Al Sihah Temple     
  Macon Georgia

Al Sihah Official Web site
Click Here

We just completed the Joint Boards meeting and the 133rd Imperial Council Session in Anaheim. The meetings were very productive with everyone working very hard to make the decisions and choices necessary to keep our fraternity and philanthropy strong and prepared for whatever the future may hold.

As always, the Imperial Council Session was extremely busy, offering a variety of activities. More than 700 attended the beautiful church service, held in the Crystal Cathedral Campus Arboretum. I especially want to commend and thank Rev. David Kinsey (the Grand Chaplain of Pennsylvania), Imperial Chaplain Dr. Paul Massad, soprano soloist Ricky Elaine Stouch and organist Russ Robbins for a particularly moving service.

The public opening of the Session was also very memorable. I was pleased to see noted actor and noble Richard Tyson and several other distinguished guests in attendance. I also hosted a reception for the Imperial Family. The “Taste of California,” was held on the rooftop of the convention center, where we watched a fireworks display. The Ladies luncheon was lovely, as well. We especially enjoyed the comedy of entertainer Diana Jordan. It was also my honor to attend several breakfasts including the Texas Breakfast, and the Cabiri and Donor Relations Breakfasts. Special luncheons held during Session included the Emeritus Luncheon, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen Luncheon and the Hall of Fame Membership Luncheon. I was particularly pleased to see 17 temples honored for net gains in membership, as well as record attendance of more than 200 at the Hall of Fame Membership Luncheon. I also want to thank Mel Tillis and his band for a terrific performance at my Imperial Evening.

A very special event at the Session was the creation of Dan Caro as a Shriner on July 3^rd, with Imperial Sir Ralph Semb performing the obligation. Dan is a former patient who, despite sustaining burns to 70 percent of his body and losing his right hand and part of his left hand as a child, has become a successful drummer. The Grand Master of Louisiana, the Divan of Jerusalem Shriners from Destrehan, La. (which will be Dan’s home temple), and members of the Imperial Membership Committee were present for the ceremony. In addition, Dan had a public fezzing ceremony during the public relations program. The new marketing and branding initiative for Shriners Hospitals was also announced during the public relations presentation. During the program, our newest “patient success stories,” Leigh Dittman and Garrett Burgess, were presented and congratulated. You’ll be hearing their powerful stories of hope and courage very soon. These youngsters, and thousands more like them, are the reason for everything we do as Shriners.

I want to congratulate Imperial Potentate-elect Dr. Bernard Lemieux and Lady Helen on a successful pageant, and wish them a wonderful, fulfilling upcoming year.

The Imperial Council Session requires months of hard work and detailed planning. I want to acknowledge and thank everyone involved for all their efforts, especially Director General Stuart Wright and his committee, the Imperial Marshal’s Aides and the nobility and ladies of El Bekal Shriners in Anaheim for an excellent, successful event.

As I take a few moments to reflect over the past year, I’m more aware than ever of how proud I am to be a member of this great fraternity. I’m proud of so many of our efforts this year, especially the growth and enthusiasm among new members in Central and South America. My visit to that region earlier this Imperial year was extremely encouraging. The Shrine Club of Costa Rica is enjoying tremendous growth. The members are active and enthusiastic and working to help children in their country receive needed health care. I was very impressed by the work being done in the region.

I visited several hospitals throughout the year and was always energized by the hope and gratitude found there. I enjoyed meeting many wonderful patients including Timmy Kelly, Katie Walker, Shannon Kloppenburg, Megan Johnson and especially former patient and new noble Dan Caro. The opportunities to visit the hospitals and patients were a highlight of my travels.

And, as I have all year, I want to remind you again that the two most important issues every Shriner must be committed to addressing each day are: finding as many ways as possible to build our membership and strengthening the ties between all Masonic organizations. We, as Shriners, must be concerned with the future of all Masonic affiliates.

The strength of our relationship with our Masonic brothers has an obvious potential impact on efforts to strengthen our own membership. However, it also directly relates to our work with our hospitals. The stronger the fraternity is, the more we can assist our hospitals. When both parts of our great organization – the fraternity and the philanthropy – work together, great things happen.

As Imperial Sir Bernard Lemieux assumes the role and responsibilities of Imperial Potentate, I urge everyone to keep membership at the forefront of your thoughts and plans. I want to again commend and acknowledge the work and efforts of the Imperial Membership Committee this past year. Having served on the Committee for 10 years, and as Chairman for three, I am very familiar with the challenges being faced, and the progress being made. Now, more than ever, our future depends on our membership recruitment efforts.

It has been my honor and privilege to serve as your Imperial Potentate. The past year has been a wonderful experience, full of memories I will cherish forever. I enjoyed visiting our temples, Grand Lodges and hospitals. It was a great pleasure and honor to meet many nobles and ladies during my travels. I want to extend my thanks to all the nobility – we have enjoyed meeting and spending time with you during our journeys and travels this past year. I want to thank everyone for all the many, many courtesies and kindnesses extended to Elaine and me throughout the year. I’m also very grateful to everyone for their generous support of Elaine’s program, “Reaching Out for Medical Miracles.”

I want to acknowledge the nobles and ladies of Al Malaikah Shriners and the staff at Shriners International Headquarters for all their help throughout the year. And lastly, I want to congratulate Shirley Kastner for her 28 years of service as Imperial Session Coordinator.

And again, thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Imperial Potentate. It has been an incredible year that I will remember forever with gratitude and pride.

Yours in the Faith,

Nick Thomas  

Imperial Potentate

The Shrine of North America

(Home) (Calendar) (News) (Elected Officers)

Send mail to randy@lscomputers.net with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 03/09/07