Summer time has arrived ladies and nobles, the rains have stopped and warm weather is here. Just think in a few short months we will be complaining that it is too cold.

By the time you read this it will be August and your divan will have been to Nashville and back, representing you and Elf Khurafeh at the 45th Imperial Session where our Recorder, Clarence W. Meyer, Jr., P. P. was elected 1st Vice President of the Imperial Recorder Association. I believe he is the first recorder ever in EKS history to hold this position and next year if all goes as planned Clarence will be President of the Association which would also be a first in our temple history. So when you see our Recorder give him a "that-a-boy".

Things to remember; August 3rd the temple golf outing has been cancelled due to lack of interest, August 9th Comedy Show at Circus Park at 7 PM and August 25th Family Picnic at Circus Park 12-3 PM. The September 11th Business Meeting is in Saginaw. It is a steak fry which is $15.00 at the door. The October 9th Business Meeting in West Branch is going to be moved to Circus Park.

That being said I hope everyone will have a safe and enjoyable summer.

Yours in the Faith,
​Ill. Potentate Ryan Stanley

Happy summer to all Nobles, Ladies and Friends, it finally arrived. This has been a very active year for Potentate Stanley and the members of Elf Khurafeh Shrine with even more to follow, Temple Family Picnic, GLSA in Grove City, Ohio, Comedy Shows, Ceremonial in November, along with Club and Unit Picnics. Come out and enjoy the fellowship with Shriners and Friends.

LIFE MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE! Our Executive Board in 2018 voted to include the Imperial Per Capita Assessment of $30.00 to all Life Members effective with our 2019 dues. In the past this assessment has been paid from Elf Khurafeh funds and not invoiced to Life Members, but times have changed and your Executive Board feels, for Elf Khurafeh Shrine to continue we need to include this fee of $30.00 to all of our members which will now include the Life Members. This assessment for Life Members of EK Shrine amounts to over $10,000.00 yearly and this charge to Life Members will help pay bills. LIFE MEMBERS PLEASE HELP YOUR Shrine Temple by paying this new charge to you. We’re hoping this won’t cause a hardship and cause you to resign your membership; we just could use a little help paying the Imperial Assessment. Any questions, please call Recorder Clarence for answers and he will try to help you understand our problems. 2020 Dues Notices will be emailed to Nobles having emails listed in August by Shriners International, please respond with your payment when you can. If you’re having trouble contact Recorder Clarence and talk about options. Payments may be made with credit card by calling Betty at the office (810-686-2641 EXT 1). Dues notices to all Members will be mailed in September by Shriners International. Please remember that Dues are due and payable by January 1 st each year.

NOBLES: We need Hospital drivers in a serious way, some of the trips to Chicago Shrine Hospital have been cancelled due to lack of available drivers. This leaves a bad image to the public and to the patients’ parents. We’re not asking you to marry the Drivers Unit, but we only ask for a trip or two now and then when you’re available. Please Nobles, if you can help, call either Noble Thurston at 989-708-0694, Noble Gaffney at 810-516-4677 or Noble Ecklin at 989-954-9464 and offer your help. Remember that the only cost to you is your time. Thank you in advance, Clarence.

Fraternally,
Clarence W. Meyer, Jr., P.P.
Recorder
Ph. 810-686-2641 ext 4

Welcome June, and parade season, boy has the year flown by, but its been fun. Please welcome the 8 new Nobles from the May 11th Ceremonial.

In June we have the Temple Car Show on the 16th from 11-3pm at Circus Park, come out and see the Classic Cars.

Nobles, remember to be safe this summer when you are out parading and representing our Temple and the International Shrine.

In August we will have our Annual Family Picnic on the 25th, come on out and enjoy some good old family fun. Bring the whole family it is only $5.00 per car load.

With that said Tammy and I want to wish all the nobles and their families a safe and enjoyable summer.

Yours in the Faith,
​Potentate Ryan A. Stanley​

Greetings to all my Noble-Masons and Ladies, Thanks to all the Nobles for working hard on securing candidates for the May Ceremonial, we welcomed into the Shrine a nice size class.

Nobles, we have 97 members who have not paid dues for 2018, amounting to over $13,500.00.  SIXTY-THREE % of these funds are for Temple operations and THIRTY-SEVEN % goes to Imperial Shrine.  Our proceeds from the Circus were not as budgeted and we need you Nobles to please pay your dues.  Dues are due on January 1st each year and it’s now June.  Nobles owing 2018 dues will be suspended for NPD on December 31, 2019 if not paid.  PLEASE PAY YOUR 2018 DUES NOW!  We need these funds for general operational expenses.

