April 2014

Preparing For 60Th Melha Shrine Circus

Illustrious Bill Faust with grandson Collin preparing the elephants for the 60th running of the Melha Shrine Circus

by Bob & Nancy

Volunteers are still need to usher at the 60th Melha Shrine Circus. We can use you for whatever show you would like to do. Cir-cus is Thursday May 1st through Sunday May 4th.

Remember volunteers can be nobles, wives, sons, daughters, or friends. Young people 10 - 14 years old are welcome as volunteers however; they

must be supervised by an adult (parent or member of the organization they represent) at all times while ushering.

If you can help or for more information e-mail Bob & Nancy Waltermire at rndw@roadrunner.com or call 413-663-5472. Af-ter Wednesday, April 30th, please use our cell phone 413-446-3801.

If you have volunteered,

don't get a confirmation, or have trouble reaching us, please show up when you want to usher, some-times we slip up getting back to people. We are at a table just inside the door where the volunteers en-ter.

Thanks for volunteering,

Ushers Still Needed For Circus

By Al Zippin, P.P.

At our first official meeting, under the leadership of our Team Circus President Mike Avery, the focus was on ad sales. Our new Low Man and Circus Ad Book Chairman Leo Plourde issued a plea for all of us to start pushing the ads as soon as possible. Obviously the attendance at the circus is cru-cial for many reasons, but be-yond that it is the ad sales that really drive our bottom line each year.

Some dates of interest:

A. Circus dates are: May 1st through May 4th.

B. There will be a parade on opening night from Gate 9 step-ping off at 6 P.M. just as we did last year.

C. The $5.00 coupons for the Nobility and families will be on sale from April 4th until 6 P.M on April 18th. Coupons can be purchased at Melha or at the Big E box office. Each coupon entitles the bearer to one $14.00 reserved seat ticket and the cou-pons can be turned in for hard tickets at any time from the date of purchase through the circus dates.

D. The box office will open to the public on Saturday, April 19th and will be closed on Sun-day the 20th due to the obser-vance of Easter. From Monday the 21st right through the circus the box office will be open every day from 10 – 6 P.M. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the circus it will be open

See Team Circus

(Continued on page 8)

Team Circus

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Potentate’s Message

Greetings Nobles and La-dies, Spring is here! (I hope) I know it’s here because I hear the call

THE MELHA SHRINE CIRCUS IS COMING,!

THE MELHA SHRINE CIRCUS IS COMING!

If you don’t know it the cir-cus is just a month away. May 1st to the 4th. As I write this we are behind in the sales of Circus Book ads, but I have confidence that somehow the slack was pulled up and we will have another good year in ad sales. I know that the Hamid Family has a great show put together for us. We will be having a circus parade again this year. We will also be holding a circus promotion in downtown Springfield this year on opening day. So tell

all your family and friends.

Galaxy Girl will be doing a neck slide from the top of the TD Bank building down to Main Street. This should be exciting to see. If you can, come down and see her take the slide.

The parade season has started. By the time you read this both the Worcester and the Holyoke St. Patrick Day parades will have gone by. I know the Worcester parade was a little chilly because my fingers are still a little numb from the cold as I write this message. (Sorry Ill. Russ I know I’m late). In between the parades was the Leprechaun Plunge. Dave and Carla Butterfield, Leo Plourde and many others took the plunge. Yours truly just stuck his toes in. I’m sure a good time was had by all and a lot of money was raised for the Shriners Hos-pital.

The Mid - winter meeting of the NSA will have gone by. I would like to thank all of the 2014 NSA committee mem-bers for all their hard work to ensure that the meeting was a success. Now we have to get started in putting the final plans in place for the NSA Field Days in August which will bring Melha and the communities around us

great excitement and great media coverage.

I would like to thank 1st Ceremonial Master Glenn Surprenant and Lady Diane for running the Beatles show. Just based on the reac-tion we have been getting I’m sure it will be a great success and the band “A Ticket to Ride” will put on a great show.

We have two other shows planned for this year. I would like to ask the unit heads to make sure when you have your meetings that you let your members know about them and everything else that is going on at Melha. It is your responsibil-ity to keep our members in-formed. This is not just for the Temple events but also for all the events put on by the units. We all need to sup-port each other. If we all do this we will have a better and stronger Shrine Center.

As always I thank you for all you do for Melha and the Shriners Hospitals.

