Scimitar The The Rhode Island Shriners Newsletter March 2017 Volume 18 Issue 3 Noble Samuel A. Miller was initiated into Roosevelt Lodge No. 42 on January 7, 1992 and was raised as a Master Mason on June 2, 1992, signing the By-laws on September 1, 1992. He thereafter became an officer in Roosevelt Lodge in November of 1992. Roosevelt Lodge merged with Redwood Lodge in October of 1996 and in May of 2000, he became Master of Redwood Lodge. In December of 2002, he became acting Master of Redwood and was subsequently elected to serve as Master for a second term in May of 2003 and was elected to a third term in May of 2008. In May of 2006, he was appointed as an Assistant Grand Lecturer by M:.W:. Carl Willi, and continues to hold that position. He affiliated with the Collegium Luminsum in February of 2016 and was honored to be elected as an Honorary member of Jenks Lodge. He is also a member of the Shrine, Scottish Rite, Tall Cedars and Swords of Bunker Hill. Noble Miller became a member of the Shrine in 2002. Subsequently, he joined the Clown Unit in 2013 and is known as Disco the Clown. He has been an active participant in this unit since joining. He is also a member of the International Shrine Clown Association and as been invited to represent the RI Shrine Clown Unit on the Board of the Northeast Clown Institute. He has attended the “Clown College” operated by the Institute every January for the last four years, commencing in 2014. Shriner of the Year ~ 2016 ~ Samuel A. Miller
Transcript
ScimitarThe
The Rhode Island Shriners NewsletterMarch 2017Volume 18 Issue 3
Noble Samuel A. Miller was initiated into Roosevelt Lodge No. 42 on January 7, 1992 and was raised as a Master Mason on June 2, 1992, signing the By-laws on September 1, 1992. He thereafter became an officer in Roosevelt Lodge in November of 1992. Roosevelt Lodge merged with Redwood Lodge in October of 1996 and in May of 2000, he became Master of Redwood Lodge. In December of 2002, he became acting Master of Redwood and was subsequently elected to serve as Master for a second term in May of 2003 and was elected to a third term in May of 2008. In May of 2006, he was appointed as an Assistant Grand Lecturer by M:.W:. Carl Willi, and continues to hold that position. He affiliated with the Collegium Luminsum in February of 2016 and was honored to be elected as an Honorary member of Jenks Lodge. He is also a member of the Shrine, Scottish Rite, Tall Cedars and Swords of Bunker Hill. Noble Miller became a member of the Shrine in 2002. Subsequently, he joined the Clown Unit in 2013 and is known as Disco the Clown. He has been an active participant in this unit since joining. He is also a member of the International Shrine Clown Association and as been invited to represent the RI Shrine Clown Unit on the Board of the Northeast Clown Institute. He has attended the “Clown College” operated by the Institute every January for the last four years, commencing in 2014.
Shriner of the Year ~ 2016 ~ Samuel A. Miller
March 2017 RI Shriners2
The SCIMITAR is published monthly
by the Rhode Island Shriners One Rhodes Place,
Cranston, Rhode Island 02905.Publisher
Robert O’Brien, P.P.
RHODE ISLAND SHRINERSOne Rhodes Place, Cranston, R.I. 02905
Office Extensions:Potentate/CEO, Domenic DiStefano...............#14Recorder, Paul Healy .....................................#16Secretary, Pat Deitch ......................................#10Treasurer, Walter Phaneuf ..............................#15Bookkeeper, Elaine Williams..........................#18Sales, Hillary Williamson................................#13Bar..................................................................#11Kitchen............................................................#12Patrick Gordon................................................#17Chef Chris.......................................................#19Charities (Sue Bowering).................................#21Charities (Leon Knudsen)................................#25
ELECTED OFFICERS 2017Potentate...............................Domenic DiStefanoChief Rabban.........................Donald WilliamsonAssistant Rabban................. Frank DiMascio P.P.High Priest & Prophet...................Robert St. Jean Oriental Guide.................................Alan KinsleyTreasurer......................................Walter Phaneuf Recorder..............................................Paul Healy
APPOINTED OFFICERS 2017First Ceremonial Master...........James Conway Jr.Marshall.................................Norman Messinger Captain of the Guard......................David BradleyChief Director..................................Robert ChaseMilitary Aide.................................Stephen KempChief Aide.................................Michael BarbozaMembership Chariman.................Clark Cate P.P.