Life Members, did you know that the Temple has been paying your Per Capita as a courtesy since you became a Life Member?  Imperial Shrine bills Elf Khurafeh Shrine $30.00 Per Capita for each member, each year.  Members paying Regular Dues this amount is included in your dues statement.  With operational costs continuing to rise, it was necessary by vote of the Executive Committee to request all Life Members to also pay the yearly Imperial Per Capita Assessment of $30.00.  This courtesy amounted to over $10,800.00 in 2017 and over several years has amounted to a substantial amount of money which could have been used for maintenance and repair of Elf Khurafeh Shrine property.  Most Life Members are now paying the Per Capita of $30.00 to the Temple and helping to pay our Per Capita cost to Imperial Shrine. We appreciate your understanding and help.
 
As of this writing we have 12 candidates listed for the Spring Ceremonial in Saginaw.  Nobles, we need your help on new Members.  HELP!  HELP!  HELP! Get petitions for the November Class at Circus Park.
 
The Hospital Transportation Unit needs DRIVERS, we have turned down trips to the Chicago Hospital for lack of drivers and this should not happen.  The only expense for driving to the Hospital is your time and a few bucks for gas to get to the vans. You will receive many thanks from Our Kids and their parents, with lots of smiles.  If you would like to be a Hospital Driver please call the office at 810-686-2641 and arrangements will be made to co-drive with another Shriner.  TeleHealth is working well with Covenant Hospital in Saginaw; we are averaging 2-4 patients per month being seen in Saginaw for their 5-10 minute check-ups, instead of driving to our Shrine Hospital in Chicago. Our Chicago Doctors can communicate with the patient and Staff through a closed circuit TV with Covenant.
 
Fraternally,
Clarence W. Meyer, Jr., P.P.
Recorder
​Ph. 810-686-2641 ext 4

ATTENTION!!!!!
ATTENTION!!!!!

I'm going to be canceling the Shrinefest 2019 due to lack of vendors in the food truck area and in the craft show. I apologize but I don't want the temple finances suffer, but the car show for June 16 is still on.

Yours in the Faith,
Potentate, Ryan A. Stanley

​Well here we are in April and how fast the year is going like they said it would, January brought cold weather and our circuses, I would like to say thank you to all the clubs and units, nobles and their ladies for all the support and help in Flint and Saginaw circuses and making them a success this year.

At my installation I said we were going to try some new things so in February we had the first annual chili cook off which we all had fun with thirteen entrees. We also started our monthly comedy show which will be held on the second Friday's of the month at circus park and on the second Saturdays in Saginaw.

Nobles, please remember that you need to get the potentates permission to participate in any activities at any other shrine temple, this includes parades, circuses, etc. This is so we know where our nobles, clubs, and units are and that they are covered under the temples insurance. With the parade season rapidly coming upon us it is also important that the clubs and units let the recorder know your parade schedule for the year and so I can get a list so maybe I can come parade with you guys.

Yours in the Faith,
Potentate, Ryan A. Stanley

​Happy Springtime Nobles, if you’re back home from the south please update your current Address, Phone No., and email to the Recorder at 810-686-2641 ext. 4… Your Shrine Officers hope everyone had a healthy and safe winter where ever you spent it (north or south).

Our circus was a bit more successful over last years. Sales from Noble Tickets showed some improvement helping the bottom line, thank you Nobles for your support and help, remembering the Circus is Elf Khurafeh’s largest fundraiser supporting the Temple operations. Please remember that Elf Khurafeh needs to operate in order to be able to help the children to and from our Shrine Hospitals. If you care to make a donation to our operating funds please feel free to do so.

We still can use drivers to transport the Children to the hospitals. Chicago Shrine Hospital has now partnered with Covenant Hospital in Saginaw for Telehealth. This is for follow up check-ups of 15-20 minutes instead of traveling to Chicago for the same. Chicago started this early in the second quarter of last year and it is working very successful. When used, this is a large savings to our Transportation Fund and travel time for the drivers, parent and child.

Nobles we need petitions for the May Ceremonial being held at Saginaw Shrine Hall, May 4th, 2019. Please help Elf Khurafeh gain members in 2019. Remember a Shriner should always try to sponsor one candidate to replace himself with and one for the Temple to grow with.

