Nobles,

Thank you for the trust and confidence that you have put in me, by electing me to the position of potentate for the year 2021.  Once again, I am humbled by your faith in my ability to lead and serve Orak Shrine.

Thank you and congratulations to all the newly elected and appointed Divan officers and committee chairman who have stepped up to serve Orak Shrine this year. I look forward to working with all of you.

I would like to thank Ill Sir Wayne Hodgetts and Lady Fran for all their many years of service to Orak Shrine and for doing a great job last year as Potentate and First Lady. Orak Shrine will be forever grateful for the sacrifices that the two of you have made to serve Us.

This year has had a slow start due to the restrictions of COVID, but I am optimistically excited for the potential of what this year can be.  The COVID numbers seem to be headed in the right direction and some of the restrictions are beginning to lift.  With that being said, we are having an in person stated meeting on Monday 3-8-2021.  My chief concern is for the health and safety of Orak Shrine members and their ladies.  I am asking that only Nobles of Orak Shrine come to the meetings and that we keep our activities limited to the large dining room.  Unfortunately, this also means that until further notice I ask that our ladies remain home and safe on our meeting night. 

The Divan Uniform will be the same as it was last year except for a new tie, that is for sale in the office, (Black Sport coat, white shirt, and gray pants).  The uniform for stated meetings will be more casual this year, (Potentates Shirt and khaki pants).  You can order your shirts from our website under the members tab and then choose forms, however you will still have to fill out a form for size and name and get that turned into the Orak Office.

Please take a minute to visit our website, www.orakshrine.org.  Our treasurer, Ill Sir Bob Keuper has done a great job of updating and maintaining it.  If you see something that needs to be further updated, please let me know so that we can get it fixed.  We have had the option to pay our annual dues from our website for some time now, but Bob has recently added the ability to pay for events and even the Potentate’s Shirt from there as well.  Review our Calendar and Events sections for all upcoming events.

I am happy to report that Orak Shrine will be moving forward with our Onion Sale.  Please get out and pre-sale as much as you can.  We will be having our Car & Bike Show in conjunction with the Motor Patrol’s annual Steak Fry on 8-7-2021.  We will be having our annual Hog Roast again this year on 8-21-2021.  We will also be having a Sportsman’s Raffle live event at our Shrine on 11-20-2021 so please get the word out and sell some tickets!  Gentlemen, these events are the lifeblood of Orak Shrine and Orak needs your support. Please help us get the word out to the public and sell as many tickets as you can to your neighbors, co-workers, friends, family members and Masonic Brothers.

Yours in the faith,

Timothy Lawson

Potentate 2021, Orak Shrine