Volume 51 Issue 8 Tacoma, Washington September 2015

Kenneth Keesler

Potentate

Thank you Nobles for all your hard

work and for sharing the good works

that the Shrine Hospital is doing. As

we enter into September there are

several things that will be happen-

ing. First we will be honoring our

Past Potentates’ and old timers. I

am looking forward to the fellowship

and the opportunity to share with

you what has been going on during

the summer months. Right after the

Stated meeting Lewis

County Shrine Club will be up in

Packwood selling tickets for our raf-

fle car. This is a big weekend and

they could use your help if you have

the time. The week following Labor

day we will be setting up for the

Puyallup fair and getting ready for

our final push in raffle sells for the

car. Remember

that this year we

are going to have

the drawing at the

Puyallup fair on

the last day (27th)

at 5pm. We are

really pushing to

get as many Nobles as possible to

the drawing on the last day, so

please show your support and mark

your calendars. If you would like to

volunteer for a shift please let Doug

Baker or me know right away. Lets

not forget that we have a parade in

Aberdeen on the 12th. IS Doug

Bates always makes sure there is

great conversation and plenty to eat

and drink.

Octobers meeting will be with

Thurston/Mason Shrine club on

their meeting night, which is the

23rd of October.

With the Strategic Plan nearing completion, it is time to begin imple-menting our top priori-ties. One of those pri-orities is enhancing our relationship with our Masonic lodges. The Shrine does not add any moral or ethical principles to those of Freemasonry. Our lodges are the place where we learn and practice those princi-ples. The lodges are also the place where our bonds of brother-hood are first formed. The Shrine provides

the opportunity to form additional bonds and, through our hospitals, to demonstrate those princi-ples. Our hospitals are one of a handful of purely Ma-sonic charities. They were created by Masons and Masons (past and present) provide the bulk of their funding. I hope every lodge would consider these charities as their own and set a goal to support them. At the Imperial Session, I learned that in North Dako-ta, 81% of the Master Masons are Shriners. They real-ize that they are all part of the Masonic family. And, as a family, we may have set up different “households”, but our commitment to brotherhood and mutual support transcends organizational distinc-tion.

So what is our responsibility to our lodges? First, we each need to be active in our lodge. If you joined Ma-sonry to immediately advance to the Shrine so you

could be a clown or fundraise for our hospitals, then you have missed an incredible gift given to you by your lodge. Those principles I mentioned will guide you to becoming a better human being. They are so profound and so fundamental to navigating this com-plex world that you short change yourself if you do not work in your lodge to better understand them and learn how to apply them. I was a Mason for 38 years before I joined the Shrine (I became a Past Master, District Deputy, Grand Lodge officer and committee-man). I guess it takes longer for some of us to “get it”. What I “got” was that I was being recognized by family members of Shrine Hospital children as a contributor to the hospitals simply because I was a Mason. They didn’t see us as “separate”. If I was a Mason, I must obviously be a Shriner. I could have fixed that by con-tributing cash to the hospitals without becoming a Shriner but I believe that brothers working together can accomplish more than a man alone. So I joined the team. But I have not abandoned my lodge. I’m currently Senior Warden and very active in my dis-trict.

There are 46 lodges in our geographical area (districts 3, 6, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 & 19). I’ve set a goal to visit eve-ry one of them at least once in the next 16 months with a message of cooperation and mutual support. I want to establish “Shrine Ambassadors” for each of those lodges so we can share ideas and identify oppor-tunities to attend and support their activities. We are always looking for opportunities to have fun. That doesn’t mean we have to be the ones to always provide them. If a lodge has a fun activity planned, let’s add it to our calendar and support it (less work for us). Consider becoming an Ambassador. It doesn’t require any more work because you’re attending your lodge already. Remember, “Brothers working together can accomplish more than a man alone”.

