140 year of Shriners

140 year of Shriners

Monday, February 22, 2010

Battle brews over concert plans for Masonic Center

The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO—A battle continues to brew over a proposal to make an auditorium in San Francisco's upscale Nob Hill neighborhood a major entertainment venue in the city.

The Masons of California have proposed making $5 million to $6 million in renovations to the Masonic Center, including installing a state-of-the-art sound and light system and increasing the capacity of the auditorium from 3,282 people to 3,500.

The Masons would then lease the auditorium of the 1950s-era building to Live Nation, a Beverly Hills-based live-events company, which would arrange about 70 concerts a year, according to an official with the Masons.

The increase in the number of performances would bring more entertainment dollars to San Francisco, instead of the money being spent at entertainment venues in other cities, according to the plan's backers.

"It was at one time a very vibrant facility in San Francisco ... and it still can be today," said Allan Casalou, grand secretary for the Masons of California.

But area residents have come out in opposition to more concerts, arguing it would bring more traffic, crime and noise to the neighborhood.

Stephen Gomez, who's lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years, and a coalition of neighbors have urged steps be taken so peace is preserved in the neighborhood.

"If you do things cleverly and you plan accordingly, you can address a lot of this stuff," Gomez said.

Mayor Gavin Newsom has called
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on his economic development chief, Michael Cohen, to try to get the two sides to reach a compromise.

San Francisco's Planning Commission was expected to take up the issue, with the Board of Supervisors making a final decision on any possible appeal.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

History of Shriners & Waikiki Moana Surfrider,

The "First Lady" was one of the first hotels in Waikiki and opened it's doors March 11, 1901 with 75 rooms. It cost $150,000 to build and was the most elaborate hotel of the time in the Hawaiian Islands. The first floor housed a billiards room, saloon, main parlor, library, office and reception area. It was built in the colonial style that was popular during the era.

The first guests of the hotel were a group of Shriners and paid a whopping $1.50 a night for their rooms. The hotel was eventually sold to the Matson's Navigation Company (who later opened the Royal Hawaiian Hotel), and expanded. The attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese forces Hawaii into martial law. Today it is hard to imagine the barbed wire stretched along the beach. Where the Royal Hawaiian was leased out to the US Navy, the Moana remained a guest hotel. It was however usually full with servicemen or people on the island due to the war.

In the late 1940's and 1950's the Moana became the "place to be" in Hawaii. Regularly scheduled flights from the USA made this possible for the "high society" of America.

The hotel was sold to the Sheraton Corporation in 1959. It has since expanded and just recently converted to a Westin Property.

Limited Edition Harley-Davidsons for Everyone, Even Shriners and Jesters

Limited Edition Harley-Davidsons for Everyone, Even Shriners and Jesters

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Saturday, February 13, 2010

Stamptastic: Give a Heart Event for Shriners Hospital

Stamptastic: Give a Heart Event for Shriners Hospital

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140th Anniversary of Shriners & Harley -Davidson

My Fellow Nobles,

The Harley-Davidson Motor Company is commemorating the upcoming 140th anniversary (2011-2012) of Shriners International by adding the 2010 FLHTCUTG Tri-Glide® Ultra Classic® motorcycle to their Shrine model offerings! This is a limited time offer with a very limited quantity available only through authorized Harley-Davidson Dealers. A photo of this beautiful bike is included in this e-mail.

The Harley-Davidson® Shrine Tri Glide® is offered for members in Arctic White with Red & Gold pinstripes. The ordering window began Wednesday, January 27 and ends Friday, March 5th, 2010, through Harley-Davidson dealers. Since this is a limited quantity, the order window could close sooner if the production is sold out. This program is valid for the model year 2010 only and may not be offered again in the 2011 model year.

Any Shriner whose membership is in good standing is eligible to purchase a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle through the Shrine Purchase Program. Again, this is a limited time offer and can only be ordered through Friday, March 5, 2010. If the production is sold out, the order window could close sooner.

For more information, visit www.harley-davidson.com and click on Motorcycles, Special Editions, Shrine and see your Harley-Davidson dealer to order one. Be one of the first in your Shrine organization to own this truly unique FLHTCUTG Tri-Glide® Ultra Classic® motorcycle!

