The parade season is in full swing now! Having done the St Patrick’s Day parades and the annual baseball parade in Hometown (with our brother nobles from DuPage Shrine Club) we are coming into our busy season! I know May is the kickoff for a busy Memorial Day weekend as we work our way up to the July 4th schedule. Thanks to all who have volunteered their time so far, as well as Mindy Seelentag for booking us. Those whose schedules have not permitted them to participate, I look forward to seeing your smiling faces charm the crowds!

We enjoyed an afternoon of food, fun, and fellowship on 4 March as we came together for WSSC’s Past President’s Party. I love it when all the archives are on display. That really shows 50+ years of club history; a proud past indeed.

Medinah just had the ceremonial on Friday, 27 April. Fifty-one new nobles joined our Order of the Mystic Shrine, and Dave Wray mentioned our club might have three potential new members! Thanks to Cal for getting our brochures included in the new nobles’ welcome packages! Thanks also to Wally Miles, Dan Slomiany, Bill Macak, and Dave Wray for representing our Club along with me at the event. Thanks to Dave for bringing out the Roaring ‘57’s rig and car and for driving.

It’s onion sale time! At our stated meeting 2 May 2 we will go over location and time assignments. Please help our club make this a success, as this is one of our largest fundraising events of the year (along with the 4 July weekend of parades). Even if you can only volunteer a few hours for one day, it is most appreciated! Thanks in advance to Dave Huffman, our Onion Chairman, and Dave Wray, who is lending his expertise.

On a social note, I have booked Bohemian Crystal for Wednesday, 20 June. A flier will be coming out shortly. I am in the process of finalizing two more social events, Greek night and Italian night. Our official visit (OV) venue appears to be changing, as Cantigny has reneged on our time and date due to an all-day event they forgot to mention when John Pansino had originally inquired and we voted to move forward. Fortunately, Don Helmig at Bloomingdale Golf Club is able to accommodate us. John and I will shortly work out the menu and entertainment details.

Our club is moving forward on getting the first two newly painted parade car bodies detailed by Dan Slomiany, as well as having the moulds made for new bodies and researching new engines. More details to come as the Pit Crew and I make further progress on this.

Thanks to all for all your support and participation; see you at our meetings, events, and parades!

As a reminder, through the support of Emerald Bay Jewelry and Designs, West Suburban Shrine Club is offering our exclusive golden scimitars to help defray the operating costs of the parade unit. Join the legions of nobles who proudly wear the elegant, ruby-tipped scimitar from the side of their $100 Million Club tassel-holder pins. Golden scimitars are presented in gratitude for US$100 donations to WSSC (golden scimitar contributions support club activities and are not tax deductible). Email Petey to get your golden scimitar.

Fraternally yours,

/s/

Raymond "Ray" Bernard

President, 2012