A Publication of Shrine Masons. Sept., 2020 - Vol. 120, Issue 9 Golf Tournament Draws a Great Crowd! Al Kader OASIS From the Potentate’s Desk Published Monthly Al Kader, Shriners International by 2020 Potentate I.S. Carl Thompson 25100 SW Parkway Ave. Wilsonville, OR 97070-9600 As summer turns to fall it’s hard not Phone: (503) 682-4420 to think about what could have been a Fax: (503) 685-5080 very successful fun Shrine year. Life is Email: [email protected] full of choices. Some big, some small. www.AlKaderShriners.org Subscription Price $8.00 / yr Every day we are faced with choices, and once we decide between Options Elected Divan A and B, and sometimes we get no Carl Thompson, Potentate choice at all, either way we head down Terry Griffith, Chief Rabban a new path. What occurs after we make Mark Phillips, Assistant Rabban Carl Robinson, High Priest & Prophet the choice is a direct result of having Martin Klos,Oriental Guide made THAT decision. In life, we must Gillan Bradley, Treasurer make the best of the choices we make. IS Todd Weedman, Recorder We don’t get to see how things would Appointed Divan have turned out had we made different Matt Wand, 1st Ceremonial Master decisions. Once our decision is made, we Dennis Harris, 2nd Ceremonial Master set ourselves down a path, and it’s up to Bill Hinkle, Director us to make sure the outcome is the best Mel DeHut, Marshal one possible. All the second-guessing and “what ifs” won’t ever allow us to Kevan Snyder, Captain of the Guard Larry Evey, Temple Outer Guard know what would have happened or what could have been. You choose, Steve Levin, Chaplain and then you make the best of it. Brother George Washington once said Zack Blalack, Outer Guard “We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past Dick Crist, Outer Guard errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience.” Larry Evey, Outer Guard Bill Quier, Outer Guard People like to say they have no regrets. I’d like to believe that I’ve lived my Carey Huckaba, Outer Guard life without regret. That doesn’t mean I haven’t made mistakes and poor Potentate’s Aides choices. I’ve made plenty of both. But each choice and every mistake I Chief of Staff: I.S. Ron Gamble have made has triggered a series of events that otherwise wouldn’t have Deputy Chief of Staff: IS Bud James occurred. Those events forced more decisions that led down the path Chief Aide: Larry Maine that is life. I’m happy with my life, I’m happy with the effort the dedicated Aides: Austin Bennington, Rodge Hodge II, Eric Peterson, Nate Neff, Marty Bush, Divan has put in during these challenging times and that means I accept Patrick Sheehan, Chris Chuculate, Jean the choices we have made, even the poor ones. Stuekerjuergen, Alicia Moss, Lori Calkins, John and Barb Wilde, Richard King, Horacio So it seems to me that it’s a waste of time to think about what could have Arellano, Jeremy Ward, Hunter Thompson been. It’s a waste of time to look back at this Shrine year and speculate about what might have happened because we’ll really never know. Life Temple Unit Staff gave us a strange situation, and then it’s up to us to make the best of that. Jay Carey, Director of Units Robert Baugh, Assistant Dir. of Units The energy spent second-guessing ourselves and our Fraternity is better put to use making sure the decision we made works out as well as possible Staff because often, it’s not the choice itself that determines the ultimate Attorney: Matt Wand outcome but what we do once we’ve made the decision. It’s better to look Ambassador at Large: IS John Nerski forward as our lives unfold than to look back. When we look forward, we Ambassador at Large: Skip Stanaway Ambassador: Ron Ellenson can anticipate what will happen next—we can see what problems might Ambassador: Gary Scott arise and make additional choices that will help avoid them. Living life by always looking back at our decisions is like trying to drive down the Emeritus road by looking in the rear view mirror—we’re bound to end up in the Roy Armentrout, Recorder Kenji Yaguchi, Ambassador ditch. Instead, let’s all look forward through the windshield so we can see Robert Keller, Treasurer our path clearly, and things will likely turn out much better for us in the IS Dave Johnson, Editor long run. I can assure you the planning for the future of Al Kader is in full swing. Plans for an amazing 2021 are in the works and we hope and pray OASIS to set all of these plans in motion. Please stay tuned in and “Keep the fires Potentate IS Carl Thompson, Publisher Patrick Sheehan, Editor