During my year as Potentate of Sahib Shriners, I wrote a newsletter to the Nobility every week — forty-one of them, January 2025 through the first week of 2026. Most were exactly what weekly newsletters should be: this Saturday’s parade, next Thursday’s bruncheon, sign up for the bus.
But rereading them a year later, a handful were about something more than the calendar. Here are five, lightly trimmed of their event listings but otherwise as sent — the beginning, the middle, and the letting go.
January 10, 2025 — The first letter
Where every year like this starts: gratitude, and knowing who got you there.
Nobles and Ladies,
Lady Sherry and I are deeply honored that you have elected me to serve as your Potentate for the upcoming year. Your trust and support is both humbling and inspiring.
First and foremost, I want to thank my wife for her unwavering support and encouragement. Her patience, understanding, and sacrifices have been the bedrock of my ability to serve in this role. Without her by my side, none of this would be possible.
To our outgoing Potentate, Ill. Sir Frank Metheny, thank you for all your hard work in 2024. You and Paul managed to get our Membership above 600, and because of you we have another seat at Imperial. Outstanding!
To my fellow elected officials, I am honored to serve alongside you. To our appointed officials, thank you for stepping up to serve. Your expertise and commitment will be invaluable as we navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Together, we will work tirelessly to uphold the values of our Shrinedom and to serve our community with integrity and passion. Thank you all, and let’s embark on this journey together with enthusiasm and determination.
March 14, 2025 — Why grown men ride tiny cars in parades
The Arcadia Rodeo Parade — and the answer to the question every Shriner gets asked.
The biggest thing I’ve got to rave about this week is the Arcadia Parade. What a turnout!
Attending and participating with the Corvette Club, our Fire Truck, the Greeters Float with both our Greeters and all our Ladies from numerous Appendant Bodies — and not forgetting our Venice Shrine Club with their Keystone Kops — is always an exhilarating experience.
As a Shriner, participating in parades is not only about entertainment, but also about raising awareness for the charitable work we as Shriners do, particularly in supporting children’s hospitals.
It really was a delight to watch our modest but energetic cavalcade of parade units and their interactive performances, engaging the crowd and creating memorable moments for both participants and spectators. For me, the overall experience is one of the best ways for us to offer a unique blend of community service, camaraderie, and entertainment.
And boy do we have fun!!
(That parade won us the Arcadia Presidents Trophy, presented a month later.)
March 21, 2025 — “I’m having a blast” (and the tow truck)
My favorite small story of the whole year.
Believe it or not, I’ve had quite a few Nobles come up to me and ask “How are you doing, is everything OK?” I always smile and say “I’m having a blast!”
But seriously, as I reflect on my time so far at Sahib Shrine, I am filled with gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity to serve this esteemed fraternity. From participating in local events and parades to supporting the work of Shriners Hospitals for Children, every moment has been a privilege.
Speaking of gratitude — remember me saying in the last newsletter about the Hillbilly truck breaking down? Well, here is a truly heartwarming follow-up. The towing company, Able Wrecker & Road Service, decided to waive their service fee upon learning that we were Shriners. This gesture not only reflected their generosity but also demonstrated a genuine appreciation for the charitable work that our organization undertakes.
This act of kindness will undoubtedly be remembered and cherished by all our members, serving as a testament to the positive impact that can be achieved through such thoughtful actions.
(A business waiving a tow fee is a small thing. A community trusting that your fraternity’s reputation is real — that’s not small at all.)
November 28, 2025 — The day after Thanksgiving
The best thing I wrote all year, and I wrote it for the quietest day on the calendar.
The turkey is carved, the leftovers are stacked high in the fridge, and the stretchy pants have officially earned their keep. The day after Thanksgiving is its own kind of holiday: a quieter pause between the noise of yesterday’s gathering and the rush of the season ahead. Today, hearts are a little fuller, waistlines a little rounder, and — if we’re honest — many of us are deciding whether pie counts as breakfast. It does!
This is the perfect moment to say what often goes unsaid in the sprint of our busy calendars: THANK YOU! Thank you for showing up to meetings and practices, for volunteering when no one is watching, for pulling trailers, working Queen of Hearts, selling tickets, setting up tables, and staying late to clean up. Thank you for bringing your families, your ideas, your energy, and your good humor. Our Shrine life does not run on magic; it runs on you.
Today is also a good day for small, intentional acts of gratitude. Make one extra phone call to a shut-in Noble. Send a quick text to a Brother you have not seen in a while. Share a plate of leftovers with someone who may not have had a table as full as yours. Gratitude is a feeling, but it is also a practice; when we let it spill over into action, our community changes, one quiet kindness at a time.
We are a band of Brothers and their families who choose, over and over, to turn fellowship into service and fun into philanthropy. May the spirit of Thanksgiving stay with you long after the dishes are done.
January 2, 2026 — The last letter
Handing back the fez.
Happy New Year, Nobles and Friends!
As 2025 draws to a close, heartfelt thanks go out for your unwavering support that made our year truly the most memorable yet — full of vibrant events, strong fellowship, and unforgettable moments.
Your enthusiasm powered triumphs like amazingly solid turnouts to four parades throughout the county, the first-ever Trunk or Treat, and even our risqué Rocky Horror Picture Show — turning ideas into sold-out successes and cherished traditions. The Shrine family’s kindness, from personal notes of sympathy to collective energy, reminded everyone of our unbreakable bonds.
On behalf of Sherry, myself, and all Sahib Shriners, heartfelt appreciation is extended to everyone who supported Sherry’s Lady Potentate Fundraiser throughout the year. A donation in the amount of $5,337.28 has been made to POPS — Pediatric Orthotic and Prosthetic Services — in support of Shriners Children’s, helping ensure that life-changing care remains available to the children who need it most.
May 2026 bring each of you good health, joy, and many opportunities to laugh, serve, and grow together under the bright banner of our Shrine family.
Yours in the Faith, Allen Sorbie Potentate
What the year taught me
Forty-one letters, and the thread running through all of them turned out to be the same one: none of it was mine. The parades belonged to the units, the bingo to its eighteen-year crew, the fundraiser to Sherry, the kindness to a tow-truck driver I never met. A Potentate’s year is twelve months of signing your name to other people’s generosity.
I’d do it again tomorrow.
(POST FOOTER — Group block, light background:)
More about the year and the organization behind it: Shriners & Sahib. The essay that grew out of newsletter-writing season: Commitment Speaks Volumes.