SALAAM MAR - APR 2018

plan
Shriners
golf
annual
Amin hosts TSA
Al
Mid-Winter
RGV
Transportation
announces
team
leaders
new
S H R I N E R S I N T E R N A T I O N A L
M A R C H - A P R I L 2 0 1 8
Salaam
The Newsletter of the Al Amin Shriners
In This Issue
Al Amin Shrine Circus
March 9 - 11, 2018
tournament
conference
Al Amin Shriners
2001 Suntide Road
Corpus Christi, Texas 78409
(361) 241-5353
www.alaminshriners.com
Come out to the circus and support our largest fundraiser of
the year.
If you can help, please contact Circus Chairman
Tom Mehrens at (361) 443-7685 or
chiefrabban@alaminshriners.com.
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A L A M I N S H R I N E R S | M A R - A P R 2 0 1 8

To view printable forms visit http://www.alaminshriners.com/current-happenings/2018-golf-classic
Units: there are trophies that have been left at the temple.
Please come pick them up or they will need to be disposed.
Brandee Lowman, our Office
Administrator, is also a Notary
Public. If you are in need of
Notary services, contact Brandee
at the temple office.
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AL AMIN SHRINERS | MAR - APR 2018

THE POTENTATE'S WORD
Richard Gamewell - Potentate 2018
Greetings Nobles and Ladies,
Since our last issue, the Temple has had its
installation of the Potentate, Divan Officers, and
Unit Presidents. The Temple Calendar was set for
2018. Thanks to all Nobles, Shrine Ladies, and
Staff for attending.
The Texas Shrine Association held its Mid-Winter
Meeting at the Holiday Inn Marina Downtown Hotel
on February 8th - 10th. As TSA President, I was
honored to have present at this meeting the Imperial
Potentate Gary J. Bergenske and three other
Imperial Officers. Afterward, my wife Peggy and I
enjoyed an evening dinner with the Imperial
Potentate and the Imperial First Lady Ann, Imperial
Outer Guard Larry Lieb, and the Al Amin Divan.
2018 Divan
Potentate - Richard Gamewell
(361) 816-1009
potentate@alaminshriners.com
Chief Rabban - Tom Mehrens
(361) 443-7685
chiefrabban@alaminshriners.com
Assistant Rabban - Mike King
(361) 696-1585
asstrabban@alaminshriners.com
High Priest & Prophet - Cody Paul
(361) 756-7106
hp.prophet@alaminshriners.com
Treasurer - Marcelo Cantu
(361) 241-5353
treasurer@alaminshriners.com
Interim Recorder - Roy Cantu
(361) 241-5353
recorder@alaminshriners.com
Al Amin had one great Hospitality Room. Thanks to the
Divan and the Divan Ladies who worked to make this a
wonderful event. Thanks also to all Al Amin Shrine Nobles
and Ladies and non-Shriners who helped to make this year’s
Mid-Winter TSA a total success.
On February 23 and 24th, the Texas Shrine Directors
Association held its Mid-Winter Meeting here in Corpus
Christi at the Holiday Inn Marina Downtown Hotel. A Beach
Bash Dance took place on Friday night and on Saturday
night the Mash Dance was held.
In Brownsville on February 23rd and 24th, our Temple Divan
and Temple Units participated in the annual Charro Days
Parade.
The Al Amin Shrine Circus will be held on March 9th, 10th,
and 11th. On March 18th, we will host the annual Children’s
Easter Party at Al Amin.
Please don’t forget that Al Amin will be having a Bar-B-Q
Cook-Off on June 1st and 2nd. We hope that all Shrine
Units will enter this IBCA Sanctioned BBQ Cook-Off. It will
be held in Lagarto,Texas on the west side of Lake Mathis
(Lake Corpus Christi) at the 534 River Bend Club. This will
be a Fraternal Event Fundraiser Cook-Off and all proceeds
will remain with Al Amin. All Shrine Temples will be
contacted and asked to participate in this event and it will
be also open to the public. For information and registration,
please visit www.alaminshriners.com or call the office at
(361) 241-5353.
I look forward to seeing you all again at any event we have
at the Temple.
Nobles: You can pay your
dues online at
www.alaminshriners.com
Respectfully yours,
Richard Gamewell
2018 Potentate
Brandee Lowman
Office Administrator/Marketing
Coordinator
officeadmin@alaminshriners.com
marketing@alaminshriners.com
Barbara Schroeter
Webmaster/Salaam Editor
webmaster@alaminshriners.com
salaam@alaminshriners.com
3
AL AMIN SHRINERS | MAR - APR 2018

AL AMIN GUN SHOWS
Remaining show
dates for 2018:
May 26 - 27
July 21 - 22
August 25 - 26
September 15 - 16
November 3 - 4
December 1 - 2
Come out and visit our gun shows. Here you'll find new and used
hand guns, rifles, shotguns, ammunition, collectible firearms,
reloading supplies, scopes, leather holsters, private sales, men's
and women's accessories, gifts, hard to find items, and much
more. Contact show organizer, Assistant Rabban Mike King, with
any questions.
Dates are subject to change.
Please confirm before attending.
Proceeds are for the benefit of Al
Amin Shriners activities. Payments
are not deductible as charitable
contributions.
Texas Shrine Association
M I D - W I N T E R
C O N F E R E N C E
2 0 1 8
photo credit: Art Loera
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AL AMIN SHRINERS | MAR - APR 2018

