$10M given for burn center

Posted by Susan Daker, Staff Reporter December 27, 2007 3:40 PM

A Semmes woman bequeathed more than $10 million to the Shriners Hospital for Children to open a burn unit in Mobile, the group announced today.

Dorothy Morris, heir to her late-husband's vast timber estate, left the money to the charity when she died in March, said John Tyson Sr., a member of a local Shrine. Morris did not have any children and wanted to leave her money to the Shriners since her husband was a member.

Plans for the center are still in flux, Tyson said in making the announcement at Government Plaza in downtown Mobile, where his son works as Mobile County's district attorney.

So far the idea is to open a Shriners-operated burn treatment center for children at the University of South Alabama Medical Center, Tyson said. The Shriners unit would be in addition to the regional burn center USA presently operates, Tyson said.

Shriners hospitals are located across the country and specialize in orthopedic, burn and spinal cord injury care. They provide free medical care to children, through donations. The organization does not take government grants, Tyson said.

The proposed burn center still needs approval from USA and officials on the national level of the Shriners organization, which is based in Tampa, Fla., Tyson said. Tyson said he will meet with both soon.

Haake buys California agency

Thursday, December 27, 2007 - 1:07 PM CST Kansas City Business Journal

Haake Cos. announced Thursday that it has acquired Thompkins & co. a California property and casualty insurance provider for an undisclosed amount.

Thompkins & Co., based in Alameda, Calif., specializes in property and casualty insurance for Masonic lodges and shrines. The program is available in all 50 states.

Thompkins has about nine employees who now work for Kansas City-based Haake Cos.

Haake CEO Jeff Cox said the man who established the Masonic insurance program at Thompkins died a few years ago. About 95 percent of the firm was owned by his wife, who wasn't very active in the business.

"So they really needed somebody who had experience running an agency to take it over," Cox said. "Mostly, it was just an opportunity to pick up a business that we understood and saw an opportunity to grow."

Cox said Thompkins wrote nearly a third of the premium available in the whole Masonic insurance area. He said Haake can double that in the next three to five years.

"A program like this has a lot of affinity with members," Cox said. "You get to design coverages that are unique. If you do a great job with them, they have a longer longevity and are less susceptible to competition than just one-off businesses."

Tom Klug, Haake managing director, will oversee the business development and expansion of the Thompkins Masonic Insurance Program from the Haake office in Kansas City.

The company has brought in people who had books of business, Cox said, but as far as he is aware, Haake never acquired a company before.

"This is an opportunity for Haake to get into more program business," Cox said. "We'll continue to look for these niche plays that we feel have something unique or different about them and provide a better opportunity than just opening a retail office in California."

Haake Cos. ranks fourth on the Kansas City Business Journal's list of Top Area Independent Insurance Agencies, based on property and casualty premium volume

RACERS WHO CARE AT SHC/LA

DEC.21'07 1:30PM
Racer Who Care spokesracer, champion National Hot Rod Association
speedster, Fast Jack Beckman, will share his personalized Quick Tips on
Winning in Life, based on his own life/career experiences, with young
patients at Shriners Hospital for Children,Los Angeles.

A cancer survivor, Beckman won the National Hot Rod Association's
Division 7,Person of the Year award for the 2004 racing season
during which he was undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Beckman currently races the Don Schumacher Racing Mail Terminal
Services Dodge Charger R/T Fuel Funny Car. Presently, Chief
Instructor at Pomona?s Frank Hawley NHRA Drag Racing School, he has
taught nearly 6,500 racing students. His fastest speed is 333.33 mph.
Beckman was 2003 NHRA Super Comp Champion.

Toys stolen from Shriners kids

Toys stolen from Shriners kids
Reported by: Buddy Blankenfeld NBC4 Uath


A smash and grab thief has taken Christmas away from some sick children. Bags of toys on their way to Shriners Hospital were stolen. It happened early Wednesday morning in a Holladay neighborhood, the result of weeks of collecting donated toys from generous people—Gone!

“The first thing I thought of were the kids,” said Jeff Crockett. Crockett’s office at Henderson Wheel & Warehouse is packed with bags of toys, they represent weeks of hard work from the company’s 18 independent auto repair shops, from Springville to Logan, and their generous customers who gave. “They can barely afford to fix cars yet they are bringing in toys for these kids,” said Pyle Wheel & Brake owner, Brett Finklea. Now a good portion of those toys are in the hands of a thief. “Some were in bags that said they were going to Shriners Childrens Hospital so as they were taking these toys and seeing… they knew they were going there.”

“These children are in the hospital for Christmas, worst time of the year to be in the hospital, we were excited to give them a toy and they were stolen,” Jeff Crockett said. Five to six bags of toys were taken from Crockett's car after he made a collection run last night. He says normally the toys are brought inside but it was raining. “I got lazy so I just pushed them all down made sure you couldn't see any toys,” he said.
Crockett’s car was part of a rash of smash-n-grabs in his neighborhood. “I woke up and they were all gone,” he said. All that was left were shards of glass from Crockett’s rear window. “I just feel bad. It would be like going to the hospital and stealing something from a little boy in the hospital.” The theft has left Henderson Wheel and Warehouse short of its goal. “We're hoping we can find a way to replace them so we can give some kids a merry Christmas,” he said. Toys, clothes and games are needed, anything for a child one to 18 years old.

For drop-off locations to one of Henderson’s 18 independent auto repair shops go to: http://www.800autotalk.com/ or call Jeff Crockett at: 486-4916. They will be accepting toys until the end of December.

Helping Others: Upcoming events

Helping Others: Upcoming events
By Gloria Glyer -Sac.Bee
Published 12:00 am PST Thursday, December 20, 2007
Story appeared in SCENE section, Page E3


Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California. The Sacramento Debutante Gala will be from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Dec. 22 at the Del Paso Country Club. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Shriners hospitals. Community service remains a major goal of the honorees, who have participated in two parties for the patients. At the "unbirthday party," which was held for family members as well as patients, the debutantes dressed as characters from "Alice in Wonderland." The second party was Christmas in July for all the patients.

The gala is a multigenerational holiday party attended by the honorees, their families and friends. This year's debutantes are Alexandra DeMartini-Anapolsky, Courtney Ankrim, Makinzie Clark, Grace Gardner, Dianna George, Dana Graves, Anastasia Hardin, Nicole Hoffelt, Megan Ingemanson, Courtney Jensen, Alanna Jonsson, Katie Anne Mills, Annie Mowlds, Holly Newell, Camille Niello, Alexandra Russo and Stephanie Street.

Pedaling for Presents

(Photo By Pico Van Houtryve/THE PRESS-TRIBUNE) Mike Brown of Granite Bay navigates his way through the toys he collected in response his 400-mile trek to his Los Angeles office.With contributions still coming in, the WALK for charity has netted more than $5,000 and lots of toys and other items for the hospitalized youngsters.


Pedaling for presents
Granite Bay man takes 400-mile bike ride for charity

By: Bob Magnetti, The Press-Tribune www.granitebaypt.com/articles/2007/12/15/news/top_stories/04brown.txt
Tuesday, December 18, 2007

For Granite Bay resident Mike Brown, 2007 was a landmark year - one in which he celebrated his 50th birthday, his 25th wedding anniversary and took a long walk-bike ride to his office for charity.

That last event might not seem memorable, but Brown's office is located about 400 miles away - just north of Los Angeles.

"I woke up Monday morning (Nov. 19) and felt I had to do something," Brown said of his spontaneous decision. "I told my wife, Patti, that I was going to walk to the office. She thought I was crazy, but she knows that when I decide to do something, I do it. So she went along (with the idea)."

The goal was to raise funds for the UC Davis Children's Hospital, affiliated with the Children's Miracle Network, and the Northern California Shriners Hospitals for Children.

"I'm the type of person that feeds off the giving," Brown said. "I'm a feel-good person and just needed to do something (to help others)."

"It's just tremendous, what's he's done," said Catherine Curran, public information officer for the Shriners Hospitals. "He has raised a tremendous amount of public awareness. Mike Brown just epitomizes the spirit of giving."