Greetings,Your Leadership Team is on our feet and on the move. Here is some
of our recent activity. Noble James Conway Jr. and I attended Morning Star Annual Communication on Saturday 1-21-17. Lady Karie Lyn and I attended Adah Chapter OES “Love to the Rescue” Ball with proceeds benefiting Shriners Hospitals Saturday 1-21-17. Patient family member Michelle Beverly presented a slideshow which was well received. Thank you to Noble Bill LaCross and Lady Sandy for organizing this. Our Membership committee led by Illustrious Glenn Medieros, Illustrious Clark Cate, Noble Robert St Jean, and Noble David Malone conducted a Shrine program at Morning Star Lodge on Thursday 2-2-17. Program was well received by our Brothers at Morning Star Lodge. Noble Alan Kinsley, Lady Ann Kinsley, Karie Lyn and I attended Melha Shrine Valentine’s Ho Down on Saturday 2-4-17. Lady Karie Lyn and I attended Woodridge Assembly IORG Chili Cook off on Sunday 2-5-17. Sunday February 12 was Shriners Night at the Providence Bruins. Nobles James Conway Jr, Alan Kinsley, Samuel Miller and I were joined by Shriners Hospital Patient Tyler Kipp, his Mom Melanie, his Dad John and brother John for pre game announcements. Nobles and their families then enjoyed the game. Lady Karie Lyn and I spread the word of the good work we do as Shriners. Many kind words and conversations were had on the concourse level at the Dunkin Donuts center. Our next opportunity for this will be Sunday April 2. Please assist if you can. Our Membership committee led by Illustrious Glenn Medieros and Noble Robert St Jean, conducted a Shrine program at Franklin Lodge on Tuesday 2-14-17. Program was well received and led to the talk of a Shrine club in Southern Rhode Island. We have invited the Brothers from Franklin Lodge to join us at Shrine event in the near future. The Shrine Get Away weekend has come and gone. Attendance was small this year, but lit the fire for the revival of this event. All in attendance had a great time. See you next year. As I write this article, I am preparing for my trip to the Florida Luncheon. I view these events of importance. Most of the Nobles have never met me or will see me again. The importance is that our Nobles continue to know that their efforts and energies do not go unheard or wasted. Your leadership team works hard everyday to hand this organization on to the next generation.
Our January 31 Stated Communication had Shriners Hospital patient Kyle Denson, his Mom Kim and Dad Ron join us for presentation. Tyler is a very confident, energetic young man. The Family stayed well after our meeting to talk with our Nobles and Ladies. It was a nice night for our Shrine Center. It brought everything full circle. We have invited the Denson Family to join us at future events. Please make an effort to meet Kyle. Upcoming Events Include: Wednesday March 1 Take out Fish and Chip Friday March 3 Director’s Staff Bingo Proceeds to Learning Center Saturday March 4 Pawtucket St Patrick’s Day Parade Clown and Motor CorpFriday March 10, 2017 Grand Master’s Visit to Manchester Lodge Saturday March 11 Newport St Patrick’s Parade Clowns and Motor CorpTuesday March 14, 2017 Grand Master’s Visit to Franklin Lodge Friday March 17 Shrine St Patrick’s Party One Rhodes Place Saturday March 18 Providence St Patrick’s Parade. Clowns and Motor CorpFriday March 24 Past Potentate’s Comedy Night Fundraiser Saturday April 1 Learning Center Fundraiser Sunday April 2 Shrine Public Relations Campaign at Providence Bruins 1:30pmFriday April 7 Adult Easter Egg Hunt 5-11pm Volunteers Needed Tuesday April 11, 2017 Grand Master’s visit to Washington # 3 Friday April 14, 2017 Adult Easter Egg Hunt 5pm. - 11pm Volunteers NeededSaturday April 22 Grand Master’s Testimonial Quonset O Club
From the Potentate
March 2017 RI Shriners3
Hospital News
Springfield Hospital patient Kyle Denson, 11 years old, joined us at the January 30th Stated Meeting along with his parents Kim and Ron. All three spoke briefly about their great experience with Shriners Hospital.
