
Midwest Shrine Association
… To engender greater fellowship
among the several M.S.A. Shrine Chapters and their
members; and to secure greater recognition of the institution
of the Shrine throughout the territory of this association .
The Imperial Shrine of North America recognizes
about 20 regional Shrine Associations. These Associations allow
individual Shrine Chapters to join together for fun, fellowship
and camaraderie. It also allows Shriners an opportunity to share
ideas on how to improve Shrinedom in their areas. At many of
the Association conventions Shrine Chapter Units compete against
one another for who is the best, Chanters, Bands, Clowns, Motorized
Units, Pipes & Drums,
Foot Patrols, Horse Units, etc.
When Zor received its charter in 1933 it chose to join the Midwest
Shrine Association. Today the Midwest Shrine Association has 12
Shrine Chapters as members from the States of Iowa, Minnesota,
North and South Dakota and Wisconsin. Also Chapters from the Canadian
Providence of Saskatchewan and Manitoba belong. These 12 Chapters
have a combined membership of about 20,000 Shriners.
The Midwest Shrine Association holds an annual business meeting
in early February. Those attending are normally the Shrine Chapter
Officers along with committee heads that have an interest in topics
to be covered at the session. Average attendance is about 250 Shriners.
The summer session is normally held in mid to late August, on a
Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The sessions usually includes two
major all Shriner parades and time for Shrine Unit competition.
All MSA Shriners are invited to attend. In recent years attendance
has averaged 2000 to 2500, of which two-thirds are Shriners and
the balance Shriners Ladies. A different Chapter hosts these meeting
each year.
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