Logo 2010New Mexico Shriners Serve Children     

 

   Hand book of Procedures and Regulations for the Divan, Officers,
  Units and Clubs of Ballut Abyad Shrine

 

 

BALLUT ABYAD SHRINE

2010 ORIENTATION MANUAL

 

 Manual's Table of Contents 

                    Imperial Council …………………………………………. p. 1

                    The Fez …………………………………………………... p. 2

                    Sponsoring a Child for a Shrine Hospital …………….. .....p. 3-5

                    Parades …………………………………………………... p. 6-7

                    Flag Protocol …………………………………………….. .p. 8

                    Miscellaneous Protocol ………………………………….. p. 9

                    Membership …………………………………………….... p. 10-11

                    Public Relations and Publicity …………………………... p. 12-13

                    Divan Duties ……………………………………………..  p. 14-20

                    Aide Duties ………………………………………………  p. 21-23

                    Unit and Club Heads ………………………………….....  p. 24-29

                              Membership
                              Publicity
                              Meetings
                              Ladies
                              Programs
                              Temple Liaison Officer
                              Officers and Elections
                              Communication
                              Conclusion

                    Shrine Visitation Protocol ………………………………  p. 30-32

                              Seating Charts  

 THE IMPERIAL COUNCIL

http://www.nmshriners.com/imperial_shrine.htm

The Imperial Council of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America is the governing body of all Shrine Temples and the Shriners Hospitals for Children.  Its headquarters are in Tampa, Florida.  At the present time there are 191 Shrine Temples located throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Republic of Panama.   

The Imperial Council is composed of two distinct and separate corporations.  One, the Iowa Corporation, governs the Shrine Temples and their membership.  The other, the Colorado Corporation, governs the twenty-two Shriners Hospitals for Children and their operation. 

As of 2006, there were approximately 410,000 Shriners in North America.  The first Temple was Mecca Temple in New York City.  Today, Shrine Temples are located from Anchorage, Alaska, to the Panama Canal Zone and from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

The first Shine Hospital was built in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1922.  Today, there are twenty-two Shrine Hospitals from Canada to Mexico and from Honolulu to Boston.  Since the first hospital opened, over 750,000 children have been treated. The 2006 operating budget for the hospitals was $649 million.  This budget includes $33 million for various research projects and $33 million for capital expenditures.  These hospitals have been a primary means of making many children whole again and able to have a more normal and happy life.   

Ballut Abyad Temple works primarily with the hospital in Los Angeles.  This hospital, because of revised earthquake standards, will have to be rebuilt in the next six years.  Plans are underway to begin that rebuilding process.  There are a number of screening clinics in Albuquerque and Hobbs to see if a child can be helped by the Shriners Hospitals.  In 2007, the number of children screened totaled 255 with 32 children accepted into the program, bringing the total number of children in the program to 444.  The amount spent on the program in New Mexico in 2007 was $128,000.  Without the screening clinics, the cost would be more than $100,000 higher.   

REMEMBER, “No man walked so tall ‘til he stooped to help a child.” 

You, my Brother, are a member of the “World’s Greatest Philanthropy.” 

 THE FEZ

The Fez is the most recognized symbol of our Order.  It is to be worn by all Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at all Stated (regular) meetings, ceremonials (initiations), Shrine parades and caravans, and special Shrine events.  The Fez may not be worn at other than official meetings and functions. 

The Fez is not a bulletin board.  Titles of the Divan and Officers of the Temple are allowed on ONE LINE underneath the emblem on the Fez.  Active members of official uniformed units may likewise have the name of their unit on ONE LINE beneath the emblem on the Fez.  Any official appointee of an Imperial Potentate or Potentate may have his title beneath the emblem, as above, for the term of his appointment.  No more than two pins or clasps may be used to hold the tassel in place.  No other device, ornament, title, wording or adornment is permitted.  (See Imperial Bylaws, Article 13.)

SPONSORING A CHILD FOR A SHRINE HOSPITAL 

You may always contact Erlinda Ballut Abyad's Hospital Coordinator click here

Application and admission to Shriners Hospitals for Children is a very simple process and yet seems to be unclear to many of the Nobility.  It is, therefore, incumbent upon the Club and Unit officers, as well as the Divan and Aides, to familiarize themselves with this process. 