MELHA SHRINERS HAV-ING FUN AND HELPING KIDS

Yours in the Faith,

Bill Faust, Potentate

Melha honors Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards. Minimum amount charged must be $20.00. Use it for dues, Melha events, Fezzes, Melha trips, etc.

SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN

516 Carew Street

Springfield, MA 01104

413-787-2000

MELHA BOARD OF GOVERNOR MEMBERS

David Burstein: Chairman, George Sachs, James Spear Jr., Joseph Surprenant, Edward Geoffrion, Gary Surprenant, Associate Member

Allen Zippin, P.P: Chairman Emeritus, Charles Weaver, P.P.: Chairman Emeritus, Philip E. Thomas P.P.: Chairman Emeritus

EMERITUS MEMBERS

Saul Michaelson

Robert Spaulding P.P.

SHRINERS BURNS HOSPITAL-BOSTON

51 Blossom Street

Boston, MA 02114-2699

617-722-3000

ON THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS FROM MELHA

Dean Whalen

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF MELHA SHRINERS, SHRINERS

INTERNATIONAL

CAMELHA

Available on the Web at

www.melhashriners.com

EDITOR

Russ Mitchell, P.P.

Email: ....................................................

413-, ...................................................... FAX: ......................................................

Photographer .........................................

SPECIAL NOTICE

All copy submitted for publication must be submitted by e-mail to themel-hanews@comcast.net and received before the 12th of the month preceding publication. All Ads must be submitted by the 1st of the month.

The Editor reserves the right to edit all copy.

POSTMASTER: Please send change of address notices to 133 Longhill St., Springfield, MA 01108.

MELHA SHRINER CENTER

133 Longhill Street Springfield, Massa-chusetts 01108

Tel.: ............................... (413) 736-3647 Fax ............................... (413) 731-9572

e-mail: recorder1@melhashriners.com

Debra Collins, Secretary

OFFICE HOURS

8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday

MELHA WEB SITE

www.melhashriners.com

From the Recorder

STATED MEETING NOTICE

Wednesday April 24, 2014, for the purpose of conduct-ing the business of Melha Shriners, as well as balloting on individuals for initiation, obligating candidates, and for the dissemination of in-formation to the membership on matters relating to current

Shrine events. All Nobles are invited to attend. Unit and Club leaders are required to attend. Proper attire is re-quired and please wear your Fez.

Ill. William Faust, Potentate

Attest Philip E. Thomas, PP

APRIL 2014 CAMELHA 3DIVAN OFFICERS

Potentate ........................... William Faust

413-786-1272

Chief Rabban ............... David Butterfield

413-519-5498

Ass't Rabban ..................... Brian Connor

413-636-4270

High Priest Prophet ............... Ray Turrini

413-785-5455

Oriental Guide ............. Robert Wogatske

413-575-7788

Treasurer .............. Ronald Gagnon P.P.

413-568-4402

Recorder ............. Philip E. Thomas P.P.

413-736-3647

First Ceremonial Master ........................ Glenn Surprenant

413-583-8991

Second Ceremonial Master ................................ Ed Geoffrion

413-537-8801

Chief Director ........................ Al Stratton

413-323-0268

Marshal ................................. Dan Smith

413-531-3542

Captain of the Guard ........... Leo Plourde

By Russ Mitchell, P.P.

Hopefully by now spring has sprung and all the flowers are in bloom. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough of winter. I might head south with the snow birds next year.

March proved to be a busy

month once again here at Melha, the Parade season started with Worcester and Holyoke and the “Ticket To Ride” Beatles show was tremendous.

It’s that time of the year when the Melha Shrine Circus comes to town, the Hamid family has put together another wonderful show for us this year.

ADVERTISING IN THE CAMELHA

No matter what you’re advertising, it will be seen by every shrine family. Every issue will be available on line and on the web there

b y i n c r e a s i n g y o u r advertising range and market share.

There will be however, some changes in the ad format in future editions of the Camelha.

CAMELHA AD SUBMISSIONS

All ads must be submitted to the Camelha editor at rmitch2066@aol.com. No later than the 1st of the preceding month they are to be published. For pricing and any other information contact the Melha Shrine office @ 413-736-3647

EDITORS COMMENTS

By Glenn Surprenant

By the time you are reading this, March has come and gone the weather is warming and spring is here.

We have already have two parades under our belts and thank you to all who have attended; reach out to your fellow Hadji members who have been absent and ask them to rejoin our band of travelers.

