Miller Lite Thunder Thursdays Wraps up a very successful first season with 4 more big shows

With precious little revenue coming into the Pittsburgh Shrine Center and Syria Shriners this year, one bright spot has been our Thursday night music series. Four show remain:

• September 24: Tina Daniels Band and John Vento & Friends replace The Shiners to Rock for Rob Keller.

Shiners front man Rob Keller was profoundly injured in an horrific motorcycle accident while on a 10,000-mile ride to benefit homeless veterans. This week, we'll invite folks to contribute to defray the $1,000,000+ in medical expenses incurred by Rob and his family.

• October 1: Stevee Wellons Band
• October 8: Miss Freddye's Blues Band
• October 15: The Nighthawks

Roadrunner joins the Century Club

Roadrunner Noble Ron Plesh recently completed his 100th Shriners Hospitals for ChildrenTM patient transportation trip, when he and his Roadrunner mentor, Don Wiles, took David S. from Sligo, PA to the SHC-Erie 

This is a remarkable milestone and we offer Ron a tip o' the fez and our heartfelt congratulations!

Pavilion Lighting Upgrade

The 2019 First Lady Phyllis Weiss and the Divan Ladies had a tremendously successful fundraising year, and directed restricted gifts to Syria Shriners to replace the refrigerators in our pavilion kitchen, and upgrade the pavilion lighting to an energy-efficient LED lighting system, which will both brighten the facility and reduce our electricity consumption for lighting by 77%. Nobles Jack Jones, Gary Schwartz, Al Tedeschi, and Illustrious Sir Bill Weiss provided the labor for the job. Thanks, guys!.

Many thanks to Phyllis and the 2019 Divan Ladies!

Potentate's Ball Canceled

Another Coronavirus Casualty

After rescheduling from April 18, to October 24, and much back-and-forth, including planning to modify the event to facilitate holding it in our pavilion, the Illustrious Sir Don Taylor, and First Lady Eleanor, have reluctantly decided to forgo holding An Enchanted Evening: The 2020 Potentate's Ball. Refunds will be forthcoming to all who had purchased tickets. We are very sorry to have to announce this development, and wish Don & Eleanor all the best. A second Oktoberfest event, mentioned above, will replace the ball on our calendar.

Proceeds benefit Syria Shriners. Ticket price is NOT tax deductibleWe have received approval from the Allegheny County Health Department to hold physically-distanced events at our facilities. Outdoor events are considerably easier to schedule right now, but we're able to have limited indoor events, too. Time to make hay while the sun shines, at least from a fundraising standpoint. We need to support and encourage our friends to join the fun on Thunder Thursdays Bike Nights, and read on for an exciting new fundraiser that will be critical to making the most of our fraternal fundraising opportunities this year.

Watch for additional communication, check our website at syriashriners.org, and follow our Facebook page for ongoing information as developments unfold.

Meanwhile, stay well. We look forward to seeing you soon.

AN IMPORTANT WORD TO ALL SYRIA SHRINERS

Clearly, this has been a very challenging year for Syria Shriners from a financial standpoint, and more, but particularly financially. We have been unable to do anything in our building since mid-March. Our wedding, prom, and corporate events have disappeared. Our important fundraisers from the Sportsmen's Bash to the First Choice Wine Festival, the North Hills Homebrewer's Fest, the fall Night at the Races, and our 3-day Rocktoberfest Pittsburgh festival have all been canceled, as have many of our pavilion rentals for outside events, leaving a gaping hole in the revenue side of our budget. We are doing everything possible to control expenses. For example, our office has been closed since March 16, and our facilities staff is operating with absolute minimum hours and workers. We have suspended publication of the VOICE of Syria Shriners, because there are no activities, and because we want to save the costs involved in production and mailing.

HERE'S WHERE IT GETS REAL

Our summer music events are doing well for us, and as we've been trying to do for years, we are drawing the general public to our facility, showing them a good time, and making some money in the process. Participation from our members, however, has been minimal. If even two per cent of our members would attend, we would reach our capacity every week.

That's why we need to count on YOU to help. It is important that you support our summer music series to the extent that you are able. Our Thursday night shows, and our ticketed weekend concerts, presented OUTDOORS in our spacious pavilion, with four seats to a table normally used by eight people, and all the tables distanced from one another, and mask protocols in place, are vitally important in helping us generate revenue and keep the wolf away from the door. If you can't personally attend these events for whatever reason, from personal income loss, to concern about public events, schedule conflicts, your taste in music, or your distance from the Shrine Center, please do what you can to support them, and please share them with your friends on Facebook and other social media. Talk with your friends about them. Ask them to join you for a very fun night or afternoon out.

