MINUTES OF THE TEXAS SHRINE ASSOCIATION
MID-WINTER SESSION
FEBRUARY 14-16, 2008
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS
The following Association Officers,
Past Presidents, Divan Members and visitors were present:
Association Officers
Paul
McCombs Potentate - Alzafar President
Sam
Khoury Chief Rabban - El Mina 1st Vice President
Steven
P. O’Neal Asst Rabban - Moslah 2nd Vice President
Lawrence
A. Winkle P.P. -
Hella Sec-Treas.
Potentates
Quince
Mitchell Al
Amin
Paul
McCombs Alzafar
Jerry Grizzle Arabia
Charles
Farnham Ben Hur
John
Grady El Maida
Frank
W. Schurwon El
Mina
Jim
L. Alford Hella
Glen
Dale Boyd Karem
Rit
Christian Khiva
Mark
Terry Maskat
Don
A. Coulson Moslah
Kenneth
Pierce Sharon
James
Hughes Suez
Past Presidents
Lawrence
A. Winkle, P.P. 1988 Hella
Roger
Nelson, P.P. 2001 Hella
Greg “Snake”
McEwen, P.P. 2004 Karem
Imperial Officers
Douglas
E. Maxwell Deputy
Imperial Potentate Moolah
Terry
McGuire Imperial Chief Rabban Alzafar
Jerry
Gantt Imperial
Marshal Arabia
Distinguished Visitors
James
L. “Jim” Cain, P.P. Candidate for
Imp. OG Al Menah
Timothy
“Tim” Morris Imperial Hospital Trustee Oleika
Divans and Others
Al Amin
Everett
L. Harvell, CR; Eduardo “Ed” Aguilar, AR; James L. “Jim” Caughman, HP&P;
Max Maughan, OG; Jimmie V. Goodman, P.P., Treas.; John J. Miller, P.P., Rec.;
William R. “Bill” Sandell, P.P.
Alzafar
James
Strayer, CR; Rick Reyes, AR; G. I. Flores, HP&P; Bob Jones, OG; Don
Starnes, Rec.; Terry McGuire, P.P., Imp. CR.; Buck Bourne, Chief of Staff;
Arabia
Ken
Aldridge, CR; Michael Ellis, AR; John McDonald, HP&P; Dale DeFoor, OG; Thomas
A. Mallynn, P.P., Treas.; J. D. Buddy Baccus, P.P., Rec.; Jerry G. Gantt, P.P.,
Imp. Capt. of the Guard; John V. Olivarri, P.P.; Jerry M. Glenn, Chief of
Staff; Paul Weber, Colonel
Ben Hur
James
R. “Jim” Smith, CR; Walter E. “Gene” Sanders, AR; Michael Ford, HP&P; Ed
Whitmore, OG; Bill James, Treas.; Boyce Freitag, P.P., Recorder; Gene
Freudenberg, P.P.; Wendell Koenig, P.P.
El Maida
Ronald
Smith, CR; David Peck, AR; Nickie Keene, HP&P; Steven G. Miller, OG; Paul
M. Rogers, P.P., Treas.; Jim Davis, P.P., Rec.
El Mina
Sam
J. Khoury, CR; Raymond Rubio, AR; Brad Corley, HP&P; Arnold Langston, OG;
Lester Smith, Treas.; Ken Tenhet, Rec.
Hella
Roger
Fuller, CR; Robert D. Sparks, AR; Jerry Garey, HP&P Roger Carney, OG; Roger
Nelson, P.P., Treas.; Ron Anderson, Rec.; Lawrence A. Winkle, P.P.; Harry Don
Moore, P.P.; Ed Kirkpatrick; P.P.
Karem
J.
A. “Jay” Baker, CR; James W. Koehler, AR;
David Buckels, HP&P; Larry J. Taylor, OG; Bob Westwood, Treas.; Orborn
“Salty’ Brown III, P.P.; Greg “Snake” McEwen, P.P.
Khiva
Horace
Melton, CR; Ben Watson, AR; Glenn Pate, HP&P; Mike Grafton, OG; Jim
Osborne, Teas.; Wilton Manley, Rec.
Maskat
Mark
R. Elgin, CR; Robert “Bob” Hamblin, AR; Terry Martin, HP&P; Poney Thompson,
OG; Jimmie Holland, Sr., P.P., Treas.; John L. Tunnell, P.P.; Rec.
Moslah
Allen
Miller, CR; Steve O’Neal, AR; Richard P. Evans, HP&P; Patrick Bobbitt, OG;
David A. Cook, Treas.; Ray Moyer, P.P., Rec.
Sharon
Mark
Douglas, CR; James F. Booker, AR; Carl Auvil, HP&P; David Hamm, OG; Melvin
Ruyle, Treas.
