March Desert Dust

Page 2 - Desert Dust ~ March, 2011

See MESSAGE / page 3

I have, at the time of this writing, been your Potentate for one month.The year is beginning in a huge way. There was a record crowd for thisyear’s Installation. We had nearly 3 times more Nobles attend Orienta-tion than any since I have been on the Divan.

Plans for “A Taste of Mardi Gras” look really promising. With a realCajun band, the Nobility in their best N’Awleans costumes, Gator Juice(thanks to the Gator Patrol), gumbo & boiled shrimp from the OasisCamping Club and the Winston-Salem Shrine Club; what’s not to like?Hey, get this… it’s Free!

In keeping with my theory, “if you’re having fun, people will join you.”This could be the perfect time to find members.

So, let’s invite non-Shriners to come visit us. Just escort a couple whoyou think would make great Shriners and let them enjoy the evening onme. We need to know how many are coming so we can prepare thenecessary tables & food. Therefore, please call Ginny at the Temple andlet her know you and the number in your party.

Did you ever stop to think how your fish-fry or Paper Crusade moneyis being used? If your membership impacted just one child, one family;isn’t that worth it? There are many reasons why we become Shriners; tohave fun and enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded citizens. The singlemost often mentioned reason we are Shriners is to help kids. Now, withyour commitment and contribution, let’s reach out to the other 6,500members of Oasis and get their help. Just by maintaining your member-ship, and asking your Shrine brothers to keep their membership intact,you are making a difference to thousands of kids. As Potentate, I ap-plaud you.

Our insurance bosses at Imperial Shrine Headquarters in Tampa, havesent some demands that will change our Ceremonials. No more hazing;anything involving volts and amps are out. Our Nobles in Raleigh at AmranTemple learned this the hard (real expensive) way. A candidate wasinjured during their 2nd section and there was a monetary settlement,and no insurance company would back it. With these new changes, I’mconfident that Noble Captain Tracy and our Director’s Staff will rise tothe challenge with some creative stunts.

Last night we held the Potentate Guard & Patrol’s Valentine Dance. Iknow if you ask those who attended they will tell you the food, the band,and the ambiance was great! Thanks to all who planned, decorated andattended; $1,000 was pledged to our hospitals via these units.

I hope you will take the time to read my article, “Heart-2-Heart.” Wemust keep abreast of our own health issues.

Judy and I want you to consider joining us on a Southern Caribbean

Desert Dust ~ March, 2011 - Page 3

Cruise in November. Check it out in thisissue. I promise that this will be fun witha capital “F!”

We are hosting NC Grand MasterLewis Ledford at the Winston-SalemShrine Club on Saturday, April 16, from10:00am to 2:00pm. Bring your Blue

Lodge buddies, and especially those whoare potential Masons/Shriners. Comejoin us and spend time with the #1 Ma-son in the state while enjoying some ofCarolina’s finest BBQ by KevinBodenheimer of Statesville.

Last but not least, send your storiesand photos. Show all of Oasis what yourclub/unit is doing!

Until next month,John

MESSAGE(Continued From Page 2)


By: Past Captain Graham WilsonUnits appreciation night was held on

January 7th at Oasis Shrine Center. ThePatrol was presented the very presti-gious Walt Disney Award for its out-standing service to Oasis Temple. Cap-tain Tim Daniels accepted the awardon behalf of the entire Patrol.

Life memberships in Oasis Templewere awarded to Bob Saye and HaroldDavis. Potentate’s Appreciation awardwent to Dink and Lucille Moss and theirHospitality staff. The Potentate’sAward of merit went to Dink Moss andGraham Wilson.

Congratulations to all these Patrolmembers and wives for all their workin 2010.

Over 1.2 Million was reported byClubs and Units for Shriners Hospitals.These are funds that clubs and unitsworked for during the year 2010. Thisis not the final total as some funds havenot yet been reported. Oasis continuesto be the Number One temple in NorthAmerica in funds raised for Shrine Hos-pitals. Great job Nobles.

The Patrol has been asked to workthe Valentine Dance on February 5that Oasis Temple.

We will work door duty and assistwith decorations in the auditorium priorto the dance. We will greet guests asthey arrive. This is a Hospital project.

The annual Patrol Past Captainsnight will be on March 18th at the SandsRestaurant in Oasis Temple. This is thenight we honor our Past Captains aswell as officially welcome our newmembers. It is always a fun night for

all who attend. Attendance is by invita-tion only.

We lost another Patrol veteran onJanuary 10th. Bob Medlin, a 42 yearmember of the Oasis Patrol, died atage 85. Bob and his Lady Doris had beenactive in the Patrol up until Bob’s healthkept him away. Bob will be missed by allwho knew him. Our thoughts are withLady Doris and her Daughter Dawn dur-ing this difficult time.

Harvey Burgess, Executive Directorof Oasis Temple, resigned his positionin January 2011. Harvey, a dedicatedMason and Shriner, has been a tremen-dous supporter of the Patrol for manyyears. As a Honorary Patrolman, he hasattended many of our Patrol events andwe valued his Shrine knowledge whichwe relied on many times. We will misshim on a day to day basis. Our best tohim in his future endeavors.

We welcome our newest Patrolmember, Brandon Penley. Brandon issingle and resides in Claremont, N.C.We are delighted he has chosen to be-come a member of the Patrol Family..Let’s all give thanks for our many bless-ings. We have much to be thankful for.Keep all our members who are experi-encing difficult times in your prayers.Keep all members of our armed forcesin your prayers. They are making greatsacrifices in order to keep us safe hereat home. Health & Happiness in 2011.

DEMITSJerry Marshall Hester

Roster Change


February Crossword Puzzle Answers


If you visit any of the nearly 100 clubs and units within Oasis, you’re mostlikely to hear the same resounding issue; Money…And, Money is directlyrelated to the decline in Members. After receiving a newsletter last yearfrom one of our clubs where the president stated; “we don’t have a problemgetting members, it’s holding onto them is our issue,” and then further notedthe dues were going up 30%... Makes you wonder; what caused the loss andhow do we fix it?

The answers are quite obvious to some, and appear to be in a differentgalaxy to others. Actually the solutions are much deeper once we startedresearching for answers.

