Nobles and Ladies:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for the support shown to Lady Debbie and myself. I feel like we have a lot to be thankful for because without that support and friendship, we could not have gotten where we are. We look forward to a very good year for Kerbela and all our Shrine family.

As I look back, I cannot believe that four years could pass so swiftly. It seems like only yesterday that I asked the Nobles of Kerbela Shrine to elect me to the position of Oriental Guide.

Now just four years later we have had many new experiences and have made many, many new friends, We feel that everyone at Kerbela and throughout Shrinedom are our extended family.

As I begin serving the Nobility of Kerbela this year, I look back to what has made Kerbela what it is today: the Past Potentates, Chief Aides, Commanders and all the Nobles who have worked so hard to get and keep Kerbela where it is today.

Thank you for all you’ve done, and Nobles thank you for all the things that you will do in the future to keep Kerbela on the right track.

As I look forward to the future of Kerbela Shine, I see only good things. We are indeed lucky to have so many good and able Nobles who are ready and willing to keep Kerbela going and growing. The Imperial Potentate’s theme this year is, "We are family." Here at Kerbela we will support and build on that very important dream; without new Nobles and retaining those Nobles we now have, we face losing all we have worked so hard to retain. Without moving forward we can only hasten the downward slide to extinction.

I chose the theme of "Living the Talk, Helping Kids Walk" because we all talk the talk; now it’s time to walk the walk. That means doing all we can for the good of our Shrine center, our Hospitals and all of our Nobles now and those to come. A Noble at the circus this year said to me, "The most we can do for our kids is the least we can do." I don’t believe it can be said any better than that.  

This year at Kerbela we are going to try to bring some new ideas and refresh some old ones for the good of all Nobles. I look forward to working with all the members of the Divan the staff and every Noble of Kerbela to keep Kerbela on the cutting edge of Shrinedom. With your help by attending the many functions we have planned this year, not only can we continue the fun we had last year, but we can show all of Shrinedom what can be accomplished by working together, having fun and helping kids.

Nobles and ladies, it is a great honor to serve as Potentate of Kerbela Shriners this year.

Yours in the faith,

Vince C. Johnson

Vince C. Johnson
Potentate 2008