In the past few years, we have made some significant changes that have resulted in positive revenue generations. We have strategically worked our way out of a financial crisis to one where we have aggressively addressed nearly half a million dollars in deferred maintenance and are in the best position financially that we have been in over a decade. We still need to rebuild our financial reserves, but we are doing pretty good. Now we need to turn our focus back to the Fraternity by improving communications, growing membership and having fun.

We have hired a new office assistant, Gigi, to help with the day to day operations of the Nile and help us get set up properly in social media to more effectively communicate with our members. Laura will focus on other core areas, including membership.

Instead of a Unit & Club Seminar, I am going to be meeting with individual club & unit leadership to review goals and find out how the Nile can best help them achieve them. Lastly, I want to establish a network of members who are willing and able to communicate in each of our units & clubs, blue lodges, concordant & appendant bodies. I will prepare a series of monthly talking points and ask that information be shared. I hope that we can establish another channel to get information to our current and potential members.

Dale Newman is my membership chairman. Those that know him are aware that he is a go-getter. He feels that we can fill a void in their lives with our fraternity and provide exactly what they are missing. He has organized football viewing parties where 40+ members were engaged in having fun. Dale is also planning quarterly membership events and I am certain that with his help, we can create a strategy to help grow membership.

I am also trying to plan some trips to the hospitals, but the Divan Days and Portland’s Walk for Love were both canceled. We will watch for other opportunities to participate in, hopefully, with the Ladies Oriental Shrine and Daughters of the Nile.

I am very pleased to have been elected the 2020 Potentate of the Nile Shriners. Thank you for your support and I look forward to another year of Having Fun Helping Kids.