VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 1 • SPRING 2019 Inside this Issue: Shriners Share Celebrate Shriners Love of Country International Awareness Day Programs to The Strength of Brotherly Love Increase Membership LEADERSHIP A MESSAGE FROM YOUR IMPERIAL POTENTATE DEAR FELLOW NOBLES, Did you know our regional association meetings for use during temple meetings; and working to are, in a way, like mini-Imperial Sessions, with strengthen our connections within the Masonic time for both fun and fellowship, as well as time family of organizations. to share important news and information? You can One reason I am so proud to be a Shriner is learn a lot at these meetings – and have a lot of the generosity of my fellow nobles. You give in so fun. I encourage everyone to attend their regional many ways to benefit your philanthropy, as well as association meetings, as well as Imperial Session. support other Masonic efforts. I want to thank you Jim Cain The more you participate in your fraternity and for supporting my program, which benefits the Imperial Potentate, temple’s activities, the more you will want to share Charity EnShrined – Centennial Courtyard effort Shriners International your experience with others, which ultimately will of DeMolay International through the sale of help our membership efforts. And, as we all know, commemorative bricks for the courtyard. We are increasing our membership numbers is vitally honored to support DeMolay International and important to the future of our organizations. its 100-year history of influencing and improving The membership office is developing many the lives of young men, and look forward to their new programs to help encourage growth. These centennial celebration. include sending various personal welcome and Thank you for all you do for Shriners Interna- congratulatory messages from headquarters; tional and Shriners Hospitals for Children®. creating materials that share personal stories of choosing to join our fraternity; developing videos Yours in the faith, A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES DEAR FELLOW NOBLES, In just three years, we will celebrate the 100th We are also pursuing a parallel program that anniversary of the most generous, compassionate will take us to 2035 – well into the first few years health care system ever created. While we have of our second century. By that time, we hope to much to celebrate and be proud of, we also need have significantly fewer hospital locations. These to face some difficult realities. strategically located facilities will be known as As we have been discussing for some time Centers of Excellence and offer care in all four of now, the health care industry is rapidly changing, our official service lines. We will surround these Jerry G. Gantt and we need to be willing to make the adapta- inpatient facilities with many additional access Chairman, Board of tions necessary to ensure Shriners Hospitals for points, using telehealth and other technologies, Trustees, Shriners Children® will be strong and relevant for a second affiliations and initiatives to reach more kids in Hospitals for Children hundred years. more locations, closer to home. We continue to increase our focus on outpa- As we make changes and consider new pos- tient services. Our Tampa hospital will become sibilities, it is important that we stay focused on the fifth location to transition to an outpatient our mission to care for children. If we do that, care center on approximately Aug. 1. We also we will succeed. continue our efforts to increase our telehealth program and create more community affiliates in Thank you for your support. order to both treat children closer to their homes and reach more children in need of our special brand of care. 2 Shriner Magazine: Pride and Tradition INSIDE THIS ISSUE ABOUT OUR FRATERNITY BROTHERHOOD Shriners International, a fraternity based on fun, fellowship and the 2 Thoughts from Your Leadership Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth, founded Shriners Hospitals for Children as its official philanthropy in 1922. What began 10 The Strength of Brotherly Love as one hospital is now a world-renowned health care system with locations in three countries. The fraternity, which has nearly 200 temples in several countries and thousands of clubs around the world, 15 Thank You, Generous Shriners continues to support this unique health care system. ABOUT OUR PHILANTHROPY COMMUNITY Shriners Hospitals for Children is one of the largest pediatric sub- specialty health care systems in the world, with locations in the 4 Shriners Share Love of Country U.S., Canada and Mexico. Our staff is dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, conducting 6 Programs to Increase Membership innovative research, and offering outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals. Celebrate Shriners International 7 Awareness Day FIND US ONLINE Shriners, Youth and 8 shrinersinternational.org Football Equals Success Temples Rev Up Their 12 shrinersvillage.com Membership Engines A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CHAIRMAN