Commentator Message - March 2023

Wow!!!! What a great start to 2023!!! We had a great time at our 2023 Hejaz Gala Stampede as all of our Cowboys and Cowgirls came out in full force to “Rise With Me and Rock 23”!!! We enjoyed an evening filled with good food, a great message and great entertainment! 

One of our own, Byron Smith, on behalf of our speaker and huge benefactor Mr. Eddie Wilson, delivered the message sent by Eddie. Eddie works tirelessly with our Laurens Race and is a major contributor to our main Potentate’s Project for this year. Eddie is not only a hard worker for our hospitals and children, but he was a Shriner Child himself.   Next our Shrine Child and Ambassador Wyatt Banks and his mother Abby spoke which is always a treat and a great message that represents our cause. Then came the entertainment from our own Cody Webb!!!  I let all three hairs down as we partied and played into the night!!! A huge thank you to all that came and participated!!!

From there we started traveling. We went to see our friends at Omar first, as Mike Donald was elected and installed as Potentate asking Omar to “Charge The Storm”!!!. They had a great program as well with Mike entering the building on his go cart riding over the hearse representing his unit the Omar Dare Devils! They had good food, the presentation by their Shrine child and the evening moved on into dancing the night away!!! Everyone enjoyed the ongoing hospitality throughout the weekend!

Next, we were off to Jamil. Jeff Snipes had been elected and installed as Potentate the prior weekend while we were in Mt. Pleasant. They had a full stable of cowboys and cowgirls as well! There was a special treat for us there! Yes, they had good food. Yes, they had good entertainment. Yes.....they had a great Shrine talk from none other than Bobbi Jo Wright!!!

For those that don’t know, Bobbi Jo is the little girl in the arms of the Shriner in the Kosair Shriners Silent Messenger! What an honor to be there to hear her and get to spend time with her!!! She was truly a highlight to the evening!!!

Since then, the Divan has continued to stay busy. We have journeyed throughout several clubs and units already and continue to travel and visit. We divide to cover more places and have been to Newberry, Saluda, Laurens, Cherokee, Directors Staff, Union, Spartanburg and several more. 

We had our Clubs & Units Seminar at Newberry Shrine Club with record attendance to show up for a full breakfast and our annual entertaining speaker Mr. John Kirkland from S.L.E.D. 

Most recently a majority of the Divan showed up for the Second Annual Polar Bear Plunge, and yes.....Four of us jumped!!!

Folks again, we are off to a great start! Let’s continue coming together with Unity, Fellowship and Brotherly Love!!! 

We will continue to travel and maintain our momentum with enthusiasm and excitement for what we do!!! Keep working hard for your Temple, Clubs, Units and Hospital, all of which help us take care of our Kids!!!! If we haven’t seen you yet.....We Will!!! Keep the faith!!!!

Please “Rise with Me In 23” because there “AIN’T NO JAZZ LIKE HEJAZ”!!!!

Byron Sheppard

Potentate Hejaz 2023