I hope the March meeting went well; thank you Brad

for covering that meeting. April will find us busy with circus promotions and prepa-rations for the circus. All volunteers are welcomed consider joining Team Cir-cus and being part of the happenings. A few thoughts for the upcoming months: Summers months seem far away but I would like to start planning for our July Hadji Picnic; looking to make it more enjoyable for all.

I would like to develop a plan to replace the go-cart

ramp truck; much work will need to be done as to what type of vehicle and estimates of cost.

We need to plan for the fu-ture and the repairs made this winter will only last for a few years. Once, the Cir-cus is over it will be time to schedule the Hadji Paper drives; please consider vol-unteering some time.

Thanks to all for all you do. on behalf of the children.

HADJI Glenn Surprenant

ADMINIST RATORS

Saul Michaelson: Chair ..... 413-537-5759

Nick Creanza .................... 413-596-2577

Cary Miller ........................ 413-567-0514

Stan Rubenstein ............... 413-567-0618

Ron Gagnon ..................... 413-568-4402

TRUSTEES

Kevin LaPlante: Chair ....... 413-626-9990

Michael Santos ................. 413-246-2804

David Duncan ................... 413-348-8766

Jack Greaves ................... 413-246-2804

John Scribner ................... 413-323-7729

Alan Couture .................... 413-537-1657

Harold W. Whitaker

Robert C. Woodruff

4 CAMELHA APRIL 2014

ing at Melha.

The Worcester and Holy-oke St Patrick's Day pa-rades will be over before the Camela is out in April. May 1st is the Melha Shrine Circus parade. Will you be there? As always, please visit your local Blue Lodge helping them with their meeting.

VINTAGE AUTO UNIT

by John Scribner

Nobles, I would like to thank all of vintage auto for voting to donate two new chairs to the Melha office to help make them comfortable to do what they do to help all of us at Melha.

I would like to remind all of the vintage auto mem-bers, parade time is here. If you don't have your car out yet and would like to ride with someone please contact me (John Scrib-ner) and I will try to get you a ride. Thank you, president of vintage auto, John Scribner. Reminder to all our meetings are on the first Tuesday of every month, we would appreci-ate it if you would come out and help support us.

ORIENTAL BAND by Andy L. Parker

Hi bro's. Just a note from an O,B, observer and member. Anybody getting wet at the plunge? Parades and circus coming up, let's support what we can. Don't forget bus trip Apr 6th(terry's birthday). Spring will be here soon! Take care.

Melha Shrine Units MELHA RAMBLING CAMPERS

By Evy Schoolcraft.

The March 19th meeting, our first of the year, should be over by the time this issue of Camelha comes out.

Our next meeting will be Wednesday, April 16th, at 6:30 PM. We'll eat pizza and discuss the various places we may go camp-ing in the upcoming sea-son. If you love to camp but have not yet joined us, please come to this meet-ing. We have lots of fun during our campouts.

Now is a great time for you to join us, get to know us, and make plans. Our camping group was begun so that wives and children would not have to stay home when hubby went to parades. We make it possi-ble for families to enjoy activities together.

Please do come and get acquainted with us!

FLYERS by Lance Whitcomb

Hi from Florida! The weather is 75 degrees plus. After watching your weather on TV, I’m sure glad to be here, we don’t shovel sunshine! I have been visiting Blue Lodges in the area and meeting new brothers.

On Saturday, the 8th I will be going to an outdoor third degree, it is the fourth I have attended. They have a BBQ dinner and good tasting. I have been down here in Florida for 2 months, with one more to go. So, I’m out of touch on what is happen-

BURNS BRIGADE By Bill Judd

The Melha Burn’s Brigade is a viable part of the Melha Shrine Center, in February I was involved with the Western MA Fire Safety Educators who vis-ited our Springfield Shin-ers Hospitals for Children, in conjunction with the annual kick-off to its year-long burn awareness cam-paign. The group spent time educating patients about fire safety and what to do in the event of a house fire. Sparky the Fire Dog along with a few fire fighters who sang safety songs to patients and fam-ily members in the waiting room.

The visit is a reminder for everyone to Be Burn Aware, the focus of the 2014 campaign, which concentrates on teaching children safety tips that will help keep them safe from burn injuries, espe-cially at home. Again to remind you there is a change in our meetings, as a result of a new schedule, we will be meeting quar-terly throughout the year during the months of Feb-ruary, May, August and November, on the second Monday of the month at 7 PM. That schedule will allow us to participate at the New England Fire Chief’s Fire and Ems show at the Big-E in June,

(Continued on page 5)

APRIL 2014 CAMELHA 5

as well as the Chip’s and burn awareness program held at the Eastfield Mall in October each year.

