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Message from Imperial Membership Committee Chairman |
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Imperial Sir George Mitchell, Rameses Shriners
ISN'T IT GREAT TO BE A SHRINER???
It's FEZtastic!
Do you want power?
Be powerful!
It was once said that the power to communicate is one of man's
greatest gifts and it is up to us to fulfill our potential.
Shrine-Masonry with its principles and values not only changes our
lives but the lives of others as we impart those virtues to them
through strong, active membership in clubs, units and lodges. In the
wrong hands, negative power through negative communication can
create havoc - i.e., Adolf Hitler, the master communicator, who
nearly destroyed his nation and the world with his message of hate.
There is not a time in Shrine history where it has been more
important to engage in positive communication about the Story of
Shriners and The Worlds Greatest Philanthropy. But as someone once
said, "you can't steer a parked car." We have to get it moving -
start the engine and accelerate. YOU are the engine, driving the
message and communication, whether it's recruiting or retaining
members, promoting our membership benefits (ShrineSavers), sending
information to the representatives to explore the idea of
modernizing our ritual, or referring to our fraternity as
Shriners International instead of The
Shrine of North America.
Along the same train of thought, our Vice President of
Communications, Marlena Lagina-Kleine, is bringing in a Toastmasters
club to headquarters to qualify employees and Shrine leaders to
carry the positive Shrine message.
As we encourage staff and members to be effective communicators, we
must be willing to risk the pain of failure in order to gain the
pleasure that comes with achievement. Let us remember the words of
Sir Winston Churchill "Success consists of going from failure to
failure without loss of enthusiasm."
It's a good day to be a Shriner!
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Ballut Abyad Shriners Matanza a Resounding Success! |
Talk about stepping up to the plate and knocking out a home
run, the Ritual Staff at Ballut Abyad Shriners did just that! They
funded and hosted a party called a Matanza which we understand to be
a pig roast with all the trimmings. They had an amazing turnout of
400 to 500 Masons, Shriners and friends on a Saturday afternoon. The
results were outstanding! From that time of no pressure fellowship,
they had 15 or more petitions signed for Masonic Degrees and another
12 petitions were received for Shrine membership. We commend the
Ballut Abyad Shriners Ritual Staff. They
made a real difference while adhering to the basic tenets of
Shrinedom - Fun and Fellowship and as a result strengthening not
only the Shrine but also our Masonic brotherhood.
Remember your clubs and units are essential to the Shrine as a whole
and they do not exist without
you! It's time to get involved and
make a difference. If you do not already belong
to a unit or club, we ask you to check out the ones available at
your Shrine Temple and join one that interests you or initiate the
development of one that does. With a grassroots movement like this,
you better hold on to your hats (I mean "Fezzes") because our
fraternity is going to take off!
Click here to read more details about
this exciting event at Ballut Abyad's website.
Do you have a membership success story to share with your
fellow Shriners? Send it with photos to
membership@shrinenet.org
and put "Feztivities Story" in the subject line. |
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About Our Kids |
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Mother
Finds Strength in Faith, New Friends and Shriners Hospitals
"God has given us a tremendous blessing with each of our sons, and
we see it every day," says Michelle Cain, mother of Cody, 8, and
Jonathan, 6 months old. "Cody is a wonderful big brother and is so
thankful that his prayers to have a little brother have been
answered."
Cody's little brother Jonathan is a patient at Shriners Hospitals
for Children - Philadelphia. He was born with Beals syndrome, a
genetic disorder that causes the permanent fixation of certain
joints and may also cause curvature of the spine and other
abnormalities in the limbs, heart and eyes.
"We are so blessed that Jonathan's story came to the attention of
Fred Widmyer, a Shriner and member of the Board of Governors at the
Philadelphia Shriners Hospital," Michelle said.
Widmyer personally explained Jonathan's case to Randall Betz,
M.D., a world renowned orthopaedic surgeon and chief of staff at
Shriners Hospitals for Children - Philadelphia. After just one week,
Dr. Betz's assistant, Janet Cerrone, contacted the Cain family to
set up an appointment.
"As Janet and I were e-mailing back and forth, she told me, 'once
you're in Shriners Hospitals, you're family,' " Michelle said.
"We've found that Shriners Hospitals treats and cares for the whole
situation and the needs of the whole family."
For now, Dr. Betz is focusing on the curvature in Jonathan's spine
and will fit him with a flexible back brace. During future visits,
Jonathan will be seen by pediatric hand specialists who will likely
fit him for splints to help extend his fingers and possibly his
knees.
It's not only the excellent care and compassion that mean so much to
the Cain family, but also the fact that Shriners Hospitals for
Children makes it available at no charge.
"We have insurance, but we still face substantial out-of-pocket
costs for Jonathan's future care. What a blessing that Shriners
Hospitals provides their services, including transportation, meals
and lodging at no charge to us!" she says.
Recently, Michelle and her husband had another blessing enter their
lives. Through Shriners Hospitals for Children, they were connected
to two other families with children who have Beals syndrome. The
support and friendship they've experienced is helping them stay
positive about the future.
"To not know anyone else with the same condition as your child is a
lonely feeling," Michelle said. "Our new friends - one of whom is an
adult living with Beals Syndrome - are very encouraging about
Jonathan's future. It means so much to us to get to know people
living with the same experiences. Just one more blessing from
Shriners Hospitals."
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Shriners International
Awareness
Day June 6th |
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Wanted: a few good ideas!
Do you have an idea on how to promote Shriners International
Awareness Day?
Email your suggestions to
membership@shrinenet.org
Include your name and address when you submit your suggestion and
we will send you a limited edition membership lapel pin.
Plus! You may just see your idea in the next Feztivities.
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Let Us Hear From You! |
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If you have any suggestions on what you would like to see in future
"Feztivities", or if you know a Noble who would like to receive this
newsletter, please email us at:
membership@shrinenet.org
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ShrineSavers Member Benefits |
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Spring is right around the corner and our summer travel times will
follow close behind; so we are PUMPING UP our new roadside program
to include motorcycles under the light vehicle program ($39.95
annually). We are also introducing our new RV roadside program (up
80K GVW class 8 DOT) with up to $400.00 value per claim (five
annually) for only $64.95 per year!! Both programs include lockout
service, emergency fuel and jump starts. Available in the US and
Canada. Check out the
ShrineSavers
web site for enrollment details.
Keep your eyes peeled for our direct mail announcements about
GMAC auto insurance savings, Life Line Screening services and our
newest Long Term Care insurance program. You will also want to
check the
website
for the latest approved states where our new dental insurance plan
can be purchased. Also don't forget about our NO COST service
available from National Elder Care that will step in on behalf of
you or a family member should you need home nursing, assisted living
or long term care services. Besides the great advocacy service they
provide, you are almost certain to save significantly due to the
company's buying arrangements regardless of whether or not you have
insurance coverage.
Click here to view all your member
benefits! |
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Hospital Virtual Tours Now Online |
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Virtual tours of Shriners Hospitals for Children in Cincinnati,
Lexington and Chicago are now online on each hospital's web site.
Links to the tours are found on each hospital's home page and on the
"about us" page.
Each tour is led by three patients at the hospital, and designed to
help ease fears children may have about hospital stays or visits.
The tours are also a way for Shriners, who may live far from one of
our hospitals, to connect with health care system.
Cincinnati Hospital
Chicago Hospital
Lexington Hospital
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