The Ultimate Guide

Ifyoudon’tthinkformerPresidentGer-aldFord,astronautEdwin“Buzz”Aldrin,countrycroonerBradPaisleyandactorMichaelRichards(Kramerfrom“Sein-feld”)haveanythingincommonbesidescelebrity,youneedtheShrinerPrimer.

Ifyouthinkthat“Potentate”isthestrengthofhotsaucethatliessomewherebetween“mild”and“hot”atyourfavoriteburritojoint,youneedtheShrinerPrimer.

AndifyouthinktheonlythingShriners-thoseguysintheodd-looking,tasseled,redhatsinyourlocalIndependenceDayparade-doisridearoundintinycars,youreallyneedtheShrinerPrimer.

Considerthefollowing20pagesourversionoftheCliffsNotes®onShrinersofNorthAmerica.Spendafewminutesperusingthisbooklet,andwehopeyou’llhaveabetterinsightintotheShriners,thefraternity,FreemasonryandShrinersHospitalsforChildren.Attheveryleast,you’llbeabletoamazeyourfriendswithyourknowledgeofAmericantrivia.Attheverymost,you’llbeinclinedtocon-tinuelearningmore!

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INTRODUCTION

ShrinersofNorthAmericais,atitsmostbasiclevel,afraternity.

ItallstartedinManhattanbackin1870,whensomegents-membersofwhat’swidelyconsideredtheworld’soldestfra-ternity,Masonry-werehangingoutattheirfavoritetavern.Theguysfeltliketheirbandofbrothersneededalit-tlespicingup.TheythoughtMasonry,whichtracesitsrootstostonemasonsandcraftsmenoftheMiddleAges(moreonpage4),wasatadtoofocusedonritu-al.Theseguyswantedafraternitythatstressedfunandfellowship.

Leaveituptoananalyticalmind-WalterM.Fleming,M.D.-andanartistictype-BillyFlorence,anactor-totakethatideaandrunwithit.FlorenceconceptualizedtheideaforaNearEast-themedorganizationafterattendingapartythrownbyanArabiandiplomat.FlemingaddedthestructuretoFlorence’sproposedpomp-and-circumstance,draftingthefraternity’sname,initiationrites,ritualsandrules.Together,theguysdesignedthenewfraternity’semblem,devisedasalutationanddeterminedtheredfezwithablacktasselwouldbethegroup’sofficialheadgear.AndlocalShrinerschapters,itwasdecided,would

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Shriners of the Times

becalledTemples.

Thefirstsuchchapter,MeccaShriners,metinNewYorkCityin1872.Thankstoaprettygoodpublicrelationscampaignonbehalfofthenewfraternity’sgoverningbody-knowntongue-twistinglyasTheImpe-rialCounciloftheAncientArabicOrderoftheNoblesoftheMysticShrine-wordaboutthegroupspreadfairlyquickly,evenwithouttheInternet,PDAsandcellphones.MembershipgrewrapidlyacrosstheUnitedStatesintheearly1900sandevenspreadtoCanada,MexicoandPanama.

Today,therearemorethan411,000Shriners,belongingto191chaptersintheU.S.,Mexico,CanadaandtheRepublicofPanama.

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BecomingaShrinerisn’tassimpleaswalkingintoaTemple,payingduesanddonningafez.TobecomeaShriner,amanfirstmustbeaMasterMason.

Why?Let’sbackup.

ThefraternityofFreemasonryistheoldest,largestandmostwidelyknownfraternityintheworld.It’simpossibletoGoogletheexactdateFreemasonrybegan,butwedoknowitdatesbackhun-dredsofyearstowhenstonemasonsandothercraftsmengatheredafterworkinshelterhouses,orlodges.Overtime,themenorganizedintoMasonicguilds,andthetoolsoftheirtrade-thesquareandcompass-becamethesymboloftheirbrotherhood.