I ran across this article written in 2006, by Gretchen Parker of The TampaTribune.

“If the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine soundsmysterious, it is.

On the outside, it’s motorcycles and parades and minicars. And thered, tasseled fezzes that have become as emblematic of jovial Shrinersas they are of the holy city of Fez, Morocco. The group is perhaps best-known, though, for the children who owe their miracles to the charity ofShriners.

On the inside, it’s a dark labyrinth of shrouded secrets, sphinges,scimitars and five-pointed stars. It’s a pageant of chants, codes, pass-words, handshakes and gory oaths sworn inside private temples - allorchestrated by masters and potentates. It’s like Rotary Club gone Dun-geons & Dragons.

And no girls allowed.It’s a complete mystery to the non-initiated.That’s by design, Shriners say. But now, as the Shrine shrinks yearly,

the fraternity is trying to change. It’s throwing open the doors of templesand making rituals public. It is opening its roster to a wider group ofmen and even putting diaper-changing stations in temples.

Gone are the days when American men craved secret societies.Shriners can only survive, they acknowledge, by adapting.

“We’ve created our own problem. We’ve been complacent,” said GaryDunwoody, who in 2006 weekend is finishing his one-year term as im-perial potentate, the highest-ranking Shriner. At its annual convention,the fraternity will elect a new leader.

Like other service clubs, the Shrine has been hemorrhaging membersduring the past 2 1/2 decades. The fraternity was founded in 1872 andgrew steadily for a hundred years.

At its peak in 1979, the Shrine included nearly a million men. Nowthere are 411,000. Last year alone, the group lost 30,000 members whoeither died or stopped paying the annual dues.

The heart of the issue is that Shriners are trying to save a fraternitythat is rooted in the very ritual and pageantry that now turns off manymultitasking, long-commuting, Little League-coaching dads. The mysti-cal, elaborate ceremonies that used to attract men now are repellingthem, critics say.

Dunwoody pointed out all that Shriners have going for them - anestablished fraternity that is the heart of one of the most-respected phi-lanthropies in the world. The group just needs to do a better job ofselling itself, he said.

Roots In FreemasonryThe Shrine was founded by two Masons and is rooted in Freema-

sonry. It is open only to members of that brotherhood, which was a

Over 600,000 Gone!successful formula in the first half of the 20th century when Masonrywas booming. In the years after World War II, men returned home look-ing for the kind of camaraderie they had enjoyed while enlisted.

Lodges and Shrine temples became second homes for them.Shrine founders saw Masonry as the perfect pool from which to re-

cruit members. They saw themselves as men of strong character whoalready had bettered themselves by learning the lessons required to moveup the Mason ladder - known as the Scottish and York rites.

This is where Masonry goes into territory that is murky for the non-Mason. Generally, members say each level uses allegory to teach menmorality and the meaning of life.

To become a Master Mason, a man advances through three levels.Beyond that, he can choose to join one of the rites, and if he reaches thepinnacle, he’s considered a 33rd-degree Mason. If he makes it to Scot-tish Rite, then he also has acquired titles including Inspector Inquisitor,Perfect Master, Secret Master and Knight of the Brazen Serpent.

It’s all commonly traced back about 500 years, when masons bondedtogether as a craft guild that then evolved into a fraternity. Masonsbelieve their group began with the men who built King Solomon’s Temple.Stars, sphinges, trowels and scimitars are used as symbols to teach thelessons of the brotherhood.

The Shrine was founded as a fun alternative to Masonry. The foundersbelieved in the serious nature of Masonry but wanted to stress “fun andfellowship” more than the ritual, according to a history published byShriners. That’s why the fez was used - to lend an exotic, party atmo-sphere and add intrigue.

The group toned down that image after gaining a reputation as hard-charging partiers.

One thing hasn’t changed - black Shriners and white Shriners are,for the most part, separated. An African American named Prince Hallstarted a Masonry group for blacks in the late 1700s, and the racesnever integrated either as Masons or as Shriners.

Groups ‘Are Doomed,’ Critic SaysIt is the intrigue of the Shrine that is working against it now, said

Dudley Davis, an outspoken critic of Mason and Shriner leadership.Davis is a Maryland management consultant who began working in1989 to persuade the fraternities to make drastic changes so they couldsave themselves. He’s also a 32nd-degree Scottish Rite Mason.

By now, he said, both groups “are doomed.”Two years ago, he said, he was hired by Shriners to find a way to halt

their downslide. He presented his suggestions to Shrine leaders at theirheadquarters in Tampa.

Among his suggestions: Offer scholarships to the children of fatherswho join, and make the meetings more upbeat and relevant to men’sdaily lives.

The trick, he said, is to promote what is worthwhile - the camaraderieand the revered hospitals - and get rid of the special uniforms and tra-ditions that repel today’s young and middle-age men.

Also, he said, lose the fez.Davis argued that the festive hats have become a cartoonish symbol

of revelry that doesn’t reflect the true Shriner spirit. That proposal quicklywas dismissed.

See GONE / page 7


“It’s difficult to get them to change in any way because they’re com-fortable with what was,” Davis said.

Davis’ viewpoints ‘didn’t match the organization’s,” said CharlieCumpstone, an executive vice president of Shriners who has worked forthe group for 40 years.

It’s not just about Shriners and Masons, Davis said. He used a pollconducted in 1991 that found men just were not interested in joiningany organization - not Shriners, not Masons, not Rotary or Elks orMoose. The few who did didn’t want secretiveness, difficult initiations,signs and passwords.

Too Strong To FailDunwoody, the Shrine leader, insists the fraternity will never fold be-

cause it has a hard-core, dedicated group at its nucleus. Shriners hospi-tals depend on the fraternity to bolster their volunteer ranks, transportthousands of children and govern their boards.

Even critics of Shriners say the hospitals, with an endowment of $8.4billion, are too strong to fail. They survive on gifts and bequests, notdues from Shriners, of which only $5 a year goes to the hospitals.

Dunwoody predicts that membership eventually will level off. He saidthe fraternity is focused more on keeping Shriners than attracting newones. In the past 15 years, the group has lost more than 300,000 mem-bers who quit or were suspended for not keeping up with dues.

