AnnualReport2021

ADAPTING a CIRCUMSTANCES

SHRINERS CONTINUE TO AID THEIR FELLOW NOBLES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES A PANDEMIC DOESN’T DETER OUR NOBLES For the nobles of Shriners International, this was a year like no other. Very quickly, reports of an illness in one country became reports of a novel coronavirus sweeping across the world. No community was left untouched, and Shriners worldwide worked diligently to determine how to proceed. For temples and individual nobles alike, it was a time of transition and adaptation. The first priority was to help one another stay safe and healthy, and to help protect their communities and the patients of Shriners Hospitals for Children. Then came trying to maintain connections and to keep temples financially solvent. As the “new normal” progressed, nobles and temples found new ways to support the things they have always loved: fun, fellowship and philanthropy.

BE MORE, HELP MORE To limit the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new virus, restrictions were put in place, and temples were unable to conduct business as usual. It was not safe to hold gatherings, and long-anticipated events were canceled. Temples could no longer rent out banquet halls or engage in fundraising activities. In short, temples faced an enormous financial challenge. Enter Shriners International Life Members. These nobles, who have already completed their financial obligations to the fraternity, were in a unique position to help. A fundraiser called Be More, Help More was created. Managed at Shriners International Headquarters, which covered associated costs so that 100% of donations went directly to their temples, Be More, Help More called upon Life Members to step in and help. The response was inspiring. Nobles from 125 temples participated, making 419 donations and raising more than $44,000. This was an opportunity for nobles who were not only willing but also eager to provide exemplary leadership in extremely difficult circumstances. These special nobles stepped up not because they were obligated but because they felt called upon as fraternal leaders in a crisis. Their donations to the Be More, Help More fund helped ensure that our

organization would continue to survive and even thrive through the crisis. The fraternity extends to them sincere and heartfelt gratitude. VIRTUALLY AMAZING Since gathering in person was no longer safe or permitted, temples looked to technology to keep things going. For some, it was an easy transition, while for others, it was completely new territory. Some temples held virtual ceremonials, and even the 2020 Imperial Session moved to an online platform. The office of membership development and the Imperial membership executive committee created several tools to assist temples in conducting virtual ceremonials, including a training video, guidelines and a document of FAQs.

Among the temples who moved to virtual ceremonials was Amal Shriners in São Paulo, Brazil.

“In late March, we realized that, because of the pandemic, we were

not going to hold in-person events anytime soon,” then-Potentate David Whittemore said. “More than 55 of our candidates who expected to be initiated in April had already paid the required fees; fezzes and fez cases had been ordered; and commitments were

FUN e FELLOWSHIP

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