The week started out with Ben and I arriving in Reno on Saturday, May 2nd , 2026.
Upon arrival we met with Rodney Metoyer and Fred Dolling who were otherwise occupied with Hotel issues and asked if we would host Retired General Ken Laswell and his wife Juanita for the evening. We whole heartedly agreed to the request and took them to Black Bear Diner for dinner.
The next day, Sunday was registration for Grand Encampment and Department Council. All went well. Monday sessions for the Department started just fine. When we got to Elections, it was explained that the current Deputy Department Commander (Greg Schomaker) was told that if he wanted to run for
Department Commander that he had to be on a zoom call at 9:00. He did not call in to the meeting.
The elections went as follows: Department Commander – Mel Astrahan and Debbie Shuler. Debbie Shuler declined. Deputy Department Commander – Debbie Shuler. Executive Officer – Larry Gunther. Yes that is right, we have now gone to one year terms and 3 officers. These officers were installed Monday afternoon. Mel kept most of the appointed officers the same as last year, where applicable. Substitutions will be reported later.
Tuesday was Grand Encampment – All went well. The new Grand Junior Warden elected is Matthew Elliot from Davis, with Bonnie Sellars from San Francisco as Senior Warden and Tony Pruitt as Grand Patriarch for the ensuing year.
It should be noted that Rita Cooper was not allowed to run for office as she is not a member of a regular Encampment or Canton but of jurisdictional, and jurisdictional members do not qualify to run for office. See you next year Rita when you move from jurisdictional.
— by Debbie Shuler
Past Grand Patriarch \ Deputy Department Commander
P.S. We will now be having 3 major receptions in our district within the next couple of years.
June 2027 – Adam Potolsky – Grand Master
March 2028 – Debie Shuler – Department Commander
June 2028 – Annie Cronin – Grand Master