“They’re not staying with us,” Dunwoody said. “They’re going outthe back door faster than they’re coming in the front door.”

To attract younger Shriners, the group is encouraging temples to hirebabysitters and hold family nights. Members interested in computersand golf now have their own clubs.

To keep current Shriners, the group is using pilot programs at seventemples that involve members more in the hospitals and focus on retain-ing members who are about to drop out. The group also is creatingwomen’s focus groups and involving wives in a ‘first 100 days” pro-gram for new Shriners.”

Although Gretchen’s article gives great insight to where we were 5 yearsago, however several items of great importance should be addressed:

1. Gary Dunwoody was Imperial Potentate in 2006 and she failed to seethe outcome of the changes he made which proved either unpopular or justdidn’t work.

2. Black and White Shriners are working together, in 2010 Prince HallMasons recognized and Oasis accepted its first African American.

3. Charlie Cumpstone is no longer an executive vice president of Shriners4. Our Endowment shrank to around $4 billion in 2008 and is now on the

rise.5. Neither of Dunwoody’s pilot programs are in use today.Gretchen hit the bulls’ eye on some items, but she doesn’t have true in-

sight. She hasn’t been exposed to the “Light of Masonry nor has she likelyexperienced the rush of emotions that runs through a body when we experi-ence the testimony of those like this year’s ambassador Megan Johnson orwitness the making of a Shriner.

Yes it’s true, in 1979 we were 941,799 Shriners strong and today we ap-pear to have leveled off around 340,000. Nevertheless, the loss of over 600,000is huge and the “Black Camel” didn’t get them all.

Possible Solutions

1. How does your club smell? In 2009, North Carolina, America’s larg-

est tobacco producing state, passed a ban on smoking in public restaurants &bars. To the surprise of the restaurateurs, this ban didn’t effect their businessat all. Everyone has the right to enjoy clean air. To a non-smoker who looksto rent your building or attend your function that allows smoking; it’s about aspungent or romantic as taking your date stargazing at a waste managementsite.

2. What does your club look like? Themes can be eye catching forsome specific bars or restaurants, but they can also be a turn-off, especiallyif they aren’t laid out correctly. How about the lights in your club? Fluores-cent lights are great for cleaning up after a function, but have no mood-setting value. Have you checked your ceiling lately? Are your tiles yellow orbrown with water stains? How about your walls? Are they blank, no pic-tures, or are they decorated with posters and tape marks everywhere? Lotsof things to consider.

3. Is your Club/Unit Proactive or Reactive? Since the averageage of a Shriner is reported to be around 68, maybe the older membersmight step to the side for awhile; embrace the younger members andtheir ideas. The world is changing with newer and faster ways of doingthings and we must learn to grab hold. If we can’t run with the youngdogs, at least they can pull us along. It’s a well documented fact, theolder we get the less likely we are to change. Funny, isn’t that the defini-tion of Insanity; Doing the same thing over and over, expecting differentresults each time?

Final Closing Thought

Perhaps it was a friendly one-on-one suggestion or a statement throughan email, or something you overheard, to help improve your flyer, per-haps a written article, something that caused hurt feelings. That one ac-tion that might have been intended for good, got misinterpreted and trans-lated into your perception even though it very likely isn’t the truth. Thenwhat? You’re frustrated, not knowing how to handle it and the longer itsits within you the longer it festers until it becomes anger. Then what doyou do with that unharnessed emotion? You take your skewed translationback to your sphere of influence and from there this disease spreads idlegossip in all directions likes kudzu. If that is your perception, then youshould pick up the phone and talk directly to the one made the suggestionor comments. You might find that your interpretation was way off. Theend result with the right attitude is; you resolve the problem whether it’syours or there’s, you strengthen bonds, and build foundations before thenegative comments are broadcasted that evidently, become a deadly vi-rus among our members. Isn’t it better to find solutions between the onesinvolved before you start involving others? Are you afraid you don’t pos-sess the skill set to resolve an issue? Perhaps you can’t control youremotions and/or your temper?

Dr. Phil of the ABC network has a profound saying; “No matter how flatyou make a pancake, it still has two sides.” I leave you with one final com-ment. And this is the answer we’re looking for.

Didn’t our Creator give us the answer to all our problems? The Tongue!1. “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of foolspours forth foolishness.” (Proverbs 15:1)

2. “Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile.Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:13)

3. “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you mayknow how you ought to answer each one.” (Colossians 4:5)

Hurting people, hurt people…Isn’t it time to put down the sword and pickup the needs of a child?

GONE(Continued From Page 6)


“It’s A Family Thing”By: Captain Tommy Helms III

Greetings from the Drum and BugleFamily!

We would like to wish everyone aHappy New Year, our unit started2011 with Ladies/Night, and Installa-tion of Officers, at the MetrolinaShrine Club; there was a very largecrowd in attendance, and many thanksto our distinguished guest for theirparticipation. Noble Todd Ham, PastCaptain & Oriental Guide performedthe installation. Other special guestsin attendance were Illus. Sir JohnSullivan and his lady Judy, our FirstCeremonial Master Johnny King, andhis Lady Theresa, Outer Guard Shea

Fadel and his Lady Sandra, PastPotentate’s Gary Taylor and LadyBecky, and also Mike Downs and hisLady Beth.

I would also like to introduce our of-ficers for 2011,

• Captain Tommy Helms & LadyKelly

• 1st Lieutenant Dale Morton & LadyTerri

• 2nd Lieutenant Rick Griffin & LadyTrisha

• Secretary Brian Wilson & LadyMichelle

• Treasure Graylyn Faulkenberry &Lady Jill.

As well, we recently had ourValentine’s Dinner at the MetrolinaShrine Club, and as always their teamof cooks served a wonderful meal! Ifyou have not experienced their Fridaynight Steak Dinner, you have missed anexceptional meal, at a great price, andlot’s of wonderful fellowship.

