Joppa Shrine Center Joppa Shrine Center
Oasis of Biloxi - Desert of Mississippi

November 2009

Vol 2, Issue 11

 Unity Wins

Shriners International Feztivities
News about Shriners for Shriners 

 

 

 

In This Issue

Message from Imperial Sir George Mitchell

Shriners Village Now Open

Mark Your Calendars!

Band Drums Up Support at the State Fair of Texas

Golf Tournament Wraps Up in Las Vegas

East-West Shrine Game News

Add Us to Your Online Social Networks!

Coffee Shop Owner Pays it Forward

Camp Brings Kids and Families Together

Spotlight: Shriners Hospitals for Children - Northern California

Seminars Focus on Collaboration and Communication

Director of Temple Accounting Retires

Nurse Leaves $3.1 Million to Shriners Hospitals for Children

Motion Analysis Research Published in Medical Journal

Soman Sen, M.D., Joins Shriners Hospitals for Children

Message From Imperial Sir George Mitchell 

 

ISN'T IT GREAT TO BE A SHRINER?

It's FEZtastic! 

I am so excited to share with you all about a new initiative that launched at our membership seminar this past October.
  
beashrinernow.com is a new marketing initiative that targets men who have an interest in our organization, but may need some guidance on their journey to becoming a Mason or Shriner. The Virtual Mentor program is a key component of the beashrinernow.com initiative and we need strong mentors to join our team.

Do you remember that special person who made a difference in your life? The person who took the time to ask your name, introduce you around or show you the ropes? If we're lucky, we have one person in our lives who made a positive impact personally or professionally.
  
Being a virtual mentor is your opportunity to be a leader and make that same difference in the life of a man on his way to becoming a Master Mason and Shriner. As stated by Kenneth Blanchard, a leadership expert and business consultant, "The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority." All it takes is willingness, enthusiasm and time.

As a virtual mentor, you will be paired with a candidate who has completed a questionnaire at beashrinernow.com. Communicating by phone, e-mail or in person, you'll have the opportunity to share your knowledge and enthusiasm about Masonry and about being a Shriner. You'll answer questions or concerns, help find the right Lodge best suited to the candidate's interests, and help him with his journey to becoming a Shriner. You will also have the opportunity to make a new friend.
 
If you think you're up to the task, we'd like to hear from you. Visit www.shrinersvillage.com, the new online community for Shriners only, go to the Membership section and select "Virtual Mentor Program" from the menu on the left side of the screen. Start your journey today to becoming a virtual mentor.

It definitely is a good day to be a Shriner!

Sincerely and Fraternally,
George A. Mitchell, Chairman
Imperial Membership Committee

Shriners Village Now Open

If you were at the Imperial Council Session this year in San Antonio, you had the chance to get a sneak-peek at Shriners Village, a new online community for Shriners only. Well, the village is now open and you are invited to stop by for a visit!  

Dubbed the "Google of Shrinedom," Shriners Village is the fraternity's new online home, where members can get the latest news, watch videos, download educational materials and resources, and generally connect with all things Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals for Children.

"This dynamic portal is the newest tool for reaching out to our diverse membership, and delivering relevant and accurate information in a fun and inviting way," said Mike Severe, Imperial Chief Rabban and Imperial Public Relations Committee Chairman.

If you haven't already visited www.shrinersvillage.com, be sure to check it out today! 

Mark Your Calendars!

The 136th Imperial Council Session will be held July 4-8, 2010, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This diverse city offers activities and attractions to fit every interest.

Read more>>

Band Drums Up Support at the State Fair of Texas

 

At the State Fair of Texas, held in Dallas, Sept. 25-Oct.18, the Hella Shriners Director's Staff Band made 24 nightly appearances in the fair's evening parade. Band members rode a mobile stage, built by the Director's Staff from a box trailer, and were escorted by Director Staff members on foot.

According to Hella's Potentate, Roger Fuller, crowd response to the band is always amazing. "The parade would just not be the same without the band," he said. "As the band approaches, the crowd rises to their feet and starts clapping and waving until the music fades in the distance."

