Greetings fellow musicians of the caravan…

I am John Fitzgerald of the Al Kader Oriental band and recently elected Vice President of the ASOB. I was raised in North Bank Lodge #182 in Washougal, Washington, and was literally raised there. I’m still looking for the photo of me in a bassinet in the East when my mom was Worthy Matron of her Eastern Star Chapter. Four generations of my family have been members of our lodge, and I joined DeMolay as a teenager. A few of the brothers in my lodge were in the Oriental Band, knew I played drums, and brought me along in the late 90’s. I played with the band for five or six years, but the last decade or so has found me at many an oasis all over this little planet of ours.

My wife, Michelle, and I took up a life of teaching abroad in International Schools with me as a high school English Teacher and Michelle as a Librarian and Technology instructor. Sadly, this kept me apart from the best unit in the Al Kader Temple, but they would welcome me in with familiar arms and jesting jokes whenever I was home for Christmas or Summer holidays. However, in my travels I was able to sit in lodges in Adana, Turkey; Incirlik Air Force Base; Izmir, Turkey; Lusaka, Zambia; and Tokyo, Japan. There were also some dark years in China, Dubai, and an inability to connect with the brothers of Lithuania, but my time spent in foreign lands earning and receiving a master’s wages were some of the best I could imagine.

COVID19 and a desire to be closer to our families have brought Michelle and I back to America, and while not watered for some years, our roots and my Masonic ties are quickly growing deep and sprouting fruit. Caliph, Ralph Jubb, has been a long-time friend and mentor, and is doing all he can to help us ease back into our local Masonic Family here in Portland. As much as I love playing with the OB and traveling with the Nobles, it seems like a great opportunity to step in as 3rd Vice President of the ASOB. Michelle and I have become accustomed to travel these last 20 years, and not setting foot on a plane in over a year has us itching to get out and see new places, meet new people, and enjoy the hospitality of a friendly oasis. I look forward to meeting many new brothers and sharing the cup of camaraderie.

Cheers!

John Fitzgerald