Suez
Ben
Brewer, CR; Jimmy Sharp, AR; Manuel Olivas, HP&P; W. F. “Rusty” Culp;
Treas.; Sam Worbington, P.P., Rec.; Gary D. Anderson, P.P.; David Martin, P.P.
(104 Nobles Present)
The TSA Mid-Winter Session was
called to order at 9:00 a.m., Friday, February 15, 2008, by TSA President Paul
McCombs, Potentate, Alzafar Shrine Center, at the Sheraton Hotel, South Padre
Island, TX. After the opening prayer by Ill.
Sir Don A. Coulson, P.P., Moslah Shrine Center, and presentation of colors by Al
Amin Shrine Center’s Legion of Honor, the Shriners’ Pledge of Allegiance was led
by 1st Vice President Sam Khoury, Chief Rabban, El Mina Shrine
Center, and the pledge to the Texas flag by 2nd Vice President Steven
P. O’Neal, Assistant Rabban, Moslah Shrine Center.
President McCombs welcomed all of
the divans of the Texas temples to the Mid-Winter session being held at
beautiful South Padre Island and introduced the Imperial officers present,
including Imp. Sir Douglas E. Maxwell, Deputy Imperial Potentate, Moolah Shrine
Center; Imp. Sir Terry McGuire, Imperial Chief Rabban, Alzafar Shrine Center; and
Imp. Sir Jerry Gantt, Imperial Marshal, Arabia Shrine Center. Imp. Sir Bernard. Lemieux, Imperial
Potentate, Zenobia Shriner Center, had been scheduled to attend but was unable
to do so because of the tragic loss of his beautiful and talented wife, Helen.
Ill. Sir Quince Mitchell, Potentate of
Al Amin Shriners, welcomed all to South Texas.
He
had
promised four years ago to give all attendees a room with a view of the gulf in
a hotel that was not built at the time. Ill.
Sir Mitchell recognized Ill. Sir Bill Sandell, Director General of the
Mid-Winter and and presented him with a new fez case with the new Shrine
branding logo on the case for the great job he had done in organizing the
meeting’.
Ill. Sir Sandell introduced Ms. Courtney Hayden,
Alderwoman of South Padre Island, who brought greetings and a report of
activities on the island. She read a
proclamation passed by the island council mandating that ties are not allowed
to be worn on the island. She then had a
police officer appear who cut off the ties of Ill. Sirs Sandell and
Mitchell. She then presented them with Padre
Island tee shirts and requested that they be worn at all times.
Secretary-Treasurer Lawrence A.
Winkle presented the minutes of the previous Ceremonial session, and moved
approval. The motion was seconded and
passed without discussion. A financial
report of the TSA was given and the report was also approved. The following Tribute was then unanimously
adopted by the assembly with a statement that it be made a part of the minutes
of the meeting:
TRIBUTE
In 2007 the Texas Shrine Association lost three of its
most respected members, Imp. Sir Everett Evans, Sharon Shrine Center, and Ill.
Sirs S. Earl Knox, Hella Shrine Center and Pete Spoonts, Maskat Shrine Center,
Secretary/Emeritus of TSA.
Imp. Sir Everett
served as President of the Texas Shrine Association in 1973 and then served as
Imperial Potentate of the Shrine of North America in 1992-1993. The minutes of TSA reflect that in 1973, the
Mid-Winter was held in Beaumont and the Ceremonial Session was held in San
Antonio.
Ill. Sir S. Earl Knox served as President of the Texas
Shrine Association in 1981. That year,
the Mid-Winter was held in Wichita Falls and the Ceremonial Session was held in
Dallas.
Ill. Sir Pete Spoonts served as Secretary/Treasurer of
the Texas Shrine Association for fourteen years, from 1982 to 1995. He succeeded Noble Clark Petet of Hella
Shrine who had served TSA as Secretary/Treasurer since 1953. Noble Petet had succeeded Noble A. H.
Swanson, Ben Hur Shrine who had served as Secretary/Treasurer since 1936.
Each of these men made enormous contributions to
Shrinedom and the Texas Shrine Association.
Each one was faithful in attending and supporting the activities of the
Association and they will be missed.
TSA 1st VP Sam Khoury then
introduced the living past presidents of the Texas Shrine Association that were
present. President McCombs then had a
representative from each Shrine Center introduce the divans and attendees from
their respective temples.
President McCombs then recessed the
meeting for the purpose of committee meetings by the Purposes and Policies
Committee and the Time and Place Committee.