Brown's company, PAX, make labels and tags for apparel. A native of Chicago, he came to California in 1980 and settled in Los Angeles, where he was working as sales manager for the Los Angeles Clippers pro basketball team.

Brown and his family moved to Granite Bay a little more than six years ago. The couple has three daughters, Heather, 24, Courtney, 18, and Mackenzie, 7.

Starting off on his long trek, Brown took nothing with him but the clothes he was wearing. Walking out of Granite Bay, Brown spotted a shiny quarter along the street and picked it up, vowing to turn over all the coins found along the way as part of his contribution. The pennies and nickels found outside of Granite Bay amounted to $1.19. "I took nothing with me. I adjusted as I went. I didn't even have good walking shoes," he said. Making his way to Elk Grove on the first day, he found his feet were so blistered and sore and swollen, he knew there was no way he could continue walking.

Brown stopped in a small coffee shop and told some of the customers of his journey. A waitress there commented she had planned a similar journey by bicycle with a church group, but never made it.

"It was like a light going off," Brown said. "I asked where I could by a bike and they sent me to a nearby Wal-Mart. I saw a Schwin bike hanging there and said, 'That's the one; that's the one I want.

"I also went and bought a change of clothes, good walking shoes and lots and lots of Epsom Salts for my sore feet," he said.

Naming his journey WALK - We All Love Kids - Brown experienced the "real" people of California as his route along country roads paralleled Highway 99.

"I rode about 500 miles to travel 400 miles," he said.

"Going through all those little towns," Brown said, "gives you a whole new outlook on people."

He cited the kindliness of the many people with whom he came in contact on his journey.

His first flat tire - one of four along the way - came outside of Lodi. The bike shop, when they found out the reason for the ride, fixed the tire for free. The next day was Thanksgiving, and Brown's family joined him for dinner at a fine restaurant. That made the day a very special one.

A second flat near Turlock necessitated a taxi ride back to Modesto at a cost to Brown of $37 dollars, paid up front. On the trip back, Brown told his story to the driver and when they reached their Turlock destination, the driver said, "Just give me $10 for the gas." A woman in Fresno saw Brown stop and pick up a penny from along the roadside, called him over to her car parked in front of a church.

After hearing of his journey, she gave him money, took his hands and said, "Would you pray with me?"

"That was easily a 10- or 15-minute prayer," Brown said.

One of the most emotional moments along the way came when Brown met a grandmother who had tried for months to get help for her seriously ill granddaughter, only to be turned away by the public agencies.

Brown contacted UCD Children's Hospital and that evening received a call back from the hospital, saying "Don't worry. We're working on it." And they took care of it, he said.

The hotel in Merced in which Brown was staying raised $21 from guests just by putting a collection can in the lobby overnight.

The worst part of the trip - dogs - came between Chowchilla and Delano.

"There's nothing but isolated farms along there," Brown said. "The dogs just seem to line up along the road. You spot a dog coming out of a yard, you just peddle as fast as you can."

Brown's journey ended at his office on Dec. 3, as his staff had a big spread waiting for him.

Even his youngest daughter, Mackenzie, got into the act. She approached Peter Towne, principal at her Greenhills Elementary School, to allow a booth outside the entry to a school function. The booth for charity raised $165.

Brown, an avid Chicago Bears and White Sox fan, said he won't do another bike ride again, but would like to do something creative annually. Brown's newest endeavor is Capitol Dawg, an old-fashioned hot dog stand in midtown Sacramento that will open soon.

Shriner's Promise Fulfilled

Las Vegas Shriner’s Promise to the Children of Shriners Hospital is Fulfilled by his Widow

Los Angeles, CA – December 2007 –
Ralph Rickhoff, a member of the Zelzah Shrine Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, would come into the High Maintenance Sports Pub every week with one goal in mind. He wanted to win the big screen television set that was being raffled off and donate it to Shriners Hospitals for Children in Los Angeles.
The drawing was held in early November, but unfortunately, Ralph was not there to see it.
He had quietly passed away the week before. When she heard the news, bar owner Becky White thought, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Ralph’s name was drawn and we could fulfill his last wish.”
Well, in Las Vegas dreams come true and when the winning ticket was pulled, sure enough, it had Ralph Richoff’s name on it.

His widow Vivian Rickhoff immediately called William “Swannie” Swenson, Potentate of the Zelzah Shrine Center to inform him of the good news. “She was so excited, I couldn’t even understand what she was saying!” says Swannie. After finally making sense of her call, Swannie quickly arranged for a hospital van to drive out to Los Angeles to deliver the television.
Upon hearing the news, Becky White and her husband Artie decided that they needed to pitch in as well. In addition to the television, they also provided a DVD player and several boxes of movies for the children at the hospital.

The trip from Las Vegas occurred on December 12th. Accompanying the donations were Vivian Rickhoff, Becky White and her parents, “Swannie” Swenson and members of the Divan from the Zelzah Shrine Center. They were warmly welcomed by hospital administrator Terry Cunningham who said, “This donation is a great addition to the hospital. It will be placed in our outpatient department waiting area so that all of our patients and family members can enjoy.”
As they left to go home, the new television was already hooked up and showing one of the videos brought from Las Vegas. Surrounding the show were several hospital patients with eyes frimly glued to the TV.

On her Own 2 feet

Sithan Leam, right, thanked Shriners Hospital Nurse Care Coordinator Bonnie Paulsen yesterday for taking care of her during her recuperation from surgery at Shriners in the past year. The Cambodian girl bade farewell to her supporters at a party at Central Union Church in Makiki.(Photo By Jamm Aquino)

Sithan Leam thanked donors who helped her receive treatment

By Craig Gima
cgima@starbulletin.com

Dressed in blue jeans and standing on her own two feet, a Cambodian girl who came to Hawaii for surgery to allow her to walk said goodbye last night to supporters in the local Cambodian community.

In the benediction before the farewell dinner for 15-year-old Sithan Leam, the Rev. Larry Corbett, Central Union Church senior minister, noted, "Sometimes it takes a whole village of people to heal a child."

Star-Bulletin readers and Cambodian community members contributed thousands of dollars to pay for Sithan's travel to Hawaii for treatment and a fund that will help pay for her continued schooling in Cambodia.

Sithan suffered severe burns on her left leg as an infant, and her foot was fused to her thigh by scar tissue.

She hopped on her right leg, instead of walking, until doctors, nurses and therapists at Shriners Hospital for Children in Honolulu were able to separate the scar tissue and outfit her with a prosthetic leg.

She was able to walk for the first time a couple of months ago after undergoing several surgeries, skin grafts and physical therapy.

"It's kind of amazing to see her now as when I first met her at the airport in February," said Anthony Deth, who, along with the charity Medicorps, helped coordinate Sithan's stay in Hawaii.

At that time, Deth said Sithan weighed only about 80 pounds and appeared scared after her first plane trip. She ate only rice on the flight because everything else was too strange.

"Now look at her," he said. "She's smiling, and she's walking on her own two feet."

Sithan's treatment at Shriners is nearly complete. She will likely return to Cambodia next month.

"She's going to be missed very much, especially at Shriners," said nurse Bonnie Paulsen. "When I first met Sithan, she was absolutely frightened. Now she's totally come out of her shell. She's been an absolute inspiration."

Cambodian community member Patrick Keo said Sithan's story reminds him of his own struggles when he first immigrated to the United States.

"We connect with her. We identify with what she's gone through -- coming to a new country without knowing anybody or knowing the language, and how she misses her family," he said.

Sithan said she will miss Rinou Kong and Sary Phean, the couple that has taken care of her in Honolulu, but is looking forward to seeing her own family again in Cambodia.

She also thanked the doctors and nurses at Shriners for helping her.

Sithan's story is especially appropriate at this time of year, Corbett said. "To see a child's life change is always inspiring."

