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I've created a public Facebook page titled 'Shrine Temple Bands'. I'm interested in hearing how others are coping with declining membership.

Schlepporello wrote:.... Of course, I'm not a Shriner either.

Therein lies the problem, Schlepp. The Shrine leadership is steeped in allowing only members to associate within their groups. We go through cycles of allowing non-members to play with the band. Maybe the next Potentate to take charge will pitch them out.

They would probably love to have you join the group but they cannot simply ask you to become a Shriner. You have to first approach the Masonic order, petition them and go through the rituals there in order to qualify yourself to petition the Shriners.

You will never officially be asked to become a Mason.

We go through cycles of leadership who alternate between understanding community presence, and insularity. For example, among other concerts during the year, we traditionally play a concert at 10:00 before the annual Memorial Day observance at the regional national cemetery at 11:00, a most public event. So some years, when, when we are able to invite the regional community bands to join us, over time our membership goes up as bandsmen inquire as to what we are about. When we go through a phase of insularity, the band suffers as members die, become frustrated with leadership, or other reasons.

In one particularly phase of open leadership a few years ago, we actually got the annual unit membership growth award.

iiipopes wrote:We go through cycles of leadership who alternate between understanding community presence, and insularity. For example, among other concerts during the year, we traditionally play a concert at 10:00 before the annual Memorial Day observance at the regional national cemetery at 11:00, a most public event. So some years, when, when we are able to invite the regional community bands to join us, over time our membership goes up as bandsmen inquire as to what we are about. When we go through a phase of insularity, the band suffers as members die, become frustrated with leadership, or other reasons.

In one particularly phase of open leadership a few years ago, we actually got the annual unit membership growth award.

Please join the 'Shrine Temple Bands' Facebook page. We haven't quite convinced our leadership of the value of having non-Shriners in our group.

Dan Schultz wrote:Please join the 'Shrine Temple Bands' Facebook page. We haven't quite convinced our leadership of the value of having non-Shriners in our group.

Of course, this is only for certain defined public observance concerts, which beyond Memorial Day and perhaps one of the "Honor Flights" that fly veterans to see the memorials in Washington, DC, are very few in number during the year.

An example the other way: for the northside city Independence Day parade, we will have our flatbed with our unit on it performing. That one, and others like it, are members only.

So like everything else, there is a balance between public service and unit performance events.

Hi Dan,
Thought you might like this photo of a steamer trunk (!!!) that holds a Martin sousa, one of a pair that Harv Hartman had. The trunk is enormous and very heavy. The sousa it contained was from 1924. I can find no reference to the Trenton Crescent Shrine today.
http://s270.photobucket.com/user/jonavi ... y.png.html" target="_blank" target="_blank

Paul Scott wrote:.... I can find no reference to the Trenton Crescent Shrine today....

The Crescent Shrine is still in Trenton, NJ but there is no mention of the band on their website.

The Shriners bands are vanishing all over. The Hadi Band here in Evansville used to boast sixty members and today is lucky to garner ten at a rehearsal.

The Rajah Shrine Band in Reading pa is still going pretty strong, although not near what they were in their heyday. I know a few friends who recently joined through the quick path to Shrine membership which i know is not universally popular, but is a viable way to get members through the Masonic order in a day or two.

The Rajah Shrine Band in Reading pa is still going pretty strong, although not near what they were in their heyday. I know a few friends who recently joined through the quick path to Shrine membership which i know is not universally popular, but is a viable way to get members through the Masonic order in a day or two.

ken k wrote:The Rajah Shrine Band in Reading pa is still going pretty strong, although not near what they were in their heyday. I know a few friends who recently joined through the quick path to Shrine membership which i know is not universally popular, but is a viable way to get members through the Masonic order in a day or two.

Yes... Hadi Temple also offers 'one day classes'. We also play at our twice-annual ceremonials and have the opportunity to address new members about joining The Band. The biggest problem I see is that we simply aren't very attractive now that we are down to only about twelve member Shriners. Since ceremonials are 'official functions'... non-Shriners aren't allowed to participate.

I've added your comment to our Facebook page at 'Shrine Temple Bands'. Please join us to see how others are dealing with the problem of vanishing members.