We have a hectic schedule aheadof us this year, and are very excitedabout one of our new projects for2011, this will be a Hospital FundRaiser; consisting of a Car/TruckShow in downtown Mt. Holly, April16th. Top 30, Best of Car and Bestof Truck receive a 7x9 Plaque. The

Best of Best will receive a Trophy.The first 125 participants may pre-register for $15.00. We are currentlysoliciting Company Sponsors. For$125.00 your company will be advert-ized on our tee shirts and receive a7x9 sponsor plaque. If a sponsor hasa show vehicle the registration fee iswaived. We will have many otherevents on site including kid games.Please look for our flyer/registrationform in this months Desert Dust.

We look forward to seeing you theresupporting the Greenville SC Hospital.So long for now and remember…Drum & Bugle It’s a Family Thing!


Heart 2 HeartAs long as I can remember, the

warnings for a heart attack alwaysmentioned numbness radiating downone’s arm and chest pain. Unfortu-nately over 80,000 Americans willdie this year from what we gener-ally refer to as a heart attack, andthe only warning sign they recog-nize is the fact that their life isquickly leaving their bodies. And thatfriends, is way too late!

So what do you do? First of all,check your family history. If oneor more of your grand-parents orparents suffered heart disease,you are at risk. If you smoke, yourodds go up exponentially. And Iknow, we all know someone’sgrandpa that smoked unfilteredCamels and lived to the ripe oldage of 100. Don’t bet that you willrepeat that feat!

See your doctor and get a gen-eral checkup. Know your choles-terol numbers and your restingblood pressure.

Now I am not a doctor, and es-pecially not a cardiologist, but Ihave experience that my cardiolo-gist doesn’t have...I have beenthere. July 23, 2001 massivecoronary. 7 days in cardiac inten-sive care. Feb. 2003, another heartproblem & quadruple bypass sur-gery. January 2004 congestiveheart failure. Two rounds of car-diac rehab at Forsyth Hospital.April, 2008 blood clot in one ofmy heart’s chambers.

So here is what I know. First, inmy rehab classes nearly every per-son there had a different story. Myheart attack began with what feltlike the flu. It rapidly became asharp pain between my shoulderblades, maybe a knife in the back.And thirdly the feeling of an el-ephant on my chest was my big-gest concern.

The majority of my rehab class-mates had severe jaw pain, othershad the same knife in the back.

Only a couple had the arm pain.Indigestion is often an onset.

Unfortunately real men don’t dial911 just for a little indigestion. Butif you tend to eat antacid tablets af-ter exerting yourself (like walkingup the stairs), THEN YOU HAVE APOTENTIAL PROBLEM!!!

So what to do? First call 911.Do not try to drive yourself, anddo not ask your spouse to driveyou. Your local firefighters, res-cue squads and some law enforce-ment officers have oxygen andmost importantly a safe means oftransport. They will phone yourvitals to the ER so when you ar-rive you get really fast attention.

After you make the call, dissolvean aspirin under your tongue.

Oh, and pray really hard...More next month.



Desert Dust ~ March, 2011 -Page 15

It was a cold, windy night in uptownCharlotte on December 9th, 2010. Iremember that night well. My class-mates and I had finished our jail schoolclasses and were being sworn in as newOfficers with the Mecklenburg CountySheriff’s office. The months of hardwork had led to this exciting evening.Little did I know that my wonderfulwife had cooked up a surprise for me.We had just finished practicing forgraduation in the First Baptist sanctu-ary when we broke for refreshments.As I walked to the front of the Churchto see if my Bride and the rest of myfamily were there, I saw a familiar facein the hallway. It was one of my Key-stone Kop Brothers in full parade dress.Yes, I said it right! He was in bluepants, long coat, bell hat and whitegloves. Wow, I was thinking, this is coolfor one of my Shrine brothers to showup and support me! Little did I knowthat a few moments later around thecorner walked another one, and thenanother and yes more! There stood fivekops in full dress blues and oneS.W.A.T. member. What a tremendousfeeling to have these men take timeaway from their families to share in thisimportant event in my life.

I think this is what being a Masonand a Shriner is all about…“Makinggood men better!” They sure showedme that our Brotherhood is somethingspecial! I will never forget that specialnight with the Kops and my family sup-porting me.

This past summer the Keystone Kops

were invited to assist with the fun at alocal car show. The event was a niceevent with lots of local cars and greatpeople. East Coast Cruisers Inc. put theshow on and invited us to be a part. Ofcourse most of the Keystone Kops havea great love for classic cars and thatmade it even more fun. In January wewere asked to come to an East CoastCruisers officers meeting.

If you know anything about the Key-stone Kops, anytime we can get to-gether, dress in our parade gear and cutup…we are all for it! So we go to themeeting and the fine men and womenof the East Coast Cruisers, blessed theKeystone Kops with a $1,500.00 checkto go to The Shriners Hospital for Chil-dren! We just wanted to thank them andlet all the Nobles know what greatpeople these folks are.

Graduation Surprise!

Page 18 - Desert Dust ~ March, 2011, 2011

Created: Died:15066 Robert R. Mendenhall,Jr. Archdale, NC 05/25/1957 01/19/201016735 Charles N. Hill, Sr. Cornelius, NC 01/27/1962 05/21/201018023 George H. Groff Sallisbury, NC 06/28/1947 09/11/201024474 Harry L. White Hamlet, NC 10/27/1973 12/24/201020221 Zebulon Morris, Jr. Charlotte, NC 09/14/1968 12/26/201028562 Stacy A. Byrd Charlotte, NC 05/19/1979 12/28/201023253 J.N. Thackston, Sr. Morganton, NC 05/20/1972 12/30/201021710 Lewis D. Ruland Burlington, NC 09/19/1970 12/31/201022985 Marvin L. Richardson Greensboro, NC 01/29/1972 12/31/201039473 James M. Ballard Cleveland, NC 03/15/2008 01/02/201114985 Harry M. Turbyfill Charlotte, NC 01/17/1957 01/02/201115062 Clarence M. McGill Greensboro, NC 05/25/1957 01/02/201137359 Lawrence R. Bruce Rockwell, NC 11/07/1998 01/04/201119607 Ernest A. Whitley Albemarle, NC 09/16/1967 01/05/201138054 Walter A. McKenzie Jackson Springs, NC 11/03/2001 01/07/201130898 Evans H. Carroll Kings Mtn., NC 11/06/1982 01/07/201137011 Harrison C. Warren Asheville, NC 06/07/1997 01/07/201126708 Roy T. Gantt Charlotte, NC 09/11/1976 01/09/201120526 Robert L. Medlin Charlotte, NC 01/25/1962 01/10/201115058 Artie C. Lowder Albemarle, NC 05/25/1957 01/11/201132364 Lionel B. Garrison Columbus, NC 05/16/1981 01/13/201117014 Boyd B. Hunnicutt Spencer, NC 10/20/1962 01/14/201118779 Dan W. Martin Charlotte, NC 01/22/1966 01/14/201119124 Clarence H. Ladd Belmont, NC 10/15/1966 01/17/201122769 William L. Rainey Lenoir, NC 10/23/1971 01/19/201135721 Richard K. Rumble Conover, NC 02/05/1983 01/20/201137097 Michael J. Ritchie China Grove, NC 11/07/1997 01/21/201130786 Leonard B. McCorkle Charlotte, NC 11/06/1982 01/21/201132014 Karl E. Katner Arden, NC 11/03/1984 01/25/201134162 Thomas A. Heagy Burlington, NC 04/01/1989 01/26/201118312 William N. Setzer Catawba, NC 05/08/1965 01/28/2011