© Honolulu Star-Bulletin -- http://starbulletin.com

Guam Shriners

Shriner's Medical Team Will Make Semi-Annual Trip To Guam
Pacific News Center Staff Reporter 17

Guam - A medical team from the Shriners Hospital for Children in Hawaii will be on Guam next month to provide free clinical services to children who have special orthopedic care needs. The service will run from Jan. 7 to 10 at the Mangilao clinic of the Department of Public Health and Social Services.

Since patients will be seen by appointment only, they can call Arlean Kloppenburg at 735-7117.

Kloppenburg said there are currently around 400 families on Guam with children who are in need of such care. She is urging them to take advantage of the team's visit next month, noting that when the Shriner medical team was on the island back in June, only 23 families showed up.

Another Shriner Kid makes Good

Can't slow her down: Paralyzed from an injury, student wants to change minds

Kristina Shepard poses for a portrait on Wednesday with her companion dog, Chevy, and her truck, which sports her nickname — Hot Wheels.

(Photo by Robin Michener Nathan,The Times)


By Debbie Gilbert
dgilbert@gainesvilletimes.com

It’s safe to assume that anyone with the nickname "Hot Wheels" isn’t afraid of attracting attention.

Kristina Shepard figured out a long time ago that she can’t avoid drawing curious stares everywhere she goes, so she uses it as an opportunity to educate people.

Shepard, 24, is a senior at Brenau University, majoring in mass communications. By any measure, she would be an exceptional student. But around the Gainesville campus, she’s known as the woman who has a wheelchair. And a big dog. And a crazy truck.

Shepard has been paralyzed from the waist down since she was 10 months old, when she was injured in a car accident. Yet she considers herself lucky.

"I was a patient at a Shriners Hospital for Children in Northern California, and I saw a lot of older kids come in who’d just been injured and had to learn how to live again," she said. "It’s easier for me because I’ve always been this way. This is how I’m supposed to be."

Shepard credits her mom, who at the time was a single parent, for refusing to treat her differently from other children.

"She is my hero," Shepard said. "She never allowed me to say, ‘I can’t.’ I owe so much to her."

Shepard also could always count on support from Jacob Rhoades, her best friend since middle school. And in 2002, she got another "best friend," of the canine variety.

"Chevy," whose name reflects Shepard’s love of cars, came to her as a 7-week-old Dutch shepherd puppy. He now weighs 97 pounds.

"I sometimes get shoulder pain from pushing the wheelchair," she said. "My doctor suggested that I get a power chair, but I didn’t want to do that. So Chevy pulls the chair when I get tired. I take him everywhere with me, including on airplanes."

Shepard drives a big, red GMC Sonoma with flames and a "Hot Wheels" logo painted on it. Most wheelchair-dependent drivers use minivans, but Shepard refused to drive such a stodgy vehicle. Instead, she found a unique type of hydraulic lift that can be installed on pickup trucks.

When she was 21, Shepard’s life took another unusual turn. She was working in a medical supply store in Sacramento when her boss mentioned something called the Miss Wheelchair contest and urged her to sign up.

"It’s not a beauty pageant," she said. "Not that there would be anything wrong with a pageant, because there are a lot of beautiful women who are in wheelchairs. But I had to go before a panel of judges and talk about how I could represent women with disabilities in California."

The judges apparently found her convincing. Shepard was crowned Miss Wheelchair California for 2005.

"It was so rewarding to me, because I was able to visit kids at the Shriners hospitals and serve as an inspiration to them," she said.

Shepard competed in the Miss Wheelchair America contest in New York, but wasn’t discouraged when she didn’t win. She spent the year attending conferences, rallies and other California events related to people with disabilities, and met with politicians about proposed legislation.

Every now and then, Shepard found time to visit an uncle in Oakwood, who had a house on Lake Lanier. Then her mom and stepfather retired and also bought a house on the lake.

In the summer of 2006, Shepard and Rhoades, who was by then her boyfriend, decided that they, too, would move to Georgia. They bought a house in Dawsonville, and Shepard, who had attended the two-year Shasta College in Redding, Calif., enrolled at Brenau University.

She quickly immersed herself in school life, becoming managing editor of Brenau’s online newspaper The Alchemist. She also hosts a live radio show from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturdays on WBCX-FM 89.1, the college’s radio station.

"I do the ‘Soul Track,’ which is kind of Motown stuff. But I love all kinds of music," she said. "I also do ‘Voices of Brenau,’ which is short interview segments with faculty and staff. It airs at 9 a.m. weekdays."

Apparently all these endeavors weren’t quite enough to keep her busy. This semester, Shepard was hired as an intern in the public relations department at Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

"We were very impressed with her resume on paper, and when you meet her in person, she just blows you away," said Katie Dubnik, a member of the hospital’s public relations staff.

"Her enthusiasm and her maturity are just amazing. And she never lets herself be limited by her disability. It opens your eyes to the things you take for granted every day."

Shepard said regulations mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act have made it easier for handicapped people to get around.

"But access is still difficult in some places," she said. "In California, most buildings are new. At Brenau, a lot of the buildings are old, and it would be hard to retrofit them (with elevators, for example)."

She said there’s also a long way to go on changing people’s attitudes, and she considers that part of her mission in life.

"I hope I can make a difference in how people perceive those with disabilities," she said. "Everywhere I go, I get questions: How do you drive? How do you go to the bathroom? How did you get injured?"

Shepard doesn’t mind answering such questions, because information leads to better understanding. But she does observe some inexplicable behavior.

"I’ve had people say the strangest things," she said. "Some think I’m faking, because they say I’m ‘too young and pretty’ to be in a wheelchair. I’ve had people pray over me in the supermarket, asking God to heal me. A homeless guy in New York told me I was in a wheelchair because I don’t believe in God, which was weird because I’m a Christian."

She hopes people, even those who mean well, will stop trying to "fix" her and instead accept her as she is. She knows that other disabled people feel the same way. And she plans to use her communications skills to get that message out.

She’s already doing volunteer work for Endeavor Freedom, a Winder-based nonprofit that advocates for the disabled.

"I want to pursue a masters in organizational leadership at Brenau (after graduating next spring)," she said.

Meanwhile, Shepard is preparing for other big changes in her life. On Christmas morning 2006, Rhoades proposed to her by hiding an engagement ring in her holiday stocking. They plan to marry at Lake Lanier Islands in June 2008.

"The doctors say I will be able to have children, and we’re really excited about that," Shepard said. "We’ve known each other for so long that it’s like Jacob is already part of the family, so we can’t wait to start a family of our own."

Raising a child from a wheelchair will be a challenge, but there’s never been an obstacle Shepard hasn’t been able to overcome. She sees life as a series of adventures.

"This summer we got a wakeboard with a seat on it, and I water-skied for the first time," she said. "It’s awesome. It’s a sense of total freedom. And I wondered why, having grown up in California, I never tried it until now."

Zelzah Christmas for Kids

Over 300 children turned up to watch Monte Carlo headliner Lance Burton and his showbiz friends entertain at his annual Las Vegas Shriners Temple holiday season show—a tradition that began here in the early 50’s with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.

Photo co: Monte Carlo

Comedy juggler Michael Goudeau, who has performed with Lance since premiering at the Monte Carlo in 1996, opened the show, followed by Lance’s girlfriend, showgirl singer Gabriella Versace who starred at the Rio. Fellow magician Fielding West also performed his comedy conjuring routine. The Shriners here use funds raised to transport seriously ill children to their Shriners Hospital for Children in Los Angeles for free treatment.

East/ West Coaches Both From California!

The East West Shrine Game is Jan.19 2008 Get Your Tickets Now!!

EAST TEAM COACH -DICK VERMEIL

One of the most distinguished head coaches in the history of both professional and college football, Vermeil spent 19 seasons as a head coach in the NFL and two years at UCLA. Vermeil is the only head coach to lead teams to victories in both the Super Bowl and the Rose Bowl. He finished his professional career with an overall mark of 126-114 and was 15-5-3 in his two seasons with the Bruins.

A former color analyst for NFL and college football broadcasts from 1983-96, Vermeil returned to the sidelines in 1998, eventually leading the St. Louis Rams to a franchise-best 13-3 mark in 1999 and a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV over Tennessee. Vermeil has been named “Coach of the Year” at four different levels: high school, junior college, NCAA Division I and has earned the honor twice in the NFL.