ACCEPTANCE FOR TREATMENT IN ORTHOPEDIC HOSPITALS:  There are two ways a child may be accepted for treatment in one of our orthopedic Hospitals:

          --Completion of an Application for Treatment Form #1036 with sponsorship by a Shriner. 
             Patients referred by Shriners must have an application form completed and returned to Ballut Abyad
             Temple.  The application is then reviewed at the hospital prior to a medical examination.  If the review
             is successful, a medical examination is scheduled and the child is then screened by the medical staff to
             see whether or not he/she can be helped by the

 

You may down load the 1036 form:     http://www.shrinershq.org/files/PDF/hospitals/application_.pdf

          --Medical examination in a screening clinic sponsored by one of our Shriners Hospitals.  Appointments to
             this clinic may be arranged by a telephone call to Ballut Abyad Shrine Temple (505-265-0800 x103). 
             Final acceptance is contingent upon the review of the application by the Board of Governors of the
             Shrine Hospital.

          ACCEPTANCE FOR TREATMENT IN BURN HOSPITALS:

          --ACUTE BURNS—The handling of an acute burn is an emergency situation and must be handled as
             expeditiously as possible.  In case of an emergency, contact the Hospital Chairman in your area or call
             the Shrine Office (505-265-0800 x103).

          --PATIENTS WITH HEALED BURNS, including the loss of function in any part of the body such as
             deformities or excessive scarring, should be handled in the same way as an orthopedic case.  In many
             cases, the patient may be accepted at one of the orthopedic hospitals rather than a burn hospital.

Parents or guardians will be notified as to the status of the application.  If the application is approved, notification will be sent as to future procedures. 

WHAT SHOULD A COMPLETED APPLICATION CONTAIN?

In order for a Shriners Hospital to process an application quickly, the proper information needs to accompany the application.  The application cannot be processed without the required information, and the child’s treatment could possibly be delayed due to missing information.  The following is what should accompany an application:

          --The application itself should be completed.

          --The financial portion should not be left blank.  If the family is currently on some type of assistance,
             this information should not be withheld. 

          --Please note:  It is important to fill in the financial section of the application including questions about
             insurance, health plans, and family income.  If the patient needs some services that the Shriners Hospital
             cannot provide, and the patient is covered by insurance, the insurance company will be billed for that
             service.  If the patient is
not covered by insurance, the Shriners Hospital will be billed, and will pay for,
             the needed service.  In any event, the patient will
not be financially responsible.  The family income
             category is simply for the purpose of demographic information—what patient income levels are being
             treated by Shriners Hospitals for Children.

          --A birth certificate should also accompany the application—a baptismal certificate is not acceptable.

          --A past medical history of the child should be completed and returned.

          --An immunization record should accompany the application.

          --If there has been a death, divorce or separation within the family structure, the proper documentation
             should be contained within the application. 

If all of the proper information is returned with the application, we can ensure a speedy response from the Hospital regarding the child’s acceptance or rejection into the Children’s Hospital Program.

 

ACCEPTABLE CASES

                    --Scoliosis (curvature of the spine)
                    --Back problems
                    --Club feet
                    --Dislocated hip
                    --Hip dysphasia
                    --Legg-Perthes disease
                    --Leg length discrepancies
                    --Amputation or deficiency of limbs
                    --Fractures (non-emergency)
                    --Orthopedic congenital deformities
                    --Orthopedic sports injuries
                    --Osteogenesis imperfecta
                    --Rickets
                    --Polio
                    --Musculoskeletal disorders
                    --Pediatric and orthopedic problems related to:
                              --cerebral palsy
                              --spina bifida
                    --Deformities due to burns
                    --Scar revision
                    --Reconstructive surgery
                    --Cleft lip
                    --Microtia
                    --Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
                    --Arthrogryposis
                    --Genetics

 NON-ACCEPTABLE CASES

                    --Epilepsy
                    --Heart problems
                    --Hemophilia
                    --Eye and/or hearing problems
                    --Kidney problems
                    --Saddle-nose deformity
                    --Severely retarded or brain damaged 

 

PARADES 

Approved Parades

Your Potentate and Divan encourage every parade unit to participate in civic parades whenever possible.  This is one of the finest ways we can put Shrinedom before the public. 

How your unit and its members conduct themselves in these activities does much to govern whether the impression received by the spectators is good or bad.  Therefore, it is important that all street parade unit heads and members be thoroughly aware of certain ground rules which must be observed in order for them to appear as a representative of our Temple. 

According to the Imperial Bylaws: 

          --“The units are a part of the working corps of the temple and are under the control of the Potentate and
               must be composed wholly of Nobles.”  (Sec. 336.1) 
Therefore the Potentate will appoint a person to
               coordinate all Temple Parade Units participating in any parade or exhibition. 

