On February 4, 2019 noble Donald Green and his wife, Debra from Munhall were thrilled to deliver a car full of toys to Becky and her staff at the Shriners Hospital for Children- Erie.

The toys were given by an anonymous donor with the hope of bringing smiles to the faces of the children at the hospital.

Al Douglas (left) and Barry Hootman, MD (right), members of the Board of Governors at Shriners Hospitals for Children, Erie, present checks totaling $16,200 to Bob Stevenson (center), Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors.

On December 12, members of Shriners Caravan 15 and New Castle Lions Club delivered 7 large boxes of Christmas toys to the Shriner’s Hospital in Erie.

The Hospital’s Director of Development expressed the Hospital’s appreciation for all the toys and said that the delivery was very timely.

The Hospital held their annual Christmas Party on Monday, December 17 where over 100 children will attend.

Also, that day, three more boxes of toys were delivered to the Family Craft Center for transportation to the Ronald McDonald House at Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.

These toys were made possible through the efforts of the US Army Reserve Center personnel. Making children happy at Christmas is what it is all about.

Maybe time can fly, but in the travels of Lady Phyllis and I, we have met many new friends and will cherish the memories of our time in Shrinedom.

The income to keep our Shrine Center operating is derived primarily from Membership Dues, Rental Income and Fraternal Fundraising. With the loss of the Shrine Circus, new fundraisers will be needed to replace this lost revenue. Plans are for two “A Night at the Races.” Also, more effort will be made to increase the attendance and net proceeds from existing fundraisers through new methods of promotion to the public.

Lady Phyllis and I have chosen to make improvements to the Shrine Pavilion as Potentate and First Lady projects. A “Wish List” for the Shrine Center is being developed and will be published soon for all to see and perhaps dedicate donations toward listed items or projects.

The “Syria Shriners Sons of Veterans” unit is very close to petitioning for a Charter. If your parent or grand-parent served in the armed forces of their country, you are eligible to join this unit.

This year, Master Masons will have six opportunities to become a Syria Shriner. They can attend the June 5th Spring Ceremonial, the November 18th Fall Ceremonial, or they can receive a short-form obligation prior to one of the Syria Shrine Quarterly Meetings.

Petitions must be submitted to the Recorders Office prior to the Board of Directors meeting preceding the Ceremonial or Quarterly Meeting for processing.

Here is something that hasn’t been done at the Shrine Center for years. The week of February 17th through February 23rd is declared “Syria Shrine Center Spring Cleaning Week.” All Shrine Units and other groups using or storing items in the Shrine Center are asked to inventory their items and dispose of unnecessary material and equipment. Display cases should be cleaned, and trophy displays updated. With more public traffic in the Shrine Center, let’s make Syria “Shine.”

May you all have “Fair Winds and Following Seas.”

William L. Weiss
Potentate