Mar 21, 2024 | Potentate's Message
First I would like to start off by congratulating out- going LoH commander Robin Gradle on his successful year and congratulate Ill. Sir Doug Foss on his installation as commander of the lsmailia Legion of Honor. The Passing of the Gavel was held on February 3 and we had multiple dignitaries in town for it including the IALOH commander, 1st Lt. Commander, and the GLSA 2nd LT commander. Also in attendance was a LoH contingent from Mocha Shriners in London Ontario Canada. The food, camaraderie, and the installation were excellent. Secondly some of you may have seen that during our last snowstorm, the weight of the snow destroyed our shelter over the BBQ pit. All the metal roofing has been salvaged by Richard Mix and we will start looking to see what parts of the structure can be salvaged so we can rebuild it better and stronger than before. The meat raffle was held on February 24 and I am sure as always a good time was had by all.
Lenten Fish fries kicked off on Ash Wednesday which also happened to be Valentine’s Day and will continue every Friday through March 29. If you are looking for a way to get involved, volunteering at fish fries is a good way. We have multiple fundraisers starting up again including a quilt raffle and daily numbers. Sportsman raffle tickets are also available in the office. This year we are trying something new – the tickets are still going to be $20 each, but we are also offering 6 for $100.00. Tickets for the $10,000.00 drawing are still available and the drawing will be held on March 23. March 8-10 is the WNY Sportsman expo @ the Erie County fairgrounds and we could use some help there selling sportsman raffle tickets as well as raffle tickets for a crossbow. April 19 – 21 is the spring NYOSA conference in Saratoga Springs, NY and lastly if you have young boys in your family ages 12-21 please con- sider involving them in DeMolay. There are currently 5 chapters in WNY (Lockport, Fredonia, West Seneca, Olean, and Amherst). If you have younger boys age 9-12 they can be involved in the DeMolay Squire program and don’t worry if you have young ladies in your household – there is the Organization of Triangle which is for young ladies ages 10-21 and they have a “Rosebud” program for girls under 10.
Also you will see an ad in this month’s Smile for DaPinchy’s landscaping. DaPinchy’s is owned by Jeromy Michael Stacey. Jeromy is one of our Shrine patients who lost his hands in August of 1998 when he was 9 years old. He was electrocuted by high voltage wires. He spent 3 months in the burn unit in Cincinnati before being able to go home. Now Jeromy runs a business and is an avid outdoorsman. This year he harvested a trophy buck. So if you have any landscaping needs please consider giving Jeromy a call.
As always thank you for your support and thank you for being a Shriner!!!
Fraternally, Mike P. Ferraro
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Jan 1, 2024 | Potentate's Message
Nobles, Ladies, Families, & Friends:
I would like to start this off by thanking and congratulating Illustrious Sir. Ron Bigger and Lady Rita on a very successful year and wish them well with all their future plans. I would also like to thank the love of my life, Lady Suzanne and my pride and joy, my son Joseph for all their love and support because, without our significant others and our families we wouldn’t be able to do the things we do to help our Shrine kids. I also want to congratulate our elected Divan Chief Rabban Noble Jim Mirusso, Assistant Rabban Noble Jay Godios, High Priest & Prophet Noble Ted Clark, Oriental Guide Noble Justin Brown, Treasurer Ill. David Freund, and Treasurer Ill. Joe Hoerner.
This year is going to be about doing “more in ’24” and what I mean by that is more fun, more fellowship, more family, and more growth with an emphasis on fun. There are quite a few events planned for this year and I am hoping most of them will be family friendly. The Potentate’s reception in July will be casual and we will have activities and food for the kids, so please bring them.
To our newer Nobles and your families, if you are looking for a way to get involved, please consider coming and helping out in the Oasis. Our Lenten fish fries are fast approaching. They start on February 14, 2024 and will continue every Friday through Lent. We could always use help in the kitchen and in the dining room there is always plenty to do. Also consider coming and helping at our chicken or rib BBQs. The fellowship is second to none. Same goes for one of the many raffles that we have going on throughout the year, the first being the meat raffle on Saturday February 24. Please reach out to anyone of the Divan or the office if you are interested in helping. If you are looking for a way for your kids to get involved in our greater Masonic family, please consider enrolling your sons ages 12-21 in a DeMolay chapter. There are 5 currently in WNY: Olean, Fredonia, West Seneca, Amherst, and Lockport; or for your daughters ages 10-21 there is Triangle and there are 2 of those chapters in WNY: 1 in Amherst, the other in Akron. Both are fantastic. DeMolay offers the Squires program for boys ages 9-12 and Triangle has Rosebuds for ages 5-9.
In conclusion I would like to thank the Nobility, the Divan, and all our Shrine Ladies and families for all their support and encouragement over the last few years. It has been greatly appreciated. A special thank you to the Lockport Shrine Club for all their support, especially to Joe Daniels, Peter Stein, and Richard Lugo who started me on my Shrine adventure.
Fraternally,
Mike P. Ferraro
May 1, 2021 | Potentate's Message
I want to thank everyone who worked at or supported our Lenten Fish Fries this season. They were a great success. I am so appreciative of the way our Shriners and Shrine Ladies
pulled together to make this annual event so successful. We will now be hosting Happy Hours and traditional menus (plus a few extra surprises), on the first and third Fridays of
the month. Be sure to mark your calendars and join us for the evening.
The Daughters of the Nile Installation and luncheon was a very enjoyable and enlightening experience. I was honored to be invited and to represent our Divan as Potentate at the event. The ladies were all so warm and welcoming. Thank you for your gracious and caring hospitality.
Our next Chicken Bar B Q will be Sunday May 16th, 2021. There is much to do from early morning to afternoon cleanup. There are jobs for everyone. It is a fun time and a great opportunity to work together to help out our Shrine. Please consider trying to come and support this very essential event. Encourage others to call in their orders to the Shrine office (716-674-8666) early as we tend to sell out before closing time.
The Memorial Day Amish Auction will be held May 29th starting at 9:30 am at Menno Yoder’s Farm, 5738 Stoddard Road, Conewango, NY 14726. It is a great way to spend a Saturday in the country. Great food at very reasonable prices, homemade ice cream and plenty of fun for families of all ages. See the Ismailia Shrine Facebook page for more details.
Mark your calendars for the Potentate’s Ball Saturday June 12th, 2021. Preparations are already in full swing. It will be a fun evening, we can see many people we have missed
over the past year. It promises to be different from any other ball you have ever attended. More information forthcoming.
Our Imperial Session will be held in Houston, Texas this year July 3rd-8th. If you are planning on attending, please contact the Shrine Office as soon as possible for scheduling and details. Many of the arrangements are well underway so do not waste any time.
Put your creative thinking caps on and help Lady Jan and I start planning seriously for our first (and hopefully annual) Christmas Tree FEZtival. We will be sending out ”invitations” and information in the next couple days. It is hoped that some of our clubs and units, ladies organizations and local businesses will step forth to donate a decorated Christmas tree for this event. Talk amongst yourselves and get some creative ideas. All profits will benefit our Ismailia Shrine. Set up 11/22-11/23. Feztival tree viewing 11/24, 11/26 and 11/27. Tree pickup and clean up 11/28. This could be a great opportunity for our Shrine to create a new annual event. Your ideas greatly appreciated.
Hope to see you all more as our weather improves and our COVID restrictions lessen. Continue to check out the Ismailia Shrine Facebook page to keep up to date on our increasing
activities and events. Be sure to mark your calendars with all the many events in the next weeks. Stay well and be safe.
John F. Walkden
Potentate 2021
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