Timepassed,andtheneedforMasonsdeclined.So,Masonryevolvedintoanorganizationthatbegantoacceptmemberswhoweren’tcraftsmen.Today,Masonryisbuiltuponafoundationofimprovingcharacterandstrengtheningcommunities,thoughthesquareandcompassarestillthesymbolsofthefra-ternalbrotherhood.

JustasShrinershaveTemples,MasonryhasabasicorganizationalunitcalledtheBlueLodgeorCraftLodge.(Groups

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Shriners vs. Masons

ofLodgesareorganizedundergoverningbodiesknownasGrandLodges.)Mem-bersoftheLodgesarerequiredtoreadupontheirfraternityandearnaseriesofMasonicdegrees.Oncethey’vecompletedthethirdandfinaldegree,membersaretitledMasterMasons.Ofcourse,forthosemenwishingtodelvedeeperintoFree-masonry-inessence,continuingtheirMasoniceducation-thereareadditionalcoursesofstudy,knownastheScottishRiteandYorkRite.

OnceaMasonearnstheMasterMasontitle,hecanjointheShrinersfraternity.

Inshort,allShrinersareMasons...butnotallMasonsareShriners.

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Non-Shrinersoftenhaveahardtimewrappingtheirheadsaroundsomeoftherituals,symbolsandterminologyusedintheShrinersfraternity.What’sanImpe-rialPotentate?HowaboutaDivan?Andwhat’supwiththefezzes?

Fez-iquette

Let’sstartwiththefez-therhombus-shaped,tasseled,redhatmostcommonlyassociatedwithShriners.ThefezwasadoptedastheofficialheadgearofShri-nersin1872.NamedafterthetownofFez,Morocco,whereitoriginated,thehatseemedtoportraytheNearEastthemetheoriginalfoundersofthefraternitywerelookingfor.

Today,thefeziswornatShrinersfunc-tionsandinparadesandoutingsasaneffectivewayofgainingexposureforthefraternity.It’snotunlikewearingabase-ballcaptosupportyourfavoriteteam.Only,inthiscase,thefezdrawsatten-tiontothefraternity,helpsrecruitnewmembersandspreadsthewordabouttheShriners’philanthropy,ShrinersHospi-talsforChildren(moreonpage14).

Therearestrictruleswhenitcomestothefez,though.Onlycertainranking

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Shriners Terms and Titles

Shrinersmayhavetheirtitlesontheirfez,andthetasselcanonlybesecuredwithtwopinsorclaspsontheleftsideofthefez.Additionalpinsoradornmentsareoff-limits!

The Emblem

JustlikeMercedes-Benzisknownforitsthree-pointed-starsymbol,theShrinersfraternityisknownforitsCrescent,or“JeweloftheOrder.”CarryingontheNearEasttheme,theemblemiscom-posedoftheclawsofatiger,unitedinthemiddlewiththeheadofasphinx.Onthebackoftheemblemareapyramid,urnandstar.Additionally,theemblembearsthemotto“RoburetFuror,”whichmeans“StrengthandFury.”TheCrescenthangsfromascimitar,whileafive-pointedstardanglesfromthesphinx.

JustasMercedes’starrepresentssome-thing-dominationofland,seaandair-sodoestheShriners’emblem.Thescimitarstandsforthebackboneofthefraternity,itsmembers.ThetwoclawsarefortheShrinersfraternityanditsphilanthropy,ShrinersHospitalsforChildren.ThesphinxisrepresentativeofthegoverningbodyoftheShriners,while

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thestarhangingbeneathitrepresentsthethousandsofchildrenhelpedbythephilanthropyeveryyear.

Greetings and Salutations

Since1872,Shrinershaveusedthesalutation“EsSelamuAleikum,”Arabicfor“Peacebewithyou!”Theresponse:“AleikiumEsSelamu,”or“Withyoubepeace.”

The Chain of Command

NowontotheShrinerhierarchy.

