oriental band alzafar shrine - Association of Shrine Oriental Bands of

Volume 1, Issue 8
NOVEMBER 2013
ALZAFAR SHRINE
ORIENTAL BAND
San Antonio, Texas
Welcome Nobles all !
Thanks for visiting the Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band Newsletter. This newsletter is published from time to time
so our band’s events can be recorded and shown to all. Check-in periodically to get additional news and photos
not published in the Alzafar Achbar and now in the Na Khabar newsletters. I hope you enjoy this issue.
Thanks again for your visit !!!
The Musette Newsletter
William “Bill” Nanes
President/Band Director
Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band
San Antonio, Texas
wnanes@sbcglobalnet
www.asob.org/alzafar-shrine-oriental-band.html
A MESSAGE FROM THE ORIENTAL BAND PRESIDENT
Well … another year is near the end and it is time to select new officers for the 2014 Oriental Band year. The
selections will be held during our November Stated Meeting on November 18th. But before that happens, I want to
get my thoughts communicated as the current 2013 Alzafar Oriental Band President.
During my term as the 2013 Oriental Band President, I started several projects; completed some and others are
still in the works and/or waiting for outside resources delivery, good weather, support or time itself. No matter
who is elected as the 2014 Oriental Band president, I will complete the projects I started whether it’s the Oriental
Band parking lot island, the band tom-toms restorations and the old bass drum lettering rejuvenation. Of course I
still have the 2013-2014 Band Director duties to fulfill. Therefore, regardless of the 2014 president selection
outcome, I will still be annoying to some and cheered by others.
The Oriental Band has had many officers during its San Antonio formation on November 7, 1977. Therefore, the
band members will have no problems evaluating and selecting its 2014 officers on November 18th this year.
Please try your best to attend our November stated meeting. We will be voting on the 2014 band president,
Secretary/Treasurer and Quarter Master. We may also have the honor of voting for a Sultan which I hope we will
have a nominee. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A SULTAN. So if there is anyone out there who is out-going, has
rhythm, a clown sort of nature, etc. come on out and join the band and get nominated. Perhaps you will be voted
upon as per our by-laws. You WILL NOT REGRET IT. We may already have your uniform and fun provided!
Oh … and by-the-way … the 2013 Alzafar Oriental Bandsman of the Year will also be voted upon on the 18th.
URGENT NOTICE
The Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band will be holding their annual stated meeting and Christmas dinner at the
Petroleum Club again this year. The date is December 9th, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. At this time, the installation of the
2014 band officers will be held. Illustrious Sir, Past Potentate Steve Molnar will be the installing official.
It is a high importance that all members help and support Noble Bobby Smith in organizing this event. One
urgent way you can help is to notify him if you and your guest(s) will be attending the function. And if so, please
provide Bobby with the cover charge by the end of November. I believe it is 46 bucks per person, there about.
ALZAFAR SHRINE ORIENTAL BAND
The purpose of the Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band is to have fun doing
what we do best; playing our instruments and having fun as Shriners.
However, while we are thoroughly enjoying the activities, we are always
mindful of your most important goal of perpetuating the programs of
our Temple and the Children’s Hospitals.
William Nanes, Publisher and Editor, The Musette Newsletter
William Nanes, Publisher and Editor, The Musette Newsletter
Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band
The Musette Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 8, November 2013
ALZAFAR SHRINE ORIENTAL BAND NEWS
UPCOMING IMPORTANT EVENTS FOR OUR ORIENTAL BAND
I already mentioned the events for our November stated meeting, our annual gig at the Petroleum Club and the urgency of
supporting our good Noble, Bobby Smith’s efforts in setting up the event. I only see one more official Alzafar Shrine event for
our Oriental Band for 2013 and that is the Sattler Texas Christmas parade. This parade is the last for the year and will be held
on Saturday, December 14th. This is Charlie’s (Doc) favorite parade. Could be because of the chili that’s served at the VFW’s
tail gate event after the parade? The Canyon Lake Shrine does in fact provide one of the best tail-gate parties I have experience. I
hope to see every swinging Alzafar Shrine Band member at this parade. LETS END THE YEAR WITH A BIG BAND. Cold,
wet, hot, whatever. As long as the Oriental Band Ladies are okay for a few hours, let us try and attend this event. In fact, the
Shrine Ladies will have a float as the Veterans Parade! So bring your Ladies! They will join in the fun if they are abled.
