Scimitar. The. The Rhode Island Shriners Newsletter. Volume 18 Issue 6

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1 Scimitar The Volume 18 Issue 6 The Rhode Island Shriners Newsletter IMPERIAL SIR JACK H. JONES worked tirelessly over the past 37 years to support and serve the fraternity at the national level. He served Shriners International as Imperial Recorder for 36 years, Executive Vice President for five, Imperial Potentate for one, and received countless accolades and honors, including the Imperial Potentate s Award of Merit, which is the highest honor in the fraternity. Jones was also known as one of the most dedicated and genuine people to work alongside a reputation he has earned by leading the fraternity with grace and pride. Imperial Sir Jack Jones was initially elected Imperial Recorder in 1979, and served in that position, or as Imperial Potentate, until his death. During much of his time as Imperial Recorder, he also served as Director of Membership Development. Imperial Sir Jack Jones also served as Chairman of the Masonic Relations and DeMolay Committees during the majority of this time. During his time as Imperial Potentate, Imperial Sir Jones focused on bringing people together, developing modern membership solutions and realizing and recognizing the fraternity s global impact and its potential. Jones theme for the year was Unity Wins. Imperial Sir Jack Jones did not permit this confinement to a wheelchair to confine his spirit or his travels. He was a frequent speaker at Masonic events throughout the world and was a well-known and well-respected Masonic leader. While serving Shriners International, Jones also met many high-profile figures, including the Queen of England and President Ronald Reagan, who he had the privilege of personally making an honorary member of the fraternity. While serving as Imperial Potentate, Jones also had the pleasure of meeting the world s oldest man and 113-year-old Shriner, Walter Breuning. Imperial Sir Jack Jones has been a fixture on the boards of Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals for Children for decades, said Imperial Potentate Chris Smith. With the passing of Jack Jones, all Masons and all Shriners have experienced a great loss. He was a truly great Shriner, an example to all.

2 The SCIMITAR is published monthly by the Rhode Island Shriners One Rhodes Place, Cranston, Rhode Island Publisher Robert O Brien, P.P. RHODE ISLAND SHRINERS One Rhodes Place, Cranston, R.I Toll free A CHILD 5 Web Site: Telephone: (401) Office Extensions: Potentate/CEO, Domenic DiStefano...#14 Recorder, Paul Healy...#16 Secretary, Pat Deitch...#10 Treasurer, Walter Phaneuf...#15 Bookkeeper, Elaine Williams...#18 Sales, Hillary Williamson...#13 Bar...#11 Kitchen...#12 Patrick Gordon...#17 Chef Chris...#19 Charities (Sue Bowering)...#21 Charities (Leon Knudsen)...#25 ELECTED OFFICERS 2017 Potentate...Domenic DiStefano Chief Rabban...Donald Williamson Assistant Rabban... Frank DiMascio P.P. High Priest & Prophet...Robert St. Jean Oriental Guide...Alan Kinsley Treasurer...Walter Phaneuf Recorder...Paul Healy APPOINTED OFFICERS 2017 First Ceremonial Master...James Conway Jr. Marshall...Norman Messinger Captain of the Guard...David Bradley Chief Director...Robert Chase Military Aide...Stephen Kemp Chief Aide...Michael Barboza Membership Chariman...Clark Cate P.P. Greetings Shrine Family, 2 Message from the Potentate We have completed a very successful stretch of activities in our building and abroad. Egg Hunts brought our team together and greater awareness to the general public about our events and what we do as an organization. Friday, May 5, the Legion of Honor presented the Colors at the Corner Stone Laying Ceremony for the New Veterans Home in Bristol. The Grand Lodge of RI conducted the Corner Stone Ceremony led by Most Worshipful Grand Master Stephen McGuire. Many political dignitaries were in attendance including Secretary of Veterans Affairs, David Shulkin. Secretary Shulkin was impressed with the Ceremony. While I was there to support our Legion of Honor, I also found this to be a proud moment for the Masonic Fraternity. Something I will always look back upon. Thank you Right Worshipful Rick Baccus for inviting the Legion of Honor to participate. Clowns and Motor Corp had a great showing at the Aquidneck Island Police Parade. Motor Corp is really starting to grow. There are still vehicles available for use if you would like to pursue the Motor Corp. Congratulations and thanks to Captain John Adams PP and Boss Clown Tim Delaney for going above and beyond with your units. Ladies once again led a fantastic Chinese Night and Chopstick Auction. We are, and have always been, appreciative of our Ladies dedication to the events and efforts here at our Shrine center. The Shrine is the vehicle that unites us. Where do we go with it? Sky s the limit. First of the parades have come and gone. Clowns participated in the Seekonk Memorial Parade on Saturday, May 27 and Exeter Memorial Day Parade on Sunday, May 28. Motor Corp and were in Charlestown on Sunday May 28. Our Shrine Center paraded in Lincoln and North Providence on Monday May 29. I was proud to lead from the front. A new experience for me, because I have always been allowed to support my units in the past and play with them. I look forward to doing this the rest of the year, but particularly in Bristol and Chepachet on July 4. A large number of the leadership team will be attending Hope Lodge s Cigar Night Saturday June 3. We have always had a good relationship with Hope Lodge thanks to Ill. John Adams and Noble Lou Clark and look forward to making more of presence in the Southern Masonic District. Please join us. Sunday, June 4, Washington Lodge #3 will host their Annual Clambake in Warren. Contact Noble Bob St Jean for tickets. A special communication of the Rhode Island Shrine will be held on Monday, June 5 at 7 pm, One Rhodes Place, Cranston. The purpose of this communication is to elect a Representative to Imperial Session July 9-13 in Daytona Beach, FL and take up to $75,000 from the building fund for payables occurred during the operation of the our entire facility. Please make every effort to attend. Nobles, the leadership team is bringing this request to you with concern and displeasure. We continue and have made efforts to right this financial ship. This is not something that happened overnight, nor will it be corrected overnight. I can point to items that I know have affected this but will this solve or slow the problem? Attendance at events? Perhaps. Dues paid in a timely manner to help offset slow revenue months of January and February? Many questions that could be asked. I would ask several questions of you as an individual Noble and a Unit member. Do you know that our leadership team has and continues to take steps to slow and eventually correct our financial problems? Are you willing to work to have our Shrine Center for years to come? This could be financially or with your attendance and support. Are you willing to share our Shrine Center with events that bring consistent income? Our banquet facility

