May, 2009 - Mocha Shriners

Potentate’s Report
cont’d
combined Board of Directors (Iowa and Colorado
Corporations) will recommend at the Imperial
Council Session in San Antonio that we should close
up to Seven (7) Shrine Hospitals for Children. The
future of the Shriners Hospital for Children will be in
the hands of the voting delegates, who will have to
vote in a 2/3rds majority to pass the motion. As our
current operating budget for the Hospitals is nearing
the One (1) Billion dollar mark for 2010, we will
need to restructure our current level of service,
because if we do not, in Ten (10) years we possibly
may not have any Hospitals! The endowment fund
went from eight (8) Billion dollars to five (5) Billion
dollars almost over night, at no fault of the Hospital
Board of Directors, but due to market failures. The
Imperial Divan has put out directives that all Shrine
Centres will examine their financial situations and
find ways to cut spending. On this note, Mocha's
Board of Directors will be studying the expenses
incurred by Mocha Shriners, and will make the
necessary recommendations at a stated meeting in
the near future..
We are losing many members to the black camel.
Due to economic pressures, many of our Nobles are
finding themselves in the position of being unable to
meet their Shrine financial obligation, i.e. DUES and
find themselves in the arrears. Imperial bylaws state
that anyone two years behind in dues will either be
suspended or the Temple must remit their dues. This
doesn't mean we don't understand our Nobles'
position, they are always welcome to go through the
Restoration process in the future and become active
again when their situation improves, or their Shrine
Club or Unit might like to step in to help save a
valued member. Membership is the responsibility of
all of us. Membership growth is the future of Mocha
Shriners which allows us to continue to do what we
do best as Shriners, helping Kids who are in our care.
It's time to visit our Blue Lodges and talk up the
Shrine. Nobles, I am asking for your help this year.
One way to let your Lodge know about Shrinedom
and Mocha is to pick up a handful of application and
put them out for your Lodge Brothers to read.
Lady Barb and I have a full calendar for 2009. We
want to be involved in as many activities as possible
and to meet as many of the Nobles and their ladies of
Mocha as is humanly possible. Unfortunately we will
not be able to be every where as much as we like, so
why not come to the Mocha Shrine Centre to see us
if we are not able to come to you? We must never
forget our main mission as to why we all became
Shriners, and that is the work we do for our children
in our Shrine Hospitals. I look forward to the day that
no child is in need of our help, but until that day
comes we must do all we can for them. Let me again
thank you for allowing me to be your Potentate. By
working together we can always keep Mocha a
healthy temple. Let Mocha Shine in 2009
Yours in the Faith,
Kevin M. Wilson, Potentate
Dennis
COOK
editor
Nobles please let me first take the opportunity to thank all
those who responded to my request in last issue for
information on the clock, I had received. Your response was
great and showed me that some people are reading the
Mocha News.
In short those clocks were made in Paris On, by a
company called Oval Frameworks, which was owned by
Noble Earl Hotchins. The company still exists under a new
owner. These clocks were the idea of Past Potentate Owen
Coles, in around 2002-03. There were about 1,000 of them
made and they were distributed to Temples, Clubs, and Units,
and could have any name on then Rameses, Mocha, etc.
This time I am featuring a door handle that I would like the
history of.
From the first day I became editor I have turned to some
Past Pote's for advice, one of the ones I relied on most
frequently was Dave Sloman, and I was about to call him
when the email came to tell of his passing, and my
admiration for him will continue well into the future, and he
will be surely missed.
Also I noticed that I had not received a
article from Our Writer in Residence, Noble
Art Racey, I was about to call him when I
received an email of his passing, and he too
will be missed by me, Art submitted great
and likeable stories, for the News and we
should all be grateful to him.
Thanks and happy reading Dennis
Noble this Shrine Door handle was purchased at
a flea market, and is now in possession of Noble
John Danbrook of Tillsonburg Shrine Club, and I
once again would appreciate any information
from whence it came.
MOCHA NEWS May 2009 Page 3