Our goal naturally is to increase membership and participation at events, for our current and any new members we encourage you to consider attending our scheduled meetings and help us grow into a stronger Melha Burns Bri-gade. Our Mission is still the same but in a new year, to educate all we can reach in Burn and Fire Prevention.

We are a small group of Nobles that believe that the work we do can save from injury and death of fire and its products. Do you want to be or know someone that’s wants to be part of a unit and (our dues is small only $10 per year) that keeps people safe from Fire and Burns? Come and join us. Until next month be safe..

THE DRUM CORPS by Jim Marceau, PP

There are two things you don't want to watch people make, love and sausage. You can add one more. You didn't want to watch the Corps trying to get a last minute practice in before the Pote's Friday night Disco party. The percussion ensemble was invited to play for the as-sembled group of Nobility and ladies, and we were trying to polish our new competition piece, this year titled "BOOMtown" before we went upstairs. This was to be our first public performance Well!

(Continued from page 4)

Melha Shrine Units Our "boom" very nearly turned into a "bust." I don't think we have EVER had a worse rehearsal! I couldn't remember any-thing. I don't think I could recall my name even if it was stitched into my un-derwear, leave alone what came next or how to get into it.. And, of course, nothing is written down. As a result, everyone was yelling, everyone was mad and upset. There may even have been a few cuss words used, and this in the unit room where seldom is heard a discouraging word (and the skies are not cloudy all day)! So how did it turn out? To find out, drop down to the next paragraph.

I hope no one was hurt in the drop, but I digress. It was GREAT! We hit it out of the park. There were only a few small glitches which nobody but us (and a drum judge) would notice.

We have until our first show to iron those out. Speaking of our next show, it will be held right here at Melha on Saturday, April 12. The Buglers Hall of Fame Springfield Re-gional will begin with our Military Band in concert at noon. The Legion of Honor will post the colors, followed by the individ-ual, ensemble, and mini-corps competitions. Lastly will come a solid group of exhibitions sure to enter-tain and amaze all present.

Dan Benoit has put to-gether a line up second only to the Championship show to be held in Con-necticut later this month. There will be refreshments available for purchase, as well as "soft" and "adult"

6 CAMELHA

beverages. All this for only $10.00 per person. Imagine. And at the same time, you will be helping the Drum Corps raise money for the new drums we so desperately need. Come cheer your own Melha entry on to victory.

Meanwhile. wherever you go, always remember to Rock the Fez!

HIGHLANDERS by Dick MacGregor

Hopefully winter is over and we are having warmer weather. March was a busy month (and cold) with 2 parades and the plunge in South Hadley. Unfortunately, we didn't march in the Worcester parade, because we only had 2 pipers sign up. We

need to get more of us on the street so we can make a good showing. Our Po-tentate Bill Faust would like the Highlanders to be the lead unit for Melha in parades. If we don't have enough players and marchers, that won't hap-pen.

April brings the trip to NYC for tartan day on the 5th. Sign up for the bus with Chief Parker. The Highlanders Spring Fling on the 26th. Get your ta-bles reserved and see Corey LaCrosse for tick-ets.

Please come down on Monday nights so we can practice. Remember, if you know of any of our members that are sick or distressed, let PC John Burns know. Life is short, so enjoy yourself while you can.

(Continued from page 5) Morning Social At IHOP

All Nobles are invited to attend the "Breakfast Club

Social" held at the IHOP on River-dale Rd. in W e s t Springfield, Ma every

Thursday morning at 9:00am. Join us to do what Melha Shriners do... (besides eating) that's hav-ing fun!

Melha Shrine Units

APRIL 2014 CAMELHA 7

Butterfield Auditorium Events for April

April 3rd ............................... Daughter’s Nile Full Session

April 7th .............................................. BSMC Blood Mobile

April 10th ....................... Two Unit Dinner (Directors/Hadji)

April 12th .......................................... Buglers Hall of Fame Springfield Regional—Melha Drum Corps

April 18th ............................ Office Closed for Good Friday

April 19th ........................................................... Fundraiser

April 19th ........................................................... Fundraiser

April 26th ..................................................... Highland Fling

Every Monday ................................................ Highlanders

Every Tuesday ............................................. Military Band

Melha Shrine Clubs BERKSHIRE SHRINE CLUB

by John Fiske

April is Appreciation Month at the Berkshire Shrine Club. This is the time we show our appre-ciation to all the people who support us during the year. We will be dinning at the Bass Water Grill in Cheshire, Ma. on April 9,2014. The social will start at 6pm and dinner will follow at 7pm. The cost is $15.00 pp.