          --“No temple unit is permitted to participate in a parade or public exhibition without the express approval
               of the Potentate.”  (Sec. 336.2(b)) 
Requests for approval should be made through the Temple
               Recorder.  In this way, the Potentate will have the opportunity to learn of civic parades that have invited
               Shriners to participate, and this information can be circulated to other parade units.  Your request
               should contain as much information as possible and, in particular, the date, time, plan and name and
               contact information of the person in charge of the parade. 

          --“Public appearances by units are under the auspices of the temple with which they are identified and are
               not permitted in any place outside the temple’s jurisdiction except with the consent of the Potentate of
               the temple having jurisdiction.”  (Sec. 336.2(c)) 
Thus, if you desire to parade outside the jurisdiction
               of Ballut Abyad Temple, the Potentate must request and obtain permission from the other Temple’s
               Potentate.  Likewise, if you desire to invite a unit from another Temple to parade in our jurisdiction,
               their Potentate must approve and request permission from our Potentate. 

          --“In parades of temples at annual sessions of The Imperial Council or in parades or public exhibitions
               under the auspices of temples or Shrine associations, only Nobles shall participate.”  (Sec. 336.2(a) 

          --“Units and their members are prohibited from accepting any reward or compensation for participating in
               parades and exhibitions.”  (Sec. 336.2(d)) 
This does not prohibit the receipt of trophies or similar
               awards, nor does it prohibit the reimbursement of direct expenses of a parade or exhibition, but it
               forbids the recovery of expenses which would have been incurred even without such parade or
               exhibition and a unit may not accept compensation or other remuneration in the guise of expense money. 

According to the Shrine Protocol booklet:

          --Only Shriners are permitted in Shrine parades.
          --Whenever possible, all Shrine units should be kept together in a Shrine section of a parade.
          --No impersonations of ethnic groups, females or political figures are allowed in parades.
          --No motorized vehicles shall engage their sirens, flashing lights or colored lights.  They are to use their
             turn signals and other items required by law.
          --Motorcycles, scooters, and other motorized vehicles shall obey local laws regarding speed, prudent
             operation,
and in jurisdictions where applicable, the use of hard helmets instead of fezzes.
          --Neither candy nor other objects shall be
thrown to spectators along the parade route.
          --No demeaning displays, or discharge of firearms of any type, or other items that may be considered in
             poor taste, are permitted.
          --Members of participating units shall not drink any alcoholic beverages before or during any parade,
             and they shall be circumspect in the use of soft drinks in public places so as not to give the impression
             they are drinking alcoholic beverages.  No one will be permitted to appear in the parade or exhibition
             who, in the judgment of the potentate, is under the influence of alcoholic beverages.  Offenders shall be
             subject to immediate removal from the parade or exhibition.
          --No national flag shall be lowered or dipped when passing the reviewing stand or elsewhere.
          --Parade marshals shall enforce all Shrine parade regulations and they shall report any violations to the
             potentate of their temple.  Failure on the part of a temple potentate to cooperate with parade marshals
             shall be reported in writing.
          --Each potentate is personally responsible and accountable for knowingly permitting any violation of
             parade regulations.  Temple potentates are required to review parade regulations with their temple
             marshal, the parade marshal, and their unit heads. 

Order of Parade Formation for Shrine Units in Civic Parades:
 

          --Colors
          --Host Temple Potentate and other distinguished guests
          --Divan Officers
          --Other Shrine Units as the Marshal directs 

FLAG PROTOCOL

          --Position and size:  All nations designate the position on the right as the position of honor. 
            International usage dictates that when flags of two or more nations are displayed together,
            they should be flown from separate staffs of the same height and should be approximately equal in size. 

          --Stated meetings and functions:  At Shrine functions and meetings, the four national flags should be
             displayed in the position of honor at the Potentate’s right or the speaker’s right as he faces the audience.
             It does not matter whether the flags are behind, along side, or in front of the speaker on a raised
             platform—they should always be to his right.  Another important point is that the flag of the country in
             which they are being displayed should be on the speaker’s extreme right.  (Canadian law does state that
             when three flags are flown together, the Canadian flag should occupy the center position.)