Tobetterunderstanditall,ithelpstobeginatthelocalchapterlevel.ThegroupofelectedofficerswhorunthechapteriscalledtheDivan.Granted,thenumber-onedefinitionofdivanisalong,backlesssofa,butaDivanalsoreferstoagovernmentbureau.

ThetopdogintheDivanisknownasthePotentate,definedas“onewhohasthepowerandpositiontoruleoverothers.”ThesecondincommandiscalledtheChiefRabban.

Withineachchaptertherecanbeanynumberof“clubs”or“units”formedforacertainpurpose.Thebest-known

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examplesaretheunitsofclownsandmotorpatrols(the“little-car”guys),oftenthemostvisibleinthecommunity.Therearealsoclubsandunitsforpeoplewithvariousotherinterestsaswell.Fromgolfingandboating,toclassiccarsandmotorcycles—theretrulyissomethingforeveryone!

JustlikethecountriesofNorthAmericaaregovernedbyrepresentativebodies,soarethe191chapters.Thegroupofrepre-sentatives,calledtheImperialCouncil,convenesonceayeartomakepolicydecisionsandlegislationregardingthefraternityandphilanthropy.

Representativesstrivetobecomeoneofthe13membersoftheImperialDivan,Shriners’internationalgoverningbody.ThechiefexecutiveofficerofShriners

ofNorthAmericaistheImperialPotentate,

whoservesaone-yearterm.

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Women and Shriners

AlongsidemostShrinersisastrongwom-an.Whileit’struethatwomenaren’teli-gibletojointheShrinersfraternity,thereareseveralorganizationsforwomenthatsupportthefraternityandthephilan-thropy,ShrinersHospitalsforChildren.Inmostcases,theseorganizationsareopentothewives,widows,daughters,granddaughters,sistersandniecesofShriners.TheyincludeDaughtersoftheNile,LadiesOrientalShrineofNorthAmerica,ShrineGuildsofAmerica,andOrderoftheEasternStar.

•DaughtersoftheNilecontributestoShrinersHospitalsinanumberofways,includingthedonationofprostheses,quilts,toysandvolunteerhours.Sincethegroupwasfoundedin1913,DaughtersoftheNilehascontributedmillionsofdol-larstothephilanthropy.

•LadiesOrientalShrineofNorthAmericawasfoundedin1903forthepurposeofextendinggoodfellowshipamongfamiliesofShriners.TheladiesextendfinancialsupportandassistancetoShrinersHospitalswithanemphasisonthehospitalfund,hospitalsewingandspecialprojects.

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•ShrineGuildsofAmerica,estab-lishedin1947,providesindependentsup-portandaidtoShrinersHospitalsandconcentratesontheeducationofchildrenduringtheirhospitalization.

•OrderoftheEasternStar,startedinthemid-1800s,isthelargestfraternalorganizationformenandwomenintheworld.Theorganizationstrivestostrengthenthemoralandsocialcharac-terofitsmembers,anditcontributestonumerouscharities.

Kids Count, Too

Nottobeleftout,childrenhaveopportu-nitiestogetinonShrinersfunthroughseparateorganizationsthatincludeOrderofDeMolay,InternationalOrderofJob’sDaughtersandRainbowGirls.

•OrderofDeMolayisaMasonic-sponsoredinternationalorgani-zationforyoungmenages12-21thatfocus-esondevelopingcivicawareness,personalresponsibilityandleadershipskills.

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•TheInternationalOrderofJob’sDaughtersisanorganizationofyoungwomenages10-20whoarerelatedtoaMasterMason.Membersparticipateinsocialactivities,serviceprojectsandcharitableworks.Job’sDaughtersactivelysupportstheHearingImpairedKidsEndowmentFund,whichpurchaseshearing-assistivedevicesforchildren.

•RainbowGirls,originallyfoundedbyamemberoftheMasonicLodge,isnowopentogirlsages11-20,regardlessofMasonicaffiliation.Memberspartici-pateinserviceprojectsandfundrais-ers,whilefocusingonseven“colors”ofcharacter,emphasizinglove,religion,nature,immortality,fidelity,patriotismandservice.

