Time goes quickly when you are having fun and I just want to say how quickly this year has gone and what a great experience it has been to be Potentate of Mocha Shriners for 2011.

I first want to thank the Nobility of Mocha Shriners for giving Lady Helen and myself the honour and the privilege of serving this year as Potentate and First Lady of Mocha Temple.  I want to thank my colleagues on the Divan, elected and appointed, as well as the appointees for being a strong group to work with. It takes the combined efforts of everyone to make a Shrine year a success.

I want to thank the Clubs and Units for your tremendous support and warm welcome shown to us during our visits throughout the year and to thank you for making a start to combine some of the visits required by the Potentate and the Divan during the Shrine year.

Because of the support of the whole membership of Mocha, I think it has been a good year in terms of membership and donations to the Shrine Hospitals, Transportation Fund, Temple Renovations, General Operations, Mo Fund and the Mocha News.  At the time of writing, these donations are at $510,000.00 and I have promises of more at the Fall Ceremonial.  Thanks to each of you.

A special thanks for the donations to the special fund for the renovations of the Upper Banquet room, the furnishings and the Mo Fund.  I was very pleased with the decision of the Stated Meeting on Wednesday Oct 12, 2011, to proceed with the renovations of this room. Thanks to Noble Barry O’Brien and his committee for their work in bringing in their report of recommendations and cost estimate. This project will certainly enhance the beauty of this room and make it more attractive for Shrine and non Shrine events, including banquets, Wedding Receptions and meetings.    

I want to thank and congratulate all the new members who joined Mocha Shriners this year.  You are a great group and I know you will enjoy your membership in the Shrine.  It will be a great experience for you and your ladies.  Remember, you will get out of Shrinedom what you put into it.

I want to make a couple of recognitions this year in Mocha -- first to commend Noble Carl and Lady Pat Churchill for their generous donation of $100,000.00 to the new London Children’s Hospital.  A contribution like that is certainly from the heart and will go a long way towards contributing to the success of that hospital and the care and treatment of children with their various ailments.  Thanks Carl and Pat.
I want to congratulate Illustrious Sir. Paul Shillington on receiving his Emeritus Award from Shriners International for 15 years continuous attendance at Imperial Sessions.  This starts from your first year as a delegate and goes forward.  

We attended the Great Lakes Shrine Association Sept 13-17th.  There wasn’t a lot of business done, due to a mix up in the by-laws, but I want to congratulate the Royal Scots O’ Mocha, and the Mocha Dessert Rats for their success in their respective competitions.

Another good time was enjoyed on our Northern Trip.  Our official visit and Ladies Night at Huron Shrine Club was Thursday Sept 22 and the Sault Shrine Club in Sault Ste Marie on Saturday Sept 24, 2011.   We initiated 2 new candidates at the Sault meeting, plus 1 affiliate, along with 2 initiations in Marquette Michigan in August, 2011.

The Potentate and First Lady’s Trip, “Country and Colour Tour” was a successful week-end, and I want to thank all 100 of you, who travelled with us, to make it a success.  It was a very informative and fun filled trip and included the Joint Potentates night with “Ramoca and Bruce Shrine Clubs” in Owen Sound, with approximately 175 Ladies, guests and Nobles in attendance at an excellent fish dinner.  We also had a fraternal visit hosted by the “Muskoka Shrine Club” at Milford Bay. There were approximately 200 Ladies, guests and Nobles in attendance at this event which included a Prime Rib Buffet dinner.

At the end of the trip with various lucky draws, we had $2,000.00 to send to the Canadian Shrine Hospital--- another example of Shriners having fun and helping kids.

The nominations and elections meeting will be at our next stated meeting on December 14, 2011 at 7:30pm in the Mocha Temple—this is an important meeting, so please try to be there.  The installations will be on Friday January 13, at 7:30pm.

Finally, on behalf of Lady Helen and myself, thanks again, to all the Nobles and their ladies of Mocha Shriners for a great year!!  Thanks for your warm welcomes, friendships and hospitality at your respective club and unit visits and other Shrine functions.   It has been a great experience for both of us.  

We want to wish each of you, from  “Our Shrine Family to Yours”----a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Yours in The Faith,

Illustrious Sir Jack Cumming,
Potentate Mocha Shriners 2011