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Greetings to the Elective Divan, Past
Potentates, and the Nobles of Kosair Shrine.
As
we meet this night at our one hundred and
twenty-third Annual Session of Kosair Shrine
I am filled with humility and respect for
those that have brought Kosair to the great
organization that it is. As I stated in my
last message I am very grateful for you
allowing me to serve as your Potentate for
2010. I hope I have served as your
representative in the manner in which you
expected. I have tried to live up to my
responsibilities and duties with the
integrity and honor that is expected of
someone elected to such a distinguished
leadership role.
Most notably I wanted to instill a sense of
the Masonic tenants. So, we began the year
with my lodge, Swigert-Middletown #218,
opening Lodge in the Temple to start the
year with a re-obligation of the three
degrees. Those obligations guide us with how
to conduct ourselves; how to treat others,
especially brother Masons; to extend and
further define our honor and integrity. It
also teaches us courtesy and charity to
those within and outside our families. We
handed out tokens and there are still quite
a few Nobles that carry them daily. All of
this brought about this year's motto;
Freemasonry First, Remembering Our
Obligations.
Lady Patricia and I are so thankful to the
Nobles and Ladies of Kosair for allowing us
to serve you these past five years. The help
and support we have received from so many
was very encouraging. The year has been a
very satisfying one for both Patricia and
me. We tried to offer a lot of different
activities to appeal to the broad spectrum
of Nobles and their Ladies. Those that
participated indicated they had a great
time. We have much for which to be thankful.
The great friends we have made throughout
Kosair and Shrinedom, the places we have
been and the things we have done, those that
we have helped and those that have helped
us.
The
Elective Divan worked hard to ensure Kosair
prospered and the Nobles of Kosair had their
needs addressed, that there were plenty of
events for their pleasure and entertainment.
To make this possible there was a lot of
work and planning by the Entertainment
Committee, Membership Committee, Finance
Committee, Executive Committee and the Clubs
and Units of Kosair. There was peace and
harmony within the Temple as all worked
toward a common goal.
Allow me to review the major events of the
year:
1.
Installation of 201 0 officers
2. Masonic Lodge opening and re-obligation
of the three degrees of Masonry.
3. Entertainment theme nights
4. Friday night dinners with professional
entertainment.
5. Numerous Unit and Club dances, picnics,
and outings
6. Kosair Greeters - "Mason-Knight Dance"
with the Knights of Columbus.
7. More than thirty-five community parades
including the Kentucky Derby Festival
Pegasus Parade. As well as, parades at the
Imperial Session in Toronto, Canada; SESA in
Greenville, SC; and SA SA in Myrtle Beach,
Sc.; Funfest Parade and Dolly Parton Parade
in Pigeon Forge, TN.
8. A very successful Circus
9. Director's Staff participation in the
Shrine Directors Association annual
convention
10. Temple trip to Branson, MO.
11. Oriental Band Mardi Gras Dance
12. Riasok Shrine Club-Knights of Columbus
"Brotherhood" dance.
13. Masonic Fair and Arch Presentation
14. Kosair Derby Party
15. Funfest in Pigeon Forge
16. Potentates Ball
17. Shrine/Scottish Rite Unity Ceremonial
18. Imperial Session Toronto, Canada
19. Kosair Boat Club Christmas in July
20. Sam Swope Road Rally
21. Temple trip to Nashville, TN
22. SESA Greenville, SC
23. Kosair Charities "Dreams Take Flight"
$20,000,000 Grants night
24. SASA Myrtle Beach, SC
25. Spring and Fall All Mason Golf Outings
26. Lebanon Ceremonial
27. Temple Caribbean Cruise
28. Oriental Band Halloween Party
29. Hillbilly Night
30. Norton flu shot night
31. Kosair Shrine "Celebration of Life"
Roadster Raffle benefiting Kosair Charities
and organ transplants
32. Fall Ceremonial
32. Director's Staff Shockers Ball
33. Children's Christmas Party
34. Election of 2011 officers
35. New Years Eve party
36. Installation of new officers January 14,
2011
Membership
We
began the year with 2,597 members. We had a
total gain for 2010 of 88, but a decrease in
membership of 150. This included 8 demits,
58 suspensions, and 84 deceased. The net
loss for the year was 62.
I
would like to conclude with some
recommendations that I believe will provide
the Temple a better future. First I would
like to recommend a dues increase. There
hasn't been an increase since the mid-80's.
Costs continue to rise and our membership
continues to decline reducing the Temples
income. To better enable Kosair to meets its
financial obligations we should increase
dues and promote increased participation in
fundraising events.
Secondly, I recommend due diligence be done
to investigate the way we currently design
our budget. Typically Kosair bases its
budget on projected income, along with
projected expenses. If the income that is
projected does not come to fruition it
leaves a deficit by the end of the year.
Most Shrines do an actual income and
projected expenses. In other words the Chief
Rabban is the primary fundraiser for the
following year as Potentate. In this
scenario the Potentate knows exactly how
much there is to spend during that year. To
get to this mode, the Shrine must fund the
Potentate for one year. This way of doing
business appears to be most prudent but
needs due diligence and analysis of the
financial impact before implementation.
Thirdly, we wish the next Divan even greater
successes. I challenge all the Nobles of
Kosair to strive each and every year to make
Kosair better than the year before. To
continue to bring in new Nobles that can
share in this wonderful Fraternity.
Potentate's recommendation for Kosair
Charities Board - Jerry Ward |