PASSED WITHIN THEUNSEEN TEMPLE

RUN FOREST…RUNBON CaCa ONFIRE !!!

It is time to start planning for the an-nual Fire on the Water down at LakeWylie.

That’s right, all y’all wanna-be cooksneed to start cleaning your grills andpulling out the secret recipes ‘causeFamily Fun Day is coming June 3 -4.

Organizers Todd Ham and SheaFadel lost the 3rd member of their groupwhen I became Potentate, but they haveadded Johnny Burgess who will capa-bly fulfill the job.

Cooks have already begun to reservecamping spaces, and as in every year

before, the camping area will bepacked.

Family Fun Day at Red Fez ShrineClub has become the single largest gath-ering we have at Oasis. In 2009 we fedover 650 attendees. And it’s FREE!

So put June 3, 4 & 5 on your calen-dar. And if you think you can stand theheat, plan to come into our kitchen!

Email [email protected] tosign up to cook or camp.

And plan to have Fun!John Sullivan, Team Bon CaCa2010 Grand Champions(Oh, and Potentate)



Jackie Williams ............................................................................................. Arville G DellingerBlaise Shiver .......................................................................................................... Anna BrooksMr & Mrs Arthur L Stikeleather ..............................................................Aubrey StikeleatherMr & Mrs Harold Smith ............................................................................Aubrey StikeleatherMr & Mrs Jim Alexander...........................................................................Aubrey StikeleatherMr & mrs Lindsay Stikeleataher ..............................................................Aubrey StikeleatherJohn & Catherine Dawson ........................................................................ Barry Keith CowanJ Ralph Linn Jr MD ..................................................................................... Barry Keith CowanGeirge & Betsy Wilcox............................................................................... Barry Keith CowanJane B May .................................................................................................. Barry Keith CowanBuck & Dottie Kirk .................................................................................... Barry Keith CowanCohen & Anita Elgin .................................................................................. Barry Keith CowanHoward & Shirley Keyes ........................................................................... Barry Keith CowanBob & Doris Burroughs ...................................................................................... Bert A Guthrie

Howard & Shirley Keyes .................................................................................... Bert A GuthrieAlan & Janet Madsen ......................................................................................... Bert A GuthrieRoyal Order of Jesters .............................................................................................Bert GuthrieDr & Mrs Robert Duke ............................................................................................Bert GuthrieJames & Margaret Neill ...........................................................................................Bert GuthrieOasis Shriners Golf Club .........................................................................................Bert GuthrieCalvin & Rebecca Gaddy ........................................................................................Bert GuthrieSticky & Mary Burch ..............................................................................................Bert GuthrieRalph & Jessie Wallin .......................................................................................... Bill ChadwickJohn & Margaret Stewart .........................................................................................Bill SesslerOasis Patrol ............................................................................................................... Bob MedlinBob & Rebecca Saye ............................................................................................... Bob MedlinLloyd & Cathy Golding ................................................................................... C. Wayne JarrellPaul & Berdella Alber ..........................................................................................Cecil L Brewer