Saturday Morning April 29, 2017 Shrine Stated Communication w/Breakfast. Sunday May 7 May Breakfast and Vendors Marketplace Sunday May 7 Aquidneck Island Police Parade. Clowns and Motor Corp All WelcomeFriday May 12 Chinese Night and Chopstick Auction The next round of the Queen of Hearts is underway. Raffle tickets are now $10. In addition to ticket sale on Friday 6-8 pm, we will be selling tickets on Wednesday night from 6-8pm. Winner with Queen of Hearts must be present on Friday to win full jackpot. Winner every Friday evening will receive a prize. This will be the last go round with Queen of Hearts raffle if attendance does not increase. Please support this event. Mark your calendar for Saturday August 12. This will be the day of our full form Ceremonial. It will be a full day event. Registration will start at 9am. Dinner at Night. Ladies will have a program. This has been a few years in the making. Do you know a Brother who would reflect honor our institution? Please invite them. Your Leadership has a lot of work ahead. We have started to rebuild our foundation, with membership and focus on the Fraternity. There is much to do and we except the challenge with the task. Will you? If you answered yes, please contact your leadership team or myself. We would like your thoughts, participation and energy.
Warm Regards,
Domenic J DiStefanoPotentate Rhode Island Shriners
Illustrious Potentate, Domenic DiStefano and Oriental Guide, Alan Kinsley at the RI Shriners Day at the Providence Bruins
March 2017 RI Shriners4
Over the past year or so I’ve heard a lot of talk from fellow Nobles asking what, exactly, are individual units responsible for? In other words, what do they do? This has come to me from both new Nobles as well as those who have been around for a while. As an Artisan, I’ve developed a pretty good understanding of what my unit does, but this question still gave me considerable pause for thought. On several occasions at Divan meetings I’ve asked whether the Temple has some sort of guidebook outlining the “official” responsibilities for each unit. The answer has consistently been: “once we had such a document, but not any longer. It seems to have been lost to posterity”. Okay, what once was is now gone, but that doesn’t mean that the question isn’t relevant to today’s Shriners. In my mind, it’s essential that we clarify this question once and for all to the benefit of all Nobles, both new and old.
Possessing a very healthy curiosity (what is it that killed the cat?), and being spurred on by our Chief Rabban, I volunteered to do the research and publish articles from time-to-time in the Scimitar. Illustrious Domenic agreed to help me kick things off by giving me a copy of the informational packet that we provide to Gaspee Day Parade officials. It contains a bit of information regarding each unit so that their purpose can be announced from the viewing stand as the unit marches by. I was also pointed in the direction of our museum where I’ve been assured that every past copy of the Scimitar is available on file. My assumption is that over time there has been a wealth of informa-tion shared with our membership pertaining to unit activities and responsibilities. This should take me a while to research, but I’m excited over the prospect of completing this task.
