Karem Karavan - Karem Shrine Temple

Page 6 Karem Karavan – March 2009
A message From douglas e. maxwell
imperial Potentate 2008-2009
Hi Everyone,
Patricia and I both wish to say hello to all of you.
To all we have already have had the pleasure and fun of visiting
with this summer and fall, we say thank you for all the wonderful
times you have shared with us. You have made us so very welcome
within your shrine families and we have enjoyed every minute…
(well, except for those few occasions where the airlines lost Patricia’s
luggage).
We hope you enjoyed the Imperial Session in St Louis, with
the new format of the Imperial Potentate being elected in his
hometown, versus going there as he ends his term of office. It lent
itself to increased “media coverage”, as the media always identifies
more with the “New Chairman” coming from their own area. And,
everyone seemed to have definitely enjoyed our new format for
“Representatives Night” with the “Beach Boys in Concert”. Mike
Love called the next day and said…”You Shriners…you were really
fun last night”.
We have traveled to many locations since July and have found
our Shrine Fraternity strong and indeed growing!! I attribute that to
the hard work of our nobles and ladies who love the fraternity as
much as we do. We love the stories we hear of our ladies joining
their men, in recruiting new members and patients for our hospitals.
It is a wonderful thing for all of us to work together for a common
goal that is greater than ourselves.
At the Mid-Atlantic Shrine Assn. held in Virginia Beach this
September, they had their first MASA ceremonial that brought in
new young shriners from as far away as South America. It was honor
to be there and to give them the “Oath of a Noble”.
But our shores were not the only place that we observed the
shrine growing. On October 11th, in a palace in Vienna, Austria,
as part of our International Development, Imperial Sir Al Madsen,
the Imperial Chaplain Barry Todd, and I, again participated in
a ceremonial. We now have new nobles across the Atlantic who
hold our cause dear and sacred. It was an event I wish all of you
could have shared. Shrinedom is growing in Europe and around the
globe… obviously the good works, brotherhood and fellowship we
all know, is sought after in other locations too. It makes me proud to
know that others wish to join us in our shrine journey.
Hopefully this past weekend, you saw the Shrine’s first annual
“Justin Timberlake/Shriners Hospitals for Children… Las Vegas
PGA Open”… golf tournament, on the Golf Channel, or perhaps
even participated at the course as a volunteer. This tournament is
sponsored by Shriners, to let more of our fellow citizens know, that
Shriners are in the business of taking care of children… “At no cost
to the families”…as we have been doing for the past 86 years. We
are co-partnered with Justin Timberlake in this event. (If you don’t
know who he is, ask your kids…maybe your grandkids!!)
On Friday evening October 17th, before a sold out house of
7500 fans, at Planet Hollywood, Justin had a concert… “Justin
Timberlake and Friends”… to benefit our beloved Shriners hospitals.
A few of the guest performers were the Jonas Brothers, Boyz to Men,
Rhianna, and a special guest friend of Justin’s, Lionel Ritchie, who
was introduced as a Shriner. It was quite an event.
Patricia and I…. may not have known all the current generation
of “Pop Performers”, but the audience under 35 years of age
certainly did. How wonderful it was to watch all those young
people in attendance, appreciate what Shriners have been doing for
children for all of these years. They had a first hand introduction to
the Shrine philanthropy. The concert raised over $1,000,000.00 for
the hospitals, but more than that it raised awareness. There were
signs all over Las Vegas telling of this “Sold Out” Star Studded event
for the benefit of Shriner’s Hospitals for Children. And this annual
“Justin and Friends” concert will only get better each year.
On Wednesday of the tournament, the “Celebrity/ Pro Am”
portion was a great spectator event and will be a big draw again next
year. Patricia really enjoyed seeing Josh Duhamel of the “Vegas” TV
Series, the actor Greg Kinnear, professional pitcher Greg Maddux,
Olympian Amanda Beard, and Ellen DeGeneres… a few of the
celebrities who attended. This Celebrity Event, as the excitement of
this years event becomes known, will also continue to grow each
year.
Our Golf Tournament even made it on “Entertainment Tonight”
as Justin spoke so favorably about our hospital system. This weeks
“Sports Illustrated” magazine, also had a wonderful write-up about
our “Tournament” and Shriners Hospitals.
If you have traveled through any airports with PGA Shops
this past month, you would have also have seen large ads telling
of the golf event. The public saw our name “Shriner’s Hospitals for
Children” in a way we have never had before
Even Bill O’Riley… under his section on “Patriots and Pinheads”,
called Justin a patriot for supporting such a noble cause as Shriners
Hospitals. All told, I’ve been informed that we have received more
than $12 million dollars of publicity.
The growth in Europe and beyond is so very positive for the
fraternity… and our new golf event is so good, not only for promoting
the fraternity, but allowing a window… for the world to look in
and see our hospitals. I wish I could share with you the number of
people who came up to Patricia and I, and all of the shriners who
were volunteering and telling all of us… “Thank You for all you do”.
Then they would proceed to tell personal stories of friends or family
members who we have helped.
This is what we do…this is who we are, and the world is seeing
it, too.
This has been an exciting and wonderful fall for our fraternity
and the hospitals. I look forward with excitement and anticipation
to the future for both the fraternity and the hospitals. It is a great time
to be in the shrine or to have a friend join. Our future looks bright
on so many fronts. I invite
you, to invite others to be
a part of this adventure, we
are indeed having fun with
a noble purpose, so let’s be
sure and spread the word.
They can’t join…if we
don’t ask!!!
Fraternally yours,
Your Imperial Potentate
and First Lady
Doug Maxwell
and
Lady Patricia
www.karemshrine.com J. A. “Jay” Baker – Potentate