Potentate's Page

FROM THE POTENTATE

Well, it’s March, and there’s not a lot going on. A dinner here, a fundraiser there, lots of meetings preparing for this summer’s parades and events. When you meet with your clubs and units, please take a minute or two to discuss Shrine Membership and what your club or unit can do to attract members to Zem Zem. It’s not a hard sell. We offer good times and delicious meals with great people for a great cause. All we have to do is get the word out and show people what we do. Zem Zem Membership & Marketing is offering every club and unit up to $500 to help offset the cost of a membership event. It can be a dinner, a picnic, a steak fry, a family or stag event; anything that focuses on inviting nonmembers to interact with us and learn more about Shriners and what we do. To be eligible for the $500 reimbursement, you must hold your event prior to the end of June. This will enable any potential new members who are Master Masons to attend at the Summer Ceremonial the end of July. NonMasons who are interested in joining us will need to petition a local Blue Lodge. Non-Mason potential members are especially welcome. Things that benefit the Shrine, benefit the Lodges; and things that benefit the Lodges benefit the Shrine. Our Lodges can use our help. I encourage all Shriners to get active in their Lodges and get the word out. Please put your heads together at your next club or unit meeting to see what kind of membership event you can come up with. Please feel free to contact me or Chief Rabban Keith Phillips if you have any questions or want to bounce ideas off us. We’re always glad to help and we look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks to all and God bless,
Burt Brocklehurst

A WORD FROM THE FIRST LADY

Hi everyone, we’re two months in, and excitement and anticipation continue to grow for 2026. First off, I’d like to thank everyone who’s helped so far. Zem Zem has a lot going on this year, and Burt and I truly appreciate everything that’s being done behind the scenes to make this year successful and fun for everyone. Planning continues for the Jewelry Jackpot in October, and we’ve run a couple of fundraising raffles for the First Lady’s Project. The Activities Committee is holding a Meat Bingo event at the Mercer County Shrine Club on Sunday, April 19th , and they are busy planning for the Potentate’s Ball in June and Fall MASA in Virginia Beach. Please refer to the Zem Zem website, www.zemzem.us, and the Facebook Page, Zem Zem Shriners – Erie, PA”, for the latest updates.

Thanks again for your support
Lisa Brocklehurst
2026 Zem Zem First Lady