Potentate’s Messages

May 2026

Welcome to another interesting Spring where the weather can’t decide what to do. First, thank you to the Clowns, Joey, the guys that cooked, the ladies that served, and all that made the Easter Egg Hunt a great success. It took all of 5 minutes for those kids to grab 2000 eggs. Secondly, we had a great meal and Stated Meeting. I hope everyone will get their tickets sold and money in for the mower raffle. We will have it at the stated Meeting to give away.

Don’t forget the Golf Tournament coming up on Thursday, May 7. It’s always a great time with a shotgun start at lpm. Teams are still rolling in. If you don’t have a full group, we’ll help put you in a foursome.

As you know by now, we had to cancel the Oil Bowl Football Game. This was not done lightly, but there’s no way to have a game with so few players (more on that at the next Stated Meeting). However, Volleyball and Basketbsall are FULL!

Make sure you get your TSA registrations in to Cathy so we can get that squared away.

Yours in the faith,
John

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April 2026

Nobles,
lf you weren’t at the Stated Meeting, you missed a meal! We enjoyed beef, chicken, and pork enchiladas, and Hose did a fantastic job with the rice! Please be thinking about TSA in Austin. They have resolved the hotel issue, and we will be at the Austin Southpark Hotel. Cathy has the information in the office to start processing our registrations.

Also, the Easter Egg Hunt is coming up Saturday, April 4. We will serve hamburgers/hot dogs/chips/etc. at noon and the hunt begins at 1 pin. This is our event, but it is open to non-Shrine families as well. Keep Don Pepper in your thoughts as well.  He had a little incident that sent him in for a pacemaker.

We also have our Masonic Family Day at the land coming up–more details on this next month. Also, Provost Guard has their monthly get-together at the land coming up as well, along with Happy Hour and much more. I look forward to seeing you at the next event!

Yours in the faith,
John

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March 2026

Greetings Nobles!
First, thank you to everyone who came out to the Valentine’s Steak Dinner. We had a great turnout, and everyone (that I could tell) enjoyed the meal. Let’s try to do this more often, it was great to see Shriners, their family, and even some non-shriners.

Second, the Potentate’s Ball is coming up on Saturday, February 28. If you have not already, please RSVP to Cathy in the office so that we can get a good count. Be thinking ahead to TSA and whether or not you will be traveling/competing. It will be in the “greater Austin area,” but the location is a little cloudy untll they resolve the hotel situation. Also, the OG Trip is coming up. Again, let Cathy know if you are planning to go on the trip.

Yours in the faith,
John

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February 2026

Nobles,
Here we are at the start of a new year, and we have a lot of things coming up at Maskat. First, we have the Super Bowl Party at the Temple after the Divan returns from Divan Midwinter. Next, we have our Valentine’s Steak Cook on Saturday, February 14th. The Cooking Unit is doing T-Bone steaks and all the fixings–$30 per person.  RSVP to Cathy in the office. Next, will be the Potentate’s Ball on February 28th. We are ditching formality in favor of your favorite 50’s and 60’s attire! lt should be a lot of fun and something different. In March, we will have the OG Trip to Shreveport and much more.

“Thank You”  to everyone who has helped so far;  and, we are looking forward to having a great year. This will not be possible without Annette whom I cannot thank enough for her support and for putting up with this crazy schedule. Here’s to warmer weather and great friendships!

For the kids,
John

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January 2026

Greetings and Salutations,

It’s hard to believe that a year has already come and gone. It seems like just yesterday was Installation. My journey on the Divan with Maskat has been amazing. All the friendships made and people across the country we have met will be forever remembered.

I will always hold a special place in my heart for the people that have made an impact in my life during the past five years. My life has been forever changed. I got married as Oriental Guide, sent our daughter off to college as HP&P, I lost my mother during my Chief Rabbn year. Things really changed during my Potentate year with remodeling a house, moving in, and attending our daughter’s graduation.

We have enjoyed everything from hosting TSA, to attending TSA and Mid-Winters, as well as all the circuses, Oil Bowls, Super Bowls, Easter Egg Hunts and parties were all a blast.

Decisions were made and presented to the nobility to replace the roof and further improve the Temple. Always remember, the Temple belongs to the members.

I want to thank everyone that has helped me on this journey. A special “Thank You” to Greg and Cathy Stockton and Calvin Carlton for all your guidance. The entire Divan line was amazing. Our newly elected line will do spectacular things this next year. I
would like to congratulate each of them: Potentate John Priddis, Chief Rabban Brian Gaylor, Assistant Rabban Mat Spradlin, HP&P Joey Viavattene ,and Oriental Guide Wade Bulllock.

Always remember: Everything we do, we do for the kids!

Gratefully yours,
Will Bogart
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December 2025

Greetings Nobles and Ladies,
lt has been an amazing year. As we draw to a close, I want to take a moment to thank everyone that worked so hard to make our events both fun and successful. Beginning with our O.G. and HP&P for their work on the Super Bowl Party, the Clowns and Cooking Unit for a wonderful Easter Egg Hunt, and a huge thank you to Noble Yoshi for all the work he put in for the Oil Bowl. I would also like to thank Terry Martin and his crew from the Elks that did the Rib Cook.