Ray Zimmerman

Chief Rabban—Protem

Afifi News moves to E-mail and Website

Starting with the February 2015 issue, we will be distributing the Afifi News via e-mail, Facebook and posting on the www.afifishrine.org website. The response to sending the Afifi News electronically has been very positive and has resulted in huge cost savings. Clubs & Units should update their rosters with members e-mail addresses and those who do not have e-mail. If a Noble does not have access to e-mail or the website, they will need to notify their Shrine Club Secretary and have him print them a copy. Recently it has been decided that for an an-nual subscription fee of $30.00 (prepaid) you can now receive the Afifi News by mail. Details are on pg. 9

Afifi Black Camel Report

August 2015

David P. Burrough 73, Shriner 32 years

Paul R. Hunter 77, Shriner 22 years

1950 Chevy Two Door Coup with an inline six and three speed

manual transmission.

Car has been restored to include heated seats, AM/FM stereo, power trunk popper, after market

heater and A/C that blows cold air.

VIN#A89155769

Tickets are available, $5.00 ea. see your local Shriner.

The car will be at the Puyallup Fair from

Sept. 11 to Sept. 27, 2015

We will need all hands on deck to ensure that all shifts are

covered and that the tickets and money are collected. If

you can help out give Noble Ben Schatz a call.

Noble Ben can be reached at:

360 480 8336

“Frank Patchell Jr. enjoyed celebrating his 100th birthday

with family, friends, nobility and a grand group of Illustrious

Sirs. Happy Birthday Patch!”

Donations to Patient

Transportation Fund

June 2015

Mildred S. Igawa

Stephen & Judith Turner

Robert & Marilyn McFarland

Kimberly E. Jones

Joan & Thomas Caldwell

Toshio & Suzanne Akamatsu

Rufus & Trudy Allen

In Memory of Noble Thomas K. Jones Jr. M.D.

Doug & Diane Baker

In Memory of Nobles David Burrough and Paul Hunter

Frank Patchell

Afifi Provo Guard

On behalf of the Children,

We thank you

September 2015

Afifi “Stated” Meeting—Old Timers & Past Pote’s—Sept 3

Washington State Fair—September 11-27

Loggers Play Day & Parade—Hoquiam—September 12

Divan Meeting—ASC Boardroom—September 17

Raffle Car Drawing—WA State Fair—September 27

October 2015

Potentate visit Grays Harbor S/C—Oct. 12

Divan Meeting—ASC—Oct. 15

SHC & Patient Appreciation Night (Open/Social) - TM S/C Oct. 23

AFIFI NEWS UPDATE

You’re a brother and a friend.

You know you can make a

difference.

You’re a Shriner. When you become a Shriner you become

part of a brotherhood of men committed

to family, engaged in ongoing personal

growth, and dedicated to providing care

for children in need.

While our backgrounds and interests may

be diverse, what binds us together are

shared values and a desire to have fun, do

good, and build bonds that can last a life-

time.

Becoming a Shriner is easier than you

think and its rewards can be far more that

you expect.

Visit our website

beashrinernow.com

Birthday Club Donations

The below listed Nobles

have generously donated to the

Distressed Nobles Dues Support Program

William L. Arent

LeRoy W. Walton Jr.

Rory Johnson

Murray Falk

Charles T. Heberle III

Wesley Odani

Donald J. Daly

Basil Anton

Jack L. Wormwood

Wilton Ellison

Unknown Noble

“Thank You Nobles”

September is here al-

ready the year has been

moving pretty fast.

The Divan has several

projects underway. One

of the things we are

working on is our Strate-

gic plan. This is a docu-

ment that will serve as

our roadmap over the

next several years how

we do business, what

issues we will focus on

and lead to where Afifi

will be in the next five

years.

The other is the sale of our building. This is a priority for the

Divan so that we can focus on the future and fun of Afifi. Once

we have sold the building we can start the next chapter Afifi’s

sure to be long and fruitful future. This will be both challenging

and exciting as we will doing things in ways that we may have

never thought of before. We will have to be creative and willing

to try new ideas in order to be successful. This is where each

and everyone of you come in.

My hope is that we all become even more involved with each of

the Clubs and Units. Afifi Divan will visit and likely hold many of

our meetings across Afifi’s jurisdiction.

