ANEZEH SHRINERS
POTENTATE’S MESSAGE
April - July 2008

Greetings, Nobles,

I hope this message finds you in good health, and much happiness in your life.  This period of time has been very busy with Shrine activities in Mexico and in the U.S.

April 16 – 20, 2008, the Western Shrine Association convention was held in San Diego, CA.  It was a great opportunity to visit with Nobles from the members Temples (Aahmes, Al Bahr, Al Kader, Al Malaikah, Aloha, Asiya, Ballut, Ben Ali, El Bekal, El Kalah, El Zaribah, Hillah, Kerak, Sabbar, Tehran, and Zelah).  Now, can you find out where these Temples are located?  It is a good learning experience; go to Shriners.org, click on Temples, and you will learn what city they are located.  This regional session is open all Shriners, and Anezeh had a good turnout of Nobles from the Divan and Temple members!  As I said, this particular convention is a good place to meet Nobles, have fun, and learn about the Shine…having fun and helping children! (see photos)

May was a very active month.  On 4 May, Children’s Day was celebrated at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Mexico City.  Our Clown Unit, TACOS AL ATAQUE, put on a one hour show, that was followed by the Patrol’s “restaurant” serving hot dogs with all the trimmings for the children and the hospital staff. (see photos).

On 18 May, Hospital Day was celebrated with hundreds of guests in attendance.  The Hospital Board was recognized, as well as the Hospital Administrator and Chief of Staff.  A highlight of the afternoon was the introduction and presentation by Jesus Antonio Buckets, who had been treated at the hospital for many years.  He has four artificial limbs, and now, at 19 years of age, he is grateful for his treatment by the Shriners Hospital, and was thankful for the life he was given.  Hospital tours were conducted by the hospital staff, and food was available to all.  (see photos)

On 27 May, we had our regular Divan meeting, followed by a meeting with Past Potentates; and, that evening was the regular Temple meeting.

A major annual event is the Imperial Shrine convention; this year it was in St. Louis, Missouri, and started on 29 June and ended 3 July 2008.  Again, Anezeh had great representation from the Divan and many other Nobles.  The sessions were interesting, as always, and reflected just how much work goes into our fraternity each day, both the International Shrine and the Shriners Hospitals for Children.  We should all be proud of the work that is done by the Shriners; we are in deed a unique organization!  A major issue continues to be membership, our numbers are declining each year.  We all need to be concerned, and work to make our membership numbers climb.  Each time we have a Ceremonial, we are contributing, whether it is one or two or twenty!  So, when you meet a Master Mason that you think is worthy, talk to him about becoming a Shriner.  Your contribution really does mean something! (see photos)

At our Temple meeting on 22 July 2008, a special recognition was made to our Past Potentate from 1961, Noble Roberto Vallentin.  He is the oldest Anezeh member in Good Standing over these 50 plus years!  It was a pleasure to have him with us at this session!

Also, at the July Temple meeting, a change in the month for the Divan election was passed, and the annual election will now be held on the fourth Tuesday of November.  The Installation of Officers remains the fourth Tuesday of January.  This means the election for the Divan officers for 2009 will be conducted at the Divan meeting on 25 November 2008, and the Installation will be held at the Divan meeting on 26 January 2009.  NOTE:  In order to vote in the November elections, dues for 2009 must be paid and the 2009 dues cards presented at the entrance to the Temple.

I am sad to report that some of our Anezeh Shriners still have not paid their 2008 dues.  It is past time to do so.  If you have not yet paid your dues for 2008, PLEASE do so now!  Our Recorder will be happy to provide you the Anezeh bank account information or receive you funds.

Our Fall Ceremonial and Potentate’s Ball will be held on Saturday, 1 November 2008.  The Ceremonial will be at the Hospital on Saturday morning, and the Potentate’s Ball Saturday night at the Radisson Paraiso Hotel.  Reservations may be made by calling 550-5927-5959 (tell them you are with Anezeh Shriners).  The room rate for double is $1170 M.N. (Pesos).   The cost for the Ball is $600 M.N. (Pesos) per person.  If you plan to attend, please contact the Recorder at the Anezeh Shriners Office or your Club secretary.  Your R.S.V.P. is necessary before 10 October 2008.  Dress for the Ceremonial is Shrine unit “uniform” and Fez; and, dress for the Ball is formal.