We hope a dues increase is not necessary, but without YOUR ACTIVE SUPPORT NOW, that may well be an inevitable eventuality in the very near future. PLEASE DO YOUR PART TO SUPPORT YOUR TEMPLE. Thanks!

Call For Email Update Help

We're looking for someone to take over creation of these periodic email updates. If this is in your wheelhouse, and you're interested in helping out, please click HERE to email the Recorder.

Quarterly Meeting Canceled

Given current restrictions on indoor gatherings in Allegheny County, the complete lack of business to come before the body, and the shortened interval between the third and fourth Quarterly Meetings, and the less-than-satisfying experience of hold ing our last Quarterly meeting electornically, the Quarterly Meeting scheduled for August 3 has been canceled. We will next hold a Quarterly Meeting on Monday, October 5, at 7:30pm, in the Pittsburgh Shrine Center Ballroom, if possible, or using the ZOOM platform, if necessary.

This month at Pittsburgh Shrine Center

THUNDER THURSDAYS KEEP ON ROCKIN' THE PAVILION - THIS WEEK WITH THE STEVEE WELLONS BAND

Syria Shriners, in conjunction with Moondog's & the StarLite Lounge, proudly presents the Miller Lite Thunder Thursdays Summer Music Series, all summer long in the spacious Pittsburgh Shrine Center Pavilion, continuing weekly through October 1. We're excited to have this speical opportunity to add much-needed funds to our coffers in this challenging financial year.

Gates open weekly at 6pm, and the live music begins at 7pm. We wrap things up on stage at 9pm, so you won't have to stay up past your bedtime to have a good time. The StarLite Lounge, featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, will be on hand to feed you. A full bar will be available. All events are rain or shine. You know our pavilion is impervious to inclement weather (and we've had plenty so far this summer), so the shows will go on, without regard to any raindrops we may see. YOUR support is critical to the success of this series.

MASKS ARE REQUIRED
NEVER A COVER ... BUT ALWAYS UNDER COVER - Plenty of great Miller Lite giveaways! - Attendance is limited to 250, so come early!

The Thunder rolls again this Thursday with the sultry blues, jazz, and rocks sounds of the Stevee Wellons Band. This group of seasoned pros has done it all over the years, in a variety of this area's greatest bands, and they'll be doin' it again for us on our very own Pitttsburgh Shrine Center pavilion stage Thursday night!

Check out Stevee and company below.

Watch this space for more information on the bands, vendors, and other fun stuff in store.

Please do your best to support this series. Mark your calendar, tell your friends, and be sure to share on your social media accounts!

WE CAN ALWAYS USE HELP. IN FACT, WE REALLY NEED IT!
IF YOU CAN VOLUNTEER, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

UPCOMING THUNDER THURSDAYS SHOWS

• August 6 The Stevee Wellons Band
• August 13 Tina Daniels Band
• August 20 Bobby Thompson and The Groove
• August 27 The Bail Jumpers

Ladies Luncheon Saturday, August 8 Honors First Lady Eleanor Taylor

Bill Toms and Hard Rain, featuring the Soulville Horns with special guest, Aris Paul Band, Saturday, August 8

Swing Time Nights Scheduled to Return Friday, August 21

Swing Time Nights, featuring the Syria Shriners Stage Band, return to the Pittsburgh Shrine Center Ballroom, Friday, August 21, The band was just ready to kick off its 2020 season when Shrine activities were suspended, so the July date marks the band's 2020 debut. The music starts at 7pm, and admission is $5 at the door. Come on out and swing!

COMING UP NEXT MONTH ...

• Miller Lite Thunder Thursdays continue!
• More concert dates to be announced!
• Oktoberfest Returns to the Pittsburgh Shrine Center Pavilion, Sunday, September 27! Always one of our most popular events . Stay tuned for more information!
  
  

CASH Give-A-Way Lottery Fundraiser Crucial to Success

Happy Independence Day!

Yesterday, we celebrated the 244th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America as a free and sovereign nation, rejecting colonial British rule. May the federal republic we forged thereafter under our Constitution endure forever!

2020 CASH Give-A-Way Lottery Fundraiser

By Randy Hobaugh, Second Ceremonial Master

I would like to share with you a new Syria Shrine fundraiser that will replace our long-standing Car Raffle. For the past couple of years, the raffle ticket sales have been declining, and it’s time to introduce something new. With that said, this year we will be kicking off a $25,000 HOLIDAY CASH GIVE-A-WAY.