Another Alzafar family event that I believe will be held is the Alzafar Shrine Christmas gig as last year. I have received no news
concerning this endeavor to this date. I will communicate the same when I hear something from the Divans.
SO WHAT IN THE WORLD DID THE ORIENTAL BAND DO SINCE THE FLORESVILLE PEANUT FESTIVAL PARADE?
HOW ABOUT AN ALZAFAR SHRINE SPOOKY HALLOWEEN PARTY!
Holy Crap !! ….
Spooks !
The Alzafar Shrine held a superb annual Halloween Party for the kids, both young and old. Our Oriental Guide, Gary
Radvansky and his volunteers provided many hours and hard work to organize, prepare and launch this event which to me,
was the best since I became a Shriner. Well job done goes out to the organizers, setup volunteers and the family members
who also provided their time and efforts. Also, to all of the units who decorated their unit room. I especially want to thank
the members of the Oriental Band members and their ladies for taking time and monies to help provide decorations and
goodies for our Halloween guests who visited our band room. Here are some pictures for all to enjoy:
The walk through
Main Parlor
The Band Room
The Clown’s Room
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The Oriental Band Room
THE MUSETTE NEWSLETTER
William Nanes, Publisher and Editor, The Musette Newsletter
Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band
The Musette Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 8, November 2013
ALZAFAR SHRINE SUPPORTS THE VETERANS AT THE SAN ANTONIO VETERANS PARADE
Many of our Alzafar Shriners are Veterans. For this reason, and others, we as Shriners support all Veterans and their families.
But most of all we honor those who are not among us due to wars and conflicts we have endured in the past and are still serving
as such.
We also remember those who are missing and have yet to be found and given the proper service and recognition they so much
deserve. We also think about those who have actually suffered the pain of wounds and lost members; both women and men.
Thank you for the service you or your love ones have given for our freedom and to those who can only dream of it.
So with that said, lets see several of the supper pictures Noble Art Loera took along the parade route. Art must have clones
along the way since every time I looked, he was on my right then left all along the route from the start to the end. Thank you
so much for taking these pictures. Otherwise I wouldn’t have flicks for this newsletter since I left my camera at home.
Clowning ‘round at the lineup before
the parade start. And what a delay it
was. We had breakfast then we had
lunch before we actually started.
Bummer!
The Oriental provided the service
flags in our entry as done for the
past two years.
I think the Recorder is about to get
a ‘jump start’ here. He didn’t seem
to needed it at the restaurant after
breakfast! A few huevos rancheros
he had already should have kicked
in!
The few percussion members who
were able to attend gave it their all!
Now here is a blessing! Walter
Koehler, a member of the
Director’s Staff. One of two
who always provide their
service and give us a smooth
ride! And a jerkless one at
that! Nice since the Musette
horn players are standing.
Classic! Illustrious Sir Past
Potentate Steve Molnar at the helm
of being the solo tom-tom musician
in this parade. Great job!
And here we go … into the
sunset. Another parade well
done.
Here is what it is all about …
having fun, performing and
representing the Shrine and our
hospitals. It’s all for the Children!
I must include the Directors staff
who always support the Oriental
band.
And finally … the Alzafar
Shrine family float that only
recently was possible. Look out
for this float at our Sattler
Christmas parade in
December!