We do not want to leave any Shriner behind.  If you know a Shriner who has not been attending our meetings or participating in our events, please talk to him and bring him with you to a meeting or event, and get him involved again!  Thank you for your support.

Until next time,
Es Selamu Aleikum,
Denny

Dennis S. Strole
Potentate
Anezeh Shrines

ANEZEH SHRINERS
POTENTATE’S MESSAGE
January - March 2008

ANEZEH SHRINERS
INCOMING POTENTATE’S REMARKS
22 January 2008

 

Nobles, first I thank you for the trust and confidence you have placed in me to lead our Temple in 2008.  It is truly an honor and privilege for me to have the opportunity to serve you as your Potentate.  I promise you that I will work hard to keep your faith.

As you know, one person cannot run a Temple.  We have a wonderful group of dedicated Nobles serving in the Divan, and I know they will contribute greatly to achieving our goals.  However, the Divan cannot be the only Nobles working for the good of our Temple.  It is imperative that everyone assume responsibility for the well-being and success, and growth of our Temple.

I have 3 goals for this year:

Goal #1:  IMPROVE MEMBERSHIP.  Our numbers have declined to a total of 176 Regular members in Anezeh, and approximately 320 Dual members.   The biggest problem is Retention of our Regular members.   Members do not pay their annual dues and drop from our Fraternity.   35 members were suspended in the past year for Non Payment of Dues in accordance with the Imperial Shrine By-laws.  We need to improve this by ensuring the candidates we recruit understand what Shriners do, and what their financial obligations are to the Temple.  It is more than simply a Fez.  This requires that we educate our new Nobles, and re-educate our current members.  And, we must get everyone involved in our programs.

We must work in 3 areas of membership:  (1)  Gain new members; (2) Retain old members; and, (3) Bring back into Good Standing those members who were suspended in the past.

Goal #2:   IMPROVE COMMUNICATION.   I believe it is very important to communicate.  The more everyone knows about what is happening in the Temple, the more they will get involved, and the more active they will become.  In this electronic age, communicating is much easier than in the past; the internet is a great tool.  However, if we do not use it, it is useless.  So, let’s use it.   A major item is a current e-mail address for each Noble; so, please ensure the Recorder has you e-mail address, and advise him of changes as they occur.

We are developing a website, http://www.anezeh.org.  Everyone is able to access the website.  For the website to be effective, it must be accessed by our Nobles, it must be used.  So please start reviewing the website frequently.   The website is still not complete, but what information is there is useful.

The Temple newsletter, “The Braying Burro”, will be reactivated, and posted on the website.  Each Club and Unit should monthly provide an input, with photos if available, to relate current activities, and share what you are doing with all our Nobles.  I intend to provide a Potentate’s Temple Update in each Newsletter.

As part of communicating, we will start a visitation program.  I would like to visit, with members of the Divan, each area in which we have a Shrine Club/Unit or a gathering of Nobles, whether active or inactive.  For example, Clubs in Monterrey, Aguascaliente, Lake Chapala, San Luis Potosi, Toluca, Mexico City, Morelia, Puerto Vallarta, wherever we have a group of Shriners.  The purpose of these visits will be to communicate, educate, and answer questions. 

Communication is a two-way street, so please use the e-mail to communicate your thoughts and ideas to me or any Divan member; our e-mail address are on this website. 

Goal #3:   ENHANCE INTERFACE WITH THE MEXICO CITY HOSPITAL. We are fortunate to have local access to our Hospital, and the Temple has been active on the first Sundays of each month with the TACOS performances, and hamburgers or tacos for the children.  We have renewed the Christmas and Three Kings Day Celebrations.   And, we must and will continue these activities. 

We need Shriners visible in the Hospital, and I find we are always welcomed and our visits appreciated.  When kids and families see the Fez, you can see their faces light up and smiles grow.  One way we can increase our efforts to support the Hospital is to provide tour guides for special groups and perhaps on weekends.   It would require training on how to conduct a tour, the specific information on various areas of the Hospital, etc, but I think it would be very rewarding, and a great help to the Hospital.  If you would be interested, please contact the Assistant Rabban, Noble Leon Portman, who will coordinate the program.

Thank you again, Nobles, for this great opportunity.  I value your inputs, so please communicate with me, specifically for the good of our Anezeh Shriners and Shrinedom in general.

Dennis S. Strole
Potentate, Anezeh Shrine