This lottery fundraiser will be given away during the week of Christmas.

Syria Holiday Cash Give-A-Way Ticket will be sold for $10 per ticket, with a total giveaway of $25,000.

The prizes will be awarded on the PA Lottery 7pm Daily Pick 4, and two numbers will be printed on each ticket. Prizes will be awarded as follows:

• December 21 - $ 500
• December 22 - $ 1,000
• December 23 - $ 1,500
• December 24 - $ 2,000
• December 25 - $20,000 Grand Prize

We really need to sell all 5,000 tickets to optimize this fundraiser. We are very much hoping that everyone can buy and/or sell tickets to support this effort. Please do your best to help reduce our deficit, and avoid dues increases. 

Proceeds benefit Syria Shriners. Ticket price is NOT tax deductible

Tuesday, June 23, the Syria Shriners Board of Directors reluctantly reached the decision to cancel the Sportsmen's Bash for 2020. We felt we had no choice but to cancel, given the restrictions limiting large gatherings.

If you have checks or cash you can return to folks who bought a ticket from you, please do so, as it will save us postage and labor in processing refunds.

Simply write on the back of the stub "REFUNDED" and send the stub to:

Syria Shriners
1877 Schriners Way
Cheswick, PA 15024

We will be issuing refunds to all ticket holders whose stubs and payments have been previous received. We will process refunds as soon as possible, but ask for your patience as we work through the orders we have received.

We'll be back next year, bigger and better than ever, on Saturday, June 19, 2021.

Save the date! Mark your calendar now!

The Big Band is Back!! Swing Time Nights Return July 17

Swing Time Nights, featuring the Syria Shriners Stage Band, return to the Pittsburgh Shrine Center Ballroom, Friday, July 17, The band was just ready to kick off its 2020 season when Shrine activities were suspended, so the July date marks the band's 2020 debut. The music starts at 7pm, and admission is $5 at the door. Come on out and swing!

Butler Luncheon Club Resumes Activities

Dear fellow Nobles:

After a three month hiatus, we have finally received the approval from Syria Shriners to resume our weekly meeting for the Butler Shrine Luncheon Club! Hallelujah!

Accordingly, WE WILL RESUME ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, at 11:30 AM at American Legion Post #778, Kohler Ave., Lyndora.

We will necessarily be following the distancing guidelines as set forth by the Shrine and other authorities. We do ask that you wear a mask, except, of course, when we’re eating.

In addition, we are pleased to report that our Potentate will be our guest on July 29. That will be Ladies Day, and we’ll be meeting in the main room at American Legion Post #778.

If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact Secretary George Bonnett, at 724-287-5345.

We are certainly looking forward to resuming our meetings!

Yours Truly,
John R. Stokes
President

​​In Case You Missed It

With continuing support from Shriners Children's^TM, last night, for the 4,931st consecutive Saturday night, the show went on at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville with a very special Independence Day show, featuring The Oak Ridge Boys, Sara Evans, and Mark Wills, keeping the music playing in Music City, once again without a live audience. Click the image to the right and enjoy the show.

SC has kept the music playing the last 16 Saturdays. See all the shows here.

THIS YEAR'S BIG BUTLER, FAYETTE COUNTY, HOOKSTOWN, WASHINGTON COUNTY & WESTMORELAND COUNTY FAIRS HAVE BEEN CANCELED.

THE BUTLER FARM SHOW HAS BEEN CANCELED.

FORT LIGONIER DAYS HAS BEEN CANCELED.

THE WASHINGTON-GREENE COUNTY COVERED BRIDGE FESTIVAL HAS BEEN CANCELED.

WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY AWARE OF ANY PARADES THAT ARE STILL SCHEDULED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR.

Happy Independence Day!

This Saturday, we celebrate the 244th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America as a free and sovereign nation, rejecting colonial British rule. May the federal republic we forged thereafter under our Constitution endure forever!

2020 CASH Give-A-Way Lottery Fundraiser

By Randy Hobaugh, Second Ceremonial Master

I would like to share with you a new Syria Shrine fundraiser that will replace our long-standing Car Raffle. For the past couple of years, the raffle ticket sales have been declining, and it’s time to introduce something new. With that said, this year we will be kicking off a $25,000 HOLIDAY CASH GIVE-A-WAY.

This lottery fundraiser will be given away during the week of Christmas.

Syria Holiday Cash Give-A-Way Ticket will be sold for $10 per ticket, with a total giveaway of $25,000.