“To me, the East-West Shrine Game goes back to my childhood and is much deeper,” said Vermeil. “I grew up in Napa Valley in Northern California, and my grandpa was a Shriner. My dad would take me to the East-West Shrine Game every year.

“Now, to have the opportunity to coach in this wonderful game is very exciting.”



WEST TEAM COACH -MIKE WHITE

White spent 47 years coaching at both the college and professional levels, including head-coaching stints at his alma mater, the University of California-Berkeley, the University of Illinois and the NFL’s Oakland Raiders. He compiled an overall collegiate record of 82-71-4, and finished at 15-17 in his two years with the Raiders.

A two-time National Coach of the Year (1975 and 1983), White was the PAC 8 Coach of the Year in 1975 in leading Cal to a PAC 8 Co-Championship with UCLA. Later at Illinois, he led the Illini to a Big 10 Championship in 1983 and was named the Big 10 Coach of the Year in both 1983 and 1985.

“Like Coach Vermeil, I, too, am from Northern California and grew up with the East-West Shrine Game,” added White. “When I was a college coach, I had the pleasure of coaching in the game twice. I guess it comes full circle that I can coach again.

“This is a great cause. The key to the game is the hospital and the hospital visit by the players. It has settled in Houston, which has not only the great services and hospitals for the children, but it also has the facilities and backing from the Houston Texans and the University of Houston.”

The Roster will be posted soon!

He's Home(Post Nov.24th)

HE'S HOME! Granite Bay Man Safely Home After Walking and Biking 400 Miles for Charity... Here’s a very quick wrap-up!..

Mike Brown walked from Granite Bay to Sacramento. In South Sacramento, Mike bought a bike, which he then rode to Elk Grove… Lodi… Stockton… Modesto… Turlock… Madera… Fresno and finally to Bakersfield. In Bakersfield… Mike got on a Greyhound Bus to hop over the Grapevine.(CHP said no Bikes on the Grapvine) Then he got off at the first stop (San Fernando) and biked to Pasadena… finally walking to his office.

He left Sacramento for work on Monday, November 19th and arrived at his office on Monday, December 3rd. In all, Mike covered more than 400 miles personally to raise awareness about, and money for, Shriners Hospitals for Children and UC Davis Children's Hospital.

Along the way, Mike met mainly good Samaritans and wonderful cheerleaders. Here and there were a few charlatans… but all in all… people were kind and supportive.

Please join us in welcoming Mike home. The link below allows you watch the video clip of Cornell Barnard’s “Congratulations” interview for KXTV-10, Sacramento. On their Web site there is also a forum for sending Mike your thoughts and well wishes.


http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=35879 (cut & Past this Link)


Thank you very much for allowing me to share this incredible journey on our behalf with you!!


Best regards

Alan S. Anderson, Director of Development

Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California

Shriner Hospital For Children 30sec. spot

Heather gets Her Bike Back

Girl with cerebral palsy gets stolen bike back
Reported by: Megan Herrick
12/10 10:48 pm

SANDY, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Heather Landeen was just 15-months-old when doctors diagnosed her cerebral palsy.

“At one point they told us she may not even walk,” say Heather’s mom, Andrea Landeen.

But Heather has come a long way, beating the odds, and while there is no cure for the cerebral palsy, supportive therapy, like riding a bike, can help improve a child's motor skills. Besides, Heather loves it.

“She will go out in the rain and sit on it and say can I ride my bike,” says Heather’s mom.

“Mommy the bike is a privilege,” Heather exclaims in joy.

A privilege that went missing Sunday night; and a privilege her family desperately wanted back.

“It was right up on the porch and someone came and took it,” says Andrea. “We are just hoping someone has seen it and recognize it because it's not a normal bike...it's definitely adapted for a special needs child.”

The bike is pictured to the upper right of this story and looks like a gigantic blue tricycle with a loop for handlebars, making it easier for Heather to turn.

It was a gift donated by Shriners Hospital's Bike Fund. A replacement would have cost nearly fifteen hundred dollars, money that Heather's family say they just don’t have.

“There is now way we can replace it...we really hope...they bring it back,” says Andrea.

As she continues speaking, Heather grabs her mom's shoulder and says, “Mommy?”

“What?” says Andrea.

“Don’t worry,” says Heather.

Monday evening, the bike was located by a David Bate, who saw ABC 4's report on television. He called ABC 4 and Sandy Police, who located the bike and let the Landeen family know where it was.

The family picked up the bike and an ecstatic Heather was riding it within minutes.

Heather's mom Andrea told ABC 4 she wanted to bake some cookies for Bate, who said he could not stand the thought of a child losing her bike so close to Christmas.

Bate said, "Me and my wife are foster parents, and so kids mean a lot to us, especially since we weren't able to have any of our own, so we want to help any kids, especially this time of year."

Celebs Fingerpainting at SHC-LA

Revealed! in People Magazine

Photo by: Meredith Jenks Revealed!
Celebs Fingerpainting for a Good Cause Actor Balthazar Getty may have a growing brood at home (he and wife Rosetta welcomed their fourth child, June Catherine, on Oct. 2), but the star of ABC's Brothers & Sisters still made time for sick children recently through his work with The Art of Elysium, a nonprofit that pairs up hospitalized kids with artists, actors and musicians for creative escape. Getty, 32 (shown painting with children at Shriners Hospital Los Angeles) is taking part with celebs like Eva Mendes, Patricia Arquette and Joaquin Phoenix, and he and his wife are co-chairing the organization's 10th anniversary fund-raising gala in January. To read more about The Art of Elysium and its founder, Jennifer Howell, check out this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands now.
– Alexis Chiu

Visalia Masonic Lodge 150th Anniversary

Visalia Masonic lodge members and their wives will gather Saturday at the Holiday Inn to celebrate the lodge's 150th anniversary.

Also attending the sesquicentennial of Visalia-Mineral King Lodge No. 128 F. & A.M. will be Tulare Masons celebrating their club's 125th anniversary.

As a bonus, they'll all hold a reception for statewide Grand Master Richard Hopper of Visalia.

The Masons are a fraternal organization whose tenets are brotherly love, relief and truth. The Visalia lodge sponsors college scholarships, including for career technical education.

Bill Fulmer, the "worshipful master," or lodge president, said a spirit of fellowship keeps him coming to the Thursday meetings at the lodge's distinctive 1934 art deco building on Mineral King Avenue. Longtime local members include George Pope, Gus Weldon, William Wilson, Steve Gerrard and Gene Miller.

"It's not a religion," Hopper said, but members are encouraged to practice a religion. It's not a secret organization, either, but "we do have secret signs, words and modes of recognition."

Freemasonry traces its roots to the stone masons of the Middle Ages who built the cathedrals. Traditionally, Masonic lodges put into place the cornerstone of public buildings and schools. Today, it's a ceremonial event after the building is complete.

Subunits of the Masons include the Shriners (they drive the little cars in the Candy Cane Lane parade and raise money for Shriners Hospitals for Children), and Order of the Eastern Star, which is open to female relatives of Masons.

A highlight of Saturday's assembly will be the distribution of a history of the Visalia lodge. Walt Hill and Ray Offutt "worked like dogs" on it, Fulmer said.

Among its nuggets are that Edward Farris Storey served as the first master when the Visalia lodge was started on Dec. 19, 1857. Storey soon moved to Nevada to follow a silver strike. Today, Storey County in Nevada is named after him.

Col. Thomas Baker served as the lodge's first secretary. He moved south to the Kern River, where his land holdings included "Baker's Field," now Bakersfield.

Joseph Clarence "J.C." Ward joined in 1873. While in his teens in Michigan, Ward learned to operate the telegraph and taught Morse code to his pal Thomas Edison. Ward became a friend of Samuel F.B. Morse and in the Civil War served on the staff of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.