Ill Sir Greg “Snake” McEwen, P.P., Karem
Shrine Center, chaired the Time and Place Committee, and reported that the
years, dates and locations of the TSA meetings are as follow, which were
approved by a vote of the assembly:
TIME AND PLACE
YEAR AND DATE TYPE SESSION LOCATION TSA
PRESIDENT HOST
TEMPLE
2008
Feb 14-16 Mid-Winter South Padre Island Alzafar Al Amin
June 5 - 7 Ceremonial San Antonio Alzafar Alzafar
2009
Feb. 5 - 7 Mid-Winter Tyler El Mina Sharon
June 4 - 6 Ceremonial Galveston El Mina El Mina
2010
Feb. 4 - 5 Mid-Winter Waco Moslah Karem
June 3 - 5 Ceremonial Fort Worth Moslah Moslah
2011
February (TBA) Mid-Winter Midland Suez Suez
Ceremonial Suez
Ill. Sir Roger Nelson, P.P., Hella Shrine
Center, chaired of the Purposes and Policies Committee. The committee had discussed a request for the
payment of stall fees for participants of the Texas State Horse Patrol
Association (TSHPA). After discussion
the Purposes and Policies recommended that the TSA Secretary/Treasurer write
the president of TSHPA and request that a representative of the Association
appear at the business meeting of TSA in San Antonio to discuss the possibility
of TSA paying for the nightly stall fees during competition to encourage
participation and competition. After
discussion, the recommendation passed unanimously, and the Secretary/Treasurer
was so directed.
Noble Bruce Thomson, Alzafar Shrine Center, discussed
the Strategic Imperial Shrine Membership program with the assembly. He presented figures reflecting the numbers
of nobles created, affiliated, restored, demitted, suspended and expired for
each Texas temple during 2007. These
figures, in turn, were equated to net gain or loss and percentage of
change. With exception of Maskat Shrine
Center, all other temples had a negative change in membership. The numbers ranged from a 1.82% gain in
membership for Maskat compared to a 10.09% drop in membership for Sharon Shrine
Center. The total membership at the
beginning of 2007 for Texas temples was 22,923 compared to 21,627 at the end,
for a net loss of 1,296. Suggestions for
membership included having the Potentate appoint “Ambassadors” to each Blue
Lodge in its area; sponsor chile cook-ofs or similar events and invite all
local Lodges, DeMolays, Rainbows, etc. to participate; paying a noble’s dues
for a year if he brings in a certain number of new nobles; each Divan member
pledging to bring in at least one new noble during the year and challenging all
members to do the same. Noble Thomson
pointed out that only six of the thirteen temples attended the Imperial
Membership seminar in 2007. If
membership is one of our most important issues, all Shrine Centers should
attend the seminar in 2008.
President McCombs introduced Noble
Bennie Bowers, Housing Chairman for the 2008 Ceremonial Session to be held in
San Antonio, TX. He addressed the
concerns and misconceptions that some had regarding housing for the
convention. The Crowne Plaza Hotel will
be the headquarters hotel and all associations are encouraged to talk to Noble
Bowers before arranging for their association breakfasts.
Noble Norm Eastman, Alzafar Shrine
Center, Director General of the 2008 Ceremonial session, appeared and presented
information regarding TSA to be held in San Antonio June 5 -7, 2008. A power point presentation was given
concerning the city, facilities, hotels and the like.
Steven B. Reiter, Administrator of the Houston
hospital, recognized the seven board members that were in attendance. He discussed a new program named “Transition”
which teaches children to learn through different stages how to become
self-sufficient. It is very difficult
for physically challenged children to become self-sufficient. Nearly 500,000 children each year pass into
adulthood and need to be taught how to do so.
Many are now able to go to college and have developed social skills as
to how to dress and handle job interviews, etc.
There are many agencies available as partners to help our children make
this transition. The hospitals now
sponsor transition retreats and teach the certain skills, including how to
access public transportation and how to shop.
Transition fairs – manufacturers are brought in to discuss appliances
specially designed for the handicapped.
They help in getting the kids trained to get their drivers license. The hospital has dances for kids in
wheelchairs with no parents allowed.
This teaches self-esteem and how to cope in the real world as an
adult. A mentoring program with
corporations is also being developed.
Remember that all our efforts are in vain if we do not teach our
children how to cope in the real world.
John Swarthout, Administrator of the Galveston Burns
center, introduced the board members in attendance, and discussed the present
activities of the hospital. The hospital
has 12 nurse vacancies now and it is very difficult to recruit for professional
help. A parent-patient center is now
being built directly behind the hospital,
It will have 16 bedrooms with all amenities, including common area and
bathrooms. Parents will eat in the
hospital, and Shrine centers have donated furnishings for the rooms.
Jerry Gantt re East – West presented placques to
temples who attended the Hall of Fame 2007 banquet. Sharon, Al Amin, Khiva, Hella, Ben Hur, El
Mina, Sharon, Maskat. He stated that
Dale Stauss had planned to be here but on plane in Portland yesterday sucked up
a bird. Daddy program is very important
to the game. Took in over $900,000 this
past year. It takes about $2,000,000 to
put on the game. This year the game will
be moved to 4 p.m. in 2008 on ESPN and we will be on 150 radio stations. The game now is played under pro rules. He introduced Mike Cannon a full time
East-West employee, who presented a video on players attending the Houston
hospital and interacting with the patients.
