The Public Relations Voice

THE PUBLIC RELATIONS VOICE
Volume 2, December 2012
The
Public
Relations
Voice
A FRATERNAL NEWSLETTER
Happy Holidays
Greetings Fellow Nobles,
As I write this message, we are approaching
the end of another exciting year of progress
on many new programs designed to solidify
the future of our great fraternity. Overall, we
have a great deal to be thankful for as an
organization. Shriners International and
Shriners Hospitals for Children have endured
some of the most difficult economic times
seen in generations. Like nobles in years past,
we persevere; stay focused on our work and
emerge even stronger. Our fraternity is firm
in its resolve to have fun while helping
children in need. We are making the strides
necessary to compete with many charities,
build our public awareness and attract nobles
for our future.
In this issue you’ll read about the East-West
th
Shrine Game, scheduled for January 19 in St.
Petersburg, Florida. This game not only
provides an NFL scouting showcase for some
of college football’s top talent, but more
importantly, it is an event that connects
players with the spirit of helping the kids at
Shriners Hospitals for Children. You will also
read about the Shriners Hockey Challenge, a
heroic Shriner, Love to the rescue in Three
Words and Burn Awareness Week 2013.
Our television commercials and digital
marketing are at maximum levels during
December, allowing the nation to recognize
IN THIS ISSUE…
the excellent philanthropic services we
provide to children in need. As people
recognize our efforts we will see increased
donations and more men will want
information about becoming a Shriner.
As you know this is the “busy season” for
charitable organizations. Holiday giving offers
excellent potential for our great fraternity to
offer hope to more children and their
families. I ask that you join me in sharing the
story of our great philanthropy, asking
relatives, friends, neighbors and business
colleagues to consider supporting our
hospitals during this holiday season and
beyond.
I want to express my gratitude for all you do
and wish you a peaceful, joyous holiday
season.
Happy Holidays!
John Cinotto, Deputy
Imperial Potentate and
Imperial PR Chairman
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East-West Shrine Game
Shrine Hockey Challenge
A Hero Among Us; A Touching Letter
from a Grateful Mother
Love to the Rescue in Three Words
Burn Awareness Week
THE PUBLIC RELATIONS VOICE
2
More Than Just A Game
The East-West Shrine Game
January 19, 2013, the East-West Shrine
Game Returns to Tropicana Field in St.
Petersburg, FL
The rich history of the East-West Shrine
th
Game continues with the 88 meeting of the
East-West squads in St. Petersburg, Florida.
College players selected to appear in the
East-West Shrine Game are among the most
talented in the nation. Testimonies to that
claim are the 246 former players now
appearing on NFL rosters.
The first East-West Shrine Game was played
on December 26, 1925 in San Francisco. The
game has since gone on to become the
longest-running college all-star game in the
United States. The San Francisco Bay area
was home to 79 of the first 80 games played,
with the exception of 1941. The events that
took place at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on
December 7, 1941 created security concerns
on the U.S. West coast, prompting the 1941
game to be relocated to New Orleans.
After a long run in California, the East-West
Shrine Game moved south to Texas (San
Antonio hosted the game in 2006 and
Houston in 2007-09). In 2010 the game was
relocated to Florida to be in closer proximity
to the headquarters of Shriners International
and Shriners Hospitals for Children. The 2010
game was played at the Citrus Bowl in
Orlando and in 2011 moved to its new home,
the spectacular Tropicana Field in St.
Petersburg, Florida.
Since the East-West Shrine Game began, 69
alumni have gone on to become NFL Hall of
Fame inductees, including greats like Mike
Ditka, Walter Payton, Larry Czonka and Gale
Sayers. Currently, 195 former players have
been inducted to the College Football Hall of
Fame. In addition, let’s not forget another
East-West Shrine Game alumnus, former U.S.
President Gerald Ford played for the east
team in the 1935 East-West Shrine Game.
The players get their chance at the big show
when all 32 NFL teams send GMs, scouts and
coaches to review the talent during game
week. The players have a chance to display
their abilities as they aspire to be part of the
NFL tradition.
Time Honored Tradition
Since the early days, the East-West Shrine
Game players and coaches visit a Shriners
Hospitals for Children as part of their game
week activities. For many players this is a
humbling experience as they see children
being treated for serious physical challenges,
making the players grateful for the gifts they
have been given.