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Shrining Stars (celebrity Shriners)

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ManyfamousfaceshaveproudlyworntheredfezoftheShrinersfraternity.TheseNoblesincludeentertainers,headsofgovernment,businessleadersandsportslegends.AfewcurrentShrinersyoumayhaveheardofinclude:

Buzz Aldrin Astronaut

Arnold Palmer Golfer

Sam Hornish Jr. RaceCarDriver

Brad Paisley CountrySinger

Michael Richards Actor

Richard Tyson Actor

AsmembershipintheShrinersfraternitygrewintheearly1900s,sodidthecallforestablishinganofficialcharity.In1919,theImperialPotentate-electpitchedtheideaofestablishingahospitaltopro-videfreecareforchildrenwithorthopae-dicproblems.Theideawasmulledoverand,in1920,acommitteewasestab-lishedtoexploretheidea.Thiscommit-teeconcludedthatthereshouldn’tjustbeonehospital;thereshouldbeanetworkofhospitalsthroughoutNorthAmericathatprovidemedicalcareatnocharge.ItwasanideathatappealedtoShriners,who,asweknow,liketodothingsinabigway.ThefirsthospitalopenedinShreveport,La.,in1922.

Orthopaedic, Burn, Spinal Cord Injury, and Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment

Today,thereare22ShrinersHospitalsforChildren,18ofwhichspecializeinortho-paediccare,treatinginjuriesandprob-lemsofthebones,jointsandmuscles,aswellascomplicatedconditions,suchasbrittlebonedisease,spinabifidaandcerebralpalsy.

Additionally,fourhospitalsspecializein

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Shriners Hospitals for Children

providingmedicalcaretokidswithburninjuries.Shrinersenteredthefieldofburncareinthe1960safterrecognizingalackofmedicalexpertiseinthefield.ShrinersHospitalstreatschildrenwithacute,freshburns;conductsreconstructiveandrestorativesurgeriesonkidswithhealedburns;treatschildrenwithseverescar-ringthatlimitsmobility;andalsohelpskidswithscarringorfacialdeformitiescausedbyburns.

SpinalcordrehabilitationunitsarelocatedwithinthreeShrinersHospitals.Theseunitsprovidelong-termrehabilita-tionandintensivephysical,occupationalandrecreationaltherapiesforchildrenwithspinalcordinjuries.

Oneofthehospitals,locatedinSacra-mento,Calif.,providescareforchildrenwithorthopaedicconditions,burnsandspinalcordinjuries.

Moreover,ShrinersHospitalsforChildrenestablishedacleftlipandpalatepro-gramin2005.Thisprogramprovideslipandpalaterepair,nasalreconstruction,facialworkanddentalprocedures,aswellasaudiological,speechandpsycho-logicalservices.

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Outstanding Research

“Today’sresearchistomorrow’spatientcare”isawell-knownsayingatShri-nersHospitals.In2006,$33millionwasbudgetedfor140researchprojects.SinceShrinersHospitalsbeganaformalresearchprogrammorethan40yearsago,morethan$475millionhasbeeninvestedinresearchprojects.

WhileeightShrinersHospitalsarespe-cificallydesignatedasresearchcentersofexcellence,all22ShrinersHospitalsforChildrenareinvolvedinsomeformofresearch.FifteenShrinersHospitalshaveresearchaffiliationswithmajoruniversi-ties.Generally,theseinvestigationsfocusonimprovingandexpandingtreatmentsforsevereburns,understandingcomplexmusculoskeletaldisorders,andimprov-ingtechniquesusedtotreatbothmobil-ityproblemsandspinalcordinjuries.

Teaching Opportunities

ShrinersHospitalstakeanactiveroleinmedicaleducation.Overthepast20years,morethan8,000physicianshavereceivedresidencyeducationorpostgrad-uatefellowshipeducationatShriners

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Hospitals.Mostofourhospitalshaveresidencyorteachingaffiliationswithotherhospitalsoruniversities.ShrinersHospitalsalsoprovidetraininginothermedicalareas,includingnursing,physicalandoccupa-tionaltherapy,andorthoticsandprosthetics.