The prizes will be awarded on the PA Lottery 7pm Daily Pick 4, and two numbers will be printed on each ticket. Prizes will be awarded as follows:

• December 21 - $ 500
• December 22 - $ 1,000
• December 23 - $ 1,500
• December 24 - $ 2,000
• December 25 - $20,000 Grand Prize

We really need to sell all 5,000 tickets to optimize this fundraiser. We are very much hoping that everyone can buy and/or sell tickets to support this effort. Please do your best to help reduce our deficit, and avoid dues increases. 

Proceeds benefit Syria Shriners. Ticket price is NOT tax deductible

Last Tuesday, the Syria Shriners Board of Directors reluctantly reached the decision to cancel the Sportsmen's Bash for 2020. We felt we had no choice but to cancel, given the restrictions limiting large gatherings.

If you have checks or cash you can return to folks who bought a ticket from you, please do so, as it will save us postage and labor in processing refunds.

Simply write on the back of the stub "REFUNDED" and send the stub to:

Syria Shriners

1877 Schriners Way

Cheswick, PA 15024

We will be issuing refunds to all ticket holders whose stubs and payments have been previous received. We will process refunds as soon as possible, but ask for your patience as we work through the orders we have received.

We'll be back next year, bigger and better than ever, on Saturday, June 19, 2021.

Save the date! Mark your calendar now!

Please be mindful of your social media presence and your posts

By Robert T. Addleman, Jr. PP, Recorder 

I recently received a call at the Shrine Center office from someone wanting to call our attention to what they believed to be inflammatory and racist posts on Facebook from one of our members whose profile picture portrays him wearing a fez, and who prominently wears his Masonic affiliations on his sleeve on his Facebook page. The caller believed that our member was speaking on behalf of all Syria Shriners with his posts. Of course, that is NOT the case, yet the implication is there.

While we are all entitled to freely express our opinions on any subject matter, I would ask that you keep a few things in mind;

1. Does your profile picture and bio mention Shriners and Masonic organizations? If not, no worries. Flame away (but is it REALLY necessary as a Shrine Mason to do this?). If so, think long and hard about number 2 and number 3 below.
2. Does your post reflect the values of Freemasonry and Shriners International? Not what you think they are or should be, but what our Grand Lodge and Imperial Council publish and what they teach. Chief among the teachings of both is the principle of tolerance and respect for others.
3. Keep in mind that, as Masons and Shriners, we are particularly admonished never to discuss politics or religion in the Lodge or Temple. When we make public posts to social media we might well consider following the same guidelines.

Govern yourself accordingly. So mote it be.

Click the Grand Lodge seal above to read a recent letter from Bro. Thomas Gamon IV, Right Worshipful Grand Master, discussing this subject.

Butler Luncheon Club Resumes Activities

Dear fellow Nobles:

After a three month hiatus, we have finally received the approval from Syria Shriners to resume our weekly meeting for the Butler Shrine Luncheon Club! Hallelujah!

Accordingly, WE WILL RESUME ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, at 11:30 AM at American Legion Post #778, Kohler Ave., Lyndora.

We will necessarily be following the distancing guidelines as set forth by the Shrine and other authorities. We do ask that you wear a mask, except, of course, when we’re eating.

In addition, we are pleased to report that our Potentate will be our guest on July 29. That will be Ladies Day, and we’ll be meeting in the main room at American Legion Post #778.

If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact Secretary George Bonnett, at 724-287-5345.

We are certainly looking forward to resuming our meetings!

Yours Truly,
John R. Stokes
President

​​In Case You Missed It

With continuing support from Shriners Children's^TM, last night, for the 4,930th consecutive Saturday night, the show went on at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, featuring Country superstar and Osiris Shriners Noble Brad Paisley, and legendary bluesman Keb' Mo', keeping the music playing in Music City, once again without a live audience. Click the image to the right and enjoy the show.

SC has kept the music playing the last 15 Saturdays. See all the shows here.

THIS YEAR'S BIG BUTLER FAIR FAYETTE, WASHINGTON, AND WESTMORELAND COUNTY FAIRS HAVE BEEN CANCELED. 

AT THIS TIME, THE BUTLER FARM SHOW REMAINS ON THE CALENDAR AS SCHEDULED, AUGUST 10-15, and FORT LIGONIER DAYS REMAINS SCHEDULED OCTOBER 9-11

Happy Father's Day

Today is the day we set aside each year to honor our fathers and other important men in our lives. If you're fortunate enough to still have your father with you, and even though you may not be able to see him in person this year, please give him at least a virtual hug from all of us, and offer him the best wishes of all of us at Syria Shriners!