There are many Shrine Temples across the country that are al-

ready doing what we will soon be doing ourselves. Many of

those Temples are very successful and continue to carry on the

Shrine mission while having fun. Afifi Temple will join the ranks

of those before us who have shown that it is possible to contin-

ue without a brick and mortar shrine temple. I look forward to

working with each and every one of you over the next several

years in making this reality a success.

Some of the work that lies ahead of us is our membership; both

in retention and finding new members. There are a couple of

ways we can do this. One way is to be active Masons in our

Lodges. Go to your Lodge meetings; participate in events and

show everyone what and who Shriners are. Shriners are Masons

who have decided to do more for our Masonic Family by becom-

ing Shriners. To be a good Shriner you must be a good Mason.

Another way is to reach out to our current members; the Nobles

you have not seen in a while. Give them a call. Invite them to

come out to the next Club or Unit meeting. Be sure to have a

program that will keep them coming back.

Nobles while embarking into the unknown may be daunting it

can be very exciting. I am excited and believe in my heart that

Afifi will persevere.

Edward Woods

Assistant Rabban—Protem

Patient Transportation Fund Report

Doug Baker - Recorder

The AFIFI Patient Transportation Fund is healthy because numerous of our Nobles several Clubs &

Units and outside sponsors have been very generous. We are fortunate that most of our currently spon-

sored children live close to the Portland Unit and require little or no support from us to receive their excel-

lent care. Our most notable expenses are still associated with patients treated at Shriners Hospitals far dis-

tant from the Portland Hospital.

We are currently sponsoring six Shrine Kids being treated at Shriners Hospitals outside the Pacific

Northwest area. These kids and a parent require continual support of our paying major transportation ex-

penses to distant hospitals. The most dramatic issue has to do with a patient being treated at the Boston

Hospital twice a month and patients being treated at Montreal, Chicago and Sacramento Hospitals several

times each year. We carefully monitor the expenses to ensure compliance with our intentions, but even

then the totals can be staggering. The best news is that all the children are being carefully attended to and

are their conditions are improving on schedule. Our October 23, 2015 Hospital and Patient Appreciation

meeting sponsored by the Thurston Mason Shrine Club in Olympia will address the Shriners Hospitals for

Children and several ideas of their new directions and achievements. Put the date on your calendar now

and plan to invite your family and friends. It will be a very informative meeting. On behalf of their parents and guardians and most especially the children:

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

From the Clubs and Units

Afifi Clubs and Units. Do you have something to

share from your Shrine Club or Unit; send us your

photo’s and a short description so we can share with

all of our Afifi Nobles. Let others see what you are

up to or what you have for upcoming events. Who

knows you may even see some new faces.

Article submissions are due by the 10th of each

month.

They can be sent to the following email address:

Thurston Mason Shrine Club

Nobles, I have good news. Thurston Mason Shrine Club has three days scheduled to sell raffle tickets at the Puyallup Fair. The days are September 25th, 26th and the 27th. This is the last Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the fair. The raffle drawing will be held at the end of the fair this year while we are there. I would ex-pect a large rush and lots of sales to be made. Our club is in a good position to do well. We all need to pitch in to sell tickets. I've set a schedule below to sign up (two people per shift). Ben Schatz or I will be able to get tickets to you.

Friday

9:00-2:00 2:00-7:00

7:00-11:00 Saturday 9:00-2:00 2:00-7:00

7:00-11:00 Sunday

9:00-1:00 1:00-5:00

5:00-10:00 Raffle is at 10:00

Please email or call me to sign up. Get a brother to

sign up with you.

Sam Lantow (360) 481-6730

Secretary

Grays Harbor Shrine Club

Greetings Nobles & Ladies:

September is almost here! I hope your summer was a great one. September 3rd is our stated meeting for Afifi at the Shrine Center in Tacoma. This is our annual Old Timer’s & Past Potentate’s night so make sure you RSVP to our Recorder so that you have your reserva-tion set.

September 12th is Hoquiam Logger’s Playday Parade. GHSC will again be hosting hospitality prior to the pa-rade with lunch after the parade. All festivities will be

held at the Hoquiam Masonic Bldg. on the corner of 8th & K Streets.