Lewis Griswold’s column appears on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. He can be reached at lgriswold@fresnobee.com

Joy & Toys

Are you ready for this weekend? You can't say there is nothing to do. Apple Valley SC is going to a parade and so is Woodland Hills SC.

Christmas is on its way and starting down every main Street in several towns this weekend. The bell ringers are out and Joy is in the air.

The Shrine Motor patrol is collecting toys and Clothing for the Midnight Mission( check an early post for more information). The LA Police Band is playing at the Shrine Auditorium also on Dec.2nd.

Several Lodges are getting ready for the New Year with new officers taking office this month and next.
If you have a day or night open and want something to do check with your local Lodge, Shrine club, the Shriners Hospital for Children. Most cities have a list of Non-profits and all of them are looking for help this time of the year

We All Love Kids Charity Tour/Mike Brown

By Zachary K. Johnson
Record Staff Writer November 24, 2007

STOCKTON - A Placer County man on a spur-of-the-moment trek to Los Angeles to raise money for children's charities passed through San Joaquin County this week.

Mike Brown's journey both began and was conceived Monday at his Granite Bay home, he said. Brown has given money and time to the University of California, Davis, Children's Hospital and Shriners Hospitals for Children in Northern California for years, but when he woke Monday morning, he decided he needed to do something more.

He started walking. And he hopes he can spur others to follow his example.

"It's completely spontaneous. It tells people: Get up and do something," Brown said. "Be creative, or just be simple, like opening up your wallet and taking out a $5 bill."

Brown calls the event the We All Love Kids Charity Tour, because it contains the acronym: WALK.

Brown, 50, kept the name after he staggered into a Wal-Mart in Sacramento, bought a Schwinn and continued on his journey, he said. He describes himself as overweight and out of shape but says his body is getting used to the demands of the road.

Putting together an event like this on the fly means making adjustments, he said. After wandering through unknown vineyards between Lodi and Stockton on Thursday, Brown invested in a compass, he said from a Holiday Inn in Stockton on Friday.

Everyone does love kids, he said. And people are bound to help if they only knew how much these hospitals help burn victims, trauma patients, terminally ill children and other young patients, he said.

So far, Brown has found 39 cents on the ground that will go straight to the hospitals. But others wanting to donate money can go to a Web site set up by Shriners Hospital.

Brown said he first called the hospital about his journey after it began.

He estimates it will take him two weeks to get from Stockton to the office of his Los Angeles company, Apparel Label, which makes labels for clothes.

Brown was excited Friday morning as he checked a map and the Internet in his hotel lobby, looking for the route he planned to follow to Modesto.

A clerk asked him if he was going shopping. It was, after all, the day after Thanksgiving.

"Uh, no," he said. "I'm going for a bike ride."

Contact reporter Zachary K. Johnson at (209) 546-8258 or zjohnson@recordnet.com.

How to help

To make a donations to the University of California, Davis, Children's Hospital and Shriners Hospitals for Children in Northern California through the We All Love Kids Charity Tour, visit www.acteva.com/ booking.cfm?bevaID=147509.

To learn about the hospitals, visit their Web sites: www.shrinershq.org and www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/children.

"A blessing that he's here"North state 2-year-old returns home for Thanksgiving after being burned

By Christy Lochrie (Contact)Record-Searchlight,Redding,Ca.
Thursday, November 22, 2007

BACK HOME: Sonja Armstrong and her son, Beau, have a homecoming moment in their Redding backyard. Beau, 2, suffered second- and third-degree burns when his great-grandparents’ travel trailer was engulfed by flames in an accident on Oct. 12. The boy spent 5 1/2 weeks at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Sacramento. He’s home with his family for Thanksgiving.

Sonja Armstrong will be caring for her son, 2-year-old Beau Armstrong, full time while he recovers from third-degree burns and skin grafts after a trailer fire in October. So far, the community has donated nearly $5,200 to the family. Quinten and Barbara Erlei, who hosted a benefit dinner for the family, are collecting donations. To donate, call them at Erlei Healthy Start, 244-7990 or visit the store at 2964 Churn Creek Road in Redding.

Beau Armstrong knows things that most 2-year-olds don’t. Like holding still for hour long bandage changes, recovering from third-degree burns and skin grafts, and blowing kisses through his tears.

“It’s just a blessing that he’s here,” said Sonja Armstrong, Beau’s 32-year-old mother.

Here, as in alive, and now here, as in home in Redding, for Thanksgiving dinner with his family, after spending 51⁄2 weeks at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Sacramento.

Beau’s ordeal started Oct. 12 when he was about to settle in for a nap with his father’s grandparents, Kay and Kenny Armstrong. The Fortuna couple had driven their new travel trailer to Redding to visit Sonja and her husband, Brad, for the weekend.

With Beau at her side in the new trailer, Kay Armstrong lit the stove’s pilot light, which caused an explosion that blew out the left side of the trailer.

“I heard it,” Sonja Armstrong said. “I heard her screaming and I saw her (holding Beau) and he was limp.”

Sonja said she snatched a garden hose, doused Kay and Beau and dialed 911. But Beau, still wilted in his great-grandmother’s arms, didn’t move. Sonja thought he was dead.

Then Sonja heard what mothers usually try to soothe: Her son was sobbing. But the painful wails were good news. They meant he was alive.

Both Kay and Beau were rushed to Mercy Medical Center in Redding. From there, Kay was taken to University of California at Davis Medical Center in Sacramento and Beau to Shriners. Both underwent skin grafts on their hands and feet. And both were sent home Friday.

Dr. David Greenhalgh was part of Beau’s medical team at Shriners, a privately funded children’s hospital that treats burns and spinal cord injuries free of charge.

Beau was burned on 23 percent of his body, Greenhalgh said. His burns were so severe that his capillaries leaked. The pooled fluids caused his tiny body to swell. And that complicated things for doctors, who had to relieve the pressure with surgery.

“Kids with this kind of burn can get really sick,” Greenhalgh said.

Beau was in a drug-induced coma for two weeks while he recovered from the skin grafts and surgeries, his mother said. Doctors feared that his face, swollen beyond definition, would also require skin grafts. But two weeks later, the swelling suddenly subsided and bright pink skin emerged where it had been a pasty color, his mother said.

Sonja, who worked as a day care provider, has been at Beau’s bedside the entire time. Her husband, Brad Armstrong, has cared for the kids, worked at his full-time lumber mill job and traveled to the hospitals while Sonja stayed at Beau’s side.

Friends raised $5,200 for the family from a car wash, bake sale and a benefit dinner.

“The only reason I cry right now is because of other people’s kindness,” Sonja Armstrong said.

All of it allowed her to focus on Beau and his recovery, something that will occupy her full time for the next year. She snapped photos to document her son’s progress.

Sonja pointed to a favorite photo. In it, Beau is wrapped like a mummy. She’s holding the toddler, who was still groggy from the coma.

“All I wanted to do was kiss his little lips, and I couldn’t because he was so out of it,” Sonja said.

But Sonja is kissing and holding her son now. Hours before his release from the hospital on Friday, she kissed and hugged Beau while an occupational therapist fitted him for a hand splint where he’d had a skin graft weeks before. The splint will help him keep mobility in his hand, doctors say.

Beau wailed and clutched his mother as occupational therapists worked to fit his bandaged hand, which his mother had wrapped earlier that morning.

“Not much longer, bud. Not much longer. We’ve got to make it fit,” Sonja told her son.

“Papa!” Beau cried as his mother tried to comfort him.

It took several tries and more tears to get the splint just right. But once it was over, Rose Stella Ahmed, an occupational therapy intern, blew Beau a kiss.

Beau sniffled. Then blew one back.

“I’m just so glad to have him,” Sonja Armstrong said. “I’ve got my baby. It’s the only thing that matters. I’ve got my baby.”

Reporter Christy Lochrie can be reached at clochrie@redding.com. Read her blog at blogs.redding.com.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

With Great Sadness in my Heart

May The Blessing of Heaven Be With Our Departed Brothers and Sister Who Have Joined The Great Architect of the Universe.