Mississippi native and former NFL great
Jimmy Walden (quarterback at University of
Wyoming and professional with the Denver
Broncos and Canadian Football League) said
after visiting one of our hospitals, “I saw kids
missing their arms and legs, the one thing I
couldn’t believe was how happy these kids
were. It made me realize if they can have
such high spirits, then I should never have
anything to complain about. The experience
made me change how I approached life.”
The game has had that same profound
impact on many college football players who
have received the honor of participating in
one of America’s great sports traditions. The
East-West Shrine Game also helps make the
media and national viewing audience aware
of the life changing medical treatments,
research and therapies being provided at our
hospitals across North America.
Great Teams Make the Game Possible
Harold Richardson,
Executive Director
At the East-West Shrine Game helm is Harold
Richardson, Executive Director who joined
Shriners International to oversee game
operations in June 2010. A former college
football and baseball player at Southern
Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, Mr.
Richardson has an extensive background in
college and professional football. From 19982002, he served as General Manager of the
Atlanta Falcons, who, under his direction,
made their only Super Bowl appearance in
January 1999 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami,
Florida. Coach Richardson also served for 14years as an administrator and coach for the
New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos. His
12-year college football career included
coaching assignments at Colorado State,
North Texas State, Texas Christian, Oklahoma
State and Southern Methodist universities.
THE PUBLIC RELATIONS VOICE
The coaches selected by the East West Shrine
Game Committee for the 2013 game are
noted celebrities Jerry Glanville and Leeman
Bennett. Both men bring extensive college
and professional coaching experience to lead
their squads in the 2013 game.
Jerry Glanville, East
Team Coach
Coach Glanville played middle linebacker at
Northern Michigan University, where he
graduated in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree.
He then went on to earn his master’s degree
from Western Kentucky University, where he
served as an assistant football coach.
Glanville has also spent time as defensive
coordinator for the University of Hawaii and
defensive ends/outside linebacker coach at
Georgia Tech.
Following his time coaching college football,
Glanville began his NFL career working with
the Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, and most
notably as the defensive coordinator for the
Atlanta Falcons, where he developed the
famous “Gritz Blitz” defense. Jerry accepted
the head coaching job with the Houston
Oilers, where he led the team to three playoff
appearances, twice playing in the AFC
divisional round. He returned to the Atlanta
Falcons in 1990 as head coach, leading them
to the NFC divisional round in the 1991
season.
Leeman Bennett, West
Team Coach
Coach Bennett received a bachelor’s degree
from the University of Kentucky, where he
started as quarterback and defensive back
under head coach Blanton Collier for three
seasons, beginning in 1958. He began his
coaching career as an assistant coach under
Collier with the Wildcats in 1961, after which
he spent two years serving in the military.
Bennett went on to become the offensive
3
back coach at University of Cincinnati and the
U.S. Naval Academy.
With an extensive background in college
football, he began his NFL career as the
offensive back coach for the Saint Louis
Cardinals in 1970. Bennett is most
prominently remembered as head coach of
the Atlanta Falcons, and credited with leading
the team to their first NFC West title.
Following his time with the Falcons, Bennett
served as head coach of the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers for the 1985 and 1986 seasons.
Dale Stauss, Chairman,
Shriners International
Sports Committee
Imperial Sir Dale Stauss is the Chairman of
the Shriners International Sports Committee
and has served on the board of the North
Dakota Shrine Bowl game for 16 years. Dale is
a positive force behind the East-West Shrine
Game operations and we are grateful for his
continued service to the sports and
membership committees.
Nick Thomas,
Chairman, East-West
Shrine Game
PIP Nick Thomas serves our fraternity as
Chairman of the East-West Shrine Game
Committee. Mr. Thomas also served as
Chairman of the Imperial Athletic Committee
from 1996-2006. Nick served as Imperial
Potentate in 2006-2007 and as Imperial
Recorder in 2009-2010. Mr. Thomas was
quoted as saying,” I am thrilled to be part of
this legendary game. The East-West Shrine
Game is now seen nationally thanks to our
affiliation with the NFL Network. Not only are
we staging the longest running college all-star
game, but we’re educating the public about
our great fraternity and the work we do for
children in need.”
In addition to the game itself, a number of
special events, designed to further the
connection by allowing people to see firsthand the great work being accomplished in
our hospital mission, are open to the media
and general public. Supporters of the EastWest Game can also attend football practice
sessions and the Players Award Banquet.
