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March – April Potentate’s Message

Nobles, Families, and Friends of Jaffa Shriners,

As we move into the middle of April, I cannot help but reflect on what we have been able to accomplish in the first three months of the year.  Four of our major fundraisers have already finished and have proven to be some of the most successful years we have seen.  Most of us are still recovering from a busy circus week in which we will cover the details in our next journal. 

I would like to thank the entire Sports Show and Truck Raffle committees for the tremendous planning and execution in making both of these fundraisers so successful.  Our Sports Show, under the leadership of Buddy Daughenbaugh and David Dick, will present final numbers and checks to each of the units at the April Unit Head meeting.  According to our records, this year’s Sports Show fundraiser is the best year the units have had in its 38-year history.  Our Truck Raffle also had another very successful year in supporting the operational needs of our fraternity.  I would like to extended a special thanks to Paul Frederick and Jim Paul who co-chaired this fundraiser for a second year.  Ed Zwolski of Clearfield, PA was the lucky winner of this year’s Truck Raffle.  Thank you to all who helped sell tickets!

As we move forward in supporting our philanthropy this year, we have a number of fundraisers for everyone to get involved in.  Our Hospital Crusades will be held on June 7th & 8th and we will conclude our weekend with Jaffa’s very first Walk For Love on June 9th.  On July 20th the Jaffa Hockey Team will be facing off against the Washington DC Firefighters in a charity game supporting our hospitals.  Let’s help spread awareness of our hospitals within our community.  Remember, we make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give.  More information on these events are later on in this journal. 

The “Shrine On” Capital Campaign has officially kicked off and we have had a tremendous response the first two weeks.  In this short amount of time we have received over 40 individual donations totaling over $20,000.  We are extremely grateful in the amount of support our Nobility and their families provide for fundraisers such as this.  You are the key that will help us unlock our tomorrow.  Your generosity of time and means help us demonstrate the values we as Freemasons hold dear to our hearts within our families and communities.  FAITH, HOPE, CHARITY.  If you have not seen your name in this month’s capital campaign contribution page, rest assured it will be in the next journal.

I would like to acknowledge and thank everyone who supported our spring-cleaning projects over two Saturdays in March.  We had over 60 people take time out of their busy lives to help put two coats of paint on every wall in the main level of the Jaffa Shrine Center in preparation for our circus guests.  We even had a crew with excavation equipment help create over 100 parking spots in the upper parking lot by clearing away over-grown trees and brush.  If that wasn’t enough, we also had a crew clean out a large storage area within the building filling two roll offs in the process.  Thank you for everyone’s efforts in keep our home beautiful.

If you have not heard yet, the Right Worshipful Grand Master of Pennsylvania has given the 20th Masonic District permission to conduct a One Day Masonic Journey in our building on Saturday, November 2, 2019.  If you know of good men who are interested in going through a one-day class, reach out to them about joining our great fraternity.  Petitions will be due to your lodges by your September stated meeting.

We would also like to welcome Jaffa’s new Chef, Bud Smith to our team.  Many of you had a chance to meet him over the past two months.  He comes to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the food industry from throughout the world.  His culinary arts experience extends not only throughout the United States, but also Brazil, Morocco, Spain.

As we look forward to the rest of the year know that each day is a great day to be a Shriner.  In life two things define you; your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything.  Be proud of what we have been able to accomplish together.  Jaffa Shriners was yesterday, is today, and will be tomorrow a beacon of brotherhood and compassion within our community.  It is these two principles which lead good men to our organization and what drive us toward that relentless pursuit of supporting the greatest philanthropy in the world.

Jordan W. Settle

Potentate – 2019