Shriners

A Father and Son’s Playground

By Gary Bergenske

The “Your Breaking your Fathers Heart” article I wrote earlier in the year helped to make this night a success.   When we had our Father and Son night at a Stated meeting they came out in big numbers.  It was a highly successful night.  We advertised it early and had it in our yearly calendar right from the start.  I could not believe how many came out.  We even had one father come without his son, but had a letter form his son because he could not be there because he was in Iraq.   We had a total of 21 Father and Son Duo's, and three Father, Son, and Grandfather duo's present.  Was a sentimental , inspirational night.

Here's what we did;

1.  Advertised the date early

2.  Advertised every Father and son would get a Picture

         A.  Temple Photographer did a Group picture, everyone got one

         B.  Photography Club did a portrait picture of each Family

3.  Advertised prizes would be awarded to the following;

         A.  Oldest combined age of a Father and Son

         B.  Youngest combined age of a Father and Son

         C.  Most Combined years as Shriners of a Father and Son

               Each of the above received a plaque for their accomplishment

4.  I would recommend you would also add awards for the following and

              give plaques.

         A. Oldest combined age of a family, Father and two sons, or   

              Grandfather, father and  Son, etc.

         B.  Family traveling the most miles to the meeting.

5.  We registered them at a registration table prior to the meeting and had

             forms for them to fill out to gather this information.  A plaque was

             given to each Father and Son individually and not as a group so  

             they all would have one to take home and be proud of.

6.  They were all introduced during the meeting and escorted to the front  

            during the meeting for the group photo.  The Portrait photo's were  

            done after the meeting.  They all lined up for a photo, they were  

            mailed to them a week later.

7.  During the meeting I gave a talk on the importance of recruiting our own  

            son's.  You could just feel and see the pride in all of them that had  

            their son's there, myself included.

8.  This event was fun and good for Membership