WhiletherearemanyelementstoShri-nersHospitalsforChildren,thereisonlyonepurpose:toimprovethelivesofchildren.

No Barriers to Care

Theoperatingbudgetforthe22ShrinersHospitalswas$649millionin2006,butthatmoneydoesn’tcomefromthepock-etsofpatientsortheirfamilies.ThereisneverachargeforanyofthecareorservicesprovidedatShrinersHospitals,andnoinsurancemoniesorU.S.govern-mentfunds-federal,stateorlocal-areaccepted.Thehospitalsaresubstantial-lyfundedthroughtheShrinersHospitalsforChildrenendowmentfund,main-tainedthroughgifts,bequestsandcon-

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tributions.AdditionalincomeisprovidedbyanannualhospitalassessmentpaidbyeveryShriner,aswellasfundraisingevents.

Admission

AdmissiontoaShrinersHospitalisbasedonmedicalneed.Allchildren,uptotheageof18,areeligibleforadmis-sioniftheycanbenefitfromthespe-cializedservicesavailableatShrinersHospitals.Applicationformsareavail-ablefromyourlocalShriners,onlineatwww.shrinershospitals.orgorbycallingtoll-free(800)237-5055intheU.S.or(800)361-7256inCanada.

How You Can Help

ShrinersHospitalsforChildrenneedsyourhelp!Learnmoreaboutmakingaone-timegift,recurringgift,oraplannedgiftbyvisitingwww.shrinershospitals.orgorbycalling(800)241-GIFT.

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Shriners Hospital Locations

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† BOSTON HOSPITAL51BlossomSt.Boston,MA02114

CANADIAN HOSPITAL 1529CedarAve.Montreal,Quebec,CanadaH3G1A6

* CHICAGO HOSPITAL2211N.OakParkAve.Chicago,IL60707

† CINCINNATI HOSPITAL 3229BurnetAve.Cincinnati,OH45229

ERIE HOSPITAL1645W.8thSt.Erie,PA16505

† GALVESTON HOSPITAL815MarketSt.Galveston,TX77550

GREENVILLE HOSPITAL950WestFarisRd.Greenville,SC29605

HONOLULU HOSPITAL1310PunahouSt.Honolulu,HI96826

HOUSTON HOSPITAL6977MainSt.Houston,TX77030

INTERMOUNTAIN HOSPITALFairfaxRd.atVirginiaSt.SaltLakeCity,UT84103

LEXINGTON HOSPITAL1900RichmondRd.Lexington,KY40502

LOS ANGELES HOSPITAL3160GenevaSt.LosAngeles,CA90020

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MEXICO CITY HOSPITALAv.delImánNo.257Col.PedregaldeSantaUrsulaDelegaciónCoyoacánMexico,04600

‡ NORTHERN CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL2425StocktonBlvd.Sacramento,CA95817

* PHILADELPHIA HOSPITAL3551N.BroadSt.Philadelphia,PA19140

PORTLAND HOSPITAL3101S.W.SamJacksonParkRd.Portland,OR97201

ST. LOUIS HOSPITAL2001S.LindberghBlvd.St.Louis,MO63131

SHREVEPORT HOSPITAL3100SamfordAve.Shreveport,LA71103

SPOKANE HOSPITAL911W.FifthAve.Spokane,WA99204

SPRINGFIELD HOSPITAL516CarewSt.Springfield,MA01104

TAMPA HOSPITAL12502PineDr.Tampa,FL33612

TWIN CITIES HOSPITAL2025E.RiverParkwayMinneapolis,MN55414

*IncludesSpinalCordInjuryRehabilitationCenter

†Burncare

‡Orthopaedic,burnandspinalcordinjurycare

www.shrinershq.org