Proclaimed as the World's Largest State Fair, the State Fair of Texas is visited by more than two million people each year. Participating in the nightly parades is a great opportunity to help increase awareness about Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals for Children, so thank you Hella Shriners!

Golf Tournament Wraps Up in Las Vegas

There were many fezzes on site at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, held Oct. 12-18, in Las Vegas.

Congratulations to tournament champion Martin Laird, who won his first PGA TOUR title, beating George McNeil with a birdie on the third hole of a playoff in the event. Click here to read a news article about the tournament.

Tournament week kicked off with the Junior Golf Clinic, hosted by Butch Harmon and Justin Timberlake. Patient Ambassador Katie Walker joined PGA golfers to give golf instruction to kids from First Tee, a youth development program.

Team Smile was held on Monday, Oct. 12, and more than 200 kids received free dental care. After a visit with dentists, the kids enjoyed time on the putting green, where local volunteers had set up games and other fun challenges.

The Wednesday celebrity pro-am featured comedian George Lopez, boxer Oscar De La Hoya, rocker Alice Cooper, Jazz saxophonist Kenny G and PGA Tour players Anthony Kim, Jim Furyk and Davis Love III. The golfers enjoyed an afternoon of fun that benefited Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Friday night was all about music at Manadalay Bay at the Justin Timberlake and Friends Concert, also benefiting the health care system. Timberlake was joined by Taylor Swift, TLC, Ciara, Alicia Keys, Snoop Dogg, Jay Sean and Timbaland.

Thank you to the fraternity members who came out to volunteer at the tournament or show support as tournament spectators! Your efforts contributed to make this a memorable week and a successful event for Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Be sure to check out Facebook for photos of the tournament and surrounding events. You can also view a slideshow of event highlights.

East-West Shrine Game News

The 85th East-West Shrine Game is ramping up! Many exciting things are happening between now and Game Day.
The 2010 East-West Shrine Game, which benefits Shriners Hospitals for Children, kicks off on Jan. 23 at 3 p.m. EST in Orlando.   
Head Coaches Announced: Romeo Crennel and Marty Schottenheimer were announced as the head coaches for the 85th East-West Shrine Game at a press conference at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Oct. 22. Crennel will head the East Team while Schottenheimer leads the West. Read the full story here.
 
Tickets On Sale: Visit www.shrinegame.com for information about purchasing tickets to the 85th East-West Shrine Game.
 
Patient Ambassador Selected: Nine-year-old Leigh Dittman of Lutz, Fla., will represent Shriners Hospitals for Children as a patient ambassador for the 85th East-West Shrine Game. As patient ambassador, Dittman will represent more than 120,000 children currently receiving care at the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children. Read the full story here.
 
Interactive Games on the Web Site: The official East-West Shrine Game Web site now offers visitors interactive games! Now through Dec. 31, you can vote for your All-Time All-Star Team. The East-West Shrine Game alumni with the highest number of votes at their respective positions will compose the 2010 All-Time All-Star Team, to be announced on Jan. 10. Fans can also play the East-West Shrine Game Challenge. Every day, randomly selected game winners will win tickets to the 85th East-West Shrine Game! Visit www.shrinegame.com to play.
 
Join the Club: To be the first to receive all the insider information, join the East-West Shrine Game Fan Club at www.shrinegame.com. It's free and it only takes a minute to register. Members get Game news, player and coach updates, information about special events, discounts and more.
Social Media: Become a fan of the East-West Shrine Game on Facebook or follow the latest news and updates on Twitter.
 
Tune In: Don't forget, the 85th East-West Shrine Game will be broadcast live on ESPN2, so mark your calendars to tune in on Jan. 23 at 3 p.m. EST. "Watch parties" are a great idea for those wanting to make an event out of it! You may want to consider hosting one at your temple.

Add Us to Your Online Social Networks!

MySpace:
www.myspace.com/shrinershq
www.myspace.com/shrinershospitals
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/ShrinersHospitalsforChildren  
www.facebook.com/ShrinersInternational
YouTube:
www.youtube.com/shrinershospitals 
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/shrinershosp
www.twitter.com/shriners
Flickr:
www.flickr.com/shrinersinternational
www.flickr.com/shrinershospitals 

Quick Links

Shriners Website
ShrineSavers Member Benefits

Shriners Marketplace

Membership Links

Membership Recruitment Video
Download a Membership Petition
Email our Office of Membership Development

Let Us Hear From You!