DONOR IN MEMORY OF DONOR IN MEMORY OF

MEMORIALS TO THE HOSPITAL


Richard & Willie Mae Tatham ............................................................... Charles “Rick” StylesPeggy Lippard ..........................................................................................Charles D Lippard Sr.Winfield & Judy Beroth ...................................................................................... Charlie ShireyAlan & Janet Madsen ......................................................................................... Charlie ShireyHarvey Burgess ................................................................................................... Charlie ShireyJack & Linda Wallace .......................................................................................... Charlie ShireyMary Smith O’Daniel........................................................................................... Charlie ShireyRP Stephen Davis ................................................................................................. Chris CombisSticky & Mary Burch .................................................................................. Clarence M McGillSam & Patsy Eudy ............................................................................................. Craven LowderBoozefighters Club ........................................................................................ David O. HarmonColleen Vetere and Tyke Barham ................................................................. David O. HarmonDavid and Diane Harrington ........................................................................ David O. HarmonEd and Pam Thomas ...................................................................................... David O. HarmonJoann Setzer Clark .......................................................................................... David O. HarmonKen and Mary Nelms .................................................................................... David O. HarmonLaurice M. Smyrl ............................................................................................ David O. HarmonMitch and Susan Elliott ................................................................................ David O. HarmonPiedmont Shag Association ......................................................................... David O. HarmonSalisbury Shag Association ......................................................................... David O. HarmonStan and Lynn Frick....................................................................................... David O. HarmonTammy A. Ross & Associates, Inc. ............................................................. David O. HarmonHomer & Doris Newton ................................................................................ David O. HarmonW.B. and Margaret Everhart ........................................................................ David O. HarmonGlen & Betsy Slaughter ........................................................................Donald Franklin SmithEileen Huff ..............................................................................................Donald Franklin SmithJoe & Marcie Burden ............................................................................Donald Franklin SmithBerry Myers ............................................................................................Donald Franklin SmithJames & Norma Stewart ........................................................................Donald Franklin SmithShelton & Elizabeth Barefoot ...............................................................Donald Franklin SmithNate & Doris Crawford .........................................................................Donald Franklin SmithJames & Janet Ramsey ..........................................................................Donald Franklin SmithCarolyn Summerfield .............................................................................Donald Franklin SmithDouglas Orr & Yvonne Jtwros .............................................................Donald Franklin SmithEugene & Jean Livengood ...................................................................Donald Franklin SmithEunice Robbins ......................................................................................Donald Franklin SmithGeorge & Martha Brawley ....................................................................Donald Franklin SmithHarold & Julia Deal................................................................................Donald Franklin SmithHigh Meadows Chapel .........................................................................Donald Franklin SmithLarry & Celia Putnam ............................................................................Donald Franklin SmithMartin & Chris Oehler...........................................................................Donald Franklin SmithNell Davis ................................................................................................Donald Franklin SmithOasis Keystone Kops ...........................................................................Donald Franklin SmithPaul Teeter ..............................................................................................Donald Franklin SmithRichard & Patrica Hudson ....................................................................Donald Franklin SmithWeb-Don Inc ..........................................................................................Donald Franklin SmithWebster & Betsy Collett .......................................................................Donald Franklin SmithFloyd Burton .....................................................................................................Dorothy BurtonFloyd Burton ............................................................................................................. Dot BurtonNed & Linda Cline ........................................................................................Edward Max KellySam & Patsy Eudy ............................................................................................. Ernest WhitleyHarvey Burgess ......................................................................................... F.R. “Bob” BurgessGeorge & Dianne Combis ...................................................................................... Geri AdcockWinfield & Judy Beroth ...................................................................................... Harriett WolfeAlan & Janet Madsen .......................................................... Harry M iller “Buddy” TurbyfillOasis Patrol ............................................................................ Harry M iller “Buddy” TurbyfillJesse & Denise Hegler ......................................................... Harry M iller “Buddy” TurbyfillGeorge Mc Donald .............................................................. Harry M iller “Buddy” TurbyfillRoyal Order of Jesters .......................................................... Harry M iller “Buddy” TurbyfillBob & Rebecca Saye ............................................................ Harry M iller “Buddy” TurbyfillJack & Nancy Walters .......................................................... Harry M iller “Buddy” TurbyfillRichard & Patricia Valentine ................................................ Harry M iller “Buddy” TurbyfillSteven & Nancy Smiley ....................................................... Harry M iller “Buddy” Turbyfill

DONOR IN MEMORY OF DONOR IN MEMORY OF

MEMORIALS TO THE HOSPITALHoward & Shirley Keyes ..................................................... Harry M iller “Buddy” TurbyfillBradford & Carol Nims ......................................................... Harry M iller “Buddy” TurbyfillGaston County Noble-etts ........................................................................... Helen ThompsonTeocalli #99 .......................................................................................................... James A StoneOasis Hillbilly Parade Unit ................................................................ Jeryy & Francis WattersRoyal Order of Jesters ................................................................................................. John LoyLane & Saundra Tucker ....................................................................... John Thomas KelleherRowan Shrine Club .................................................................................................. Larry BruceTerry Brown ............................................................................................... Larry Wayne BrownWinston Salem Shrine Club ..................................................................... Larry Wayne BrownCcharles & Eleanor Lombardo ....................................................................... Leonard M DahlSally A Walters ................................................................................................. Leonard M DahlStephen & Carol Messer ................................................................................ Leonard M DahlHarvey Burgess ................................................................................................... Leslie NielsenHarvey Burgess .................................................................................................. Lewis M. SayeStanly County Shrine Club ...............................................................................Louise WhitleySticky & Mary Burch .....................................................................Marvin Lionel RichardsonWeldon & Shirley Wallace ............................................................Marvin Lionel RichardsonWinfield & Judy Beroth ...................................................................................... Melvin FosterAlan & Janet Madsen ........................................................................................ Robert MedlinBuck & Dottie Kirk ......................................................................... Thomas William JohnsonDoris Burtis ....................................................................................... Thomas William JohnsonBetty G Tremelling ........................................................................... Thomas William JohnsonMildred Johnson .............................................................................. Thomas William JohnsonRoyal Order of Jesters .........................................................................................Wayne HooksAlan & Janet Madsen ..................................................................................Wayne W. Hooks


DONOR IN MEMORY OF

Harvey Burgess ............................................................................................Wayne W. HooksMargaret Stewart ..........................................................................................Wayne W. HooksMr & Mrs John Miller Jr ..............................................................................Wayne W. HooksGeorge & Jeanie Fisher ..............................................................................William A lbert HerrOasis Shriners Golf Club ............................................................................William A lbert HerrSam & Patsy Eudy ...................................................................................... William Albert HerrBuck & Dottie Kirk .................................................................................... William Albert HerrDennis & Cheryl Moretz............................................................................ William Albert HerrErnest & Peri Moretz .................................................................................. William Albert HerrForest & Lalla Sidbury ............................................................................... William Albert HerrHarvey Burgess .......................................................................................... William Albert HerrDenver United Methodist Church ........................................................... William Albert HerrRalph & Geraldinge Bartman ..................................................................... William Albert HerrThe R J Jenkins Family ............................................................................... William Albert HerrLouise Barnett .................................................................................................... William BarnettDeforess Manness ....................................................................................William H ChadwickSam & Patsy Eudy ......................................................................................... William L StewartWinfield & Judy Beroth ................................................................................ William L StewartDickie & Joyce Valentine .............................................................................. William L StewartEunice Robbins .............................................................................................. William L StewartBuddy & Patricia Stephenson ..................................................................... William L Stewart

