Illustrious
David W. McDonough, Sr.
2010

Potentate's Message - January 2010:

Happy New Year to all Nobles and Ladies. I would like to take this time to thank each Noble for having the confidence in me to elect me to be your Potentate for 2010. As I look back on my journey to be your Potentate I find myself walking in the steps of men who have brought hard work, fellowship and fun to Sphinx Temple and I hope with your commitment and help that I too continue on this road to success. I have always said that there are only two things you need to remember to be a great Shriner; "one" remember that we are here for the children in our hospitals and "two” always remember to have FUN with your fellow brothers.

It will be with your Divan and the entire Nobility that we will be able to successfully fulfill the slogan for Sphinx Temple in 2010, that being “THE MESSAGE WE SEND IN 2010". As I said on Chief Rabban night there are four components to our slogan: Community, Awareness, Fellowship and FUN! It is the words of our Past Potentate 1996, John Hefferman, that will guide us throughout this year: "IF IT AIN'T FUN WE AIN'T GONNA DO IT" We need to bring our Nobles, ladies, families and friends into the Temple to share in what we do, what we believe in and the reason we are all here.

We have many fun and exciting events planned for 2010. As I'm writing this, the responses for the Installation/Dinner on January 9th keep growing and growing. Thank you all for your support on this event. Also, we have the Arabian Shrine Club Unit/Club
Installation Banquet on January 23rd, inclement weather date, January 24th. This event, formally known as Blast Off Weekend, also brings Nobles and Ladies together to share in fellowship and FUN and I hope that you will support their efforts. I urge you to continue to use the website as your directory to updates and calendar reminders of the many events we will be holding

The events planned throughout the year will bring out the Fellowship and Fun but there will also be much work to do to achieve our other components of our slogan Community and Awareness. Our Public Relations and Membership Unit will be hard at work to bring awareness of Shrinedom not only to perspective new Nobles but to our surrounding communities. Our First Lady Heidi announced at Chief Rabban's Night some of her initiatives and I am sure you will hear more about them from her as I continue to work hard to bring back activities that were once a part of our Temple. Bingo, which was a vital part of our income and support, to the building is almost there to bring back in 2010. We continue to need more assistance to bring this to life again and I appeal to all who are able to assist in coming forward.

It is my goal to have four teams of four in place to begin Bingo again so that no one person has to commitment to each Friday four times per month but to one Friday per month. I know that by working together we can bring this back. We also have Friday Lunches that need assistance and I am working on making sure that this long standing tradition continues. The men and woman who ran these events in prior years deserve us doing everything in our powers to make sure that the traditions that they started continue. These traditions should not stop because one is tired or worn out from their many years of service these traditions should continue on in their name as a worthy cause and a great support to our Temple. I urge you to attend the Chief Aide's meeting on January 31st and also to come to me to discuss these and many other traditions that need our continued support.

The pages could go on and on about the needs, desires and fun that will happen in the year 2010 but then what would I write about in the next Booster? So, for now I thank you again for this opportunity to serve you as Potentate of Sphinx Temple for the year 2010 and I look forward to working with you to continue to grow Sphinx Temple.

Yours In The Faith,
David W. McDonough , Sr.
Potentate

Potentate's Message - April 2010:

WOW! I can’t believe it has already been three months since becoming your Potentate!

The year started off with some great events. Sphinx Officers Installation on January 9th had over 100 Nobles, Ladies and guests in attendance for the ceremony, dinner and dancing to the sounds of "After All." I would like to thank all Units and Clubs that supported the Installation.

I send big Kudos to the Arabian Shrine Club for their Unit / Club installation Banquet. Both Heidi and I had a wonderful time. As I stated in my first letter to you, having FUN with your fellow Brothers is one of the key things to being a GREAT Shriner.

In February we had our Mardi Gras night. Let me say that we saw some really wild costumes and there were plenty of beads for all. Our entertainment for the night was Johnny Banker and the Riverboat Ramblers Duo. They offered great songs and a lot of laughs were had. Our St. Patrick’s Day event was one for the books. The corned beef and cabbage was well - received by all and that cabbage casserole was over the top with many requests for the recipe. Kudos to our Chief Aide Bob Bailey and his Lady Nancy and all the staff that helped. Thank you!

I also give a very special thank you to Bruce Fairclough our Webmaster / Photographer who has taken photos for the events we have had thus far and continues to be an important asset to our organization and does an excellent job in keeping us informed and up to date with e-blasts. Great job Bruce!

The Potentates Reception had a record number in attendance at both the luncheon and the ball. The Friday night entertainment, our own group of members from the Sphinx Band, the "Dixie Chips," were GREAT and lots of fun. The Saturday Luncheon was decorated in a Casino Theme with over 130 in attendance and, again, we had fantastic food. Heidi and I want to thank all of you who gave your time and talents to put this wonderful theme together.

Then there was the Saturday night Potentate's Ball. We hope that all enjoyed seeing Elvis and his Lady. We had fun putting on that little skit for all to enjoy and the night was one of elegance and FUN!. Both Heidi and I thank all that attended and shared in this most memorable time for all. A special thank you to Ray Basley and his Lady Kathy Los for all their hard work during this weekend.

Both Heidi and I know the time commitment and detailed work that that goes into doing the ball and it was just fantastic! A very special thank you to our Chief Aid and his Lady, Bob & Nancy Bailey for their extraordinary job during the entire weekend and also to their team of aides and ladies THANK YOU! The teamwork of all made this weekend one to be talked about for years to come and we THANK YOU.

Other events that are coming up: Italian night on April 17th, then it’s time to put your glad rags on and join some fun as we have Rock Around the Clock "50's" Night onMay 15th. The Imperial Session to Canada is right around the corner scheduled for July 4th-8th. Please remember you will need to have your Passport to go to Canada and RSVP’s must be in no later than April 29th. Then to top these next few months off there will be the Family Picnic to be held on Saturday July 24th at the Shrine Temple.

As you see there are lots of activities in the upcoming months as well as our Parades. I encourage you to support our Units and Clubs as they march proudly for us.

Remember - If It Ain't Fun We Ain't Gonna' Do It! "Ain't it GREAT to be a Shriner".!

Yours In The Faith,
David W. McDonough , Sr.
Potentate