facebook.com/shrinersinternational OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES twitter.com/shriners FUN AND FELLOWSHIP youtube.com/ShrinersTV instagram.com/shrinersinternational Join Us in Nashville for the 13 2019 Imperial Session shrinershospitalsforchildren.org 14 The 2019 East-West Shrine Game facebook.com/ShrinersHospitalsforChildren twitter.com/shrinershosp youtube.com/user/shrinershospitals PHILANTHROPY instagram.com/shrinershospitals Parades and Games 16 ® Highlight Our Mission About the Cover: This photo was taken at the 2019 East-West Shrine Game Players’/Hall of Fame Awards Banquet the night before the game. On the right is Barry Smith of Egypt Shriners, who was just inducted into the East-West Shrine Game Hall of Fame, and on the left is his son, Andrew Smith, who is also a member of Egypt Shriners. Barry Smith played in the 1972 East-West Shrine Game and then went on to play for the Green Bay Packers and later the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. BEING GOOD STEWARDS | As a nonprofit organization dependent on donations, it is critically important that Shriners Hospitals for Children uses all funds wisely and effectively. The Oversight Committee investigates and reports on activities conducted for the benefit of Shriners Hospitals that have incurred, or apparently may incur, an appreciable financial loss. The Committee also checks on actions or possible actions of the Joint Boards that may not have followed appropriate practices or been fully vetted or disclosed. Findings are reported during Imperial Session. For more information, call 866-290-7637 or visit shriners.ethicspoint.com. shrinersinternational.org 3 SHRINERS SHARE Love of Country “We are patriots, each willing to serve his country with fidelity and courage. We cherish independence under law and freedom with responsibility.” – from The Shriners Creed 7 ONE WAY MANY SHRINERS choose to express their love of “Participating is an honor,” said Ray Combs. country is through membership in the International Association Legions “It is the duty and obligation of every one of of Honor. Units of the IALOH lead our Shriners parades and post the us to pay our respects.” colors at meetings and events. The wreath laying was deeply moving and And, in November, as we observe Veterans Day in the U.S. and honor memorable for everyone involved. those who serve and have served in our military, the role of the IALOH “Being at Arlington to honor those who sac- becomes even more prominent and significant. For 36 consecutive rificed their lives so that we can continue to years, the IALOH has been leading a remembrance observance at enjoy our freedoms – which we often take for Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, to honor the count- granted – was a humbling experience that will less soldiers who fought and died to protect our precious freedoms and stay with me forever,” said Imperial Sir Cain. our way of life. The ceremony is a reminder to remember, honor and “I want to thank the International Association thank those who work today to protect us – especially those stationed Legions of Honor for their commitment and in dangerous places, far from home and loved ones. dedication to this important ceremony year On Nov. 10, Imperial Sir Jim Cain, accompanied by Ray Combs, after year.” International Commander of the IALOH, John Smith, Chief of Staff In June, the IALOH, and the Imperial Poten- of the Association and Patricia Combs, retired veteran of the U.S. tate, will also participate in a similar wreath Air Force, laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, honoring laying at the Tomb of the Canadian Unknown all those who have given their lives in service to their country. Soldier at the Canadian National War Memorial Next, they proceeded to the Canadian Cross of Sacrifice, and paid their in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Both ceremo- respects to fallen Americans who served in the Canadian Armed Forces, nies are meant to perpetuate the memories of leaving a poppy, the traditional symbol of remembrance. those who have died in service to their country. 4 Shriner Magazine: Pride and Tradition Honoring our Veterans and VETERANS Love of Country Remembering our Responsibility Thoughts on Military Service A Way of Life from our Leaders International Commander Ray Combs is a “DURING THE VIET- retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant. When NAM ERA, I chose to he returned home from Vietnam, he wanted join the Marine Corps to continue to serve, although in a different – in my mind they were capacity, and became a dedicated member and the best of the best – staunch supporter of the Legion of Honor, ulti- and I’ve never had a mately becoming its leader. regret. The education In addition to this effort, Combs is also a I got while a Marine Veterans Affairs representative at the Dayton, was as important as Ohio, VA hospital, and was a member of the Board of Governors of Shriners anything I learned in Hospitals for Children Medical Center — Lexington for seven years.