Here it is already well into October and I wonder where the time has gone. It is hard to believe that it has been almost 5 years since Mary Rose and I started this journey on the Gizeh Divan and now it is slowly coming to an end.

We recently completed our trip to Spain and Portugal with 15 others joining us in our adventure. A good time was had by all. While in Gibraltar, some found time to get cozy in a telephone booth. I think Noble Harold Wallace and Noble Len Walsh both wanted to be Superman.

The summer was fairly busy for the Divan with a number of parades, Imperial Session in Daytona Beach, Florida and the PNSA in Seattle. It is always great to attend these events as we all get to share ideas and work together building our great Fraternity.

With the Imperial Session a new Imperial Potentate, Imp. Sir. Gary Bergenske was installed and a brand new membership initiative was launched. This initiative has a goal of increasing our Shrine membership in North America by 12,000 new members before the next Imperial Session in July 2018. Your Oriental Guide, Noble Bruce Cowie just attended a Membership Seminar in Tampa and I am certain will have lots of new information to share so that Gizeh can reach its goal of 56 new Nobles by July 2018. If we all work together we can do it.

8 New Nobles and $24,000 for Shriners of BC & Yukon Child Services Society

We are off to a great start as Noble Lew Rossner in mid September initiated 8 new Nobles in Dawson Creek at a fund raiser which raised $24,000 for Shriners of BC & Yukon Child Services Society. For those that attended the Stated Meeting on September 28th witnessed for the first time, the initiation of another new Noble at a Stated Meeting. Since our Stated Meetings are now broadcast via video conferencing, this was another first for Gizeh and Nobles around the province were able to witness the event. A big thank you to Noble Mark Mikulec for another great job.

Looking for Shriner Volunteers for a Great Time!

The rock group Foreigner is coming to BC with 4 dates and the Shrine is looking for volunteers to help sell CDs at the venues. Profits from the CD sales go to charity and in Canada proceeds benefit Shriners Hospital for Children – Canada.

The locations and dates are: Oct. 19th, Dawson Creek, Oct. 20th, Prince George, Oct 21st, Penticton and Oct. 22, Abbotsford. All volunteers are welcome to stay and enjoy the main headliner act after selling the CDs. Some of you will remember the great time you had last year with the Bryan Adams and The Who concerts.

If you are available and would like to participate, please contact Norm Atha via email: natha@shaw.ca

Elections December 5th!

At the September 28th Stated Meeting, I sadly read a letter from our High Priest & Prophet, Noble Wally Lee that he was resigning from the Divan and unable to move forward due to Lady Josie having been diagnosed with Stage 4 abdominal cancer. Although we are disappointed to see Noble Wally depart, we fully understand and support that he needs to help and support Lady Josie through this difficult time. Please keep Noble Wally and Lady Josie in your hearts and prayers.

With the resignation of Noble Wally, this will leave 2 positions on the Divan open, Oriental Guide and High Priest & Prophet. To date we have had one Noble indicate that he will be vying for one of the positions but we need qualified Nobles that want to serve the Nobility to come forward for the December 5th elections.

It is extremely important that a Noble understands the positions, the time and commitment necessary to be on the Divan. At the beginning of the year, I formed a “Leadership Search Committee” to review with any prospective candidates the duties and necessary qualifications to fulfill such a commitment. I hope that if you are considering a position that you will discuss your qualifications with the “Leadership Search Committee”

If you are considering one of these positions, or wish to challenge any of the other positions, please contact me (867-334-8299 or potentate@bcshriners.com) at your earliest so that I inform the committee.

In closing, Mary Rose and I would like to thank you for all that you do to support the Shrine and the Shriners Hospitals for Children. You truly make a difference.

Fraternally yours

Ill. Sir Joe Trerice, Potentate
Gizeh Shriners of BC & Yukon.