EL ZARIBAH SHRINERS

This year, we have chosen the Phoenix for our bolo design. There are several reasons for this. Sure we are El Zaribah Shriners located in Phoenix, Arizona, but more importantly, the Phoenix is a well-known symbol of transformation and has the ability to rise again. We would like to believe that our lowest numbers of membership are behind us and like a Phoenix, we are beginning to rise again.

Secondly, many of our 2,000 Shrine Children have gone through traumas. Like the Phoenix, they are reborn with renewed purpose. Many of us have witnessed this transformation. The spirit these children have is amazing! We know they will rise up through adversity and soar again.

The Theme for 2014 is Honor, Respect and Inspire.

Honor: This is something I have been taught over time. We must Honor our past, the history, and those who brought us to this point in time. I was always told that if we don’t learn from our past, we would be doomed to repeat it.

Respect: This should be automatic to all of us in the Masonic family. However, we sometimes forget who we are or where we are. We need to remember the Golden Rule and “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Inspire: I have been inspired by so many of you since I became a Noble. Many of you don’t even realize you have inspired me. Great things do happen when we are inspired; just look at DaVinci, Columbus, Edison, or the Wright Brothers.

To sum it up, I would like to inspire you to look at your friends, neighbors, or even your kids and grandkids and see if you might be able to inspire them to become a Shrine-Mason. I feel this as the best way to ensure our fraternity is around to help for many more generations of children in our hospitals.

    Gerry Massey,  Potentate 2014