Shrine list of often heard terms

Potentate- In any other organization he may be referred to as the President or CEO, but whichever term we use he is our leader.

Board of Directors (Elected Divan)-Seven Elected Shrine Officers which includes the Potentate, Chief Rabban, Assistant Rabban, High Priest and Prophet, Oriental Guide, Recorder and Treasurer. Those positions are elected and installed in January, by the Nobles of our Shrine.

Chief Rabban, Assistant Rabban, High Priest and Prophet and Oriental Guide- These positions traditionally move up each year and could be referred to as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Vice Presidents. Each position has definite duties to perform during their year.

Appointed Divan- These are Potentate appointed positions which includes the 1st Ceremonial Master, 2nd Ceremonial Master, Director, Marshal, Chaplain, Captain of the Guard and Outer Guards

Web Page- www.mirzashriners.com Visit it often, it has the most up to date information concerning Mirza’s Stated Meetings and Ceremonials as well as information about the Clubs and Units activities.

Nobility- Includes all Nobles (Shriners) of the Shrine.

Potentates Aides- These Nobles are appointed for a one-year term by the Potentate and will assist with various tasks throughout the year.

Potentates Ambassadors- These Nobles are also appointed by the Potentate for one year and will act on his behalf in their communities.

Stated Meetings- Official meetings.

Ceremonials- This is when we induct new Nobles into the Shrine. There are two held each year one in spring and one in fall.

Call Parades- Are those parades designated by the Potentate for that year as Official and he requests a maximum attendance

Unofficial Parades- Are parades to which your Unit has been invited and the Unit must formally request permission to attend and receive the Potentates approval. This is to insure that the Unit is covered by the Shrine Insurance policy.

Uniformed Units- Presently our Shrine has twenty-five Units, with many varied interests. You will hear this said many times, but -“To really enjoy the Shrine you need to join a Unit”

Shrine Clubs- There are nine Shrine Clubs which are located throughout our jurisdictional area. For example, there are Clubs in Bourbon County, Chanute, Cherokee County, Coffeyville, Crawford County, Independence, Linn County,.

Annual Dues- Mirza has an annual dues assessment, which also includes the Hospital Assessment and Imperial Per Capita Tax. You will be billed in the Fall with dues to be paid by January 1st. A life membership may be purchased for 20 times the current dues. PCM and Per Capita life membership are separate and described below.

Permanent Contributing Membership (PCM)- This may be purchased for $150.00 and covers the hospital assessment of $5.00 per year, for life, that would be part of your annual dues.

Per Capita Life Membership- This may be purchased for $450.00 and covers the Per Capita assessment for Imperial of $15.00 per year, for life, that would be part of your annual dues.

Mirzan- This is Mirza’s newspaper that is published and distributed to the Nobles four times per year. This is an official Shrine publication and should be checked for important announcements concerning Mirza activities. Printing and distribution is paid for by the Ads, which are sold by the Nobility.

General Fund- This is the Operating Budget of our Shrine.

Transportation Fund- This fund is used for transportation of the children and their families to and from the hospitals and other activities supporting the patients.

Screening Clinics- The clinics are open to the public to bring a child who we may be able to help, get them registered and we forward their paper work to the Hospital.

Silent Messenger/Editorial without Words- Over the years this statue has become synonymous with the Shrine. It began as a picture of a Shriner carrying a child across a gravel area, to her car, to become a shrine emblem.

Potentate’s Calendar- In January the newly installed Potentate will publish a book and in there you will find an activity calendar, appointments and Unit and Club Officers, for the year. Additionally, in the back of the book, is our Basic Rules of Protocol, that you should know and understand.

Central States Shrine Association (CSSA)- Across the country there are a number of Shrine Associations. Mirza belongs to the Central States Shrine Association along with 21 other Shrines from Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas, Missouri and one Shrine from Texas. There is a Business Meeting each Spring and a Ceremonial Session held around Labor Day, each year. The Ceremonial has Unit and Individual competition and culminates in a parade of all Shrines.

Imperial Shrine- Officers of the Shrine of North America with their Headquarters located in Tampa, Florida

Colorado Corporation- Shriners Hospitals for Children is a wholly separate corporation, incorporated in Colorado as a charitable organization. It was founded in 1922. Shriners Hospitals for Children owns and operates the 22 Shriners Hospitals, and it’s purpose is to provide medical and hospital care to children with orthopaedic and burn problems, without regard to race, religion or relationship to a Shriner. All care and services provided by Shriners Hospitals is totally free of charge to the patients and their families. In 2007, Shriners Hospitals will spend approximately $650 Million on hospital operations, medical research and capital expenditures.

Iowa Corporation- The Shrine, officially known as the Imperial Council of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America has been in existence since 1872.It is incorporated in the state of Iowa as a fraternity. It has 191 unincorporated fraternal chapters in North America, known as Shrine Centers.

Noble, we welcome you and your Lady to this great Fraternity/Philanthropy and sincerely hope this list will assist and guide you as you get started. One small hint, to enjoy this Organization you will need to participate and get to know all of us. We were founded on “Fun and Fellowship” and that is how we grow.