What an awesome start to the year 2020! During the January Installation of Officers Ceremonial, our Shrine Ladies were treated to an outstanding brunch at the Four Point Sheraton in Wakefield, where over 80 ladies were in attendance. Lady Gloria Ledbury unveiled her theme for the year with a beautiful hanging sign, “Shrine Ladies Make a Difference.” She also laid out her First Lady’s Project offering “carry-all pouches” for $10.00. The money raised by the sale of these pouches will go to buy gift cards for the Shriners Hospital for Children–Boston.

While the ladies were enjoying their brunch, we were hard at work bringing 35 “Sons of the desert” into our Shrine. Excellent work was performed by our Ritualistic Team. I would like to thank Illustrious Rob Havener for his excellent leadership on behalf of the membership of Aleppo. He and Lady Linda were truly dedicated in guiding Aleppo to a position of strength and growing membership.

The afternoon installation was extremely well attended with over 300 Nobles and guests in attendance. Illustrious Richard Doherty was the Installing officer and did a fantastic job! The highlight of the afternoon was having my 93-year-old mother, Jeanne Bartlett, along with my brother Colonel Richard Bartlett fez me!! I was so glad to have my mother there to witness and be part of this wonderful event. I would like to thank the Aleppo Fire Brigade members who formed an Honor Guard for the Installation. Congratulations to our new 1st Ceremonial Master Clifford A. Critch and our new “2nd” Ceremonial Master Roger Gardiner. May you learn and prosper as you come through the chairs.

My theme for the year is, “We Are Family, We Are Masons, We Are Shriners!” We all work together to accomplish our Mission to support Shriners Hospital for Children. “We work together, we communicate with each other, we speak positive words and we encourage each other. ‘We Are Family, We Are Masons, We Are Shriners!’”

The weekend of February 7 to 9 was the Potentate’s Ball at the Marriott – Burlington. I would like to thank our Recorder Illustrious Stephen G. Eriksen and Maribel Deluca who did a fantastic job in setting up the weekend! Gloria and I thank you for all your hard work! To the Aleppo Fire Brigade, you outdid yourselves! I feel honored and loved to be a part of such a great Unit. In fact, I felt a little chilled, hahaha! We had over 270 Nobles and Ladies and guests attending the ball. In addition, we had 10 Potentates along with some of their Divan and their Ladies from various Northeast Shrine Centers; thank you for joining us. It was truly an honor to host the first reception for the year 2020. The food was fantastic, the music and dancing were excellent, and my feet and knees hurt for days!

The Potentate’s Suite was always packed with our NSA guests, Nobles, Gloria and my families and friends. I would like to thank Chief Aide Howard “Flipz” Hernandez, Assistant Chief Aide Brian Rushlow and Assistant Chief Aide Gary Waters and the many unbelievable other Aides and their ladies for attending to our guests’ desires. So many rave reviews by visiting NSA guests. They said our Aides were a “CLASS ACT!”

Attention all you hockey fans; we have the Shriner All-Star Hockey Classic coming soon on Sunday, March 29, 2020 at the Warrior Ice Arena in Boston. This will feature both girls and boys All-Star games. Girls game begins at 2pm and the boys game begins at 4pm. Come out and show your support! Let’s get more Fezzes in the stands!

Our Chief of Staff, Ernie Pearlstein, has been working hard on our parade schedule. More information will be announced at the Uniformed Units Meeting on the first Wednesday of the month.

Coming Wednesday, April 22, through Sunday, April 26, is our 69th Annual Aleppo Shriners Circus, led by Chairman Roger Metcalfe. We will need all hands on deck to assist him in setting up, working the shows and breaking down. So plan your schedule and make this the most successful circus ever.

Our next Ceremonial will be June 6, 2020: we will have a very special visitation by one of our Patient Ambassadors. Stay tuned for more information, and plan to be there!

Our Imperial Session will take place July 3 to July 9 in Kansas City, MO. We will be staying at the Westin Hotel at the Crown Plaza Center. For more information, please call Maribel. Our Northeast Shrine Association Field Days will be held on September 24 to September 27 in Gananoque, Ontario. Let’s start planning. Remember, “We Are Family, We Are Masons, We Are Shriners!” We need volunteers to help with the “Red Can Drives.” Call Leon Golden at 617-548-7971 for more information. Finally, Gloria and I would like to thank Diane, Heather and Lauren Watts and Janis Critch for putting together all the centerpieces for both the Ladies Brunch and the Potentate’s Ball. Truly amazing work Ladies. “Shrine Ladies do make a difference!” Fraternally,

Hi Nobles, Happy New Year.

We are off to a great start for 2019. Typical New England weather, typical New England Superbowl with your typical New England traditions… even if that means you are in the South for the winter. My friendships in the craft, the Shrine are more than just typical. To this I say, “Thank you.” For the friendships and the trust passed onto me early this year, I am thankful and grateful to all of you for the support.

We began this year by honoring those Shriners who have taken the Black Camel’s Ride to the Celestial Lodge. These Brother Nobles are remembered for gifting to us this Fraternity – thank you to their families for sharing them with us.

The installation of 2019 Officers went as planned. It was a great cozy feeling to have so many friends, family and nobility in the room. We brought in 22 new Nobles adding to the 18 new Nobles from the December Class – proving Aleppo is committed to our Mission and to having fun in this “Playground of Freemasonry.” And the lunch was awesome!

Congratulations to Illustrious Harlan Woods and Noble Robert ‘Bob’ Baker earning the Robert Gardner Wilson Jr. Award, the highest award and greatest honor, for going above and beyond in service to Aleppo Shriners. Thank you both for having such a positive influence on us all; jobs well done.

2019 – New Year’s resolution time! Hmmm, you’re right it is February – those resolutions are long broken. But one intention is solid – ‘use it or lose it.’ As this applies to our entire self – Physically, Mentally, and Spiritually. First, I will focus those words towards our membership. Asking USE IT, your membership cards ‐ our MASONIC Membership card and our SHRINER’S Membership card. Remember Shriners are Masons. We are all Brothers of that same Masonic Family. USE your membership card – attend Lodge, attend Shriner events. Both dues cards have opened doors and opportunities – to new people, new events, new places. Fun people, fun events, fun places. I encourage you to use it.

Second, we need to focus on our mental / emotional health. We live in a 24 x 7 ‐ always-on-world. This can be too much of a good thing. Our minds are overburdened to the point we struggle to recognize what matters from what doesn’t. Let’s each focus on resetting this balance. Embrace whatever you love to do. Do more of it. Because none of us can do the good work in the fraternity – to our Masonic and Shrine missions ‐ if we don’t keep ourselves well. Don’t lose it.

Third and finally, we live in this world where the conversation is increasingly angry. Let’s face it – consensus is hard. Life is a work in progress. But along the way, we can make things a little better. We must realize that a different point of view doesn’t negate the opposing side’s good intentions. Disagreement is welcomed, but it MUST always be civil. Maybe, just maybe, we will give our country a role model it badly needs. In every situation, when speaking up – let’s show respect and remember the Golden Rule and our Masonic obligation. Let Aleppo Shiners be a place where everyone feels at home – in a big picture – that they have helped to shape.

Masonry makes good men better – the Shrine gives us a place to have fun – fun with a purpose. Let’s not lose Shriner’s Hospitals for Children–Boston.

Thank you for the privilege to lead our fraternity – the playground of Freemasonry. Use it.

See you soon,
Illustrious Robert E. Havener
2019 Potentate, Aleppo Shrine Center