Ways to Share Your Shriners Membership Story

Put on your thinking cap (aka fez) and recall when you first considered becoming a Mason or Shriner. Perhaps you spoke to a noble, whether a friend, family member or stranger, who piqued your interest in the fraternity – and that was the beginning of it all. From there, you committed to the Masonic principles and discovered the fun and fellowship of being a Shriner. We want to share that with as many men of good character as possible to keep the organization thriving.

One of the best ways to recruit new members is by sharing your personal membership story with members of the public.

How and why did you first join the Masons? How long did it take you to become a Shriner? How have you spent your time at your chapter? What’s your favorite thing about it?

Each Shriner has a story, and each one is different.

There are various ways of sharing your membership story with the public, but, no matter which you choose (we’ll get to those in a minute), be transparent. Try to be receptive to questions, even if they catch you off guard, and be honest with your answers. Of course, some business should remain Shriners business – that goes without saying. But people appreciate frankness, and being open about your Masonic journey is one of the best ways to help ensure that the fraternity continues to grow for years to come.

Here are four easy ways to share your unique membership story as a Shriner.

Go out and have some fun.

If you’re out on the town in Cincinnati, Ohio, and run into some Ruffians, don’t be afraid – that is, as long as they’re Ruffians with a capital “R.” They’re a group within Syrian Shriners that goes out to have fun, meet new people, spread the fraternity’s message and try to recruit new Masons and Shriners.

Carl Idler is one of the group’s founding members. “There were five nobles that wanted to create a club to meet with non-Shriners to encourage younger men to have the opportunity to ask questions and possibly join,” he recalled about establishing the Ruffians.

With 12 current members, the group goes out once a month to places where they can have fun and chat with other men, such as driving ranges, concerts, entertainment centers (with go-karts, axe-throwing, paintball, etc.) and sports bars. These casual environments are conducive to easy yet fruitful conversations, and the Shriners proactively interact with the public to start such dialogues and share their membership stories.

Through his interactions, Idler has observed that today’s youth don’t know much about Shriners International. “It is important to interact with the public since many of the younger adults do not know much, if anything, about our fraternity or the work that Shriners Children’s does," he said.

But the Ruffians are keen to change that.

Consider holding your meetings in public.

You’ve probably heard of the Hawai`ian word ‘ohana – popularized by Disney’s Lilo & Stitch – that the movie says means “family.” But it’s a concept that goes much deeper than that, said Johnny Ryan, membership chairman of Aloha Temple in Honolulu, Hawai`i. “This cultural practice emphasizes community inclusion, extending beyond immediate family to embrace a wider network of friends, neighbors and loved ones through connection, mutual support and shared responsibility,” he said.

In keeping with that sentiment, the chapter holds its stated meetings in public places for recruitment and visibility. This was especially meaningful after the devastating fires on Maui, where the temple’s Order of the Inebriati epicurean social club is based. “It provided the Inebriati Unit with a direct and meaningful way to support the Maui community during a significant crisis,” said Ryan, who is also president of the Maui Shrine Club. “This action directly aligned with our Shrine philanthropic principles and our dedication to fellowship and service. …  It also served as a subtle way to raise awareness about the values of Shriners International within the wider community.”

If you’re considering adopting this practice at your chapter, Ryan cautions that it may not work for everyone, citing logistical challenges or a potential to clash with established temple traditions. Ultimately, each chapter should carefully assess itself to see if such a format would align with its goals and values, benefiting the community and Shriners International as a whole.

Wear your garb with pride. 

When Edward Usita of Khedive Shriners in Chesapeake, Virginia, hops on his scooter as a member of the Khedive Scooter Patrol, he’s wearing a red shirt and khaki pants to match the rest of his crew. But the proverbial cherry on top of his garb? Usita never forgets to don his fez.

As Shriners know, a fez is more than just a hat echoing the fraternity’s early Arabic aesthetic. The headpiece is a symbol of fellowship, philanthropy – and a whole lot of fun. “It makes me proud to wear it. I feel very proud to be known as part of Shriners International,” he said. “It is very important to wear our fez during any Scooter Patrol events or any other public events to show that we are members.”

He noted that, when interacting with the community during public events, the fez is a great conversation starter, and complete strangers will often walk up to him with questions. This is the perfect segue to tell one’s membership story and share experiences being in the fraternity.

Even if you wind up talking to a woman or a child – who can’t become members – spreading awareness about Shriners International can have a trickle-down effect that leads to more interest in membership. For example, that woman could go home and tell her adult son about the organization, or a child might tell his dad about the nice man in the red hat and it inspires the adult to learn more.

Do a walk-and-talk video. 

You’ve probably seen a walk-and-talk video on social media by now. The viral format features two or more people walking somewhere while having a chat, just like people do in real life. This trend is popular for a reason. It’s like an intimate conversation that countless people can join in on anytime, anywhere across the world.

In this case, you and another Shriner or you and a non-Shriner can make a walk-and-talk video simply using your smartphone. Have a third person walk in front of you to record or use a selfie stick or other kind of grip to film the two of you with the forward-facing camera.

It doesn’t have to be fancy. In fact, the best viral videos are more real and less polished. Authenticity is key. Shoot a short video in which a Shriner tells his membership story and essentially shares what it’s like becoming and being a noble. This type of education about the fraternity and insight into how it works may encourage people to become members.

A few quick pointers:

• A vertical format is best for sharing on social media.
• Make sure the video is well lit.
• Shoot it in a quiet place, such as your neighborhood or a local park.
• Try to keep it under five minutes.

Start by briefly introducing yourselves, and one person can act as the interviewer, asking the Shriner questions you decided on beforehand that reflect your membership story. When making the list of questions, ask yourself: What did you want to know when you first heard about the Shriners? What did you wonder about when you started your Masonic journey? What aspects of being a member should the public know?

Whatever points you bring up, try to be open and honest, like you’re talking to a good friend. Because, once you share it on social media (through your chapter’s channels), the person watching it might just become a good friend – or, better yet, a brother.