DONOR IN HONOR OF

Donese Guthrie .....................................................................................................Angie WallenDonese Guthrie ..................................................................................... Anita Creekmore, PHDDonese Guthrie ............................................................................................. Audio Visual UnitTed Shriver........................................................................................... Becky & Warren ShiverJack & Karen Ledford ................................................................................ Bill & Anna HowellStout Family Foundation ................................................................................... Carol JohnsonEleanor Ray ....................................................................................................... Cathy ClodfelterCharles Witherspoon Jr. .................................................................... Charles Witherspoon Sr.Ted Shriver..................................................................................................Charlie & Jill TiptonDonese Guthrie ............................................................................................. Claudie StricklandS & R Dental Laboratories ..........................................................................De. Dean SimmonsHarvey Burgess .....................................................................................................Doug MayesS & R Dental Laboratories .............................................................................. Dr. David ClontzS & R Dental Laboratories .................................................................... Dr. Elizabeth DamesekS & R Dental Laboratories .............................................................................Dr. Gerald TurnerS & R Dental Laboratories .............................................................................Dr. James WilsonS & R Dental Laboratories .............................................................................Dr. Jerome DurenS & R Dental Laboratories ..................................................................................... Dr. John FoxS & R Dental Laboratories .............................................................................. Dr. John WorrellS & R Dental Laboratories ....................................................................... Dr. Joshua DamesekS & R Dental Laboratories ................................................................................... Dr. Keith KyeS & R Dental Laboratories .................................................................................Dr. Mark FarrisS & R Dental Laboratories ............................................................................ Dr. Neal SpanglerS & R Dental Laboratories ..................................................................................... Dr. Noel FoxS & R Dental Laboratories .................................................................... Dr. Randall NeighborsS & R Dental Laboratories ........................................................................... Dr. Ray JokubaitisS & R Dental Laboratories ................................................................................Dr. Rick MathisS & R Dental Laboratories ..........................................................................Dr. Steve SudderthS & R Dental Laboratories ............................................................................ Dr. Vader SheltonS & R Dental Laboratories ...................................................................... Dr. William Litaker Jr.S & R Dental Laboratories ........................................................................... Dr. William PlasterS & R Dental Laboratories ............................................................................ Dr. William StrakaS & R Dental Laboratories ...................................................................... Dr. William WeathersS & R Dental Laboratories ........................................................................... Dr. William WeberDonese Guthrie ................................................................................. Gene & Norma MorrisonDonese Guthrie .....................................................................................................H. Mike CookDonese Guthrie ................................................................................................ Harvey BurgessBlaise Shiver .................................................................................... Holly & Shannon LyndonStout Family Foundation .................................................................................. Jackie BransonJudy Riggs ............................................................................................. Joseph & Doris Boyce

DONOR IN HONOR OF

MEMORIALS TO THE HOSPITALMr & Mrs. Thomas Sellers ..................................................... Judge & Mrs Alex MaueaulayJudge & Mrs Alex Macaulay ...................................................... Mr. & Mrs. Thomas SellersS & R Dental Laboratories ...................................................................................... Pat SpencerDonese Guthrie ....................................................................................................Paul WhitfieldDonese Guthrie ......................................................................................Royal Order of JestersBlaise Shiver ............................................................................................................ Teri BeltakisBascon & Jean Hooper .................................................................The Hooper GrandchildrenTim, Meredith & Jacy Grice ................................................................ Thomas Bruce Grice Sr.Donese Guthrie ...................................................................................................... Tripster UnitCarroll Miller .............................................................................................Wayne & Jane MillerDonese Guthrie .................................................................................... Wes & Charlotte Lefler

Alan JarrettBETA Sigma PHIBill & Lois FowlerBof & Mildred KellerCatawba County Shrine ClubCharles CattenoCharles J CarrenoCharles StephensDale & Frances DavisDune CatsGregory BrownGuilford County Fire Rescue CouncilHiillbilly Clan 13James & Donna JarrettJames & Margaret NiellJimmie GoodnightJohn & Mitzi BuddeKarne MontiethKayren BrantleyKevin DennisLauren MontiethLincoln County Shrine ClubLouisa Chapel United Methodist ChurchMary Jane Voeltner

Mary Jane VoeltnerMecklenburg Shrine ClubMoore County Shrine ClubMt Hope Volunteer FiremenMt. Mitchell Shrine ClubNCBTOasis Keystone KopsOasis Shrine PatrolOasis Steel Drum BandOriental Shrine ClubPaul & Maurine YoungPerry N Rudnick EndownmentPiedmont Shag AssociationRed Fez Shrine ClubRichard &Stephanie WoodRitualist CastRobert & Lois DawsonROBERT G SCRUGGSRobert G ScruggsRowan Shrine ClubStanly County Shrine ClubTruman DoggettUnion County Shrine ClubWhite Plains Shrine Club

DONATIONS



The first picture is Sir Wayne Kinginstalling the new officers for 2011.They are as follows: Ralph A. (Tony)Misenheimer - Captain of the ParadeUnit, Mark Aiken - 1st Lieutenant, JackDevine - 2nd Lieutenant, Lee Moody -Treasurer, Gary Patterson - Secretary,David Schronce - Out Going Captain

The second picture is our HillbillyClan #13 honoring Ellis and MarthaJones of Troutman, NC, for all theirhard work, love and devotion they havegiven our Hillbilly Club for many years.They are our Hillbilly Couple for 2010.The plaque was presented by our newCaptain, Ralph A. (Tony) Misenheimer.

The third picture is our Hillbilly Pos-sum Queen for 2011, Mary Jo Cooperof Charlotte, NC. Our outgoing Pos-sum Queen for 2010 is Marie Aiken ofClaremont, NC.

The Oasis Hillbilly Clan #13 held ourfirst meeting for the year and also ourChristmas party on January 20, 2011 atFat Boy’s in Mooresville, NC. TheChristmas party was held late due toinclement weather. Our club now hasa newsletter which will be published bi-

monthly. The club voted on the name,“Hillbilly Holler”, for the newsletter.

Our new Possum Queen, Mary JoCooper, of Charlotte, NC, was crownedour Possum Queen for 2011. Our Pos-sum Queen for 2010 was Marie Aiken,of Claremont, NC.

The club presented a special plaqueto Ellis and Martha Jones for their hard

work, love, and devotion they have givenour Hillbilly Club for many years. Wethank them from the bottom of our hearts.We could not operate without them.

Our club is planning a degree onFebruary 19 at Catawba County ShrineClub (Men’s, Women’s and CarolinaDegrees). We will also be putting on adegree on March 5 at Gaston County

Oasis HillbillyClan #13

Shrine Club (Men’s and Women’s De-grees).