NOTE: Be aware when coming into Hoquiam as there will be road detours due to the closure of the Hoquiam River Bridge for work. October 9th – ZemZem @ 6:00 pm dinner @ 7:00 pm

Menu – Only the Gobblins know

November 13th - ZemZem @ 6:00 pm dinner @ 7:00 pm

Menu – Turkey and all the trimmings

December 11th - ZemZem @ 6:00 pm dinner @ 7:00 pm

Menu – Clams & Oysters or Steak Or Chicken

YOU MUST RSVP FOR THIS DINNER!

afifinews@47problem.com

October 23rd - Social November 13th - Business December 11th - Social

Stated Meeting – Nobles Only ***Old Timers & Past Potentates Night***

End of Summer BBQ

September 3, 2015

Attitude Adjustment – 5:00pm

Club & Unit head meeting – 5:00pm

Dinner – 6:00pm

Stated Meeting – 7:00pm

Menu

BBQ Chicken, Burgers & Hot Dogs

Potato Salad

Baked Beans

Tossed Green Salad & Dressing

Rolls & Butter

Dessert – Coffee

$20.00 per Person

Old Timers & PP’s – Complimentary!

Reservations Please

By August 28, 2015

253-565-2055

astemple@qwestoffice.net

Afifi’s “OLD TIMERS and PAST

POTENTATE NIGHT” will be on

the evening of the September Stat-

ed Meeting, Thursday, Sept. 3,

2015. Your Divan is cooking the

dinner – an old fashioned end of

summer BBQ, chicken, burgers

and hot dogs with all the trim-

mings.

RSVP’s ARE A MUST!

On Friday, Sept. 11th the Washing-

ton State Fair (Puyallup) opens for

its 17 day run. We have a number

of open dates on the Fair calendar

to staff the Auto Raffle booth and

need all the Clubs & Units to sign

up for multiple days. Please call

the Potentate and take a couple

days.

We have the Hoquiam Loggers

Playday & Parade on Saturday

Sept. 12th, the Columbia River

Shrine Club Football games on Fri-

day, October 2nd at R.A. Long Sta-

dium in Longview.

Our open meeting in October will

be Thursday, Oct. 23nd and will be

hosted by the Thurston Mason

Shrine Club at the Olympia Mason-

ic Center.

NOTE: Our October meeting is an

open meeting: Bring your family,

friends, Masonic Brothers, etc.

Reservations are a must.

Call 253-565-2055 or e-mail

astemple@qwestoffice.net

Another opportunity to learn just

what you make possible as

Shriners is Afifi’s annual visitation

“TREK” to the Shriners Hospital

for Children, Portland Unit, which

is scheduled for Nov. 13-15, 2015.

Don’t miss this opportunity to visit

the newest and most state of the

art Hospital in the system and to

participate in the banquet.

It’s amazing that when you do a

little work here, a little work there,

a parade, a football game, and a

child walks. All because of you, a

Shriner.

See you at the Stated, Come a little

early and remember we will start

serving dinner at 6:00pm so we

should start our attitude adjust-

ment a little earlier. Some of us

need all the time we can get.

Recorders Message I.S. Doug Baker P.P.

AFIFI SHRINE

CENTER

AVAILABE FOR YOUR

FUNCTION

Reception Hall

Banquet Facility

Meeting Rooms

Picnic Area

Special Rates For

Nobles,

Masonic & Non-Profit Groups

Call: Afifi Shrine Office

253-565-2055

Afifi Temple Officers - 2015

Kenneth Keesler Potentate Dusty Rhodes Chief Rabban Alex Jordan Assistant Rabban Ray Zimmermann High Priest & Prophet Edward C. Woods Oriental Guide Ben Schatz Treasurer Douglas Baker Recorder

Appointed Divan

Ross Retzlaff 1st Ceremonial Master Rory Johnson 2nd Ceremonial Master Larry Newsham Director of Units Gerald Burg Marshal Billy Wolfe Captain of the Guard Cord Anderson Outer Guard I.S. W. Gary Norton Chaplain Hugh D. Ford Ambassador Rod Mason Ambassador

