Well, it’s now April – where has the time gone? The year is moving at a fevered pace, the fish fries were a success and as always it takes a lot of volunteers, and I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all those who have volunteered in the kitchen, dining room, and selling basket raffle tickets. All your help is greatly appreciated by all. This past weekend was the sportsman show at the Erie County fairgrounds and we sold close to 100 tickets. A special thanks goes out to Michael Hackford, Don Holben, Richard Mix, Greg Wolf, Christian and Dick Henderson, Tim Noll, Ted Clark, and my wife Lady Suzanne for manning the booth and selling tickets. Tickets for the sportsman raffle are currently available in the shrine office. Tickets for our annual jewelry raffle are also available in the shrine office. This year there are 23 items on the ticket including 2 gift cards one of which is for $500 donated by Robertson and Bach Jewelers; thank you Bob Robertson and Roxanne O’Malley for your donation. On May 18 Terry Buchwald will be performing at lsmailia and the directors will be selling food for the event. July 20 is my potentate’s reception which will be a Hawaiian themed party that will be a casual affair featuring a pig roast, brisket and some smoked chicken. Now onto some housekeeping: after consulting with our insurance agents, it has been determined that the use of shrine vehicles should be reserved for official shrine business and the transportation of patients to and from the hospitals. With that said we are always in need of “roadrunners” to trans- port our patients. If you have some spare time and are interested in doing so please get your name, date of birth, and drivers license info to the shrine office and Charlie Turner so your name can be given to our insurance company. Thanks to the tips that were received from the fish fries we purchased 2 changing tables for the bathrooms, 1 of which has already been placed in the ladies room, the second will be placed in the men’s room before you read this note. Also, I was notified the other day by the chairman of the Erie hospital board that April 17 the board will be recognizing lsmailia at their monthly board meeting. I plan on attending the meeting – hopefully we can have a good showing from lsmailia. Lastly, I would like to wish PP Ron Bigger and Lady Rita good fortune as the embark on their next chapter and relocate to the St. Louis Missouri area later this month; God speed and good fortune Ron and Rita.

Fraternally, Mike P. Ferraro

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