Rajah News - October-2018

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MASA FOOTNOTE: STORY OF THE BLENDER BY JOHN GRUMBEIN, DIRECTOR, RAJAH ORIENTAL BAND Many people at the MASA Convention this year noticed a Noble carrying what looked like a beat-up old garbage bag with something inside. That Noble was Dennis Guignet, Sr, newly-elected Sgt. at Arms of the Mid-Atlantic Shrine Oriental Band Association, and the something inside the bag was the notorious M.A.S.O.B.A. Blender. People ask, “Why are you carrying a blender around with you everywhere you go and protecting it with your life?” Here's the story. Back in the 1960s when the whiskey sour became a popular drink, the officers and ladies of the Association often had them in their hospitality rooms. It became a hassle to mix them individually, so someone came up with the idea of purchasing a blender so they could be mixed properly and in quantity. Committed to our Community • Blandon • Boyertown • Fleetwood • Lyons • Kutztown • Shoemakersville • Wyomissing 16 A Real Community Bank Local People. Local Decisions. www.fleetwoodbank.com • 610-944-7666 • Member FDIC L-R John Grumbein, Dennis Guignet holding the bag, and Ted Werkheiser After purchasing a blender, the next problem was how to transport it from one function to another. You must consider that in those days there were at least 15 to 20 functions per year for M.A.S.O.B.A. Many times, they would have their own hotel and hospitality room at conventions. That's big! It was suggested that whoever was at the bottom of the elected line, the Sgt. at Arms, would carry the blender to each function. Sometimes the Sgt. at Arms forgot to bring the blender along. This posed another problem. What can be done so he remembers to bring it along. It was suggested that he would be fined at least $5.00 for not having it with him. Therefore, the rule was made that the Sgt. at Arms would have the blender with him at all times at any M.A.S.O.B.A. event just in case someone wanted a whiskey sour. If he did not have it, it would cost him $5.00. All the fine money was turned over to the Ladder of Smiles for the Shrine Hospitals. Over the years, the blender has been stolen and returned for a ransom of $5.00. Therefore, it is imperative that the Sgt. at Arms not leave the blender out of his sight. Anything that gets done to the blender is considered “defacing” and is subject to a fine. If the bag gets changed, and this one is ready, it’s considered defacing the carrying case and subject to a fine. All of this is in good fun and there are no hard feelings. Nobody ever went broke because he carried the blender. The tradition lives on even though the number of functions has dwindled from 15 to 20 to 3 per year. There you have it. The end result is the kids are the big winners from our fun.
CONCERT BAND Christmas is coming. When you think of Christmas, visions of trumpets and trombones probably dance in your head. But what about tubas? One Christmas tradition in Berks County is literally “booming.” “Holiday Happenings” hosted by our Scottish Rite Masons opens its doors to holiday fun with a kick off Bryan Snyder on Saturday, December 1st featuring the Reading Area TubaChristmas. This is a free public event. TubaChristmas® Coordinator, Bryan Snyder and Heavy Metal Band Conductor, Charles Runkle hope to promote over 100 players this year. It’s a special anniversary celebrating over 25 years of performing TubaChristmas in Reading, PA. Over the past year, there has been over 600 spectators for this Saturday night Christmas Concert at West Reading’s Scottish Rite Cathedral. But there is always something a little off -- a little unusual -- about this show. That's because all the instruments here -- all 100 or so of them -- are tubas and euphoniums. “It's actually really neat. You don't typically get to hear the tuba play the melody line.” This is “A Tuba Christmas,” where anyone with said instrument can get on stage and join in. “It’s open invitation,” says Tuba Christmas coordinator Bryan Snyder. The tuba’s booming baritone typically plays “second fiddle,” so to speak, to the other instruments. “It's a different sound. You're thinking… Well, tubas -- how can they sound for Christmas? But they actually make it so nice and mellow." Tuba players say their beloved instrument doesn't get enough credit for its versatility. “The tuba has a very wide range. Ordinarily we play, ‘Oompah oompah oompah oompah,’ but on Christmas we get to play melodies.” And the growing crowds here seem to agree. In the earlier years, the Reading TubaChristmas was hosted in Berks County's Grings Mill Barn. But the event got too popular and the fire marshal kind of kicked us out because we got too big for the barn. Fans say this new venue is the perfect Christmas present. “It's a lot more open. You don't have to sit so scrunched together.” Tuba Christmas concerts are promoted in over 200 cities nationally. The Harvey Philips Foundation began the 1st Tuba Christmas in Rockefeller Center, New York City in 1974. Running from 5 to 8 p.m. at the cathedral, 310 S.7th Ave, West Reading, the event is free and open to the public. More holiday events will happen Sunday December 2nd and on the following weekend. Holiday Happenings includes large model train displays - in Z, N, HO, O and D gauge models - with lavish scenery, and 8-by-26-foot village made entirely of LEGOS, a fish pond for the kiddies, a display of Hiram’s Scottish Riders Motorcycles, removable tattoos for children, and a live Nativity outside of the main entrance. Santa Claus is also expected to make an appearance. Mark your calendars and bring along your tuba players. Lady Barbara Maxwell RAJAH LADIES GROUP The Rajah Ladies continue to meet at Chef Alan’s in West Reading at 11:30 a.m. on the first Monday of each month. For the fall we are planning several programs: a visit from a representative of the Masonic Villages to discuss support programs for widows on October 1, a program by Lady Barbara about vintage lady’s handwork on November 5, and finally our Christmas luncheon on December 3. If you are the widow of a Shriner and have missed the opportunity to enjoy this group, please contact Judy Yorty, treasurer, at (717) 274-2129 to arrange for your luncheon. Chef Alan’s American Bistro is located at 525 Penn Ave., West Reading, PA 19611. Rajah Ladies meet monthly from March until January each year. Rajah Ladies' Group: If you are the widow of a Shriner and have missed the opportunity to visit with this group, please contact Judy Yorty, treasurer, at (717) 274-2129. Luncheon meetings are held the first Monday of each month from March until January at Chef Alan’s in West Reading. 17
Page 1 and 2: Rajah News Winner of the 2018 Excel
Page 3 and 4: The Potentate’s Message Es Selamu
Page 5 and 6: Rajah Shriners meet Kechi Okwuchi,
Page 7 and 8: - Rajah Shrine 2019 Trip: Colonial
Page 9 and 10: Ill. Sir Greg Lewis, PP RAJAH CHANT
Page 11 and 12: STRING BAND Greetings from your Str
Page 13 and 14: The Awards The Directors Staff’s
Page 15: PARADE MARSHAL’S LINE-UP Parade M
Page 19 and 20: L-R Ill. Sir Jared Kichline, Lady K
Page 21 and 22: 21
Page 23 and 24: Joy Joy Joy It is Time For The 2018
Page 25 and 26: GOING BEYOND THE CALL Frank Snyder
Page 27 and 28: Obituaries ROBERT F. BAUGHMAN, SR.

Rajah News - October-2018

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