AnnualReport2020

Traditions and New Initiatives

The Shriners fraternity strives to honor its past, while incorporating new elements to keep the fraternity both traditional and current

Successful marketing campaigns frequently offer incentives. A multi- level program for recognizing and rewarding top-line signers was instituted to increase enthusiasm for the JUST ONE initiative. The rewards were: • Level 1 – Upon creation or restoration of one member, the top-line signer was mailed a postcard and JUST ONE pin from Imperial Sir Sowder. • Level 2 – Upon bringing in or restoring two members, top- line signers were listed in Shriner Magazine: Pride and Tradition. • Level 3 – With three new creations or restorations, top-line signers were sent a certificate of appreciation and a letter of commendation from Imperial Sir Sowder. • Level 4 – After five creations or restorations, the top-line signer responsible for 10 additional Shriners were expecting to attend a special JUST ONE VIP reception with the Imperial Divan at the 2020 Imperial Session in Kansas City, Missouri. Unfortunately, this opportunity, like so many others, had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Alternative plans will be made to appropriately honor these incredibly dedicated nobles. Extensive communications were put in place to support the program, including video addresses by Imperial Sir Sowder, a dedicated website, getjustone.org, for registering recruits and restorations, additional JUST ONE web pages on Shriners Village, email blasts and promotion in the weekly Membership Update e-newsletter, received a personal phone call of appreciation from the Imperial Potentate. • Level 5 – Top-line signers

and the creation of collateral and special referral cards. Additionally, temples were encouraged to honor members who respond to the challenge of helping grow Shriners membership. Imperial Sir Sowder firmly believes the fraternity has a bright and strong future, provided every member remains dedicated and committed to doing their part to increase membership. Shriners International Awareness Day On June 6, 1876, the Imperial Grand Council of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for the United States of America, the original governing body of our fraternity, was founded. While our order has seen many changes throughout the years, our vision and mission remain unchanged. Shriners International continues to be more than just a fraternity; it is an organization of men dedicated to brotherhood, compassion and service to others. To honor our rich history and celebrate the founding of our Imperial Council 144 years ago, June 6 is recognized as Shriners International Awareness Day. It’s a day when nobles worldwide are encouraged to proclaim their pride in being a Shriner. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate our enthusiasm for and dedication to our brotherhood by using social media and the internet to post information, attending and/or organizing a special event, wearing fraternal apparel when appropriate and inviting the community and the media to learn more about Shriners International and the local temples. Shriners International appreciates the dedication of the men and

Before Imperial Sir Jeff Sowder became a member of the Imperial line of the Shriners fraternity, he was a leader of Masonry in Kansas. During that time, he led a fundraising effort to raise $15 million in four years for cancer research at Kansas University, allowing the school to be designated as a National Cancer Institute, under the name Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute. When Sowder was working to raise those funds for cancer research, he discovered the power of one – the difference one person can make. That lesson of JUST ONE has become a belief and a guiding force in his life. He has used it to inspire his fellow nobles to, one by one, increase membership, and he used it throughout his year as Imperial Potentate to remind us all that each one of us matters, has a responsibility to our fraternity and philanthropy, and can make a difference. Multiply that one by every noble – and it becomes a big difference. At Imperial Session in 2019, he introduced the JUST ONE campaign to increase Shriner membership. The program emphasizes the philosophy that every person can make a difference. If every current Shriner commits to recruiting or restoring “ JUST ONE ” noble to his temple, the ranks of the fraternity would swell tremendously. In response, thousands of nobles enthusiastically answered Imperial Sir Sowder’s call to action by becoming top-line signers for newly created nobles or restored members.

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