Commitment Speaks Volumes
Commitment is not announced; it is demonstrated. What eighteen years of Tuesday bingo volunteers taught a Shrine Potentate about the difference between saying and showing.
Freemasonry
From the Potentate’s Desk: Five Letters from the Fez Year
I wrote 41 weekly newsletters during my 2025 year as Potentate of Sahib Shriners. These five held up past their week — on beginnings, parades, kindness, gratitude, and letting go.
Word as Bond
A promissory note without funds is fraud; an obligation without integrity is hypocrisy. On what actually backs a promise — from Templar parchment to a security director’s audit logs.
KTs and Promissory Notes
How the medieval Knights Templar invented an early form of international banking — and why a written promise was honored across an ocean. A Commandery talk on history, myth, and the power of a given word.
Overview of Shriners Children’s POPS
Shriners Children’s Pediatric Orthotics and Prosthetic Services (POPS) is a specialized program dedicated to designing, fitting, and manufacturing custom orthotics and prosthetics for children, from infants to young adults. The focus is on supporting children with limb deficiencies or bracing needs, enabling them to pursue their interests—whether sports, music, or everyday activities—with confidence and independence … Read more
What is a Mason (or Freemason) and what’s a Lodge?
“Yeah, my dad and uncle both used to go to Masonic meetings-I remember Uncle Fred coming by to pick him up. But I don’t know where they went or what they did. “
Memorization – One method
I found this Blog about 10-11 years ago. It was written by Mark Shead in 2007 and has proven to be truly invaluable ever since. In Freemasonry there’s a ton of memorization that needs to be done, especially if you get tagged as a ‘ritualist’ (if that’s even a word). Short version – stick the … Read more
History of Blue Lodges in District 23
Most local Masons know that there are 5 Blue Lodges physically in Sarasota. What most people don’t know is only four of these lodges originated in Sarasota,