My efforts shouldn’t end there, though. History is fine, but it can often be stale and cold, facts without life. That’s why I’m asking all of you to share with me as best you can your stories about unit purposes/functions, and how they may have transitioned over time. I’d love to have your individual insights to fully flesh-out how things have evolved from origination to today. I fully understand that declining membership has had an overwhelming impact on unit activities. My hope, however, is that with a personalized history of our units we may be able to spark renewed interest and potentially increase membership. For you see, my Dear Nobles, membership is the primary key to our ongo-ing success. Your Potentate and Divan are committed to increasing it this year through numerous Lodge visitations. Due primarily to the membership committee efforts of Clark Cate and Glenn Medeiros, we have already visited three or four lodges over the past few months. At these visitations, we give a formal PowerPoint presentation, and shamelessly pass out applications and request that all Master Masons come to see for themselves what the Shrine is all about. We have had reasonable success so far, and we’re planning to keep it up until we exceed our goal of thirty or more new members this year. So please, help us out by offering our presentation services to your Lodge. As a past Master I know first-hand that all Masters usually want outside speakers to spice up their meetings. Then please help them out, and assist your Temple, by suggesting that we be allowed on their agenda. And, of course, kindly keep my mission in mind by sending me your historical “unit” information for eventual publication in the Scimitar. I’m available to take your call at 401-397-4888, in person at any Temple event, or via e-mail at “[email protected]”. Through my research, and your essential input, I’m certain that I will be able to put together many interesting and informative articles about each Shrine unit, past and present. My article focus will primarily be: what motivated the unit’s startup; what was the original purpose(s) (i.e., “responsibilities”); how this/these purpose(s) have transitioned over time; and, of course, what they currently “do’ for the Temple today. Thank you in advance for your information. As I said, I’m excited over this project, and I sincerely hope that you are too.
Musings from the High Priest and ProphetRobert St. Jean
News from the Grand Lodge of RIOfficial Visitation Schedule: M∴W∴ Grand Master Stephen T. McGuire Friday, March 10, 2017– Manchester Lodge Tuesday, March 14, 2017– Franklin Lodge Tuesday, March 28, 2017– Collegivm Lvminosvm Tuesday, April 11, 2017– Washington Lodge
Saturday April 22 Grand Master’s Testimonial Quonset “O” Club
Legion of Honor
Congratulations
Legion of Honor
Winner of the
2016 Parade Participation Award
March 2017 RI Shriners5
March 2017 RI Shriners6
BINGO!
Please join us for a GREAT NIGHT OUT Proceeds to benefit THE CHILDREN’S
DYSLEXIA CENTER of Rhode Island
Proudly presented by The Rhode Island Shriners’ Directors Unit
Friday, MARCH 3, 2017
IMPERIAL ROOM AT ONE RHODES PLACE One Rhodes Place ~ Cranston, Rhode Island
The Imperial Room will be offering a Pasta & Meatball Dinner
for just $10.00 per person (Includes Tax & Tip)! Salad, Garlic Bread, Pasta & Meatballs, Cookies &
Bingo starts at 7:00 pm SHARP. No one may enter after the games begin. Only people 18 years
and older may be in the Bingo Room during the games. No alcoholic beverages in the Bingo Room (RI State Law).
$10.00 for 10 Cards ALL CASH PRIZES
50/50 Raffles
Proceeds to benefit the Children’s Dyslexia Center of RI The Center, dedicated to the remediation of dyslexia in
children, provides the highest quality multi-sensory reading and written language tutorial services for children with
dyslexia. Partially funded by the Scottish Rite Masons (www.riscottishrite.org), all of our tutoring services are
offered free of charge to the children and their families.