Afifi Board of Directors Kenneth Keesler, Potentate/Chair

Dusty Rhodes Alex Jordan

Ray Zimmerman Edward C. Woods

Ben Schatz Douglas Baker

Membership Chairman

Sam Lantow

Fundraising Chairmen I.S. Kenneth Keesler & Billy Wolfe

Hospital Representatives

Portland Hospital - Board of Governors Ray McDermott

IS Keith Christensen Rory Johnson

Hospital Representatives Emeritus

Hon. Richard Brosey – George Mohoric, DDS IS W. Brandt Bede MD – IS Douglas A. Baker

IS Joe Devish – IS Barry Bede

Afifi - Hospital Admittance Chairman Ill & Distressed Chairman Public Relations Chairman

Douglas A. Baker

Click here AFIFI SHRINE to find us on Facebook

RESERVATIONS are IMPORTANT (NOBLES PLEASE MAKE NOTE)

In an effort to alleviate the confusion for dinner and to be sure that eve-ryone who has made a reservation is served a quality meal the following change is being made. All who have made a dinner reservation will be sold a dinner ticket and served first. Those who have not made a reservation will be sold a dinner ticket, however they will not be served until all who have made a reservation have been served. If those who have not made a reservation find that there is not enough food when they are received, they will receive a re-fund for their late-purchased ticket. There will be no seconds until every-one is served.

All reservations must be in by the Monday prior to the Thursday meeting.

Office: 253-565-2055 • Fax: 253-565-3580 • astemple@qwestoffice.net

Afifi News Published by Afifi Shrine

Shriners International 253-565-2055

astemple@qwestoffice.net

815 South Vassault St. Tacoma WA 98465-2097

Web Site: www.afifishrine.org Subscription Rate:

$ Send Check payable to Afifi Shrine

Rays Address

Afifi News Editor Edward C. Woods

Afifi News Publisher Advertising Manager

I.S. Ken Keesler

Technology Chairmen Edward C. Woods Ray Zimmerman

Publishing Deadline When submitting articles for

the Afifi News, please adhere to our deadline of the 10th of the month

preceding the publication month. Article must be submitted with WORD,

send photo’s separately please include a caption. afifinews@47problem.com

Subscription Rate Annual subscription of the Afifi News

$30.00 a year (must be prepaid) Send a check made out to Ray Zimmerman to:

Noble Ray Zimmerman 312 SW 8th ST

Battle Ground, WA 98604

Shrine Club Meetings Columbia River Shrine Club – 4th Thursday

Gateway Shrine Club – 3rd Friday Grays Harbor Shrine Club – 2nd Friday

Lewis County Shrine Club – 2nd Thursday Thurston-Mason County Shrine Club – 4th Friday

Afifi Yacht Club – 3rd Wednesday

Unit Meetings Antiques & Classics – 2nd Monday

Clowns – 2nd Thursday SW WA Clowns – 4th Mondays

Greeters – 4th Thursday Legion of Honor – Quarterly

Oriental Band – 2nd & 4th Sundays Pipes & Drums – 1st & 3rd Sundays

Provo Guard – 2nd Tuesday Ritual Section – 1st Thursday

Afifi Club & Unit Meetings

There are 15 Afifi Clubs and Units, each meet independently, their time and place

may vary depending on the month and other organization’s events. If you would

like to attend a meeting, contact the person listed below to confirm the Club/Unit

schedule.

Afifi Clubs: (Members Generally meet by County location)

Columbia River Shrine Club (Longview/Kelso)............Dewey Rexford 360-636-5439

Gateway Shrine Club (Vancouver).............................Ray Zimmerman 360-773-8658

Grays Harbor Shrine Club (Hoquiam).........................I.S. Doug Bates 360-532-3190

Lewis County Shrine Club (Centralia)........................Clank Robbins 360-736-5860

Thurston/Mason Shrine Club (Olympia).....................Doug Chilson 206-450-0607

Afifi Yacht Club (Tacoma)...........................................I.S. Barry Bede 253-318-2122

Afifi Units: (Members generally meet because of a common interest)

Antiques and Classics (Cars not members) ....................Ben Schatz 360-943-3596

Clowns (Tacoma) ................................................ Daryl McLaughlin 253-531-1294