 At the stated meetings in the Temple auditorium, and certain other special occasions, the Legion of Honor will present the colors.  The Legion will gather at the back of the right side aisle, facing the stage, of the auditorium.  On the order of the Potentate, they will march down the aisle with the colors to the stage, turn and face the audience.  After the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance, they will post the colors, starting with the American flag to the extreme right of the speaker, followed by the other three national flags and the New Mexico state flag.  (If there are not enough Legion members to post all four national flags, only the American flag will be posted and the other flags will be posted before the meeting begins.)  The Shrine flag will be on the other side of the stage.  After posting the colors, the Legion will exit the stage up the other aisle.

           --At parades:  When in procession, the flag of the country in which the parade is taking place should either
             be on the marching right, that is, the flag’s own right, or if there are a great number of other flags, it may
             be in the center in front of the line.  It is strongly suggested that the four national flags representing the
             Shrine (United States, Canada, Mexico, and Panama) always be paraded side by side, in front of state,
             province or other local flags, with the flag of the country in which they are being paraded having the
             position of honor on the marching right.  Again, as above, if there are not sufficient numbers to parade
             all four national flags, only the American flag should be paraded.

           --The Fez:  A Noble wearing his Fez does not remove the Fez during the Pledge of Allegiance or during
             the National Anthem of the United States. 
Instead, he performs a military salute.  If viewing a parade
            
with his Fez on, he should execute a military salute when the Colors are within six paces of him and hold
             the salute until after the Colors have passed.  The military salute is also used by the leader of a uniformed
             unit when passing in review and the reviewing officers return the salute.

 MISCELLANEOUS PROTOCOL ISSUES

           --Altar:  As in Masonic Lodges, no one, except in a few defined cases, should pass between the Altar and
              the Potentate when he is presiding in the East.

           --Voting:  When the ballot box is being used to vote, the box is taken first to the Potentate, then to the Chief
             Rabban, and so on down the line. 

          --Salutations:  In tiled meetings, when addressing the Potentate when the Potentate is presiding in the East,
             a Noble should always give the Salaam.  The Potentate should give the sign of the Order in return. 
            The Salaam is given by the
leader of a uniformed unit that is performing or working for the Potentate. 
            The Potentate returns with the sign of the Order.  If the Potentate is proceeding through an Honor Guard,
            only the
first rank on either side of the Guard gives the Salaam.  Other members of the Honor Guard
            should stand at attention.

           --Titles:  A Potentate or Past Potentate is always addressed as “Illustrious Sir.”  The prefix “Past” is not
             used in addressing a Past Potentate.  Members of the Elective Divan should be referred to by the title of
             their office or by “Noble.”
 

MEMBERSHIP

click here for Petition and additional Ballut Abyad Membership Information

Membership is the lifeblood of any organization.  Without members, the Temple, the Shrine, and eventually the Children’s Hospitals will cease to exist.  It is the responsibility of all of the Nobility to recruit members for the Shrine. 

NEW MEMBERS:   New members have to be Master Masons in good standing.  If you know someone who would make a good Mason, you can get a Petition for the Degrees of Freemasonry in a variety of places including Lodge Secretaries, the Grand Lodge Secretary or from the office of Ballut Abyad Temple.  If you know someone who is already a Master Mason but is not a Shriner, you can get a Petition for Initiation into the Order from the office of Ballut Abyad Temple. 

AFFILIATION BY DEMIT:  This is for a Noble of another Temple who wishes to transfer his membership to the Ballut Abyad Temple.   

Procedure for Affiliation by Demit:  Click here for : Petition for Affiliation 

          --Before a Noble can apply for Affiliation by Demit, he must have been a resident  in the jurisdiction of our
            Temple for at least six months.

           --It is the responsibility of the Noble of our Temple recommending the applicant to ascertain that the
              applicant for transfer by Demit has a current dues card from his present Temple.  Imperial Law states
              that before a Noble can transfer to another Temple he must be a member in good standing in his present
              Temple.  Also, if his present Temple has an assessment against the applicant, he must discharge his
              obligation before his present Temple will issue a Demit to the requesting Temple.

           --Life membership in one Temple does not carry over to another Temple.  A Permanent Contributing
              Membership (PCM) does carry over.

RESTORATION:   This is for a former Noble who has been suspended for nonpayment of dues in a previous year.

 Procedure for Restoration

Click here for:  A Petition for Restoration

          --The Noble recommending a reinstatement of a former Noble suspended for nonpayment of dues in a
              previous year is also responsible for inspection of the current year’s dues card in a Blue Lodge. 
              Imperial Law states that a Noble who has been suspended for nonpayment of dues may be restored by
              written application accompanied by written evidence that he is in good standing as a Master Mason.