LORAINE McNAUGHT - Wife of Dennis McNaught, passed away of a
unexpected massive heart attack the evening of
of November 9, 2007. (Watch Almalaikah.com for further
details.) Dennis is an Outer Guard, Shrine Club
Director, Secretary of Amateur Radio Shrine
Club, and has served on several Shrine Committees
Loraine will surely be missed.

TONY PARISIAN, P.P. 1987 - one of the most popular and hard working
Potentates in Al Malaiakah history
passed away the morning of November 05, after a long illness.
There will be no funeral, but a Memorial is planned for sometime in January 2008
Watch almalaikah.com for further details.
Anthony Erwin Darcy Parisian, Born Oct.30 1925 in Cornwell, Ontario Canada. he was a US.Navy Veteran of WWII he served from 1943-46.
Tony was Master of Van Nuys Masonic Lodge #450 in 1975. Potentete 1987. A member of Royal Order of Jesters Court#84, member of the Navy League of USA, Hollwoor & Los Angeles Council.
He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years Gretchen. His Daughter Roxanne Gosztola(John, Son Gregg and grandchildren Stephannie,Gregory,Brianna & Brittany. His Brother Alvin Parisian and sister Carol LaDue

FRANK FERRIS - a member of the Royal Order of Jesters for thirty
years paseed away. Their was a memorial service on
Saturday, November 3rd.

from the Almalaikah.com

New Host for Shriners PGA Tournament

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., -- Justin Timberlake, former Mickey Mouse Club and 'N Sync member, is going to be the host for a PGA tournament in Las Vegas in 2008.

Joining the ranks of entertainers such as Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and Diana Shore, the former boy band performer will see his name go up as the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Is it to be played Oct. 13-19 at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.

"His star power is going to make an already fantastic tournament even better," Katie Walker, 18, a former Shriners patient and an ambassador for the tournament, said in a release, "and I know that can only help the Shriners impact more lives like mine."

Justin Timberlake will become only the 14th celebrity to host an official tournament for the Professional Golf Association.

An avid golfer, as part of his involvement, the pop star will will play in a celebrity pro-am event in Las Vegas,and host a concert during tournament week which will benefit Shriners Hospital for Children.

Timberlake's challenge will be named the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

He says, "I couldn't be more excited. ... Raising money to better children's lives while playing golf? I can't think of a better way to pass the time."

Read This Carefully

Executive Vice President Mike Andrews has asked that we forward this information to you, in order to make you aware of what is apparently a nationwide scam involving checks drawn on the Boston Shriners Hospital account, which was discovered Tuesday, Nov. 6. The checks carry the hospital’s address, logo and other identifying information; have been sent to individuals throughout North America, along with a letter from INCAS FINANCIAL INC., 2900 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton, AB Canada.

The letter states that the recipient has won a $50,000 prize and that an assistance check of $3,187.60, (or some similar amount) is enclosed to help pay for the tax and administration expenses (International Clearance fees), involved with the individual’s winnings. The recipient of the letter and check is instructed to call a phone number, and the individual who answers instructs the recipient to deposit the check and then call back for further instructions.

The legal department at Shriners International Headquarters is reporting this scam to the appropriate U.S. government agencies and officials. If you receive any calls or inquiries regarding this situation, please forward them to Attorney Bradley Buethe at 813-281-8152. In the event that Bradley is unavailable or out of the office, please direct the calls to John McCabe (813) 281-7113.

Sincerely,

Alicia Argiz-Lyons

Corporate Director of Public Relations

Shriners of North America and Shriners Hospitals for Children

Masons to donate cash to Redding family hit by fire

By Ryan Sabalow
Saturday, November 3, 2007

The All-You-Can-Stand Community Breakfast will be held at Western Star  Masonic Lodge No. 2, 15344 Highway 299 West in Shasta from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday.
The fixings

The menu features pancakes, eggs and sausage; or biscuits and gravy with coffee or juice. Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children.


Proceeds from a local service organization’s monthly breakfast next Saturday will go toward helping a family who nearly died in an apartment fire.

John Bell, a member of the Western Star Masonic Lodge No. 2 in Shasta, said the proceeds from next Saturday’s “All-You-Can-Stand-Breakfast” will be donated to Jennifer Shaw, 33, and her daughter, Hanna Sheffield, 8.

On the morning of Sept. 24, the mother and daughter awoke to find their Eureka Way apartment on fire. They both suffered second- and third-degree burns and were rushed to Sacramento area hospitals.

Both since have been released from the hospital and are recovering. But they’re struggling to find a new place to live and replace all that was lost in the fire.

Bell said the Masons thought the victims’ story was compelling and wanted to help, and since Hanna was treated at the Shriners Hospital for Children, it was particularly appealing for the Masons, many of whom also are Shriners.

Bell said a similar fundraiser last year netted nearly $1,700. The proceeds went to buy prepaid phone cards for soldiers fighting overseas.

Reporter Ryan Sabalow can be reached at rsabalow@redding.com.

November 24th! Sacramento

The Capital Shrine Bowl benefits the transportation funds of the five Shrine Temples in the area. The other part of the event helps raise public awareness about the Shrine, our respective Temples and, of course, our Shrine Hospital.

As for the event itself, there are two football games, the California Junior College playoff and an All Star Youth players of California and Nevada. It starts at 10 am. Tickets are being delivered to members via mail.

New logo!

Watch for the new logo on Billboards, TV and print advertisements, including People Magazine!


The New Logo for the Shriners Hospital for Children has been in the upper right hand corner of this blog and no one has asked about it.
This is the new Logo that all the Shriners Hospitals will now use to help bring the system together as a unit. Each of the hospital have had been using their own logo some were using the Walking Tall or silent messenger some were not. The Walking Tall is not going away, he will now be facing you and will be used with the new logo in the hospital displays.


You will notice that the new Brand Logo includes a forward facing silent messenger which depicts the future of our Hospitals, and that the logo is in the shape of a heart, showing that we care. Also notice how prominent that the Fez is in the center of the logo! More materials will be made available shortly for everyone to help promote our Hospital System including PowerPoint presentations and videos.

Full Sunday Dec. 2nd

The Al Malaikah Shrine Motor patrol is having a Toy Ride Dec.2nd leaving from the Van Nuys Masonic Lodge. The Ride is open to all even if you drive your car. They are collecting Toy and Clothing for the Midnight Mission and will need some one to help haul the Items to the Mission.

After the Toy Ride everyone gets a dinner break and than off to the Shrine Aud. for the Holliday Concert by the Los Angeles Police Band. with their special guest singer. Doors open at 6:30pm

Happy Holloween

Halloween Parade

Apple Valley Shrine Club.

We Just Finished our HALLOWEEN PARADE at BARSTOW.
We had 6 Cars and the 18 WHEELER.
BARSTOW Shrine Club as all ways had a BARBEQUE for teh attendees.

We have the Victorville CHRISTMAS PARADE DEC.1, We should have 8 Cars and the 18 WHEELER. Then on DEC 8th we have the Adelanto Christmas Parade.


THE GUY WITH THE "UGLY CAR"

Hornets Donate Time

MEN’S BASKETBALL TO DONATE TIME TO SHRINERS HOSPITAL


SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Each member of the Sacramento State men’s basketball team and coaching staff donated their time and visited patients at Shriners Hospital for Children in Sacramento this Wednesday Oct.24th at 6:30 p.m.

This will mark the sixth year in a row the team has spent time at Shriners Hospital visiting patients. In years past, members of the squad have also read to children and spent time at both Caleb Greenwood Elementary and Jefferson Elementary, as well as the ASI Children’s Center on the Sacramento State campus.

Sacramento State, which began practicing on Oct. 12, opens play with a home exhibition game against Cal State Maritime on Monday, Nov. 5, at 7:05 p.m.

Message from Grand Master of California

TO: Division III and IV Masons

RE: Disaster in Southern California

The devastating fires which have afflicted Southern California in the past two days cannot have escaped your notice. It is too early to know of any losses sustained by our members and our lodges, but we will be surveying our lodges soon to determine what assistance might be needed. In the meantime, this is an opportunity to truly demonstrate the meaning of Brotherly Love as Masons.

