ShrinerMagazineFall2021

Making Choices and Decisions to Strengthen the Fraternity

In addition to being a time of fun and fellowship for the global Shriners family, Imperial Session also has a serious and critically important role. It is the time when decisions are made that will guide and provide direction for the Shriners organizations for the Imperial year. This year, the focus was on the fraternity. Continued International Interest and Growth The Shriners fraternity continues to experience growth and interest around the world. Our emphasis on fun, fellowship and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth continues to attract interest in our fraternity, and increase inter- national growth. Petitions for dispensation to form and open new temples in Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, and Culi- acán, Sinaloa, Mexico were granted. Shriners International currently has 198 temples. Legislation passed at the 147th Imperial Session in Houston, Texas, on July 5, 2021, granted dispensation to open new temples, Salah Shriners, U.D. (in Brazil) and Al Atfal Shriners, U.D. (in Mexico). The bylaws of Shriners International provide that a temple under dispensation may not be granted a charter for a period of at least the time elapsing between two annual Imperial Sessions

of Shriners International. Therefore, the two temples that were granted dispensation, Salah Shriners, U.D. and Al Atfal Shriners, U.D., may submit petitions at the 148th Imperial Session in Min- neapolis, Minnesota, in 2022 to be granted charters. If charters are granted at that time, these two temples will officially become the 199th and 200th temples of Shriners International – the third in Brazil and the second in Mexico. Recognizing the Importance of Education Legislation was also passed that requires attendance at the Ori- ental Guide or Assistant Rabban leadership seminars as one of the prerequisites to serving as Temple Potentate, effective Nov. 1, 2022. Accordingly, Shriners International Education Founda- tion will be increasing efforts to strengthen these programs. Stronger leadership at the temple level can only improve our fraternity’s efforts to impact membership, local communities and our philanthropy. On a lighter note, a proposed resolution to confirm the charter of the International Association of Shrine Taprooms was passed, and celebrated in true Shriner fashion.

Kosair Charities Supports Shriners Education Efforts

Shriners International is proud and grateful to share that Kosair Charities, an organization dedicated to enhancing the well-being of children through providing financial support to appropriate programs, has awarded a grant of $98,000 to the Shriners Inter- national Education Foundation. Accordingly, the 2022 Assistant Rabban Leadership Conference will be renamed the Kosair Chari- ties Shrine Leaders Conference. “We are honored by the support of Kosair Charities,” said John C. Piland, executive vice president of Shriners International. “Strengthening the educational programs for our fraternal and temple leaders will, in turn, improve our delivery of care and ser- vices to children and families through our philanthropy, Shriners Hospitals for Children.”

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