In addition to our Dance Club on Friday night, the El Riad Shrine also had a successful event on March 13, at the Shrine. Hats off to the Fife & Drum unit for hosting their St Patty’s Day Beer Pong Tournament. All 64 teams participated and several non-playing patrons came in to help celebrate the day. The F&D really know how to host an event, including clean up! Thanks F&D, it was great to see the building full of people again. Cory Gray and The Last Call Band also entertained that night and the dance floor was full of party goers. Everyone had a great time!
I also want put out a big THANK YOU to the Motor Corp/Sprint Cars for having another successful $10,000 raffle on March 26. This year, they were able to hold a party at the Shrine, on the night of the drawing, and everyone had a great time. Especially the winners!!
The EL RIAD Shrine night at the Stampede on
March 27 was a new promotion for our Shrine. It was the brainchild of Jeremy Swenson. Thanks to the Clowns for selling the “Chuck a Puck” hockey pucks, and for all the Nobles who showed their support by buying a ticket and having a fun night out. This was a good chance for El Riad shrine to get some exposure in the community.
According to my sources, the Watertower Days Festival and Parade in Pipestone will definitely be held on July 31. This will be our Pote’s Parade, and I want to invite all units and clubs to participate. The Chief of Staff and Assistant COS, accompanied the Potentate on a scouting trip to
Pipestone, to check things out. We meet with Cody
Heidebrink, of the Pipestone Jaycees, who offered us their building for our oasis after the parade. Since this building is used by the Jaycees as a beer garden during the Pipestone County Fair, it fits our needs perfectly. There is plenty of parking, with seating inside or outside. Pipestone is less than an hour from Sioux Falls (approximately 45 miles), and the parade route streets are wide! So, we hope to see you there!
I want to introduce our new Venue Coordinator for El Riad Shrine, Heather Nagel. She will be handling the rental of our building for events. See more highlights about her, in this month’s Cactus. Welcome Heather! We look forward to working with you, and helping out wherever, whenever we can.
The membership team, under the leadership of John Archer, Charlie Brown, and Bill Thompson, have been working hard with the Nobles and Masons recruiting new candidates to join our ranks as new Masons and Shriners. We are hoping to have 15 to 20 new candidates at our Spring Ceremonial on May 1. Speaking of our ceremonial, the ladies luncheon will be held at the former J&L Harley building at 2101 W. Burnside Ave. We will provide shuttles from the Shrine for the ladies. Thank you to Jim andLonnie Entenman for the use of their building. We are looking forward to having a full day Ceremonial with the many talented units like the Big Band, Chanters, Fife & Drum, Legion of Honor, Directors Staff, Culinary, and
Oriental Band performing. All Nobles are welcome to
attend, and we hope to see you all on May 1.
The DeMolay of South Dakota, in celebration of their 100th anniversary, will be holding an Honorary DeMolay Degree program at the Shrine on April 10. This is open to all Master Masons. More information on this, can be found in this Cactus or on the elriad.org website.
The Dance Club will be kicking up their heels on April 9. Take your lady out to the Shrine, and show her a good time on the largest dance floor in South Dakota. (Not sure if that is true, but I am saying so!)
We are…having fun in 21!
Potentate
Les Kruse