Nobles, if you haven't been to a meeting in awhile this would be a good one to attend. It is very heart warming to see all the people who help us raise money to care for our Children. It would be wonderful to see a sea of Fezes in the room. Look-ing forward to seeing old

friends and new Nobles.

Come and help us say a big Shrine Thank you to our many, many support-ers.

PIONEER VALLEY SHRINE CLUB

by Bob Salmon

Hello from the beautiful Pioneer Valley. This month will find PVSC in Ludlow on Sunday April 27,2014 at 2:00pm to see the Exit 7 Players do their production of 9 to 5. To get tickets call Ed Gillis at 413-786-6261 or Bob Salmon at 860-623-4511. Tickets must be ordered by April 20,2014. After the show anyone wanting to go to dinner we are working on a restaurant. The name of the restaurant will be announced later. Anyone having any ideas

of things to do let us know.

FRANKLIN SHRINE CLUB

8 CAMELHA APRIL 2014

from 10 A.M. to 9 P.M. and on Sunday, May 4th from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M.

E. Promotional events:1. Satur-day, 4/19: Berkshires Big Y (site to be determined). 2. Sat-urday, 4/26: Wilbraham Big Y (Boston Road) 3. Sunday, 4/27: Noble Bob Evans” IHOP (Riverdale Street, West Spring-field) PLEASE NOTE: All of these events will run from 10 a.m. to at 1:00 p.m. unless the traffic flow would require us to stay until 2:00 p.m. which will be determined at the site.

F. The Grand Entry of the units will take place at the following performances:

1. Fri.-5/2—7:30, Sat.5/3—2:30 & 7:30 Sun.5/4—12:30

G. The Smith and Wesson Community Performance will take place at 4 on Friday the 2nd and help will be needed at this performance.

Team Circus

(Continued from page 1)

Melha Shrine Center

APRIL 2014 CAMELHA 9

Melha Shrine Center

10 CAMELHA APRIL 2014Melha Shriners Having Their Winter Picnic In Florida.

The Nobles and their ladies in the photo are: Malcom and Winnie Corse, Mike and Patty Hatcher, Phil and Ardelle Zych, Ron and Sally Gagnon. (not in the photo but also attended were Stan and Barbara Hansen)

Melha's Pote Gets An Assist

Assisting with the dropping of the puck is Melha’s own Illustrious Potentate Bill Faust along with Imperial Sir Doug Maxwell, who enjoyed some R and R after the Mid Winter N S A meeting Held in Springfield this past March.

APRIL 2014 CAMELHA 11

The 2014 Potentates Aides

2014 Potentate's Reception

April 2014 Melha Shriners Event Calendar

4-18 Friday CIRCUS BOX OFFICE OPENS TO NOBILITY 5 Saturday 6:00 PM SMITH AND WESSON COMEDY NIGHT AT THE CEDARS 7 Monday 9 AM -1PM BLOOD DRIVE 9 Wednesday 6:00 PM BERKSHIRE SHRINE CLUB APPRECIATION DINNER

10 Thursday 6:00 PM HADJI AND DIRECTORS DINNER 12 Saturday 1:00 PM MELHA DRUM CORPS' BUGLERS HALL OF FAME COMPETITION 14 Monday 6:00PM FRANKLIN SHRINE CLUB NO MEETING 14 Monday 6:30 PM BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING 16 Wednesday 7:00 PM MAP COMMITTEE MEEETING 18 Friday GOOD FRIDAY - OFFICE CLOSED 19 Saturday 10:00 AM CIRCUS PROMOTION - BIG Y PITTSFIELD 21 Monday CIRCUS BOX OFFICE OPENS TO PUBLIC 21 Monday 6:30 PM CIRCUS STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING 21 Monday 7:30 PM TEAM CIRCUS MEETING 23 Wednesday 7:30 PM STATED MEETING 26 Saturday 6:00 PM MELHA HIGHLANDERS HIGHLAND FLING 26 Saturday 10:00 AM CIRCUS PROMOTION - BIG Y - WILBRAHAM 27 Sunday 10:00 AM CIRCUS PROMOTION - IHOP W. SPRINGFIELD