TV Coverage
If you can’t join us for the live action in
Florida, the next best thing is watching the
game on the NFL Network at 4:00 PM
Eastern. Be sure to check your local channel
listings and set your recorders so you don’t
miss what is sure to be one of the East-West
Shrine Games’ most spirited contests.
The East-West Shrine Game is an important
part of our fraternity and helps to build public
awareness of the great work we do at our
children’s hospitals across North America. As
you speak with friends, family and colleagues
this holiday season, be sure to help us
promote the East-West Shrine Game in your
community.
Why Not Join Us?
The East-West Shrine Game is a unique
opportunity to enjoy some good times in the
Florida sunshine with your family and fellow
nobles. The TradeWinds Island Resorts on St.
Pete Beach is the host hotel for the East-West
Shrine Game. For more information on the
hotel, click the link below or phone the
TradeWinds at 1-800-808-9833.
http://www.shrinegame.com/en/Hospitality.
aspx
THE PUBLIC RELATIONS VOICE
4
Providence Hospital in Anchorage. When I
walked into his ICU room though, I instantly
knew. God can fix this! I prayed over my son,
his entire body, constantly. Not only did he
have to have his leg amputated, he suffered a
traumatic brain injury. The doctors gave me
no hope he would ever wake up, walk again,
or even survive.
Shrine Hockey
Challenge
Canadians (and many Americans
in northern states) are passionate
about the game of hockey. So, it
was only fitting that Gizeh
Shriners (British Columbia &
Yukon) and Al Azhar Shriners
(Southern Alberta) collaborated
to initiate the “Shrine Hockey
Challenge” game. The first Shrine
Hockey Challenge was held in
Vancouver in January 2012
between the Vancouver Giants
and the Calgary Hitmen. It featured Shrine
Clowns, Oriental Bands and Marching Units
entertaining game attendees throughout the
hockey game. It was a great promotion for
Shriners International and our great
philanthropy … Shriners Hospitals for
Children
This year the Shrine Hockey Challenge game,
featuring the same two teams, will be held on
January 6 at the Saddledome in Calgary. The
Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club wanted the
Shriners to bring a “circus atmosphere” to
the hockey game and Al Azhar Shriners
wholeheartedly accepted their invitation. The
Calgary Hitmen asked for a “Shrine Parade”
at intermissions and want the Shrine Clowns
and Oriental Band to entertain the fans
before the game and at intermissions. The
Calgary Hitmen also provided specially priced
tickets to Al Azhar Shriners and a portion of
the ticket revenue will go to Shriners
Hospitals for Children. Al Azhar Shriners will
also have a portion of the 50/50 drawing go
to Shriners Hospitals for Children.
The Calgary Hitmen will run SHC PSAs during
the game and allow Al Azhar to present a
former patient’s story. (The former patient
will be in attendance at the game.) Local
media have also invited Al Azhar to appear on
morning shows to promote the game and our
cause
Attendance at Calgary Hitmen hockey games
is 10,000+ so, this event will provide Al Azhar
Shriners with the opportunity to promote
Shriners and “the world’s greatest
philanthropy”.
All Shrine Temples should consider partnering
with a local hockey, basketball or baseball
team to hold a “Shrine Challenge” game in
their area to promote the Shrine and our
great philanthropy. You would be surprised at
how receptive they are to the concept.
On day 30, he did wake up. He said ‘I love
you’ to his sister and to me. Today is day 56.
He is awake, aware and all together Zack! He
is a miracle! We are still in Anchorage
awaiting transfer to a facility for rehab in the
lower 48 that will be able to treat Zack for his
multiple injuries.
A Hero Among Us
Below is a letter that was received by the
Public Relations department at Shriners
International Headquarters. It is a touching
tribute to a caring man, whose quick actions
saved a man’s life. Ken Krasselt of Al Aska
Shriners, will forever be a hero to this family
and the Shriners International Fraternity.
A letter from a grateful mother…
Good Morning:
My name is Cheryl Young. I live in St. Paul,
MN. My 26 year old son Zachary Mohs lives
in Anchorage, Alaska. The evening of
September 20, 2012 changed our lives
forever. My son Zack was hit by a hit and run
driver while crossing the street near his
home. He was badly injured and left for
dead. His foot was severed from his body at
the scene. It was a gruesome and horrific
scene. My son Zack should not be alive. But
he is, and I thought you might like to know a
little more.
