Gary Bergenske, I don’t know where to start in reference to your visit to Ararat.  You were FANTASTIC!  You looked great, were well received, respected by all and kept participants on the edge of their seats all day.  You shared success stories, identified current problems and recommended strategies for recovery with a touch of class.  Needless to say when one can keep the interest of more than one-hundred participants (on a nice fall day) from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM and receive an enthusiastic standing ovation at the end as you did, that should tell you that you were a hit in Kansas City.

Shriners International is a fraternity of men who have the desire to serve their community. As Shrine Masons we have committed to this with other members throughout the world. We try to make the countries that we live in a better place and have fun with a purpose. Shriners Hospitals for Children is our philanthropy and the back bone of the drive in all of us to be better. Taking care of children that need our services is the main focal point in our organization. The Imperial Potentate is the number one Shriner who leads us in the direction to accomplish the needs of these children. In this book you will live the life of serving in this position. This book will give you an insight on the drive, dedication and sacrifices it takes to accomplish and provide the care for those in need.  

Gary and I met at Oriental Guide school when my late husband was elected to the HASAN Shrine Divan.  He and Gary had many great adventures including the privilege of awarding Former President Jimmy Carter as an Honorary Shriner and a Hospital Ambassador.  After my husband passed away during his Potentate year, Gary and I remained friends while I helped Gary complete a project with President Carter.  After completing his Potentate year, Gary sent me a transcript of his memoirs.  Gary really embraced his year as Imperial Potentate.  His memoirs were a joy to read.  As a past First Lady of the Shrine, it really warms my heart to know others that care so much. 

Being Imperial Potentate requires many qualities, total dedication and love. One of the highest qualities is communications including sharing information with various media outlets, the membership of the fraternity and our hospital system.  Gary and Anne were able to follow their dreams to enhance Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals for Children in every visit, in fact sometimes you felt that you were even traveling with them. As a Bahia Shriner I am very proud of Gary and Anne and all the time and hard work they contributed during their year.  Thank you, Gary and Anne.

Around 1963 or so, I came to the realization of just how much the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children did for the care and health for needy children.  As a result of this realization, I resolved to become a Shriner as soon as I had the means to do so.  I was in law school at the time and was living hand to mouth.  I became a Shriner in 1972 and the Shriner’s Hospitals have been one of my passions in life ever since.  The Shriners are unparalleled in their loving care for children.  Please read these pages carefully and you will be impressed as I was with all that the Shriners do for children.  God bless the Shriners and their “kids”.

I had the privilege of meeting Gary through a mutual friend.  In June 2018, Gary came to my house in Plains, GA to present President Carter with the Shriners Hospitals for Children Humanitarian Award.  I found both Gary and Anne to be wonderful people and was enthralled with his service.  I had the opportunity to read his manuscript when he sent a copy to Andrea.  I really enjoyed his stories and found his work throughout the year very special.  As you read, you will be reminded of what the good people in this world do.

If children are the soul of Shriners Hospitals for Children, Shriners are its heart. Physicians and nurses help heal while Shriners give compassionately. This story takes you on a journey of an Imperial Potentate’s servant leadership and dedication to helping children take their first steps. 

I have spent much of my career in retail management.  As I began to read “Campaign to be a Better Leader”, I saw the different ways I have personally changed in my leadership roles.  This book will have a huge impact on your life, career, and relationships with others.  The twelve keys are a powerful list of guidelines to help guide you to answer the call to true leadership.  Gary’s book should be a must read for any individual who is serious about becoming an effective leader.

In the recent past, I have taken some leadership classes and read some good leadership books.  I believe this book of Gary’s is one of the best as it is so easy to read and understand.  A must read!

“Campaign to be a Better Leader” is synonymous with leadership.  Gary Bergenske’s book will give you skills to become better in every setting you practice leadership.  Highly recommended.

In a world packed with leadership books, Gary Bergenske has written a classic.  You will be a far more effective leader after you read and digest this book.

Fresh, insightful, and heartwarming… with Campaign to be a Better Leader, Gary touches upon topic matter that virtually anyone will find useful in their own personal quests for excellence both in business and life.

My good friend Gary Bergenske has shared many great thoughts and gives you the tools you need to improve yourself in Campaign for a Better Life.  Each chapter gives you a simple, easy to follow plan and is loaded with encouraging ideas.  I’m excited he is sharing his excellent leadership knowledge in this book.  This is an inspiring read and will change the rest of your life.

A must read for anyone wanting to be successful in life.  Based on true life experiences, this book is very inspiring and instills excitement about building character!  It demonstrates how to become a person of integrity.

Gary, your influence, since I met you, has always been positive and clearly focused.  The one element that I hope to take from your style is the importance to focus on the positive.  I will continue to pattern my input to leadership, and in everyday experiences, after your positive style.

Gary will expand upon the twelve steps you need to work on to become a better leader. I like to think I am a leader. However, as I was reading this book, I often found myself saying, “I wish I had known this 30 years ago.” There is no doubt in my mind that Gary’s book caused me to think how I could have been a better leader.

An outstanding testament to Gary Bergenske’s unparalleled leadership qualities!  Campaign for a Better Life exudes a contagious energy, paving a road map to improving your life through character development, enthusiasm and integrity.  Gary illustrates a realistic means to exceed your goals and maximize your potential.