Fraternally yours,

Mike Severe, Imperial Officer, Shriners International

Harley DavidsonShriners logo

The Bulletin - Kenyan boy comes to Spokane for treatment

The Bulletin - Kenyan boy comes to Spokane for treatment

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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Amputees ski at Park City's Un-limb-ited Ski and Snowboard Camp




PARK CITY — To see her smile as she glides down the ski slope, you'd never know that Kimberly has a secret sorrow.

The 13-year-old is hoping to visit Haiti before year's end to help family and friends still there.

It's a safe bet that she will attract attention — not because the Haitian-born teen spent the past week learning to ski in Park City, but because she will have something in common with so many there after last month's earthquake.

She lost a limb to amputation.

Yet, her happy spirit, easy laugh and determination to tackle unusual challenges are likely to inspire those who will see in her someone who truly understands what life is like without a limb.

At 13, — like a few of her peers at this year's Un-limb-ited Ski and Snowboard Camp — allowed surgeons at Shriner's Hospital in Salt Lake to amputate her leg after she saw the possibility of a brighter future than the one she was destined for otherwise. Without amputation, she wouldn't have been able to ever walk, sit or bend her knee again.

Born with proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD), her hip was deformed and her leg shortened to the point that lifts in the shoe of her longer leg weren't feasible to correct the problem.

The non-hereditary birth defect can include dislocation or instability of the joint between the femur and the kneecap, shortened leg bones and foot deformities.

"I saw everyone else (at Shriners) getting fitted for legs, and it was a pivotal moment for me when I realized with surgery" she could experience simple movements her peers simply took for granted.

Kim, now a U.S. citizen who lives in Orlando, had never experienced snow until she hit the ski slopes this week. She was afraid not just of falling, but also of riding the ski lift. "I'm terrified of heights," she said. "The first day, I mastered falling and getting back up. Yesterday, I had a fall and I decided 'I'm not falling again.' That's when I had my breakthrough. I started skiing and making my turns.

"I'm taking lots of pictures because I want proof. My family can't believe I'm doing this."

Kristine of Centerville wasn't intimidated in the least, she said. At 13, she's a veteran skier and had a hard time finding instructors who could keep up with her this week, as she tackled the Black Diamond run at Park City Mountain Resort.

Born with PFFD like some of her new friends, she also has a prosthetic limb after amputation at age 4, but is able to keep up with her friends from school using three skis — one on her leg and two attached to poles that she guides with her arms.

What would she tell other amputees who wonder whether they could learn "It's okay to be a little bit scared sometimes. I'd say go do it and don't let anything stop you."

Laura Lewis, a recreational therapist at Shriners, said the campers "play all day and talk all night." One group session centered on how to handle it when people stare. "It's amazing how they help to support each other.

"A lot of them have never been around another amputee, so they've never been able to talk with another teen who really understands. ... It's tough enough being a teenager, let alone dealing with this on top of it."

Physical therapist Cindy Kuntze said she regularly works with children at Shriners, and "I can't wait to see them come to (ski) camp. "It gives them that extra boost of confidence that they're just like everybody else."

Parents and family members often unknowingly limit teen amputees by being too protective, trying to shield them from activities like skiing that can actually help them feel more mainstream, she said.

When she encourages them to apply, "they look at me like, 'are you kidding me?' But they start thinking about it, and that's when it gets exciting. … It changes their lives."

e-mail: carrie@desnews.com

Friday, February 5, 2010

Shriners doctors extend stay in Haiti as more patients expected at clinic | ksdk.com | St. Louis, MO

Local doctors extend stay in Haiti as more patients expected at clinic | ksdk.com | St. Louis, MO

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As many of you may know, Dr. T. R. Lewis, a fellow here at Shriners Hospitals for Children® St. Louis, has been in Haiti for the past week, lending his expertise at the Hopital Sacre Coeur in Milot, about 100 miles north of Port-au-Prince. Because this story did not mention Dr. Lewis's affiliation with Shriners Hospitals, we wanted to be sure and pass it along to all of you, so that you'd know he's "one of ours!"

Sacramento Press / California Masons Team up with Sacramento Catholic School

Sacramento Press / California Masons Team up with Sacramento Catholic School

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