          --Cost of Restoration for a former Noble suspended for nonpayment of dues includes the current year’s
             annual dues as well as the delinquent dues.

          --Return the completed application form with a check in the proper amount to the Recorder’s office.

 ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP:  This is for a Noble who desires to maintain membership in more than one Temple.  He must pay dues to each Temple in which he holds membership. 

Procedure for Associate Membership:

click here for a: Petition for Associate Membership

          --The Noble who is responsible for having a Noble become affiliated by Associate Membership is
             responsible for completing an Associate Membership form.  (These forms are available in the Temple   
             office.) 

          --The Noble completing the form needs to check the dues card of the Noble requesting the Associate
             Membership.  Imperial Law states that before a Noble can become an Associate Member of another
             Temple, he must be in good standing in his present Temple.

           --The Noble completing the form is also responsible to explain to the Noble requesting Associate
              Membership that a Life Membership and/or a Permanent Contributing Membership (PCM) in his present
              Temple does not carry over to our Temple.
  Dues to Ballut Abyad will be the current annual dues unless
               he wishes to purchase a Life and/or PCM in this Temple. 

          --Upon completion of the form, return it to the Recorder’s office with the proper amount that is due. 

LIFE MEMBERSHIP:  This is not transferable to another Temple.  It costs 20 times the annual dues. This pays your Temple dues for the rest of your life as long as you are a member of Ballut Abyad Temple.  With a Life Membership, you pay only the annual hospital levy and per capita tax. 

PERMANENT CONTRIBUTING MEMBER (PCM):  This membership is transferable to any other Temple and costs $150.00.  This pays your hospital levy for the rest of your life and can be transferred to any Temple that you might wish to transfer to.

The Life Membership and PCM Membership relieve a Noble of payment of dues to Ballut Abyad Temple for the Noble’s lifetime with the exception of the annual per capita tax.

PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PUBLICITY

 There is a vast difference between Public Relations and Publicity although they are often considered to be the same.

PUBLICITY is a story in the media or circulated about the Temple.  Its purpose is to promote a project or to inform the Nobility and/or the public of something that Shriners have done, are doing, or are about to do. 

PUBLIC RELATIONS, on the other hand, is our image—what we are—in the eyes of the public, Masonic or not.  This can be good or it can be bad, and each of us helps to make it one or the other.  Our goal, of course, is good public relations so that our image is positively enhanced. 

Each of these, publicity and public relations, is very important to Shriners, individually and collectively.   Public Relations is what we are and how we live, not just what we say we are.  It is said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.  Intent is one thing, performance or behavior is something all together different.  Remember—actions speak louder than words and if we do not act or perform in a positive manner, there are no words that can disguise that fact.   

Each Noble is helping to form the public’s opinion of the Shrine in almost everything he does, and this is especially so when he is wearing his Fez and/or representing our Temple and Shrinedom in general.  Even a philanthropy as great as our Shriners Hospitals for Children can be damaged to some extent if we fail to remember what we have learned and what we are admonished to do all along our journey in Masonry.  Every effort should be made by the officers of all Clubs, Units and the Divan of the Temple to encourage proper conduct.  It is a subject that deserves more frequent attention than it sometimes receives. 

PUBLICITY is, for the most part, a badly neglected area in the Shrine and among other fraternal groups.  Almost without exception, this is the fault of the organization.  Shriners in any community are numbered among the leaders of the community.  What we do is news and it would be a rare media professional who would hold otherwise.  However, we have to let them know about it.

The person who is designated to perform this important task should know people in the media in his town and surrounding area.  Ideally he should know them on a personal basis, not just a note mailed in now and then.  The publicity effort will bear more fruit if the same person, provided he does his job, carries on this task over an extended period of time. 

Perhaps the most important aspect of this relationship is that the Shriner always be perfectly honest with the media professional.  Never mislead and don’t exaggerate.  If the relationship is based on honesty, the media door is more apt to be open.  If you are found to have exaggerated or misled the media professional, it will be difficult if not impossible to reestablish a trusting and open relationship. 

As for the mechanics of the job, be prepared when you see or contact the media person.  Have all of the facts and be certain that all of the names and titles are correct.  The story that you want published or aired in the media should answer these questions:  Who? What? When? Where? Why? and sometimes How? 

Copy for any media professional should be typewritten or word processed.  Not only is it easier to read, but it frequently will avoid errors.  If the publicity person cannot type or word process, he should make arrangements with someone to do so.  Never use single spacing.  The media professional is a busy person so help them out as much as possible. 