3 is the only thing working for us right now. Would your unit be willing to share a Unit room with another Unit to create real estate opportunities in our building? Questions here could be endless. Are you willing to fight for what we have? In a continue effort to make the Shriners Fraternity relevant in Southern New England we will be having an event on Shriners Awareness Day, Tuesday, June 6 at 6pm. Please invite anyone who would like to know more about our Fraternity and Purpose. This is an Open House reception. Public is welcome. Saturday, June 10 is the Gaspee Days Parade. Lineup is 8:30 am on Narragansett Parkway. We will be leaving the Shrine Center no later than 8 am. Parade ends at our Shrine Center. Hot Dogs and Drinks for our parade participants. Sunday, June 11 we will be hosting a day of fun activities leading up to the buring of the HMS Gaspee at 4:30pm. We have a Gaspee Breakfast and Vendor s Marketplace starting at 8 am and running until Noon. There will also be activity in the parking lot with a Touch a Truck staring our Shrine vehicles. We are also hoping to have food trucks for the afternoon. Please invite family and friends. Friday, June 23 is our Strawberry Festival. We will also make this a Blue Lodge visitor night. What better way to introduce someone to the Shrine. Please encourage any Blue Lodge Mason to attend with his significant other. Reservations to the office by Monday, June 19. A Ceremonial Rehearsal is scheduled for Tuesday, June 27 at 6:30pm. Our Degree team is assembled and working hard towards our Saturday, August 12 Ceremonial. Forth of the July parades are rapidly approaching. We have invites to Bristol and the Ancient & Horribles again. We would like everyone to at least attend one parade. Coffee and donuts in the morning; lunch before step off in Bristol; sandwiches on the way to Chepachet. We would like a rough idea on attendance for the Ancient and Horribles parade. All Units Picnic Saturday July 15. This is open to every Noble and their immediate family. You do not have to belong to a unit to attend. We would like everyone to have presence at this event. Please take advantage of our beautiful facility on Narragansett Bay and let s have some fun. Saturday, July 29 is Shriners Night at Seekonk Speedway. This may be a fundraiser for our clown unit, but this also a huge public relations event for our Fraternity. We would like representation from every unit. Unit vehicles have the chance to ride on the track. Clown will participate in Kids trike race. Help is needed at our membership table and other responsibilities. Tickets are $25 per person for the BBQ tent and races. If you would just like to join us for the pre-race festivities and leave shortly after, there is no charge. Please let the community know who the Shriners are with a large turnout. Five months are complete with my term as Potentate. The good of the Fraternity outweighs the drag of the day to day operations. The Leadership is willing to except this responsibility. We also need you to take some ownership. Financially or with your participation. Your attendance in requested. Please answer the call. Warm Regards, Domenic J DiStefano, Potentate Rhode Island Shriners 2017 Shriner s Awareness Night June 6, :00 PM - 8:00 PM Informational Open House Open to the Public Cheese & Crackers 3