401.467.7102
From the Desk of Fezzy the ArtisanWelcome all Nobles to March! Winter has been a very busy time for Fezzy. I have been away from my desk too much. I would like to start with the announcement of the new Chief artisan John Werchadlo. We wish him well as Chief. I will have a picture to post next issue. Thanks to Craig Sherman for his great service during his reign. If you were not able to attend our annual “After the Holidays Game Dinner” tm. You missed a great meal. Ralph’s Catering has again made this event the tastiest ever. Nobody left with an empty belly. I don’t have the exact count yet, but I believe that we were at capacity, with many asking for tickets on the day of the event. This goes to show the effort that has been put in to this event by our staff. So next year, get your tickets early! The Lady’s Activity Group even made sure that dessert was available for those that had room! We thank the Ladies for all their help, and support all their efforts. This is the first time dessert was offered, and many enjoyed the offering. Thanks need to go out to all that were instrumental to this event. The Nobles that sold tickets, or helped with setup/breakdown need to be applauded. This event takes many Nobles to achieve. Though space is limited to list all, I wish to especially thank Illustrious Bob O’ Brien, and Glenn Medeiros for their efforts. Also to Craig Sherman, and all the Artisans that participated. This event is the biggest fundraiser for the Artisans to help keep the Parade vehicles rolling, so thanks for all that attended. That being said, the Parade season will be soon upon us, so please try to attend any parade you can. We will be updating parade dates as they come in. If you can’t drive to an event, or Parade, let me know, and we will do our best to get you there!If you need information on parades, please attend the next meeting. We meet on the 4th Thursday each month, except for November, and December. We meet on the 3rd Thursdays for those months.If you have any questions, or concerns, you can send me an email at this address: [email protected]
Fraternally,
Fezzy
Newly aquired parade vehicle donated by the town of Harwich, MA. Thank you Brother Alfred “Rocky” Loomis and Noble James Conway.
March 2017 RI Shriners7
Oriental Band7:30 pm
Oriental Band7:30 pm
Oriental Band7:30 pm
Legion of Honor7:30 pm
Artisan’s/Motor Corps7:30 pm Queen of Hearts
or 50/50 Raffle–6 pm
Temple Guard11:00 am
Ladies Luncheon11:30 am
Director’sStaff7:00 pm
Oriental Band7:30 pm
Queen of Heartsor 50/50 Raffle–6 pm
Clown Unit9:30 am
Oriental Band7:30 pm
Queen of Heartsor 50/50 Raffle–6 pm
Director’s Staff Bingo to benefit the Chidren’s Dyslexia Center. 6:00 pm
NESA Mid Winter Meeting Ottawa, ON
NESA Mid Winter Meeting
St Patrick’s Day Party
Grand Master’sVisitation Manchester Lodge
Grand Master’sVisitation Franklin Lodge
Ash Wednesday Take out Fish & Chips
Oriental Band7:30 pm
Oriental Band7:30 pm
Oriental Band7:30 pm
Oriental Band7:30 pm
Divan Meeting6:30 pmLegion of
Honor7:30 pm
Artisan’s/Motor Corps7:30 pm
Queen of Heartsor 50/50 Raffle–6 pm
Temple Guard11:00 am
Ladies Luncheon11:30 am
Director’sStaff 7:00 pm
Clown Unit9:30 am
Queen of Heartsor 50/50 Raffle–6 pm
Queen of Heartsor 50/50 Raffle–6 pm
Easter Egg Hunt 8:00 pm
Easter Egg Hunt 8:00 pm
Melha Pote’s Reception
Melha Pote’s Reception Grand Master’s
visit to Washington # 3
Easter Sunday Brunch
Shrine Stated Communication w/Breakfast
Grand Master’s Testimonial Quonset O Club
Queen of Heartsor 50/50 Raffle–6 pm
Divan Meeting6:30 pm
The SCIMITARRhode Island ShrinersOne Rhodes PlaceCranston, R I 02905
Up-Coming Events:
Don’t Forget The Queen of Hearts
Friday Nights6-8 pm
March 2017
March 9-12 NESA Mid Winter Meeting Ottawa, ONFriday March 17 Shrine St Patrick’s Party One Rhodes Place Saturday April 1 Children’s Dyslexia Center Fundraiser Friday April 7 Adult Easter Egg Hunt Friday April 7 – Sun. April 9 National Cherry Blossom Parade Washington, DCSaturday April 8, 2017 Melha Pote’s Reception Tuesday April 11, 2017 Grand Master’s visit to Washington # 3 Friday April 14, 2017 Adult Easter Egg 5pm. - 11pm Easter Sunday Brunch April 16, 2017Saturday Morning April 29, 2017 Shrine Stated Communication w/Breakfast
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