burning!” as Noble Smith said to me last month. Art Thompson, Photographer Items must be received by the 24th of the Thank you all for the kind words of encouragement and continued month to [email protected] for support. Stay well and I hope to see you all very soon, next month’s issue. Advertising Rates on Request 2 Al Kader Oasis - September 2020 Chaplain’s Report The Al Kader History - Chapter 1 by Noble Steven Levin By Noble John Smith, Historian Dear Nobles and Ladies of Al Kader Shrine, The “Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine” was instituted by Mohammedan Kalif Alee in Mecca, Here we are in the Month of September 2020 and Arabia in 644 A.D. but did not really become a I imagine for most, it is not bringing us to the power [in Arabia] until 1698. The members could end of this devastating year quickly enough. The not dream of the major role their Order would play pandemic has taken a toll that is hard to accept in the history of the world. and we must each of us, fall back on our respective faith to sustain us until the horrific consequences have been resolved. In addition to the aforementioned problems, we are still forced to deal with a plethora of problems and heart rendering situations. The Black Camel visits continue as we mourn the loss of yet more Nobles. Bernie Standfill being one more Noble to leave us as we join with his lady Shirley in heartfelt wishes for the G.A.O.T.U. to welcome him to that house not built with hands, eternal in the heavens. We are also plagued with discontent and dire The Order existed until about the 1960s. Its main deeds as we watch the once beautiful city of purposes were to dispense justice and, generally, Portland being turned into a micro war zone to be a vigilance committee composed of the most of rioting, looting, protesting, and increasing forceful, skilled and respected men in Arabia. tensions. It prided itself in being non-political and non- religious. The political circus we have been witnessing on all levels of government only adds to the angst Its greeting was “Es Salamu Aleikum”, (Peace be brought about by so many other ridiculous issues with you) which was replied to with (With you be no matter from which perspective you may view peace), “Aleikum es Salamu”). The jewel of the them. Order was a crescent formed by the claws of a Royal Bengal tiger. I can only ask each of you to search deeply into your hearts and souls and join me in reflecting (visit AlKaderShriners.org to read the whole story) upon the tenets of our Masonic teachings combined with the strength of our individual faith Tillamook County Shrine Club to guide us through these perilous times towards a By Noble Carey J. Huckaba better world blessed with peace. With renewed energy as we emerged from the I remain your devoted Chaplain, doldrums of the covid-19 pandemic, the noblest Nobles and the fairest Ladies of Tillamook County Shrine Club met at noon on Friday, August 7th in the unique Beach Bite Restaurant in beautiful downtown Rockaway Beach for a sumptuous lunch and a most productive meeting. With the Oregon East-West Game cancelled for 2020, the Baker County Cattlewomen’s Association that donates the steer auctioned at halftime of each game as a fundraiser for the Portland Shriners Hospital, have decided to donate a steer to the Baker County Auction and donate the proceeds from this auction to the Shriners Hospital. So, after begging, bugging and arm-twisting, East continued on page 6 Al Kader Oasis - September 2020 3 4 Al Kader Oasis - September 2020 Greeters Golf Tourney! Al Kader Oasis - September 2020 5 -West Game Association Board Members Nobles physicians and virtual hospital tour video are Jesse Exton and Carey Huckaba, raised $1,200 to just a couple of examples of efforts to continue bid on the steer, which of course will be donated engagement with our community through back to be re-auctioned to raise more funds for our adaptations that align with the new norm. Shriners Hospital. We miss seeing our Board Members, volunteers, With the suspension of degree work by the Grand sewing ladies, and volunteer drivers, and we look Master, Tillamook County Shrine Club has two forward to the time when we can once again meet candidates who have been awaiting conferral of in person. the Master Mason degree for half a year. If these candidates do not tire of waiting and drop out of Nydia Temple #4 Masonry, Tillamook County Shrine Club is offering By Lady Paula Levin encouragement to these candidates by anteing up the shrine initiation fee for all 2020 candidates.