Directors Staff (Second Section of the Ceremonial)........Ross Retzlaff 360-481-3817

South West WA Clowns...................................................James Cobb 360-835-5449

Greeters...............................................................................Al Leavitt 253-752-5903

Legion of Honor (Former Military Members)...........I.S. Ralph Cristler 253-846-5912

Oriental Band................................................................I.S. John Brett 253-265-3870

Provo Guard ..................................................................David Strous 360-802-0670

Ritual.....................................................................................Tom Dow253-507-4844

Afifi News Now Available by Mail

Nobles after much discussion and considera-tion the Divan decided to make the Afifi News available in print. This will be Color copy, you can go online to see the full color version.

There will be an annual Subscription Rate of $30 a year (pre-paid) to have the Afifi News sent to your mail box. You can send a check made out to the Ray Zimmerman. Checks are to be sent to:

Noble Ray Zimmerman 312 SW 8th ST

Battle Ground, WA 98604

August 12, 2015

Dear Fellow Nobles,

You are certainly aware of the recent political controversy relating to the display of the Confederate Battle flag

by units of government. Shriners International is not a political organization. Therefore, it has no interest in in-

volving itself in the political debate over whether this particular flag should or should not be displayed. As your

Imperial Potentate, however, I have a great interest and an even greater responsibility in ensuring this political

controversy does no harm to Shriners International or Shriners Hospitals for Children.

As a Texan, I understand the passions that surround this issue. In drafting this Special Order, I had to dispas-

sionately consider the following question: “Is the display of this flag beneficial to Shriners International or

Shriners Hospitals for Children?” I ask that you carefully consider this question from the perspective of our

great fraternity. If the display of this flag by Shriners is not beneficial to our fraternity or to the children we

serve, what, then, is the purpose of the display?

Therefore, we have ordered Temples, Units and Clubs to refrain from using the Confederate Battle Flag in

Shrine or Civic Parades and in Shrine or non-Shrine public appearances and events. We also ordered that a

Temple, Unit or Club refrain from participating in non-Shrine public appearances in which a Confederate Battle

Flag is expected to be displayed by the organizer, promoter or those in control of the premises or facility of the

non-Shrine event.

The purpose of this effort is to protect the image of Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals for Children

from those who would seek to drag our fraternity and charity into a political debate that has absolutely nothing

to do with strengthening our great fraternity and the World’s Greatest Philanthropy, Shriners Hospitals for Chil-

dren. This order is not issued for purposes of “political correctness.” To the contrary, this Special Order contin-

ues the long-standing position of Shriners International to avoid political entanglements.

Additionally, this Special Order is intended to protect the peace and the safety of our members and members of

the general public who attend events where Shrine Temples, Units or Clubs participate. In addition to threats of

violence against those who display the Confederate Battle Flag, there have also been violent actions. This Spe-

cial Order is not motivated by a sense of fear but instead by prudent judgment based upon actual occurrences

and the foreseeability of future harm to those attending events where Shriners participate and damage to the

reputation of Shriners International.

Many of our members are aware of very unfortunate incidents that have occurred in the distant, as well as the

very recent, past in which the display of the Confederate Battle Flag led to serious harm to the reputation of our

fraternity, where no harm was intended. While appropriate efforts to apologize for the harm caused by the dis-

play have in certain cases been made, some measure of that harm cannot be erased.

OFFICE OF

JERRY G. GANTT

IMPERIAL POTENTATE

MEMBER

ARABIA SHRINERS

HOUSTON, TX

Our reputation has been built by nearly one hundred fifty years of selfless service to mankind. Shriners are re-

spected and trusted throughout the world. It is unfortunate but true that one sensational and unintended incident,

captured on a cell phone and alleged to have been provoked by the display of the Confederate Battle Flag at a

parade, could have devastating consequences for the future of our fraternity and our charity. It would be irre-

sponsible to ignore the fact that there are politically motivated people who would eagerly seek out the oppor-

tunity to create such a controversy.