The story or item that you send should be of interest to a fairly large number of those who will read, see or hear it.  The media professional is the final judge of what he or she will use.  Send them the story and realize that you will win some and lose some.   

DUTIES OF THE ELECTIVE AND APPOINTIVE OFFICERS OF THE DIVAN 

DIVAN 

The Divan consists of all officers, both elected and appointed, from the Potentate to the Outer Guard.  The officers of the Elective Divan constitute the Board of Directors of the Temple.

Biographical on the Potentate

Email The Potentate

The Potentate is the Chief Executive of the Temple and Chairman of the Board of Directors.  His plans and responsibilities are to be upheld by all Nobles of the Temple.  He is responsible to the Imperial Council for the governance of the Temple.  The entire operation of the Temple is the responsibility of the Potentate, and the welfare of its members rests upon his plans, organization and supervision.  When the Potentate is unable to personally attend official functions of the Temple, Units or Clubs, he shall name a Noble to represent him, giving preference to the Chief Rabban, other Elected Divan, Appointed Divan, Past Potentates and Personal Aides.

 Duties and Responsibilities: 

          --The Potentate is to ascertain that all activities, procedures and officers comply with the Imperial Code,
             Bylaws and General Orders and also with the Temple Bylaws and accepted policies. 

          --He shall appoint the Temple officers and committees that need to be appointed.     --He shall require that
             accurate records are kept and just accounts rendered.      --He shall require that regular returns are made
             to the Imperial Council and that candidate fees, annual per capita taxes, hospital levies and assessments
             are promptly paid. 

          --He shall insure that the requisite stated meetings be held. 

          --He may issue orders to Nobles, Clubs, Units, and organizations within his jurisdiction to comply with
             matters over which he has jurisdiction and authority.  All such orders shall be in writing. 

          --He shall, with the approval of the Board of Directors, appoint a Temple attorney who is a Noble and a
             member of the Bar.  (See Imperial Bylaws Sect. 327.1.) 

 ELECTED DIVAN

The elected officers of the Temple, in addition to the Potentate, are the:

           Chief Rabban
           Assistant Rabban
           High Priest and Prophet
           Oriental Guide
           Treasurer
           Recorder

 Their basic duties are as follows: 

CHIEF RABBAN

Bio on Chief Rabban, Duane Crapser

Email the Chief Rabban

 The Chief Rabban is the second ranking officer of the Temple and shall:

          --Preside at Temple meetings in the absence of the Potentate and carry out all functions of the Potentate in
             his absence.  If the office of the Potentate becomes vacant for any reason, he shall act as Potentate until
             a special election is held.

          --In conjunction with the Board of Directors, prepare the Temple budget for his year as Potentate.

          --Plan his activities and confirm those of the Units and Clubs for the year he is Potentate.

          --Confirm dates and places for trips during his year.

          --Supervise and monitor circus productions.

          --Plan appointments for Appointive Divan and Aides and approve all appointments for his year as
             Potentate.

          --The Chief Rabban of the Temple shall be allowed such privileges as might be required for him to
             proceed with plans and organizational work for the ensuing year, so long as that work does not interfere
             with or affect the current activities of the Temple.

          --He shall have license to canvass the Units for budgetary information and have access to Temple records
             as might be required.  He shall have the authority to spend moneys for advance meetings and expenses
             approved by the Potentate, and these expenses will be charged to his year’s operating budget. 
             (See Imperial Bylaws Sect. 327.2.)

          --Liaison for:   Director’s Staff
                                   Artesia Shrine Club
                                    Espanola Valley Shrine Club
                                    Los Alamos Shrine Club 
                                    Roswell Shrine Club
                                    Temple Lodge #6

          --Perform other duties as assigned by the Potentate.

 ASSISTANT RABBAN

Biographical on the Assistant Rabban

Email the Assistant Rabban

 The Assistant Rabban is the third ranking officer of the Temple and shall:

          --Preside at Temple meetings in the absence of the Potentate and the Chief Rabban.

          --Seek out and negotiate contracts for his circus, subject to final approval by the Potentate.

          --Plan his anticipated year activities as Potentate and establish dates for Ceremonials and for Temple
             housing during WSA, SDA, and Imperial conventions for his year. 

          --Chair the House Rules Committee.

          --Liaison for:  Air Patrol
                                  BASGA
                                  Eddy County Shrine Club (Carlsbad)