A Year of Aleppo Fun,

Nobles and friends of Aleppo Shriners,

I only hope that you are all having at least half as much fun this year as I’ve been having. The year started off with a nice Ceremonial and Installation and a great Potentate’s Ball.

We kept the momentum going with the return of the Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party with a great dinner catered by our own Aleppo Stewards and lots of music and entertainment. The award winning Aleppo Brew Club continues to deliver tasty delights. On Saturday, April 2nd, we had an afternoon/evening Ceremonial. After a social period, we initiated over 20 candidates, then enjoyed a great dinner prepared by the Stewards and entertainment arranged by our Recorder.

The Circus came back after being absent since 2019. Circus chairman Roger Metcalf did his usual fine job of putting together an excellent show, but then fell ill and had to be hospitalized. The entire circus committee stepped up and filled the gap; Bruce Dickey led initially, then Paul Watts, Sr. after Bruce also fell ill. I’ve named Bruce and Paul; but there isn’t enough space for me to thank all of you by name, so please do not be offended that I didn’t name you. Everyone had concerns about the circus going in.

• How would the circus do without exotic animals?

• After no circus since 2019, would people “remember” to come?

• Also, after no circus since 2019, would we have volunteers to cover all the work?

My goal for the circus was to bring it back, to let the community know this and to remind Aleppo Nobles and friends about it. I think that the celebrity guest ringmasters we brought in helped create a buzz on their respective radio or television broadcasts. In the end, I would have been happy if we just broke even financially, but the Treasurer tells me that we made a respectable profit. Everyone involved should be proud of what they did!

We have parades! Don’t forget the annual Memorial Day parade in Wilmington. We always like to put on a good show for our host town. There are other parades in Blackstone, Pepperell, and elsewhere; so walk or ride and help show the world who we are.

The annual steak dinner and strawberry festival Ceremonial is Saturday, June 11th. Will the steak knives have a sharp point or a rounded point? Find out by being there!!

Also returning after two years off is our High School All-Star football game. Sports Chairman Illustrious Dennis Reebel is working hard on this, and the coaches and kids will make sure it’s a fun evening. This is a Tour of Duty so circle June 17th on your calendars and come to Bentley College to help out or even to just sit in the stands wearing your fez. Remember that this is for the Aleppo Shriners Children’s Transportation Fund to help our kids.

Speaking of the Transportation Fund, during our circus, two children from Ukraine arrived at Shriners Boston. The Hospital had contacted us earlier and asked if we would pay $65,000 to cover half of the Transportation costs for these kids. Both had suffered extensive scald burns and needed a medical flight from Europe to the US. Thanks to the hard work and generosity of so many in Aleppo, we were able to tell the Hospital staff “bring these kids here.” All of you can take pride in building the Transportation Fund and in supporting the great work done at Shriners Children’s–Boston.

The Imperial sessions will be in Minneapolis in July. In addition to the usual festivities at any Imperial Session, we’re planning some special things for Aleppo members and guests to enjoy. For example, the Aleppo banquet will be on the 50th floor of our hotel, with floor to ceiling windows to watch the fireworks that night. Time is short to contact the office for air travel arrangements, so call ASAP.

In September, the NSA Fall Field Days return for the first time since 2019. We’re going to Bangor, Maine, and will be staying at the host hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn. This promises to be a good time also, and you will be receiving a mailing with information.

There’s a lot to do here at Aleppo. A lot of fun to be had and, of course, our ongoing work supporting the World’s Greatest Philanthropy.

Be there to have fun and help kids!

ES SALAAM ELEIKUM

Fraternally,

Robert H. Brown

Illustrious Potentate 2022

Aleppo Shrine Center