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,