I also want to thank the entire Divan for all their hard work this year, and also for the past five years I have had the opportunity to serve. All of our Mid-Winters and TSA trips will always hold special memories for me. The friendships I have made in all the Shrines of Texas will always remain. It’s both sad and exciting that my term is at an end. Thank you for all your support.

Just a reminder, we need everyone to attend our Stated Meeting on December 9th. There are numerous items on the agenda including the presentation of the 2026 budget as well as the election of officers for next year.

Salutations
Will Bogart

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November 2025

Greetings and Salutations,
Fall is in the air! The weather is cooling off, and we are beginning to do more outside. The holidays are rapidly approaching, and we are beginning to make our plans. Things are just as busy at Maskat. We have a lot of things on the agenda coming up.

I want to thank everyone that helped PP Terry Martin with the rib cook. Things were fairly smooth, and we were actually able to smoke them this year.  We also had a great turn out at the October Stated meeting. Awards were presented, and it was great to see everyone, especialy P.P. Don Whan and P.P. Don Wright, who received their 55 and 60 year awards respectively. Also, a BIG thank you to Jerry Sloan for coordinating the High Tea. The proceeds this year will be sent to the hospital.

We have several special events on the Calendar for November. On the 11th, we have our stated meeting, at which our budget will be presented for review. Also a reminder that it is the meeting at which anyone that wishes to declare their availability for election in December can do so. Also, the Ladies of the Nile will be hosting their Bingo fundraiser on the 22nd at 6pm. Please come out and support our Ladies.
We look forward to seeing everyone soon

Will Bogart

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October 2025

Greetings Nobles,

Another month has passed and we are nearing the end of the year. As October approaches we find cooler weather and several activities on the calendar. We have the upcoming Rib Cook. Be sure to call Cathy and preorder your rack. They are $25 each and we only have 180 to cook. We only have a few dozen left to purchase.

Also, remember we have Jerry hosting the annual High Tea. The menu is still being prepared, but it is always a great meal. All proceeds this year are for the Children’s Hospital. We always have a great time serving our Ladies and friends. Please get your reservations in. Also, we still need some nobles to volunteer to be waiters.

The gun raffle is still on progress as well. There are limited tickets still available for $100 each. Please help to sell the remaining tickets; and, if you have not purchased one, please do before they are gone.

Also, as we near the end, we need to remember that elections are upcoming. We are still in need of someone committing to run for Oriental Guide. If you have ever thought of serving on the Divan, please consider beginning now. Last year we had a candidate step up at the last minute to serve. Imperial requires we have a full line. We cannot have a short election.

Finally, I would like to thank PP Bill Hammack for attending and representing Maskat at the Imperial session this year. There were a lot of things brought up and voted on that we will be discussing in our stated meetings.

Fraternally Yours,
Will Bogart
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September 2025

Greetings and Salutations,
Well, Summer is officially over. We have had our time with family, gone on our vacations and had more than enough ofthis heat! It is time to kick off our Fall schedules and resume our meetings.

The first Stated Meeting is Tuesday September 9th. We will have quite a bit to discuss in regards to upcoming events. We are looking forward to our annual rib cook on October 25th and the High Tea October 18th. Also, we are continuing to have Happy Hour every third Thursday of the month. Doors open at 5:30 and we stay til everyone leaves or Amanda kicks us out. The Ladies of the Nile have postponed their Burgers and Bingo to be determined; and the Provost Guard Summer Party is scheduled for September 6th.

It is also with a sad heart, we have lost a few members this summer. Lets keep their families in our prayers. Remember also, elections are rapidly approaching. We have a couple of people possibly interested in running, but we need more. As always, have fun, support your Shrine, support your Lodge and remember, Its All About the Kids!!!

Will Bogart
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August 2025

Greetings Nobles and Ladies

Although it is summer, and we are dark, we are still busy with our Shrine and work.  We kicked off the season with the Oil Bowl.  I would like to thank everyone that helped pull it off. Our attedance was way down this year due to rescheduling.  It was held the first week of June rather than the second. This caused a severe decrease in players signing up. We plan to do better going forward with better time exposures and communications with players and coaches.

Then, TSA was held the second week of june. We had a decent turn out for this  The Porvost Guard had a great showing and won several medals. The Divan had a great time and visited the shoot. We had a wonderful hospitality room setup, and our Oriental Guide did a superb job running it.

Finally, we had Imperial Session with our Jr Past Potentate, Bill Hammach, attending. I have not had the opportunity to speak with him regarding the votes and changes taking place, but will look forward to having him discuss it at the September stated meeting.

We are still having our Happy Hour at the Oasis each month.  For June, 19 people attended and had a fun time.  I remind everyone that we will meet again August 21st for Happy Hour. We still have an exciting schedule of activities lined up for tis Fall. Please keep an eye on our Calendar of Events, emails, and calls.

Fraternally Yours,
Will Bogart
It’s always about the kids!

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