To all my brothers and Sisters: I would like to thank our membership for giving me the opportunity to fill the position of the Exalted Ruler this coming year. I would also like to thank our fellow officers who have given me guidance to this point. Our management and staff have also been such a help. We, as officers, are lucky to have such a great support staff.

We have been practicing for ritual competition. Some of you know or have participated in this long standing tradition. Those of you who haven’t, I urge you to attend this year’s competition in Redding. We compete against all the other lodges in our district. We performed the initiation ritual for the first time on step-up night, Wednesday, March 23, at our Lodge. I would like to commend the Officers for the fine job they did.

To give you a little insight into my life: I am married to Victoria, we have two children that you may have seen running about. We both work locally. I’m in telecommunications and my wife works for a local agricultural management company.

As for our officers this year, we have some new additions. Starting with our new trustee Russ Fortier, PER, Esquire Brian Arntzen, Chaplain Kevin Payne, and Inner guard Matt Stanton. I’m pleased to inform you they are all doing really well in preparation for our competition.

Finally, please review the menu of the dinners and make time to eat at our Lodge. Matt and his staff put together some of the best dishes in this area! I had a stuffed cod that would have been $18.00 or more at any restaurant in town. At our facility, it was only $9.00 with the best salad bar in town and dessert! We all plan evenings out. All I’m asking is that you review our own menu and take advantage of our dinners.

Thanks again for this opportunity and hope to see you at dinner some evening.

Michael Staples, Exalted Ruler