He wants to reach a goal of 20,000 fans in attendance in 2008. The game will be played again at the UofH
stadium
Rick
Reyes, Assistant Rabban, Alzafar Shrine Center, spoke to the assembly regarding
ad volarem taxes. The dues received from
the Alzafar membership pays for only 40% of the tax bill. Although the previous legislature did not
pass such a bill, next year another bill will be introduced at the state legislature
to exempt Lodges, Shrines centers, Scottish Rite, and the like from having to
pay such taxes. Two things you never
want to want to see being made – hot dogs and legislature.
Ill,
Sir Tim Morris, P.P., Oleika Shrine Center, is running for his 2nd
three year term as a Hospital Board
Trustee. He asked all delegates to
consider his qualifications and his past service to the hospital system.
Imp.
Sir Doug Maxwell, Moolah Shrine Center, Deputy Imperial Potentate, discussed
various things that are happening in the fraternity during a question and
answer period. He first discussed what to expect at the session, and
for the first time the Imperial session will be held in the venue of the
incoming Imperial Potentate. The
Imperial Potentate’s evening will have as its entertainment, the Beach
Boys. Tuesday night will be St. Louis Cardinal
night at the ball park., and there will only be one parade which will be held Tuesday
night.
The
Shrine is now a five-year host of the PGA.
Last year was Fry’s.com but this year the event will be con-sponsored
with Justin Timberlake and the Shrine. It will take place during the 3rd
weekend in October in Las Vegas, NV. Shriners
desiring to perform volunteer duties are encouraged to apply.
It is
possible that a number of countries may request charters including the
Phillipines, England and Italy.
The Imperial Sir then discussed the following issues:
Saturday Morning Session
Arnold
Langston, OG, El Mina Shrine Center, brought greetings from Past Grand Master
of Masons in Texas and Past President of TSA, Ill. Sir W. Vernon Burke
Mark
Douglas, CR, Sharon Shrine Center discussed the plans for the 2009 Mid-Winter
to be held in Tyler, TX. The Potentate’s
Ball will be held on Friday evening during the Mid-Winter meeting.
At
the prior ceremonial session, President McCombs had discussed the possibility
of all Shrine centers buying drink cups in order to save money. He advised that the proposal did not have
enough support to pursue further.
Ill.
Sir Jim Cain, P.P., Al Menah Shrine Center, candidate for Imperial Outer Guard,
addressed the assembly. This is the
second time that he has run for the office and, at the present time, he has no
opposition. He discussed his
qualifications and his desire to hold the position.
Secretary/Treasurer
Winkle discussed numerous items, including Texas Breakfast procedures, IRS
filings, and TSA shirts with our TSA logo imprinted thereon which are available
for purchase. The Shrine Centers then
drew names for the Imperial ladies that each temple would honor at the Texas
Breakfast. TSA directories were prepared
and passed out to all temples.
Once
again, the Temple Oriental Guides continued to lose their fezzes and other
items and contributed $1,330.00 to the hospitals as ransom to recover their
items.
Imp.
Sir Jerry Gantt, Imperial Marshal, Arabia Shrine Center, advised that the Imperial Potentate sends his regrets in not
being able to attend in light of the loss of his lovely wife, Helen, Her fund will probably be one of the largest
fund raisers we will have had. Her book
is selling quiet well on the history of the Shrine. He advised that the Los Angeles hospital is
getting in a critical situation because in 2013 it won’t meet the seismatic
requirement for earthquakes. It will be
better to build a new hospital rather than try and bring the hospital into
code. He discussed the condition of various
hospitals including Shreveport and Philadelphia. He concluded by explaining the new brand, or
logo, that Imperial had adopted for general use.
Imp.
Sir Terry McGuire, Imperial Chief Rabban, AlzafarShrine Center, said the Shrine
has had a good year this year and has developed a plan called “Vision
2011”. The budget for 2008 is over
$800,000,000, which equates to $2.26
million dollars per day, or $29.00 per second.
We have 12 vacancies for ortheopedic
surgeons. There are openings for 125
over the United States and only 18 are graduating. For this reason starting surgeons are
commanding salaries that the Shrine can’t compete with. The Erie hospital for all intents and
purposes is gone. With the changes in
hospital care there will have to be changes in our hospital system Some our hospitals may have to downsize
because we don’t have the patients and/or doctors. Imp. Sir McGuire concluded his comments with
a brief discussion of universal health care services.
There
being no further business, the business meeting concluded at 11:30 a.m. Peace and harmony prevailed.
Respectfully
submitted,
Lawrence
A. Winkle
Lawrence
A. Winkle
Secretary/Treasurer
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