Discussion was had regarding put-ting luminaries in Brookhill MemorialGarden Cemetery, but no decision wasmade at this time. Our club would like to thank Sir WayneKing for installing our new officers for2011, and spending the evening with us.

By Lady Judy ValentineWe would like to formally welcome

eight new members who joined theOasis Camping Club on January 12,2011. In attendance with us that eveningfor the Installation of Officers at theRiverview Inn were new members;

• Noble David and Lady GlendaMorrison

• Noble Rupert and Lady Ann Little• Noble David and Lady Judy Bow-

manOthers received into membership that

evening are;

• Noble Allen and Lady DorisLeatherman

• Noble David and Lady CarolynCrawley

• Noble David and Lady GailBumgarner

• Noble Larry and Lady BrendaHuffman

• Noble Kenneth and Lady VickieJarrett

We are so glad to have all of themjoin us and look forward to sharing infriendship, fun, and fellowship. WEL-COME!!!!

Other guests welcomed that eveningincluded the Queen of the Daughtersof the Nile, Kathy Southworth, who isalso a member of the OCC along withher husband Noble Paul Southworth;Abigail and Savannah Phillips, daugh-ters of member Noble Stanley Phillips;Andy and Glenda Thompson, guests ofmembers Noble Irwen and Lady CarlaBurns; Joan and Dickie Love, guestsof members Noble Bill and Lady

Brenda Poteat; and member NobleDoug Teague’s mother.

By now, all of you OCC membersare probably ready to pull those camp-ing rigs out of mothballs, give them agood cleaning, and head for a greatcampout!!! The winter months justaren’t good for much traveling with yourcamping unit of choice, be it a pull-be-hind or motorhome. The weather ele-ments are sometimes not very kind. So,get ready for the first campout of 2011for the Oasis Camping Club. We areheaded for Bald Head Mountain Camp-ing Resort in Hiawassee, GA, April 7-9, 2011 (near Helen, GA). This is go-ing to be a really fun trip! Don’t missit!! Break out of the winter doldrumswith OCC!!

As always, if you are a Shriner anda camper, the OCC would love to haveyou join us!! Contact Noble Ron Val-entine, President, for information.(704-528-6206 or [email protected])


NEWS FROM THE CABIRIBy: John Elder,President Cabiri

Just a short note this month from ourCabiri (Past Potentates) club. For thepast five years a group of OasisShriners have had a really nice week-end trip to the Imperial East / West AllStar game.

The College Senior game was heldin Houston in 2007 and 2008, movingto The Citrus Bowl in Orlando in 2009and 2010. In our earlier years mostof us had our wives to keep us in line,but this year their numbers droppedto only two. Now, just for the record,this is not really a Cabiri trip. But ifyou notice the picture, this year itbecame one.

Also with us but not pictured wasNoble C. Lee Abernethy (Potentates

Co-Chief Aide 2010). C. Lee was busytaking the picture. The Ladies wereBeth Downs, Maria Sc hosler (theDown’s exchange student from Den-mark) and Janet Abernethy. We planto make another run in January 2012.It’s really a fun trip. Why not join us?

(L to R) Ill. Sirs: Billy Farris (‘06), Gary Taylor (’07), Imp. Sir Al Madsen (2000), John Elder (’08), and Mike “no Fez” Downs (’09). Standingfirst from the right is Noble Dan Swanson (District Six Potentates Aide 2008-9-10).

As we were first Masons, thenShriners, sometimes our roots in Ma-sonry need to be renewed. On Satur-day, April 16 the #1 Mason in NorthCarolina will be honored by OasisShriners at the Winston-Salem ShrineClub on Hampton Road in Clemmons.

On hand for the festivities, begin-ning at 10:00 a.m., will be MW GrandMaster Lewis Ledford, Oasis Poten-tate John Sullivan, the Board of Di-rectors (AKA Divan) and parade unitsplus club members. We are invitingBlue Lodge Masons and (especially)their non-Mason friends to join us.

BBQ by Noble Kevin Bodenheimerwill be served. There is no charge toattend. Come and join us for friendlyconversation and the opportunity tospend time with our Grand Master.

As we were first Masons


Oriental Shrine Club installation of officers for the year 2011By: Noble Larry G. Gregory, Past

PresidentGREENSBORO — The Gala Party

and Installation Ceremonies held on Janu-ary 15, 2011 at the Oriental Shrine Clubin Greensboro, NC was a night to remem-ber. With well over 200 guests in atten-dance; everyone enjoyed a Prime Rib din-ner with all the trimmings and an openbar for those celebrating the occasion.

Those recognized:• Imperial Rabban Sir Alan Madsen

& Lady Jan• Oasis Chief Rabban H. Mike Cook

& Lady Cathy• 1st Ceremonial Master Johnny King• SASA Representative Noble Don

Ray• District 6 Representative/Outgoing

Pres. Noble Larry G. Gregory & LadyEvelyn

• Incoming President Noble DanSwanson & Lady Nancy

Imperial Sir Al Madsen, with the aidof Chief Rabban H. Mike Cook, installedthe new officers in a very moving cer-

emony.Past President Noble Gregory rec-

ognizes the difficulty one encounterswhile being in charge of a club and with-out the help of some extraordinarypeople it’s almost impossible. One Ladyand the following Nobles were recog-nized and presented awards for out-standing service in 2010:

• Richard Roberts• Dan Swanson………Received the

Presidents Pin• Carson Dawson• Deforest Maness…Named Shriner

of the Year• Douglas Roberts• Banner Shoe• Lady Sue KellyNoble Gene Walser was presented

with a lifetime membership.Outgoing President Noble Gregory

was presented with a plaque for his hardwork and dedication to the club alongwith an amazing watch & pen set fromincoming President Noble Dan Swansonand Lady Nancy.

While ceremonies can be very simi-lar, this year’s was filled with uniquepoints of interest that will be remem-bered for some time to come due to thededication of those who serve Oasis

either from the Imperial side or our Di-van. Once the ceremony concluded, weall danced to the music of the Legend-ary D. J. “Fast Freddy,” well into thenight…Sleep well.

Documents

March Desert Dust