News ALERT … News ALERT
The Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band has again made themselves present by way of an article in the Na Khabar, Association of Shrine
Oriental Bands International, newsletter; Volume 85, September 2013, Number 13, after many years of absence. You can now
access the newsletter via www.asob.org. Click on ‘Newsletter’ on the left pane. Our band entry is on page 12 of the web version of
this newsletter issue. Or enter www.asob.org/alzafar-shrine-oriental-band.html. The soft-cover magazine has not been mailed to
our band as of this date, November 10, 2013.
Page 3
THE MUSETTE NEWSLETTER
Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band
The Musette Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 8 NOVEMBER 2013
William Nanes, Publisher and Editor, The Musette Newsletter
NEW MEMBERSHIP DRIVE !!!
No need to remind everyone … not only do we need to seek new members into the Alzafar Shrine, but the Alzafar Shrine Oriental
Band is seeking new members as well. We recently were honored to receive our current OG, Gary Radvanski and he will be
playing the Quad drums. There is also a potential new experienced percussion individual yet to be officially confirmed and
announced. And for cryin’ out loud, we’ve had a few Nobles showing interests at the Veterans parade line-up area. We’ll see in
the near future if these new interested members materialize. Till then my fellow worthy, Musette and Percussionist Musicians and
their families … see ya all soon! And I hope you enjoyed this issue of “THE MUSETTE”.
Florida
A senior citizen drove his brand new Corvette convertible out of the dealership. Taking off down the road, he pushed it to 80 mph,
enjoying the wind blowing through what little hair he had left. “Amazing,” he thought as he flew down I-95, pushing the pedal even more.
Looking in his rear view mirror, he saw a Florida State Trooper, blue lights flashing and siren blaring. He floored it to 100 mph, then 110,
then 120. Suddenly he thought, “What am I doing? I’m too old for this!” and pulled over to await the trooper’s arrival.
Pulling in behind him, the trooper got out of his vehicle and walked up to the Corvette. He looked at his watch, then said, “Sir, my shift
ends in 30 minutes. Today is Friday. If you can give me a new reason for speeding – a reason I’ve never before heard – I’ll let you go.”
The old gentleman paused then said, “Three years ago, my wife ran off with a Florida State Trooper. I thought you were bringing her
back.”
“Have a good day, Sir,” replied the trooper..
Georgia
The owner of a golf course in Georgia was confused about paying an invoice, so he decided to ask his secretary for some mathematical
help.
He called her into his office and said, “Y’all graduated from the University of Georgia and I need some help. If I wuz to give yew $20,000,
minus 14%, how much would you take off?”
The secretary thought a moment, and then replied, “Everthang but my earrings.”
Louisiana
A senior citizen in Louisiana was overheard saying, “When the end of the world comes, I hope to be in Louisiana .”
When asked why, he replied, “I’d rather be in Louisiana ‘cause everthang happens in Louisiana 20 years later than in the rest of the
world.”
Mississippi
The young man from Mississippi came running into the store and said to his buddy, “Bubba, somebody just stole your pickup truck from
the parking lot!”
Bubba replied, “Did y’all see who it was?”
The young man answered, “I couldn’t tell, but I got the license number.”
North Carolina
A man in North Carolina had a flat tire, pulled off on the side of the road, and proceeded to put a bouquet of flowers in front of the car
and one behind it. Then he got back in the car to wait..
A passerby studied the scene as he drove by, and was so curious he turned around and went back. He asked the fellow what the problem
was.
The man replied, “I got a flat tahr.”
The passerby asked, “But what’s with the flowers?”
The man responded, “When you break down they tell you to put flares in the front and flares in the back. I never did understand it neither.”
Tennessee
A Tennessee State Trooper pulled over a pickup on I-65.
The trooper asked, “Got any ID?”
The driver replied, “Bout whut?”
Texas
The Sheriff pulled up next to the guy unloading garbage out of his pick-up into the ditch. The Sheriff asked, “Why are you dumping
garbage in the ditch? Don’t you see that sign right over your head.”
“Yep,” he replied. “That’s why I’m dumpin’ it here, ‘cause it says: ‘Fine For Dumping Garbage.’”
