Greeting fellow Nobles.

My name is James “Moose” Fitzgerald. I am a member of the El Riad Oriental Band in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I have been a member of “THE BAND” since day ONE.

I am currently serving as the 2nd Vice President for the ASOB.

I am a past President of our Oriental Band, past ASOB Mid-West Ambassador and past ASOB quartermaster.

I have had great times and memories attending Imperial Sessions and meeting so many fellow bandsmen. Some of the best have been just conversing with the past ASOB Presidents. I have met 22 (out of the last 26).

I have had multiple conversations with our 3rd Vice President about how we can move foreword. Lets GET BACK to Imperial! Charlotte N.C. 2023! The other Noble Fitzgerald is with me on this. We have a plan. That plan entails not only band competition, but possible individual performances and small group/duets. We need to set-up a booth at the market place. ADVERTISE! The Oriental Band is one of the oldest units recognized by Imperial!

I would like to do a monthly ZOOM meeting with all the Ambassadors and any Band that wants to engage. Bottom line is "What can WE do for you?"

I would like to restart the fall Executive committee meeting. Things that have come to your attention, that need to be addressed NOW.

I think that the Mid Winter meeting is essential. That we meet face-to-face and HASH things out that effect the overall good of the association.

Something that I will always remember talking to a past President:
“Flying into an airport for Imperial .. You can always pick out the guy that's an Oriental Bandsman. There is a bounce to his step and an air about him!”

I would like for you to take into consideration my name as the next ASOB President.

James “Moose” Fitzgerald
moose@bmtc.net

Greetings fellow Nobles and Bandsmen!

Let me introduce myself. I am James “Moose” Fitzgerald. I currently am the 2nd Vice President of the A.S.O.B.

I grew up in Beresford, South Dakota where I currently reside. I left for the U.S. Navy upon graduation from Beresford High School. I served 20 year on active duty (mostly in the Pacific). I retired as a Chief Petty Officer. I returned back to my hometown upon retirement.

In 2009 I was raised a Master Mason. One month later I was initiated as a Shriner with the El Riad Shrine in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The following weekend I marched in my first parade. I was hooked, and I still am.

I have attended many Imperial Sessions where I have met many fellow OBer's. Attending these events I have the great fortune to have met and conversed with every past ASOB President back to the 1997-1998 ASOB President Paul Pante (Sahib), with the exceptions of Charles Duffin (Al Azhar), Len Turner (Karnak), Bob Johnson (Beni Kedem), and Peter Lawn (Gizeh).

I was an aide to Lonnie Merriman (El Riad) and assisted at Imperial for Richard “BIG” Thompson (El Hasa), Vince Bobrosky (Acca), and David McCarthy (Mosla).

I plan is to retire from my current employment at the close of this year and commit to bringing back those bands that have “fallen by the wayside “ over the years.

Remember our Vision “A HEALTHY ORIENTAL BAND COMUMITY FOR THE BENEFIT OF SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN

Remember our Mission “TO PROVIDE THE TOOLS FOR FUN, MUSIC, RECRUITMENT AND FUNDRAISING FOR THE ORIENTAL BAND COMMUNITY”

I know this pandemic put a strain on many bands and moving forward we will regain our strength as an association and gather for competition and fellowship.

I hope to see many of my friends, and make new ones in the upcoming year.

James “Moose” Fitzgerald
e-mail moose@bmtc.net

Greetings Nobles,

My name is John Fitzgerald, the Director of the Al Kader Oriental Band in Portland, Oregon. I have been in the Shrine since 1996, and part of the Masonic family for four generations in my home lodge, North Bank #182, in Washougal, WA.

Some of my greatest moments with the Oriental Band, and in Shrine in general, have been in working with the hospital in Portland, or visiting other hospitals in Hawaii, Houston, and Spokane to name a few. And of course, some of the most fun times have been in competing at Imperial Session, having jam sessions, helping the boys from Montana clean up the hospitality room one glass at a time.

Because of these great times in the past, and the hope I have for the future, I am putting forth my name to be considered for the position of First Vice President for the next year. The other Noble Fitzgerald and I have had a number of conversations about what we can do for the next couple of years to help build our organization. A shared goal we have is to bring our annual competition back in line with Imperial Session, and to develop a program to draw individual Oriental Bandsmen to come to our events during the Imperial Session. I would like to restructure our competition in a way to draw more bands, soloists, and small group participation. Furthermore, ensuring one or more Jam Sessions to bring in the bandsmen who may be attending with another unit or part of a Divan will be something to advertise.

Speaking of advertisement and communication, my goal for 2022-2023 will be to contact every Shrine center in North America and establish communications with them, as well as take an inventory to help our quartermaster create the database we all want to see on our website. With 5 phone calls per week over 52 weeks, we reckon we can accomplish this goal in one year. Inshallah!

The Al Kader Oriental Band has given so much to me, that I am excited to return what I can for both our band and the national organization.

In the Faith,

John Fitzgerald