Fraternally,
Clarence W. Meyer, Jr., P.P.
Recorder
​Ph. 810-686-2641 ext 4

​Happy New Year Nobles and Ladies, we hope all is well with everyone and this year has started smoothly. Congratulations to all 2019 Officers, the Installation on December 30th was well attended and a good time was had by all. Potentate Stanley has planned many endeavors’ for 2019 and we would like all Nobles to come out and attend and join the fun in 2019.

Nobles, Elf Khurafeh lost 82 members during 2018; (39 suspended, 7 demitted, 3 dropped and 53 Nobles deceased). We Created 11 new Nobles, Restored 6 and Affiliated 3, for a total net loss for 2018 of 82 Nobles. Elf Khurafeh January 2019 membership is; Regular = 1148 + 4 Associates =1152 total Members. The new Membership Committee is planning to work hard on Restorations in 2019 and also on having members join Clubs and/or Units and attending Shrine activities.

The main reason of losing members, we have no control of, but losing members because they are not active could very well be our fault. We should all mentor and help our Brother Nobles whenever we can; this makes our Fraternity stronger, are we doing our best? Are we trying to sponsor new members? Only you can answer these questions for yourself, the Officers don’t need your answers, we see by who sponsors new Creations. Always remember that our Blue Lodges need new and active members. Visit your lodge in 2019 or a Lodge nearby your home. The Lodge Officers will be pleased to have you there.

For you Nobles looking for something to do and have spare time, Elf Khurafeh needs drivers to transport Shrine Patients to the Chicago Shrine Hospital (food, fuel, hotel (when needed) and van are provided by Elf Khurafeh Transportation Fund), what we need is your time. The success stories you hear about from Kids and Parents will bring tears. That’s the biggest reward we can give you. Thanks for helping the Kids. Contact the Recorder if you could help drive.

Fraternally,
Clarence W. Meyer, Jr., P.P.
Recorder
Ph. 810-686-2641 ext 4

Welcome to the "new for 2019" Elf Khurafeh Shrine website! Lady Laura and I have been working for the last month or so to revamp the website. While our old site was pretty good (two Dromedary awards!), we decided it was time to spruce things up a bit. We studied current website design and found that things were bigger and bolder, so we decided to make ekshrine.com bigger and bolder as well.

A few notes about the new site. First, while we are in the process of getting things moved around, the store will be closed. If you need to pay your dues over the next few days, you'll need to do it the old fashioned way - either by check or by stopping into the office and dropping off payment there.

Secondly, our calendar of events has been broken down into four different categories - Temple Meetings, Club and Unit Meetings, Temple Events, and Public Facing Events. This was done for a couple of reasons. Primarily, we wanted to break out the public facing events so everyone viewing the calendar would know what events they could invite their non-Shrine friends to. As an organization that relies on donations and fund raisers, it gets tough to continually try to tap our nobles for the funds it requires to keep this organization going. By including your friends and neighbors, we can let them help us fund our organization, and hopefully, these new people will see how much fun us Shriners have, and they will ask to join!

Very soon, there will be a "Members Only" page also. This page will be password protected so we can limit exposure to only Nobles. Passwords will be provided to those Nobles that ask for it. You can either email me (jdowning@ekshrine.com), call or text me (810-347-1586), or ask me at any event you see me at. I'll gladly provide you with the password, but I'll request that you not share it with non-Shriners. There won't be any thing super-secret on that page, but in the event we need to put something for members eyes only, it would only be secure if you don't share your password.

Lastly, this blog page. On the previous version of the website, only the Potentate and the Recorder published any notes or information. For this version, all Divan members will be allowed to use this forum to communicate information. It is UP TO THE DIVAN to use the blog page to improve communication with Nobles that may not be able to make it to business meetings or club/unit meetings, but do happen to read the website. Also, Nobles will be able to respond to blog posts by using the comment section below. The comment section is currently not moderated, so please remember to keep discussions civil and of a public nature. Anything that may reflect badly on the Shrine or other Nobles will be removed. 

In keeping with the old site, you will still be able to read about upcoming events, see if you were a winner on the Cash Calendar, view the Arabian Knights news paper, and all of the things you were able to do on the old site. Use the navigation menu across the top to see the different things available on the site. And most of all, use the site as a way to keep informed. Also, if you notice a mistake, or something that's missing, let us know. We try to keep everything up to date, but we can only provide what information we are given. If you have information about an event, please write up a few paragraphs about your event, or send in a flyer and we'll do the best we can to get it published on either the website or  as an event on Facebook. Send any info to webmaster@ekshrine.com, and Lady Laura and I will do our best to get your information up within forty-eight  hours.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the site!

Fraternally,
Jeff Downing
​High Priest & Prophet