This Special Order restricts display of the Confederate Battle Flag only as it relates to the participation of No-

bles in their capacity as Shriners. It does not, in any way, place any limitation upon any Noble’s right to express

his personal views or expressions on the issue. Furthermore, this Special Order does not limit a Noble’s ability

to freely associate with others in historical, patriotic or heritage organizations, such as Sons of Confederate Vet-

erans. It does not limit a Noble from joining an organization of other like-minded individuals in advocating for

or against any political question. The only prohibition is that a Noble attending such non-Shrine events or gath-

erings be careful not to give any impression that his participation is in any way related to an official Shrine

body.

Historically, our leaders have protected our fraternity by keeping it separate and apart from divisive political

issues. This Special Order continues that tradition, so that we can remain focused on our stated mission.

Shriners are admired and respected throughout the world for our integrity and compassion. We are committed

to protecting the hard-earned reputation built by generations of Shriners. Together, we have moved mountains

by building a great fraternity and a world-class health care system. I ask that you work with me to protect

Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals for Children from the divisiveness and unnecessary strife typically

caused by political controversies.

Our fraternity currently faces many great challenges. It will take the focused energy and commitment of every

one of us, working together, to meet those challenges and strengthen both our fraternity and philanthropy. Let

us focus on those efforts and the purposes to which our founders and forbearers selflessly and steadfastly dedi-

cated their lives, and continue to move forward together, in unshakeable unity, as brothers.

I thank you for your understanding and for your commitment to Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals

for Children. I value and appreciate every one of my fellow nobles.

Yours in the Faith,

Jerry G. Gantt

Imperial Potentate

Nobles, I’ve created an Afifi Google calendar. If you add this “ical” link:

(https://www.google.com/calendar/ical/s7v0snl2rrdg547uom6r0e9p9o%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics) to your Outlook or Google (or other “ical” compatible) calen-dar, it will include it in your calendar. As I make changes to the calen-dar, it will then update your calendar automatically. Your calendar program will have a “help” explanation on how to do that. Please send me event additions, deletions or corrections so I can keep the calendar accurate.

Ray Zimmerman (rayzimmerman2@comcast.net,

360-773-8658)

Mark Your Calendars Now for

Imperial Session 2016 in Tampa

The 2016 Imperial Session of Shriners International is

scheduled for Sunday, July 3 through Thursday, July

7, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. Tampa is home to the head-

quarters of Shriners International and Shriners Hospi-

tals for Children, the Tampa Shriners Hospital, and

Egypt Shriners. For more information about the up-

coming Imperial Session, please visit :

tampa-2016.com ,

facebook.com/2016ShrinersImperialSession ,

or download the free app by searching “2016

Shriners Imperial Session” on your smartphone or

tablet.

Shriners Hospitals for Children

Open - Coming in October

The 2015 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, part of the

PGA TOUR FedEx Cup, will take place at TPC Summerlin

in Las Vegas Oct. 19 – 25. The TPC Summerlin has been

honored by Golf Digest as one of “America’s Best” golf

courses, and the course ranks as one of the “top 100

modern golf courses in the United States.” Some of

the best professional golfers in the world will compete

for the $6.4 million dollar purse while supporting worldclass

pediatric care during the week-long, action-packed

Las Vegas tradition, with proceeds benefiting Shriners

Hospitals for Children.

The annual golf tournament continues to grow each

year, and is an excellent way to increase awareness

of both Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals

for

AFIFI TEMPLE 815 South Vassault Street

Tacoma, Washington 98465-2097

From the Director of Units Larry Newsham

Hi Nobles! Are we having fun yet?

The summer parades are happening and Afifi Shriners are on the street making and having fun! Capital Lakefair was well attended by many No-bles. Lets keep up the momentum and finish the year Shrine strong.

Remember: WE ARE SHRINERS HAVING FUN HELPING KIDS! Let’s Just Do It!

Afifi Shriners Remaining Schedule of Parades for 2015:

Saturday, September 12th- Loggers' Playday and Parade, Hoquiam

Saturday, December 5th - Shelton Christmas Tree Town Parade, Shelton

Saturday, December 12th - Montesano Festival of Lights & Parade, Montesano

Nobles, let’s get going and register, sign-up, or

otherwise get ready for a fun packed