Wed. November 3, 2010

We are up to 49 candidates for this weekend's Fall Ceremonial. This is going to be the largest class since we had a special statewide one day masonic membership class in 2003. We are so very excited about welcoming into our great fraternity these fine gentleman and their ladies.

I was at the Shrine Center last night, finalizing the script for the ceremonial. The Dramatic Corp showed up to practice, and although I was not present in the room during their practice, I heard much singing and laughing. I am not going to ask any questions, but will await with anticipation.

As this year winds down for the 2010 leadership team, it is full steam ahead for the 2011 leadership team. I am confident that we are on the verge of a renaissance in the Shrine. It is great to see that our future leaders are not resting on their laurels, but communicating with each other and planning ahead of time to ensure success. In reviewing the past 5 years, I feel that this is the biggest change in our leadership. The first several years I served on the Board of Directors, I did just that, sit around and listen to one person. I am not blaming any single individual, it was the environment and culture of our Shrine, whereby the Potentate had exclusive authority. Our Imperial Leadership saw the detrimental affect of this attitude around Shrinedom and began issuing new rules/guidelines and amending the by laws to transition a "Divan" to a "Board of Directors". That plan has now been implemented and the current leadership has bought into this model. Let me tell you how effective it is to have elected leaders speaking openly to each other offering advice, suggestions, criticisms, those feelings that they have to better our fraternity without retribution or negative feedback. In the past, the all-mighty Potentate would not even listen to the "lesser" Divan members. It is no wonder that progress has been not only very slow in the past 20 years, but in decline.

Presently, you have to give credit to the new attitude with the new revitalization of the Shrine, our membership, our lady's involvement, and of course the increase in new members. I believe that it is a direct relationship. When our nobility see their elected leaders in agreement and united to better our organization, they are more inclined to participate.

Sorry for the rant, however, I truly believe in teamwork, and am proud that we have that now, more than ever.