We all want to welcome our four newly made Shriners who walked the cold sands of the desert in May. Our new Nobles are William Mutney, Matt Dodge, Hunter Cini and Nikolas Raven. Their pictures are posted in this issue of the Bektash News, so if you see them at a Bektash event please introduce yourself to them. I had the opportunity to speak to them, and they (and their ladies) are a lot of fun.
Things are going full tilt here at your Bektash Temple. We have recently changed our internet provider and we now have a fiber optic connection. This system is about 10 times faster than our old provider and is much less expensive. We had to wait for the fiber optics to be installed on Pembroke Road to connect to it. Bektash is probably one of the first in the area to upgrade to this system. We had four technicians, Dan Salo, Dixie and me setting things up. It took up the better part of the day, but it was worth it.
The next big project will be the repaving of our parking lot and driveway. We’ve had a reputable and well recommended company bid on the project. Rather than just paving over the existing lot, this company had agreed to tear it all up, and start from scratch. All this is to be done at the same price as the other companies that bid on paving over the top of the present asphalt. Ill. Lloyd Doughty assisted in contacting this company, and we can’t thank him enough.
Just a reminder that a list of the parades that your unit or club is participating in needs to be communicated to the office for the Potentate’s approval. This requirement is a must because it protects you and Bektash as well as the folks sponsoring the parade.
The sound system in the hall will be looked at this week. As I mentioned before, it tends to cut out in the small hall when needed. I took a Past Potentate’s advice and slapped the side of the amplifier to see if it works. All I got was a static buzz from the speakers and a bruised hand. Not such a good idea after all! Guess I’ll have to leave it to the professionals.
Our thanks to Ill. Sir Rick Perry for mowing the lawn and doing some bark mulch in the front circle of the building. It’s looking good, and the flowers are starting to bloom. We appreciate your efforts Ill. Sir.
Lastly, I had the opportunity to participate in the Grand Lodge of NH’s Installation of Officers as Grand Installing Secretary last weekend. Congratulations to our new Grand Master, MW Dan Hotchkiss. We wish him and his lady April all the best for the next two years. Our Potentate, Ill. Sir Paul Little presented him with his Grand Master’s Fez and we look forward to supporting him during his tenure as Grand Master.
Isn’t it great to be a Shriner?
Tom Brison, PP, Recorder