Undoubtedly many of you are already helping in any way that you can, perhaps through making your home available to refugees, or working with community relief groups who are helping those temporarily displaced by the fires. If you have not yet done so, why not offer your help to the local agencies who are responding to the disaster? In the early stages of a disaster people are needed more than money. And as Masons we can offer our personal help now. As Grand Master of Masons in California I call upon each of you to do what you can to respond to this emergency, and to demonstrate that we truly understand the meaning of Brotherly Love when it is most needed.

Sincerely and fraternally,

Richard Wakefield Hopper
Grand Master

Motor Patrol Keeping Busy

KERN RIDE: Noble Wayne reported on the October 14th, 2007 ride. Five members and two guests rode. The course was up 395, up Nine Mile Cyn. and over Sherman Pass and down to the Kern River – lunch at McNally’s and then home via the lover Kern River. It was a great ride.

GUIDE DOG RIDE: Noble Bob reported that it was a successful ride – about 100 miles long. This ride was sponsored by Glendale Hog Chapter. Glendale Hog has been very supportive of the Shrine Hospital.

TOY RIDE: Nobles Bob & Jay are putting a “Toy Ride” to the Midnight Mission. The Mission has strong Masonic ties. We need clothes, toys. Also, we need raffle prizes from restaurants, stores or others. More details to follow.

Paso Robles Parade: Noble Bob reported that we had seven bikes in the parade and that the Motor Patrol received lots of attention at the review stands.

Disasters & Red Nose Response

WITH MORE DISASTERS AROUND THE WORLD, RED NOSE RESPONSE IS NEEDED MORE THAN EVER!


Red Nose Response is needed right now with our State of California in a state of emergency. Those Red Nose Response clowns, or any clowns can now get involved and assist in regards to the fires in Southern California.

Contact your local Red Cross to assist. Tell them you are Red Nose Response and want to help out. What do they need you to assist with? Yes, as Red Nose Response we normally put on our red noses and BIG clown shoes and go into the disaster shelters that have been put up by the areas that have the fires. We are there to listen to the evacuated person(s), to lend a “shoulder to lean on” for them, and just to be there for support. Sometimes they feel so devastated and alone (say, their house burned to the ground) they do NOT want comedic relief. And other times some of them, especially the children, want “clowning around”.

But now, in Malibu as an example, the majority of the disaster shelters that have been set up, majorities of the people are not staying in them but have been going to friends and relatives to stay. One man had a number of motels in the Los Angeles area and he was on television telling people that have been evacuated to contact him and he would give them rooms for ONE DOLLAR per night for as long as they have to stay. There are still good people around – SIGH!

So in many of the fire riddled areas, the shelters are just being used as a sort of command post where the evacuated people are going just to fill out paperwork, and/or to get whatever information that they need and then they go stay with family and friends.

But help may be needed in the shelters helping people with the filling out of the forms, and whatever else is needed for them when they arrive. Or the Red Cross offices may need assistance in their office. I am at a local Red Cross office imputing the information on the forms that have been sent to this Red Cross office into a special database in regards to the fires. Many people have to be on “the front lines” and will do nothing less than that. And many people think that imputing information into a database is beneath them. Some people cannot lower themselves to do this “job.” Thus, when asked softly if I would mind doing this job (reluctantly asking me no less as I am a clown), I jumped at it and happily accepted immediately as it seemed that nobody wanted to lower themselves to do that job. Heah, it is one way of helping out in this disaster.

My parents always taught me that when I offer to help when people are needed, I should do whatever is needed at the time no matter how large or small, important or minuscule the job may be. So basically STEP UP TO THE PLATE and call your local Red Cross and ask how you can assist in regards to the fires. RED NOSE RESPONSE needs your help with the fire disasters. PLEASE MAKE TIME TO HELP DURING OUR STATES HUGE FIRE DISASTERS. You will not regret the time you spend doing this.

And you may contact me if needed.

Thank you in advance,

Pam

Pam House – State Coordinator
Red Nose Response

PR workshop?

Pix from the Shrine PR workshop opening night, Nat. Hugh and his wife, Lou

MORRO BAY HARBOR FEST

Pull Tabs

We had a presentation of 21, 2 LITER BOTTLES of PULL TABS and two long chains of pull tabs for the Shriners Hospital for Children-Los Angeles from some of the girls of GIRL SCOUT TROOP 1106 HELENDALE CALIF. 8/21/2007.
They and several other groups are going to band together and save tabs for us.
The Photo and a Write up in Two(2) of the local newspapers. maybe this will encourage others to help out.

Darrel Bunker, Apple valley Shrine Club.

HOLLYWOOD Where HOT Comes To Die: Standing Up On Friday Night

HOLLYWOOD Where HOT Comes To Die: Standing Up On Friday Night

Frys.com Open

McNeill Wins First PGA Tour Title

By JANIE McCAULEY – 6 hours ago

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Not until the 18th tee did George McNeill finally show just how special a day he'd had, smiling and waving to the camera.

Minus fanfare or frills, the 32-year-old rookie won his first career PGA Tour title in commanding fashion Sunday, shooting a 5-under 67 for a 23-under 264 total and a four-stroke victory over D.J. Trahan in the Frys.com Open.

Now McNeill has something in common with Tiger Woods. In 1996, Woods also earned his first PGA Tour victory at this tournament.

"Any time you can be mentioned in the same sentence as him it's a good thing," McNeill said.

McNeill did it with his only bogey coming when he three-putted on the 18th green at TPC Summerlin with the crowd cheering and four scantily clad Las Vegas showgirls ready to offer their personal congratulations.

His trophy arrived from 5,000 feet above, carried by one of two hangliders who took part in the awards ceremony.

Only in Las Vegas.

"That whole saying about what (happens in Vegas) stays in Vegas, I hope my game travels," McNeill said, smiling. "I felt like I didn't do anything that special. It's nice to kind of buzz around and win by four and not feel like you're doing anything all that great."

McNeill did it with small galleries following him, save for a big group of his Florida buddies who showed up to play on their own starting Monday. He did it by maintaining that same calm demeanor from the start, an even keel personality more resembling a veteran than a first-time winner.

McNeill earned the winning share of $720,000 on a beautiful, clear day in the desert after strong wind played a big factor in Saturday in a tournament that featured not one top-20 player in the field.

McNeill, who last December won Q-school by five strokes, was coming off rounds of 66, 64 and 67. He began his final round at 18 under and five strokes ahead, matching the largest lead on the tour this year heading into a final round.

He secured his tour card for the next two years. All that after a discouraging stretch earlier this year when he missed six cuts and withdrew from one event in an eight-tournament span.

"I was trying not to think about all that stuff when I was out there playing," McNeill said. "I don't get too emotional. I'm having fun with this. It hasn't sunk in. ... In a sense, I know I have a job for the next two years and it takes the pressure off."

After Trahan — who shot a 66 — birdied the first four holes and then No. 9 to pull within three strokes, McNeill made a 15-footer for birdie on No. 11 and also birdied 13 and 14. He sunk a 27 1/2-foot putt on the 156-yard 14th.

Robert Garrigus shot a 70 to tie for third with Cameron Beckman (68) at 15 under after Garrigus started the day in the top group and tied with Trahan for second.

Las Vegan Bob May, who led after the first day, tied for fifth with a 69 to finish at 14 under — a nice showing for May considering he has dealt with back injuries for years now and is still on the comeback trail.

The 39-year-old May returned to the PGA Tour last year for the first time since 2003. He played 2006 on a major medical extension after not swinging a club for two-plus years because of his back.

After McNeill pulled his tee shot on No. 6 left and about a foot into a rocky and sandy desert area, he consulted a rules official about his options regarding the moveable obstruction.

He picked up a small rock just behind his ball, moved away a couple of others as well as a pine cone, then chipped onto the green for a chance at birdie — and had to be happy just to save par.

Trahan, meanwhile, bogeyed after missing his par putt from 5 1/2 feet.

