Nobles and Ladies:

I can't believe it is the end of April. Where did the time go?
Pat & I have been so busy with all our events we really didn't notice the time going by.

We started off March, with an Official Visitation to the South West Side Shrine Club, where not only did we have a great time, but the SWSSC celebrated my Lady Pat's and my Captain of the Guard Mike's
birthdays as well. (Pat is much, much, much, much younger than Mike) Thanks to the club for their donation to Pat's Cleft Lip & Palate project at Shriners Hospital for Children. As always it was a great event.

Next, we were on to the O.V. where they serve you ½ a cow. The Hospitality Dixieland O.V. serves you a piece of Prime Rib so large it would feed a third world country for a week. Now I have been known to finish off a good deal of food, but even I could not finish my portion of Prime Rib. Not to worry, they had Doggie Bags,but I sincerely doubt if any doggie was allowed to get near that Prime Rib. That was a Jerry Bag, and the next day it was just as
good as at the event. Our thanks to the Hospitality Committee for really living up to their name, and I know Joe Brady would be proud.

The Potentate's Ball at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare Hotel was attended by 389 people and they had the time of their life. We tried to bring back the "Old Days", and I think we did a pretty good job of it. The food was excellent (hot and the steak was rare), and the sweet table was unbelievable. Three levels of sweets and so many desserts to try, one trip to the table didn't do it! (at least not for me). The service was very good and fast and the serving crew was everywhere at the same time. The Band was fantastic. They not only played they also
entertained. They did all kinds of crazy stuff and had everybody up and dancing all night long. It got to a point where Pat was tootired to dance (that is a first). Around midnight we started to visit the Hospitality Suites. We visited the Patrol and the Motor Corps, and then went up to Medinah's suite. The place was packed and all were eating and drinking like tomorrow was not coming. I think many a diet bit the dust at that party. Our thanks to all who attended and
supported our efforts. We had a ball... but then again, a ball was what it was called!

I have always said we have a lot of clowns around Medinah.Well we sure did in early April. John Joseph (aka Jay Jay) was elected President of the Great Lakes Shrine Clown Unit Association. Everywhere you turned there was a clown. I was so confused I thought about wearing a red nose. (I didn't want to make the real Clowns jealous so I didn't wear one) I welcomed them all to Medinah and they had a great weekend with their competitions and seminars and things. The Clown wives are as involved as are the men. It was great to see
everyone so intent on the project at hand. Regarding competition, I know our Clowns won some 1st Place awards but unfortunately I don't have a list. Congratulations anyway!!!

Three years ago I had an idea that it would be nice if I could convince the Imperial Potentate to come to Medinah for a ceremonial. It had been a number of years since an Imperial was at a Medinah Ceremonial. Last August I invited the Imperial Potentate Jack H. Jones to come to Medinah. I exerted a little pressure, called in some favors from friends in Tampa and others involved with Shrinedom to see if they could get the Imperial Sir to come to Medinah. Low and behold it worked. I then ran into the Grand Master, Most Worshipful Richard L. Swaney and asked him to come also. Again after some convincing the Grand Master said he could come on Friday. That was the beginning of the Reception Dinner, Ceremonial and Hospital visit weekend on April 16, 17 and 18, 2010. Everything went off like clockwork thanks to Jim Stoner, Treasurer P.P., Medinah Office Staff, Scott our Recorder, Cyrille our banquet manager and a ton of other folks who worked tirelessly to get everything done in time. We had just under 400 people at the reception dinner. (Thanks for the support from the Scottish & York Rites, the Grand Lodge and especially our Nobles) We presented to our Imperial Potentate his collar of the Honorary Grand Master of DeMolay.(thanks to Greg Klemm)
It was an evening of Unity that had not been seen in years. On Saturday we had our Ceremonial with all the pomp and circumstance fitting the occasion. Lenny Johnson even trained his horse to poop on command and the Imperial Potentate and I witnessed it firsthand.
Our congratulations to Lenny's son for excellent shovel work catching everything and saving the day. We had 56 new Candidates and they were duly and truly impressed. On Sunday we went to the Shriners Hospital for Children for a special tour and program for our Imperial Potentate. After the program he flew home to Tampa and we all flew home for some much needed rest. OUR SINCERE THANKS TO ALL WHO HELPED PAT & ME WITH THIS WEEKEND. It kind of took on a life of its own but we ALL pulled it off and it will go down in history as another first from Mighty Medinah. When we throw a party we throw a PARTY.

Just rereading this message made me tired, so I will stop writing and go take a rest.

Yours in the Faith,

Jerry

Jerry L. Wilson
Potentate
MEDINAH SHRINERS
A.A.O.N.M.S.