Northwest Shrine
Club Installation, Friday, January 22, 2010
Officers for 2010
are:
President, Noble
Chuck Nelson and Lady Mary Sue
Vice President, Noble
Tim Springstead and Lady Fabienne
2nd Vice President,
Noble Greg Cory and Lady Barbara
Secretary, Noble Ron
Fine and Lady Sharon
Treasurer, Noble
George Edwards and Lady Judy
Director, Noble Skip
Metzger and Lady Annette
Director, Noble Bill
Barquist and Lady Barbara
Director, Noble Chuck
Loney (Nobaloney) and Lady Dorothy
Past President, Noble
John Shorthill and Lady Brenda
Installation will be
at the Maplewood Masonic Hall on Maplewood Ave, Bellingham
6:00 pm Zem Zem
7:00 pm Dinner (Prime
Rib or Salmon)
8:00 pm Installation
of officers by Illustrious Sir, Sat Tashiro, Nile Shrine Center
$25.oo per person.
For reservations, contact Noble Ron Fine at 360-676-5747
Local Shrine
Club Provides Wheelchair
Members of the Northwest Shrine Club recently
delivered a new wheelchair to Alex Arriga of Ferndale. Alex is a patient
of the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, but needed a more specialized
chair than the hospitals typically help to provide. Alex is an aspiring
basketball player and a common chair would not stand up to athletic
competition, nor provide the stability required. Members of the
Northwest Shrine Club raised over $1,800 in local funds, mostly among
themselves, to provide the chair which was delivered at a ceremony in
October, 2007. Nile Shrine Center dignitaries in attendance for the
evening included Richard E. Sardeson, Potentate and Gene Gilbert,
Assistant Rabban.
Northwest
Shrine Club 2007 President, Al Tomko stated, “As local Shriners we were
made aware of this boy’s need by a family friend who is also disabled
and coaches Alex.” Tomko went on to state, “Most people
are not aware of the tremendously competitive spirit among athletes with
disabilities. To compete, they need to overcome many more obstacles than
their non-disabled counterparts. As such, they develop a mental
toughness and personal discipline that can take them anywhere in life,
family and business. To support that, we’re more than pleased to play a
small part in this young man's life and future.”
The Shriners of North America is a
charitable organization that funds 20 hospitals for Children in the
United States, one in Canada and one in Mexico, which include orthopedic
and burns hospitals. In 2009 the Shriners Hospitals budgeted nearly $850
million in absolutely free medical care, surgeries, Physical Therapy,
prosthetics, burn care, sports injuries and more, for kids under age 18.
Parents never receive a bill, no government funds are used, and family
insurance is not billed. This free medical care is provided regardless
of race, religion, national origin or anything else irrelevant. The
Shriners began in New York in 1870 as a fraternal organization bound by
moral and spiritual ideals. You will find them at parades, circuses,
local events and other conspicuous means of fund raising, always wearing
the trademark red hat, called a "Fez," which although Arabic in
appearance has nothing to do with Islam. Shriners are similar to other
service groups like the Lions, Rotary or Kiwanis, however the Shriners
focus exclusively on their Hospitals for Children. If you know of a
kid that could be helped by the Shriners
contact a local Shriner or
call 206-284-0910.