has been a fun summer. This past weekend was the Ismailia Potentate’s reception which was attended by a little over 140 people with representatives from every NYOSA temple as well as representatives from Cairo in Rutland VT, Syrian in Cincinnati OH, Zem Zem in Erie PA, and Irem in Dallas PA. Saturday started off with a cornhole tournament at Russell’s which raised $520.00 for both our local triangle chapters’ respective charities: Beloved Queen Zooey Arcand was given $260 for Sleep in Heavenly Peace and Mikaela Brown accepted $260 on behalf of Beloved Queen Minna Cederman Kobayashi for her charity Shriners Childrens. We had roughly 16 kids in attendance as well and the front dining room was turned into a battle zone and game room with a Nintendo switch and about 15 nerf guns and 1000 nerf darts. Protective eye- wear was provided, and I believe all the kids had a blast (pun intended). I’d also like to thank my Divan and whomever else donated to my personalized bottle of Wood- ford Reserve. When I decide to open that, you are all welcome to partake. We have a new fundraiser starting: it’s a daily number drawing but unlike the ones in the past this one is good for a whole year and the cost is $20 a ticket. Thanks to Justin Brown for spearheading this. Sportsman and Jewelry raffle tickets are also available. The sportsman raffle is on 9/14 and we hope you can make it. August 10 is the Cigar B Cue at the shrine. Unlike in years past, walk-ins are welcome. Well that’s all I have for now. I hope you all have a happy and safe rest of your summer; enjoy your time with family.

Fraternally, Mike P. Ferraro

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Potentate’s Message – November 2024

Potentate’s Message – July 2024

Jul 18, 2024 | Potentate's Message

I would like to start this off by hoping all of you dads out there had a very Happy Father’s Day. July is upon us and that means BBQs, swimming, camp-ing, fun time around a fire with family and friends; please stay safe with whatever it is you plan on doing. On May 24 and 25 there was a Bluegrass festival to Benefit Shriners Childrens Erie which raised almost $11,000.00. Thank you Nancy Rose for putting this on and a special thank you to the members of the Gowanda Shrine club who showed up in support of the event. June was another eventful month starting off with members of the elected and appointed divan and their families attending the Zem Zem potentates ball and Erie Hospital days where we presented the hospital with a check for $5000.00. On June 9 I attended Kalurahs prohibition-themed potentates ball. We went Miniature golfing on Friday evening and Saturday the ball kicked off with ride on a carousel, and we had an excellent dinner hosted by Illustrious Sir Joe Peters and Lady Kirstin. Also on June 9 was the Ransomville parade. I would like to thank the members of the Allegany Shrine Club “Mini Karts” for traveling over 2 hours to participate. Your dedication to lsmailia is greatly appreciated. On June 14 and 15 was an Amish auction in Little Valley where we sold Sportsman raffle tickets. Thank you Chief Rabban Jim Mirruso, Noble John Markuse, and Karen Kuether for selling tickets. On June 17 lsmailia had its annual golf tournament and steak roast, June 18 was the Grand High Priestess of the Ladies Oriental Shrine visit to lsmailia. On June 22 Shriners from all over NY state gathered at the request of Most Worshipful Steven Adam Rubin and marched in a parade in Utica at the Masonic home. Also on June 22 was the West Seneca Days parade. Thank you to all who partic- ipated. June 29 – July 5 is the Shriners Imperial Session in Reno, NV. Look for an update in the August Smile. July is set to be another eventful month. The weekend of July 12 DeMolay will be hosting a regional conclave and lock in at the shrine. If anyone has kids or grand kids ages 9-21 and would like more information on Demolay please come on out to the event. Also on July 13 is the Passel and Rogues annual pig roast. For more information please reach out to Noble Christian Henderson. July 20th is lsmailia’s Poten- tate’s reception. The hospitality room will be open Friday evening and onSaturday starting at 11 a.m. Around 1 p.m. we will be having a cornhole tournament at Russells with the proceeds being split between 2 charities and a Hawaiian themed luau featuring a pig roast, brisket, and smoked chicken, as well as kids options. The front dining room will be turned into a kids zone with video games and a Nerf battle zone. I hope you and your families can attend. Just a reminder just about every Wednesday the PHDs meet for lunch at the temple. The food is good and it’s a fun time. Jewelry Raffle and Sports-man raffle tickets are available at the shrine office. Please pick some up to sell. With that all being said, thank you for all you do for the kids in our area, thank you for being a Shriner, and have a safe July.

Fraternally, Mike P. Ferraro

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