Summer 2009 Arabian Newsletter - Arabia Shrine Temple

BRAZOS VALLEY SHRINECLUBBy: Bob EppsIt was a full eveningof camaraderie, food andinformation for nobles and ladiesattending the April 22nd meeting.Club President Ed Staples andLady Kathy were at their bestin greeting the membership andvisitors. And, a meal of good-oldTexas chicken fried steak reallysatisfied hungry appetites.Our monthly program waspresented by Ms. BernieceThompson, President of BrazosValley Professional and BusinessWomen’s Association. A medicalspecialist, Ms. Thompson spokeof the importance of each personmaintaining their own personalemergency medical recordsinformation book. If, in the eventprofessional records were notreadily available, your personalmedical history book could makethe difference in successfultreatment.Club Ambassador ClydeCollins brought greetingsfrom Illustrious Potentate KenAldridge. Ambassador Collinsalso reported on upcomingArabia activities. Brenham’sMaifest Parade, Reliant Center’sClassy Chassis Auto Show,September’s Arabia Club Danceand First Lady Sharyn Aldridge’sHospital Truck Project.Club 2nd Veep John Halereceived an urgent call duringcircus week for hay assistance tofeed the Arabia Circus elephantsat the Fort Bend Fairgrounds.There was some hard mystic haybargaining involved with a localPlantersville nomadic hay traderand farmer. At last report, CircusRoustabout Mike Mantle was onthe lead camel for the hay haulingcaravan and hightailing it backto Rosenberg with 86 bales ofelephant nourishment. The largeherbivorous mammals were fedand were able to continue theircircus show routines withoutdietary shortfall. BIG thanksto Nobles John Hale and MikeMantle for their hay talents.Rumor has it that the headcameleer and camel caravanof consumed hay fodder wasreturning to Plantersville aftercircus to assist in future cropenrichment.BVSC Nobles workeddiligently to send out savory smokesignals throughout Brazos Valleyfor the BBQ Brisket and ChickenFund Raiser held Saturday, May2nd. BBQ cooks went the extramile to ensure meat tendernesswith mouth-watering flavor thatcouldn’t be challenged. Theefforts of cooks, fire stokersand workers were impressive.Spotted using sophisticated BBQtechniques were Nobles MontyYawn, Charlie Yeates, ForestWoods, Jr., Kenner Reinhardt,Eddie Menchaca, Randy Mena,Nick Combs, Daurent Bouchard,Past Pres. Kevin Karli, Secretary/Treasurer Tommy Light, P.P., 2ndVeep John Hale, 1st Veep HankSalzmann, President Ed Staples,7Club Ambassador Clyde Collins,Regional Ambassador Bob Epps,Masonic Bro. Royes Yeates,Lady Susan Karli, Lady KathyStaples, Lady Linda Collins andothers. Thanks to Past PresidentHenry O’Neal for providing coffeeand pastries to the BBQ workersat the customer pick-up location,Brazos Valley Masonic Libraryand Museum in College Station.Special thanks to Secretary/Treasurer Tommy Light, P.P., forhis assistance in securing theuse of the big pit BBQ units atthe Kurten Community Centerlocated next door to Cedar CreekLodge #300. Proceeds from theBBQ will be used to support clubactivities.A number of BVSC Noblesand Ladies joined with BrazosValley Chapter #378, NationalSojourners, to place more than650 American Flags on honoredveteran grave sites, MemorialDay, May 25th, at CollegeStation’s City Cemetery.Come be part of the BrazosValley Shriner camaraderieat the Wednesday, June 24,2009 meeting. Social, dinnerand program get underway at6:30 p.m. at Bryan’s BriarcrestCountry Club. There’s a placesaved for you.