The man that stopped, while others drove by,
was Ken Krasselt. Ken is a Shriner. He was the
Potentate of the Al Aska Chapter in
Anchorage in 2009. And he saved my son’s
life. He is 84 years old and a WWII
veteran. He stopped his truck that rainy
night, directed his buddy to call 911, covered
my son with a blanket and used his belt as a
tourniquet to stop the bleeding from Zack’s
missing limb.
I received a phone call in MN that my son was
‘extremely critical’ – ‘they would try to keep
him alive until I got to Alaska.’ I was on a
flight within hours. The longest flight of my
life, I went from praying, to planning a
funeral, and back to praying. I had no idea if
Zack was still alive when I arrived at
Ken Krasselt stops by every day to see how
Zack is doing. He brings him gifts and always
has a hug for me and Zack’s siblings. He
shares stories about the wonderful hospitals
of the Shriners and all the good they do. He is
proud to be a Shriner.
I just want you to know there is a Hero
amongst your organization, and if the Shriner
organization has even a sliver of the courage,
compassion, respect and love that Ken
Krasselt exudes on a daily basis, well then you
can count me in to support your organization
for the rest of my life in any way I can.
God bless Ken Krasselt and the Shriner
organization.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Young
THE PUBLIC RELATIONS VOICE
Love to the rescue
in Three Words
What would you say if someone asked you to
explain Love to the rescue in just three
words? See what Shriners Hospitals for
Children employees across the network said
about our national awareness campaign in
this unforgettable video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pla
yer_detailpage&v=C0iu7F7aTNA.
You can help drive awareness of Shriners
Hospitals for Children by posting the video on
your personal Facebook page, liking it on
YouTube, sharing via Twitter or adding to
your Pinterest boards to let your friends and
family see the amazing work done by your
philanthropy.
Thank you for participating and sharing Love
to the rescue!
Be Burn Aware: An
Education and
Awareness Campaign
5
One program in this effort is the annual Burn
Awareness campaign, which began more
than 20 years ago.
During the first full week of February, our
public relations efforts emphasize Burn
Awareness Week, the kickoff of a year-long
educational campaign aimed at burn
awareness and prevention, including offering
free educational materials via our website.
The items, including posters, activity books
and fact sheets, are designed to be a
resource for firefighters, teachers, parents
and others concerned with the safety and
well-being of children. Many of the items are
available in both English and Spanish.
promotional items for presentations or
classroom use.
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Ask your mayor and/or state governor
to officially proclaim the week of
February 3-9, 2013, as Burn Awareness
Week in your community or state. A
sample proclamation is provided in the
Temple Resources section on Shriners
Village under Burn Awareness 2013.
The campaign features two child-friendly
characters who showcase and share our
messages. Boots and Brewster – a caped,
cuddly bear and a googly-eyed teapot – are
featured in activity books for children ages 37 and 8-12. The engaging pair lead the
children through the various rooms of a
house, pointing out dangers, and how to
easily correct or avoid them. The coloring
pages, word searches, cartoons, and other
activities are designed to grab the children’s
attention and present the information in a
memorable, age-appropriate manner. The
campaign also includes a poster of safety tips,
as well as materials emphasizing prevention
of scald injuries.
All materials will be available to be viewed
and ordered at www.burnawareness.org.
We depend on fraternity members to help us
in this effort. Here are just a few examples of
ways to spread the word and help prevent
burn injuries. Additional information is
available in the Temple Resources section of
Shriners Village.
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Shriners Hospitals for Children is determined
to decrease the number of preventable
pediatric burn injuries by raising awareness.
Identify opportunities to partner with
local organizations in your area (such as
the fire department, school system,
PTAs, parenting groups, daycare
centers, etc.) that may help promote
burn safety and prevention information
to children, teenagers, parents and/or
caregivers in your area throughout the
year.
Encourage these contacts to visit our
website: www.burnawareness.org,
which contains a variety of safety
information and an online form to
order Burn Awareness materials and
CONTACT US
Shiners International Headquarters
Public Relations Department
2900 Rocky Point Dr.
Tampa, FL 33607
Phone: 813-281-8162
Email: [email protected]