If you have any suggestions on what you would like to see in future issues of Feztivities, or if you know a noble who would like to receive this newsletter, please e-mail us at Feztivities@shrinenet.org.

 

If you received this newsletter from another noble and would like to receive future e-mails from us, please join our mailing list!

 

Coffee Shop Owner Pays It Forward 

With help from his local Shriners, coffee shop owner Sam Malek isn't letting the rain in St. Louis, Mo., stop him from raising money for Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Click here to view a news clip about Sam and how he is working with local Shriners to give back to the organization he credits with saving his life.

Camp Brings Kids and Families Together

Making friends and having fun is what camp is all about, right? The Hand Camp at Shriners Hospitals for Children - St. Louis, is about friends, fun and so much more.

The camp brings together children with conditions affecting the upper limbs and hands to learn how to be more independent, discover new ways to accomodate their disabilities, and provide each other with encouragement and support.

Read more>>

Spotlight: Shriners Hospitals for Children - Northern California

With treatment specialties in orthopaedics, burns, spinal cord injury and specialized plastic surgery, the hospital in Sacramento, Calif., is a place where patients benefit from a collaborative environment.

Read more>>

Seminars Focus on Collaboration and Communication

The Membership, Donor Relations and Public Relations Seminars were held recently in Tampa.

The Membership Development Seminar kicked off on Sept. 30 with the theme "Unity Wins," which is Imperial Sir Jack Jones's theme for this year. There were 188 seminar attendees, which represented 96 temples, nine Grand Lodges, the Daughters of the Nile, the Ladies Oriental Shrine, DeMolay International, the York Rite and the Scottish Rite.

Next to land in Tampa were the Imperial and Temple Donor Relations Committee members, and the hospital directors of development. The theme for this seminar was "Tying our Ropes Together: Working Together to Build a Culture of Philanthropy." Agenda topics included a motivational speaker, updates on corporate giving and sponsorships, and much more.

Finally, the Imperial Public Relations Committee members and hospital public relations directors arrived for the Public Relations Seminar. Mirroring the Donor Relations Seminar, the theme for this seminar was "Tying our Ropes Together: Working Together to Build a Culture of Communication." Agenda topics included a motivational speech, panel of best practices, roundtable discussions and exercises, and presentations about Web site and social media initiatives.
  
Thank you to everyone who attended! 

Director of Temple Accounting Retires

Bob Phillips began his job as director of temple accounting at Shriners International Headquarters in April of 1987. A Shriner and a former Shriners Hospitals for Children patient, Bob brought passion and insight to his work. 
 
As director of temple accounting for more than 22 years, Bob worked to implement and support uniform financial reporting processes for the 191 temples. This included development of the Temple Financial Manual, known as the Budget Accounting Tax and Systems (BATS) manual, and review of annual financial reports submitted by each temple. 

Over the years, he also presented at 21 Imperial Sessions, attended numerous Shrine Association seminars, attended 12 Shrine Games as a patient ambassador for Shriners Hospitals for Children and consulted with individual temple representatives.
 
Bob's future plans include consulting, traveling and spending time with his wife, Linda, and their two sons, Matt and Marc. Best wishes, Bob!

Nurse Leaves $3.1 Million to Shriners Hospitals for Children

Mary Beaver, along with her late husband, John, who was a Shriner, left $3.1 million in her will to Shriners Hospitals for Children - Philadelphia.

For Mary, a nurse, the gift continues her life's work of caring for others. The donation also continues John's link to the fraternity.

Read more>>

Motion Analysis Research Published in Medical Journal

A research study that won "Best Paper" at the 2009 Gait and Clinical Movement Analysis Society Conference was recently published in the medical journal Gait & Posture.

Read more>>

Soman Sen, M.D., Joins Shriners Hospitals for Children

Soman Sen, M.D., has joined the department of burn surgery at Shriners Hospitals for Children - Northern California. Board certified by the American Board of Surgery, Dr. Sen completed fellowships in surgical critical care and burn surgery at the University of California.

Read more>>