4 Legion of Honor April and May have been pretty wet months, yet we have managed to carry on with schedules and events. From the minutes of our most recent Stated meeting in late April, it looks like our schedule for the year is packed with events, so let us join in and have fun. Our Parade Marshall has been quite busy trying his best to get us more involved in the community with various participations. I do not know about you but it sure makes me proud to walk in the parade with hearty Nobles showing off our flags, unique uniforms and fez, fancy motor cars, clowns in their colorful attire, music that befits the occasion, etc., and of course interacting and waving to the crowd with our broad smiles. Yes, we know and have seen many a grateful people in the crowd who have witnessed or experienced all the good the Shriners have done for them over the years. It is a tremendous blessing for all concerned to have accomplished such charitable deeds as charity is not only alms-giving but sharing compassion for our fellowmen, most especially, handicapped children and the less fortunate. So let us all be the better Noble or Lady. In our background we have our Ladies who are silent but quite pro-active with their events and their remarkable contributions. It is amazing we are still afloat. They are an awesome group! My most sincere and heartfelt kudos go to all of you. And now, it is time to press on to be one unit all together.we can do this.can t we? All for now see you all there! Jim Neri 1st Lt. Commander Parade Schedule June 10th Cranston, Gaspee Days Line up 9:30 AM July 4th Bristol Parade, Chepachet Ancient and Horribles parade (times to follow) August 12 Full Form Ceremonial, all units. Considered a temple parade. October 8 Columbus Day Federal Hill Line up on Simms St. 10:30 October 9 Woonsocket Octoberfest Line up 9:00 AM Please join us as we celebrate Sunday, June 18, :00 am ~ 12:00 pm BREAKFAST BUFFET MENU Scrambled Eggs ~ Assorted Frittatas Bacon ~ Sausage ~ Breakfast Potatoes Cinnamon French Toast & Pancakes Served with Assorted Toppings Assorted Breakfast Pastries ~ Fresh Fruit Salad Juices ~ Milk ~ Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, & Tea $13.99 Adults / $9.99 Children (6 10 years) Prices listed do NOT include 20% Service Charge & Applicable Taxes RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED By June 13, 2017 (Space permitting) THE IMPERIAL ROOM At One Rhodes Place One Rhodes Place ~ Cranston, Rhode Island

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7 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Special Stated Meeting 7:00 pm Shriners Awareness Day Gaspee Day Parade Gaspee Weekend Breakfast Ladies Luncheon 11:30 am Legion of Honor Temple Guard 11:00 am Director s Staff 7:00 pm Artisan s/ Motor Corps Strawberry Festival Clown Unit 9:30 am Bristol Ancient & Horribles Parade Shriners International 2017 Imperial Session Legion of Honor Temple Guard 11:00 am Director s Staff 7:00 pm Artisan s/ Motor Corps Mazol Shrine Visitation Shrine Night Seekonk Speedway Clown Unit 9:30 am Mazol Shrine Visitation Stated Meeting 7:00 PM 7

8 The SCIMITAR Rhode Island Shriners One Rhodes Place Cranston, R I Up-Coming Events: Monday, June 5 Special Stated Meeting Tuesday, June 6 Shriners Awareness Day and Reception. Saturday, June 10 Gaspee Days Parade Sunday, June 11 Gaspee Weekend Breakfast Friday, June 23 Strawberry Festival Tuesday, July 4 Bristol Parade Sunday, July 9 to Thursday July 13 Shriners Imperial Session, Dayton Beach Thursday, July 27 - July 30 Mazol Visitation St John New Foundland Saturday, July 29 Shriners Night at Seekonk Speedway Monday, July 31, 2017 Shrine Stated Meeting 7pm SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 2017 Gaspee Days Breakfast & Vendor Marketplace 8:00 am ~ 12:00 pm All are Welcome! Advance Reservations are Appreciated! At 11:00 am, the Legion of Honor will conduct a Flag Retirement Ceremony in the parking lot.