Y’all kin say whut y’allwant ‘about the South, but y’all never heard o’ nobody retirin’ an’ movin’ North
Page 4
THE MUSETTE NEWSLETTER
Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band
William Nanes, Publisher and Editor, The Musette Newsletter
The Musette Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 8, November 2013
Alzafar shrine oriental band
2013 Parade schedule
Note: Some scheduled parades may have been skipped by the Oriental Band but many other Alzafar Shrine units were there to participate.
DATE
PARADE
LOCATION
LINE-UP
SAT. 23 Feb
Washington Birthday
Laredo, Texas
7:00 a.m.
9:00 a.m.
SAT. 13 Apr
Strawberry Festival
Poteet, Texas
8.00 a.m.
10.00 a.m.
SAT. 27 Apr
Fiesta Flambeau
San Antonio, Texas
5:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
SAT. 04 May
Cornyval
Helotes, Texas
7:30 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
SAT. 04 May
Hobo Fest (optional)
Kirby, Texas
9:00 a.m.
10.:00 a.m.
SAT. 11 May
Bluebonnet Festival
La Vernia, Texas
8:00 a.m.
10.00 a.m.
SAT. 25 May
Memorial Day
Bandera, Texas
9:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
SAT. 15 Jun.
Berges Fest
Boerne, Texas
7:30 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
th
START
THUR. 04 July
July 4 Jubliee (optional)
Schertz, Texas
8:00 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
FRI. 23 Aug
Gillespie Cty Fair (optional)
Fredericksburg, Texas
8:45 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
SAT. 31 Aug
Kendall County Fair
Boerne, Texas
8:00 a.m.
10.00 a.m.
SAT. 21 Sep
Medina County Fair
Hondo, Texas
8:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
SAT. 12 Oct
Peanut Festival
Floresville, Texas
8:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
SAT. 19 Oct
Fiesta de Amistad
Del Rio, Texas
8:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
SAT. 26 Oct
Cowboys Homecoming
Pleasanton, Texas
8:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
SAT. 2, Nov
Fall Festival
Devine, Texas
8:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
SAT. 09 Nov
Veteran’s Day
San Antonio, Texas
10:00 a.m.
12:00 noon
SAT. 14 Dec
Christmas Parade
Sattler, Texas
9:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
CANCELLED
ALZAFAR SHRINE ORIENTAL BAND BRIEF HISTORY
The original Alzafar Band was formed in 1940. However it was not formed in San Antonio but at a Shrine club in the valley
of Texas which was part of the Alzafar Shrine in San Antonio, Texas.
At a Flambeau parade in San Antonio years later a Nobel of the Alzafar Shrine asked for and received permission to form
an Oriental Band. It was announced in the Alzafar ARCHBAR publication and drew five Nobles. A meeting was held on
November 7, 1977 and the new Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band was formed.
In January 1978 at an official stated meeting, Potentate Floyd O. Schneider officially announced the new unit. At that
instance the stage curtains opened and the Nobles where treated with “Hoochie Kooch” played by the newly formed
Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band.
The very first Texas All State competition for the Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band was in Houston, Texas in 1978. What is
funny is that the band won this competition but was soon disqualified because someone noticed that the new band played
the wrong contest song. The tune announced during Mid-Winter in El Paso, Texas was for the following year, not this
competition. The Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band did win at Austin Texas in 1980. The rest is history.
Today the Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band enjoys playing in parades and competitions. Although most of our members are
aging, they are strong as a camel. Our Musettes have been around for the longest time. No one knows for sure.
Nevertheless, they produce their unique sound at the helm of their musicians. Our percussion players are going strong as
well. We hope our new Shriners will look us over and see that we are a fun group and join our band.
So that’s it in a nut shell. Some of this information was taken in part from Oriental Band member’s handbook written back
in 1993 and again in 1997. William “Bill” Nanes, Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band, President/Music Director now and later!
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THE MUSETTE NEWSLETTER