Hello to all nobles.

This year, I believe, has started off great! I am not only proud to say I am President of West Suburban Shrine Club, I am proud of the help and support I am getting from my officers and fellow nobles. Thank you to all!

Dixieland Night went very well and the prime rib was awesome again this year. I feel that W.S.S.C. was well represented. Kudos to everyone who attended

I attended my parade in Elmhurst, and found the crowd to be awesome and the parade was an excellent time for all. Seeing all of the units at the parade and how everyone interacts, makes the parades fun to attend. I had a blast driving around in the Roaring ‘57! I never knew how fast they went until driving one. It was nice that I did not wreck anything, including the car, or hurt anyone with my driving. Petey would not appreciate that. The parade was awesome and I look forward to attending more this year.

Nobles, do not forget about the big W.S.S.C. Boat Cruise on Lake Michigan planned for this summer. I need everyone who is interested in going on the cruise to send me a filled out form with a cheque as soon as possible. I will book the boat and get the date set with all the information and times probably during the week of 14 May; so please submit your money and reservation form in so you can reserve your spot on the boat. I am receiving cheques now on a daily basis, so reserve now.

I would like to also ask all the nobles and officers of W.S.S.C., to please come out and show the club support at the Medinah Ceremonial on 26 April. I know Bill Macak is doing an awesome job on membership, but please help Bill out and bring in new members for W.S.S.C. 26 April would be the day to get all the new members we can!

Please don't forget about the onions! The big onion sale is coming up and all nobles should start on the pre-sale now, getting orders. Please contact Dave Wray if you are interested in helping out at one of the sites. We can use all the help we can get! If everyone in the club could sell a 50-pound bag of onions, we would not have to sit outside very long to sell the remainder at the sites. Also, we may be able to make the deal with Riverside Temple like we did last year, to help sell outstanding onions and split the profit. But for the club to do this, we need everyone’s help in selling onions and also helping out at one of the onion sites. Let us keep up the good work and keep the year running strong!

Don't forget to remind your ladies that bought tickets for the Fashion Show that tickets should be mailed out in a couple of weeks. The event is 10 May.

Also remember the new rule for this year: If you are going to attend a dinner meeting, you need to contact either David Wray or me for a reservation. That way, we will have a list of nobles who called and can order accordingly. The nobles who called will be first in line to eat and everyone else will then line up, and if we run out of food, then we run out of food.

If there is anything that I or the officers can do to better the club, please let me know by calling me or emailing me with suggestions or concerns.

And as a reminder, through the support of Brookfield Jewellers, 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.

I look forward to seeing everyone at either the meetings or the parades. Have fun!

Fraternally yours,

/s/

Dan Smith

President, 2008