2020 CASH Give-A-Way Lottery Fundraiser

By Randy Hobaugh, Second Ceremonial Master

I would like to share with you a new Syria Shrine fundraiser that will replace our long-standing Car Raffle. For the past couple of years, the raffle ticket sales have been declining, and it’s time to introduce something new. With that said, this year we will be kicking off a $25,000 HOLIDAY CASH GIVE-A-WAY.

This lottery fundraiser will be given away during the week of Christmas.

Syria Holiday Cash Give-A-Way Ticket will be sold for $10 per ticket, with a total giveaway of $25,000.

The prizes will be awarded on the PA Lottery 7pm Daily Pick 4, and two numbers will be printed on each ticket. Prizes will be awarded as follows:

• December 21 - $ 500
• December 22 - $ 1,000
• December 23 - $ 1,500
• December 24 - $ 2,000
• December 25 - $20,000 Grand Prize

We really need to sell all 5,000 tickets to optimize this fundraiser. We are very much hoping that everyone can buy and/or sell tickets to support this effort. Please do your best to help reduce our deficit, and avoid dues increases. 

Proceeds benefit Syria Shriners. Ticket price is NOT tax deductible

Please send all of your sold stubs and accompanying money immediately to:

Kenneth D. Stuart 1185 Astronaut Circle Pittsburgh, PA 15241

Our early bird drawing is Saturday, July 11. You will want to get your entry in for that drawing. Additionally, we need to get a better idea of where we stand with ticket sales at this point. Pandemic pandemonium has severely hampered our ticket selling efforts, along with all of our other fundraisers, and we need to make certain we maximize this critically important activity aimed at balancing our budget.

If you have tickets you don't think you can sell, please return them, so we can get them to someone who can get them sold before the early bird drawing. Please buy a ticket if you can afford it, even if the Sportsman's Bash is not your thing. Ken Stuart can mail you a ticket if you send him a check. Tickets can also be purchased through our website. Click the image above to get yours now!

Please be mindful of your social media presence and your posts

By Robert T. Addleman, Jr. PP, Recorder 

I recently received a call at the Shrine Center office from someone wanting to call our attention to what they believed to be inflammatory and racist posts on Facebook from one of our members whose profile picture portrays him wearing a fez, and who prominently wears his Masonic affiliations on his sleeve on his Facebook page. The caller believed that our member was speaking on behalf of all Syria Shriners with his posts. Of course, that is NOT the case, yet the implication is there.

While we are all entitled to freely express our opinions on any subject matter, I would ask that you keep a few things in mind;

1. Does your profile picture and bio mention Shriners and Masonic organizations? If not, no worries. Flame away (but is it REALLY necessary as a Shrine Mason to do this?). If so, think long and hard about number 2 and number 3 below.
2. Does your post reflect the values of Freemasonry and Shriners International? Not what you think they are or should be, but what our Grand Lodge and Imperial Council publish and what they teach. Chief among the teachings of both is the principle of tolerance and respect for others.
3. Keep in mind that, as Masons and Shriners, we are particularly admonished never to discuss politics or religion in the Lodge or Temple. When we make public posts to social media we might well consider following the same guidelines.

Govern yourself accordingly. So mote it be.

Click the Grand Lodge seal above to read a recent letter from Bro. Thomas Gamon IV, Right Worshipful Grand Master, discussing this subject.

Butler Luncheon Club Resumes Activities

Dear fellow Nobles:

After a three month hiatus, we have finally received the approval from Syria Shriners to resume our weekly meeting for the Butler Shrine Luncheon Club! Hallelujah!

Accordingly, WE WILL RESUME ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, at 11:30 AM at American Legion Post #778, Kohler Ave., Lyndora.

We will necessarily be following the distancing guidelines as set forth by the Shrine and other authorities. We do ask that you wear a mask, except, of course, when we’re eating.

In addition, we are pleased to report that our Potentate will be our guest on July 29. That will be Ladies Day, and we’ll be meeting in the main room at American Legion Post #778.

If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact Secretary George Bonnett, at 724-287-5345.

We are certainly looking forward to resuming our meetings!

Yours Truly,
John R. Stokes
President

THIS YEAR'S BIG BUTLER FAIR FAYETTE, WASHINGTON, AND WESTMORELAND COUNTY FAIRS HAVE BEEN CANCELED. 

AT THIS TIME, THE BUTLER FARM SHOW REMAINS ON THE CALENDAR AS SCHEDULED, AUGUST 10-15, and FORT LIGONIER DAYS REMAINS SCHEDULED OCTOBER 9-11