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In the News Parade captures philanthropic spirit Nick Gevock of The Montana Standard - 08/28/2011 Chuck Schmidt takes every chance he can to buzz around on his Cushman Eagle. For the Shriner from Billings, that often means heading somewhere around the Northwest to be in a parade for the fraternal organization. But Schmidt said the travel is well worth it. “They’re a blast,” he said after completing the parade down Grand Avenue Saturday morning for the Pacific Northwest Shrine Association. Schmidt and his fellow Shriners from the Al Bedoo Temple drove circles around the street as they made their way west on Grand Avenue. They were part of the eclectic floats, vehicles, bands, classic cars, horses and clowns that made up the parade. It included a buggy painted to match a skunk – complete with a tail, a car donning dozens of license plates and a group of bagpipers. The display illustrates exactly what the Shriners have always been about, yet also shows how their mission to help sick children has and will continue to be realized, said Rodney Royer, potentate for Butte’s Baghdad temple. “We have fun for the kids,” he said. Shriners International is a 140-year-old fraternal organization founded in New York City in 1870 as a body of the Masons. The group initially was meant primarily just to have a good time, but over the years it’s taken on a mission to help children by building hospitals, which it’s best known for. Today that vision has resulted in 22 hospitals covering the United States, Canada and Mexico. The group numbers more than 300,000 members spread throughout nearly 200 chapters, which are known at temples within the organization. Each temple is named for a city from the Middle East, reflecting the group’s original theme. But while they’ve done a tremendous amount of philanthropic work, Shriners still know how to have fun, said Joe Morris, past potentate from Butte. They still get together and drink beer, socialize and just have fun. Butte landed the parade this year to celebrate a century of service, as the Baghdad temple was formed in 1911, Morris said. The parade this year fits in with that theme of having a good time while still work done to benefit kids. “It’s to get out so people can see what we do,” Morris said. The parade kicked off with a Butte-Silver Bow Police motorcycle, followed by a group of Shriners leaders on horses. It included Mike Severe, imperial potentate from Denver who is head of the group worldwide. He said he travels constantly for the year of his term but it’s worthwhile to see the work that Shriners is doing. Every parade entry stopped at the judging tent to greet Severe and the other group leaders. Morris acted as the judge as they put on a show. The parade drew Shriners from more than half a dozen states and three Canadian provinces who pitch in to help the group achieve its mission. Among the motorized users was Charly Olmsted of Stevensville, who was riding a tiny motorcycle. He described its engine as grossly underpowered but said it was still fun to ride. “It’s like a weed eater engine,” he joked. “I’ve got to keep my throttle on all the time.” Reprinted by permission of Nick Gevock of the Montana Standard Shrine Game in Butte nets a record $102,728 Pat Ryan of The Montana Standard - 08/22/2010 More than a few Shriners had their doubts when the annual Montana East-West Shrine Football game rotated to Butte after 63 years in Great Falls. Now that the bills have been paid, the dust has settled and all the proceeds have been tallied, the Butte-based Bagdad Shrine was able to cut a very substantial check to the Shrine hospitals, beneficiary of the football game held July 17 at Bulldog Memorial Stadium. Some stunned members of the Montana Shrine Football game board approved a check for $102,728 during a Saturday board meeting, raised thanks to efforts of area Shriners and game sponsors, along with the more than 5,000 fans whopacked Bulldog Memorial for the game. The total was unofficially the largest in the history of the Montana game, which is the longest running one of its kind in North America. The game pits the top graduated high school football players from the east and west against each other in an annual all-star game. Though all 50 states have yet to report their donation totals, according to the Shrine's Imperial representatives, Montana currently has the second largest donation in the country, following only Kansas. Some southern state play their annual Shrine football game in December. "This really was a group effort," said Jeff Hartwick, the West team coordinator and Shrine press representative. "We had a lot of guys in the Shrine doing a lot of work and we got great help from the community and our local sponsors." Hartwick said local Shriners were confident they could help boost the game and the accompanying proceeds. "We had some modest expectations at first," Hartwick said."We felt we could put on a good event and be able to send some more money to the hospitals." The group felt it could achieve five figures of support for the hospitals, but soon realized they could do more. "We saw there was good potential to raise a lot of money," Hartwick said. "We went to the board meeting (Saturday) and some jaws hit the table." The Montana Shrine Football board is made up of three members each from each of the state's three temples in Billings, Butte and Helena. The game had been played in Great Falls since the inaugural year in 1947. All-star football teams have represented the East and West since then, with the East holding a 36-27 edge in wins. Last year's game was forced into overtime for the first time in the game's history, with the West team pulling off a dramatic 20-17 win. This year's contest saw the West score a 34-18 win after trailing 18-0. Recently, members of Butte's Bagdad Shrine Temple made a case for moving the game, hoping to bring back interest in the event and to create more income for the hospital. It was later decided to put the game on a three-year rotation between Great Falls, Butte and Billings. The Al Bedoo Shrine Temple in Billings will be in charge of the 2011 game, though due to a conflict with the Montana State Games, Laurel will be the actual site of the game. Local Shriners hope to start a rivalry among the state's three temples to see which can raise the most money for the children's hospitals. "The bar has been set high," Hartwick said. Reprinted by permission of Pat Ryan of The Montana Standard Masons award $30K to 6 students The Montana Standard Staff - 04/28/2010 Six scholarships of $5,000 each - a total of $30,000 - have been awarded by the Butte Lodge 22, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Montana, said Worshipful Master Vern Nielsen. The recipients are Adam Axelson, Shanna Falkowski, Brian Cocchiere, Sheri Johnson, Ami Dee Sullivan and Kallie Kent. The money is to be used for higher education. The program, which is open to all students, has given away nearly $120,000 in scholarships in the past five years. The lodge emphasizes education through the annual "Bikes for Books" program, where youths in grades 3-5 are encouraged to read as many books as possible in one month. As a reward, 46 bicycles, as in the past, will be awarded through a drawing to elementary students from Butte, Melrose, Ramsay and Wise River in May. The more books a student reads, the better the chances to win a bike. Also, Butte Lodge 22, Monitor Lodge 35 and Mount Mariah Lodge 24 also participate in the Reading in Education program, by providing daily newspapers to the local schools. For details about Butte lodge programs, visit buttefreemasons.org or call Terry Davis at 498-3237. Reprinted by permission of The Montana Standard

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