Noble Tom Wimberly,
Sunshine Chairman
361-992-1946
Vickie Jones
Max Maughan
James Bixler
David Alexander
IN MEMORIAM
John V. Larseon
Get well soon, we'll miss you!
Memorial Gifts
In Memory of Kenneth Diebel & Family from Richard and
Shirley Pannell
In Memory of Jackie Jackson from Del & Jo Anne
Andersen
In Memory of James Leon Walton from B.W. & Darlene
Walton
In memory of Jim Miller from the Jackson Family -
Donation to Shriners Hospitals for Children
A Special Thank You to Nueces County Judge Loyd Neal
for his generous donation of $1,000 to the Transporation
Fund.
As Shriners, we must all be accountable to
our fraternity. The Imperial Potentate has
developed a new tool to help increase our
pool of prospective members. It is called
the Membership Referral Program. It starts
with the question, “Who do you know that
would make a good Shriner? A friend? A
family member? A coworker?” Just go to
WebFez and click on the link:
https://webfez.shrinenet.org/nextstep.
Filling out the short form response will
trigger an automatic communication to the
referrer and the prospect. The program
encourages constant collaboration. Refer
someone today, and the next day, and the
next day. We can grow with your help.
The Tip-O-Tex
Shrine Club
recently gave a
generous
donation to the
Transportation
Fund.
The check was
presented to
Illustrious Sir
Richard
Gamewell.
Hospital van drivers are always
needed. Please contact the
office or Noble James
Caughman (CC) or Gilbert
Medina (RGV) if you can help.
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AL AMIN SHRINERS | MAR - APR 2018

AL AMIN Shriners
Rio Grande Valley Transportation
by Gilbert Medina, PP, RGV Transportation Coordinator
I am very pleased to announce that Richard Russell and I have accepted to help and join the Shriners
Transportation Team. Richard’s experience and dedication will be a great asset to the Shriners Hospitals for
Children Transportation Team. The team is looking forward to working with all the Shriners, drivers and hospital
personnel. Thanks to all the Shriners and Drivers for your help and support; the Shriners Hospital for Children
appreciates your help.
Congratulations to Hospital & Clinic Coordinator Ed Barbee for volunteering to help the Shriners Hospital for
Children at RGV Shrine Club in La Feria, Texas. Richard Russell and I are looking forward to working as a team.
Also, congratulations to Ms. Olivia Wright for accepting to help the Shriners Hospital for Children. She offered to
prepare meals for the Shriners patients during Clinic visits. Thank you for all your help.
Richard and I appreciate all the wisdom, knowledge and support Noble Dale McMillian has provided us during
times when we needed help.
The Al Amin Shriners in the Rio Grande Valley and the Corpus Christi Area volunteer their own time to drive
Shriners Hospital Vans from Port of Entry Hidalgo, Texas to Houston Shriners Hospital for Children. The
Hospital trip consists of two drivers and two-day round trips. In the months of January and February 2018, 9 and
12 trips were scheduled respectively, plus a mini-clinic of 45 patients scheduled on January 24 at RGV Shrine
Club.
Drivers' Dinner, 2015
Nobles and Ladies
AL AMIN Shrine Transportation Unit Rio Grande Valley has six Hospital Vans transporting Shriners Patients
to Houston Shriners Hospital for Children and back to the South Texas Border, an average of 750 miles per
trip. Vans average 12 to 15 trips per month. Each van has over 200,000 miles.
Keeping Families Close When They Need It Most
Pop Tabs – Collecting aluminum pop tabs from soda cans is an easy and fun way to get your family or
organization involved in supporting the mission. Ronald McDonald recycles the pop tabs and uses the
proceeds to support the daily operational costs. The aluminum pop tabs may be collected then delivered to the
Holcombe House location at any time of the year. Once collected, Ronald McDonald House Houston receives a
donation for the aluminum which supports the daily operation costs.
6 AL AMIN SHRINERS | MAR - APR 2018

STATED
MEETING
Oysterfest
Parade
Nile
Sewing
Shrine Circus
Shrine
Circus
Opry
practice
SOUTH TEXAS
OPRY
Children’s
Easter
Party
2:00 p.m.
Nile
Sewing
Golf
Tournament
Grand Masters
Conference
MID-WINTER SHOOT
Daughters of
the Nile
Installation
Nile
Sewing
STATED
MEETING
Windfest
Parade
Nile
Sewing
Opry
practice
SOUTH TEXAS
OPRY
Potentate's
Ball
7 p.m.
Golf Unit - TSGA Mid-Winter
7
AL AMIN SHRINERS | MAR - APR 2018

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