Greetings Nobles and Ladies,
2023 is well under way now and we’re looking to the rest of the year as we grow together. In February, several members of your Divan attended the Dixie Shrine Association Mid-Winter Conference in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Hadji was well represented and proud that one of our own, Chris Saul is on the Board for the Dixie Shrine Association.
Our Hadji Ball and Sock Hop was a lot of fun thanks to the hard work of a lot of our Nobles and Ladies. Ella and I offer our sincere thanks to all who helped plan, organize, decorate, prepare desserts, cook, serve, clean-up, and attend this memorable weekend. Lady Jennifer in our front office worked hours getting everyone registered and finding a place for everyone to sit. Our Widows Club did an outstanding job greeting everyone and making them feel welcome as they directed our guests to where they needed to be. Thanks also to the local DeMolay and Rainbow Girls for their help serving and bussing tables. I think everyone enjoyed the delicious Chet’s Seafood, and the outstanding music of DJ, Good Vibrations and the band, Emerald Gold.
It was an honor to have Florida House Representative Honorable Michelle Salzman and her husband Phil with us. We were also honored to have the Color Guard from the Sheriff’s Department along with Sheriff Chip Simmons, his wife Susan, Commander Andy Hobbs, his wife Nicole, Okaloosa Sheriff Charles Nix, and Pensacola’s Jean Lafitte LXVII, Mike Andel and his wife Dale.
Everyone worked together to make it happen. With our Hadji Ball behind us, our Divan, Lady Ella, and I are looking forward to attending balls at other temples celebrating with our counterparts across our area. April 8, 2023, we look forward to our annual Easter Egg Hunt chaired by Oriental Guide Noble Gary Sapp and Lady Debbie. You won’t want to miss this fun event. Watch for emails soon with more information.
Daughters of the Nile Queen Christine Francis is representing Shimron and Hadji well, and we wish her the best as the newly elected officers prepare for Installation on April 15, 2023. This group of ladies works hard throughout the year to support Hadji and our Shriners Hospitals.
We will have had our Necrology Program by the time this Sez issue is published. This program, honoring the memory of our deceased Nobles, is important to all of us and means a great deal especially to the families of our deceased Nobles. I offer a personal thanks to our Past Masters Unit.
I would like to thank the Old Spanish Trail Shrine Club for their $10,000 donation to our Hadji Children’s Transportation Fund. The OSTSC meets the first Tuesday of each month. You are welcome to come join this fun, hardworking group of Nobles.
Yours In Faith,
Illustrious Sir Bobby R. Minchew
Potentate 2023