McNeill, who spent last year working in a golf shop before rediscovering his desire to compete, made only two birdies on the front nine but played his best golf over the final nine holes. He birdied four of his final eight holes.

Tournament chairman Gary Davis announced that Shriners Hospitals for Children is the new title sponsor, signing a five-year commitment to keep the tournament in Las Vegas through 2013. Its name: the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. The format will change starting next year from a Pro-Am to an all-pro event for the four days of competition, with a celebrity Pro-Am to take place Wednesday. All rounds will be played on the Summerlin course after groups split between it and nearby TPC The Canyons for the first two days.

The Shriners — who also hope this will bring their hospitals more recognition — are pledging $6 million to run the event each year, while also seeking other sponsors to help.

"The PGA Tour is her in Las Vegas to stay," said Davis, determined to find a way to bring in more big names. "Everybody agreed it needs to stay in Las Vegas. That's the first step toward major sports in Southern Nevada."

The tournament will remain in October for now, but organizers hope to eventually move to the spring. Davis said the purse would stay at $4 million.

Streets of Willow Springs

Shriners from Apple Valley, Corona and Los Nietos Shrine Clubs unloaded their mini-cars at Willow Springs raceway this week.
They were there to put their shrine parade cars though a battery of tests just like the big cars do for a car magazine(to be named at a later date. So keep reading this blog).

The Nobles(and some of their wives)arrived about 9:30am and put in a full day running their cars and getting their pictures taken(even the ugly cars). It was a long day the final pictures were shot about 6:30pm.

It was hoped that everyone had some fun, we won't know who we will see in the magazine for a few months. At the time of publication I will list everyone that was there that day.

Weekend Events 10/6/07

We had a great time at the Morro Bay Harbor
Festival with the Shrine Hospital Traveling Display trailer and the Child ID Booth.
I did over 300 Id's.
Bill Hutchison will get you the figures on the trailer visitors. As close as I can
remember it was @ 150.
Dave Stinebaugh

I am waiting for more reports on Paso Robles Pioneer Days parade. The El Bekal Tin Lizzies said they had a great time.

No report from Banning Parade, Redondo Harbor days.
I did have a great time at the Wedding Reception for one of my Job's Daughters in Cambria

Ceremonial- Los Angeles

Al Malaikah Shrine Ceremonial
Nobles Only!
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Location: Shriner's Hospital for Children
3160 Geneva Street
Los Angeles, CA 90020
Direction to hospital: (213) 388-3151
Registration of candidates: 8:30 - 9:45 am
Ceremonial (1st Section): 10:00 am (Hospital: Auditorium)
Hot Sands (2nd Section): 11:15 am (Hospital: Auditorium)
Light Lunch: 12:30 pm (Hospital: Atrium)

SCH Tampa

Black Camel Calls

PINKY MEREDITH -Imperial Shrine Photographer and One of Al Malaikah and Shrinedom's most loved Nobles, passed away at 11:40am, October 04, 2007.

Pinky had suffered a long illness, but he passed in peace.
No funeral will be held at Pinky's request.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children.

"May The Blessing of Heaven Be With Our Departed Brother Who Has Joined The Great Architect of the Universe"

SHC/Honolulu

Shriners Hospitals Selects Bricsnet ProjectCenter as Collaboration Solution

Shriners Hospitals for Children Deploys Bricsnet ProjectCenter to Orchestrate a $73 Million Dollar Replacement Hospital in Honolulu

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bricsnet, a leading provider of technology solutions for the real estate, architecture, engineering and construction industries, announced today that Honolulu Hospital will deploy Project Center to manage a $73 million dollar replacement project. As one of 22 Shriners hospitals in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the Honolulu Hospital is the second oldest, established in 1923. Reconstructed in the 1960s with an addition in 1992, the hospital provides orthopedic healthcare to over 23,000 children from Hawaii and 17 other countries in the Pacific Basin.

“This project has high visibility and is really important to the community. We chose Bricsnet to facilitate collaboration, creativity and efficiency for the design and construction teams because Project Center is a trusted, proven, solution that delivers in short order,” says Tom Ochab, Director of Facilities Management for Shriners Hospitals.

The scope of the project included visioning, programming, site/building condition assessment and strategies for future development. A study evaluated facility and departmental needs for the next 10 years and provided options for either renovating or replacing the hospital. The renovation project is the second largest project Bricsnet successfully completed for Shiners. To date, the largest Bricsnet implementation for Shiners is Project Center for a replacement hospital in Mexico City.

The Honolulu project is a phased replacement. The design of the new 6.58 acre campus will expand and modernize the facilities from its present 86,000 square feet to approximately 150,000 square feet. Ferraro Choi and Associates LTD teamed with the prime architectural firm of SRG Partnership Inc. to design the replacement hospital. The new 24-bed hospital will allow Shriners Hospitals for Children to fulfill its mission and meet the future needs of patients as the premier Pediatric Orthopedic Hospital in the State of Hawaii.

ProjectCenter is a long-trusted solution for the global architectural, engineering and construction communities. First launched in 1998, Project Center was one of the first web-based solutions for managing projects online. Today, hundreds of Fortune 500 companies, architects, construction companies and engineering firms around the world succeed with Bricsnet Project Center.

About Bricsnet

Bricsnet’s business was founded in 1986 and helps large corporations improve profits by more effectively managing all aspects of the workplace (including buildings, land, space, people, assets and systems). Bricsnet Project Center is an easy to use, online system for project management and collaboration. In addition, Bricsnet offers Bricsnet Enterprise and Bricsnet Retail, leading real estate management systems that -- along with Bricsnet Strategic Advisory Services -- provide fast, pragmatic and innovative solutions to increase shareholder value. For more information, contact Bricsnet at 415-321-2650 or visit www.bricsnet.com.

Contacts

Bricsnet
David Karpook, 415-321-2654
david.karpook@bricsnet.com

Pet Therapy May Be The Help Kids Need

Diana Penna
Reporting

(CBS13 Sacramento) You might not believe a fluffy bunny named Brayzel, Bootsie the cat, or Boomer the puppy all have the power to heal.

"I got in a diving accident when I was 12-years-old," said Rachael Wilson, spinal cord injury patient.

For patients like Wilson, her animal has changed her life.

"It gives you more freedom. It definitely makes you feel like you don't have to rely on someone else," said Wilson.

Rachael comes from Eureka to Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California and sometimes for months at a time do to therapy or surgeries. Like the other patients she enjoys the volunteers who bring furry friends for pet therapy.

"It's good for families. There's a lot of stress going on when a child in a severe accident and is hospitalized,' said Kathy Montgomery, volunteer.

Montgomery has been coming to Shriners since the hospital opened in Sacramento 10-years-ago. The staff and patients alike benefit from the animals who always make everyone smile.

For patients like 15 year old Auston Lee, wheelchair bound after being hit by a truck, it reminds them of their animals at home.

"He's having a good time. Taking a break," said Montgomery.

The animals love their job too.
T watch video copy and past this link! cbs13.com/health/local_story_2681

Apple Valley Shrine Club

Apple Valley Shrine Club on TV

The Local Charter Cable TV has been using the Apple Valley Shrine Club Trucks from last years parade as part of their advertisement for the Apple Vally Days.

The trucks are have also been shown at least 4 times on the Chinese Channel after they did the Pasadena Chinese New Years Parade this year.
This Shrine Club has been one of the most active car groups at Al Malaikah They do around 30+ parades a year.
They have just adding the Banning Parade to their list for October.

Big Fish/Big Winner

The first Fishing tournament for the Los Angeles Shriners Hospital for Children was held this last week September 17-18in San Diego.

I understand that the big winner was not just the hospital, but the Director of the Hospital got the big Bucks, more on this later when I get all the details.

It was a great opportunity for participants to share a day of spectacular Southern California fishing and benefit a terrific charity, the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Dona Keene of KZ Holdings, LLC states, “We’re thrilled to be hosting this first annual fishing tournament in San Diego this year.

The Irvine, California based commercial real estate company KZ Holdings, LLC partnered with Shriners Hospitals for Children – Los Angeles for the first annual Charity Fishing Tournament