WESTERN SHRINE ASSOCIATION 2016 Las Vegas, Nevada May 4th through 7 th, 2016 Headquarters Hotel The Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino REGISTRATION PACKET March 4, 2016 1
Nobles, Ladies, Friends, & Guests, Western Shriners Present a Fantastic WESTERN SHRINE ASSOCIATION EXPERIENCE Wednesday, May 4 th through Saturday, May 7 th, 2016 The Western Shrine Association Officers would like to welcome you to WSA 2016 at our Headquarters Hotel, The Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino! The 2016 Team has been working very diligently over the last year to make WSA an event like no other. We still have room to grow and we are certain the officers in the coming years will continue to improve upon this platform and grow this event even larger into the future. Remember Nobles, this is YOUR Association and it s only as good as WE make it. We are striving to continue to grow this Association and its Ceremonies. Together we can make this happen. Please do not hesitate to call or email us with any questions, we want to make sure you have the correct information and you enjoy your time in Las Vegas. We have shortened the schedule and packed quite a bit in to it, so that everyone gets the opportunity to participate. Please come and enjoy the Hospitality of the Western Shrine Association and your fellow Nobles. We wish you all safe travels and we will see you in Las Vegas!! Ill. Sir Jim Stahl and Ill Sir Ron Obernolte WSA Co Presidents 2
GENERAL INFORMATION REGISTRATION HOURS Wednesday May 4 th 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM Thursday May 5 th 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Friday May 6 th 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM Saturday May 7 th 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM $99.00 WSA Registration: The registration fees are used by the Western Shrine Association (WSA) to fund the general convention costs and to help off set actual costs of various activities. The registration fee covers the Noble and his Lady (or significant other) for the convention. All WSA scheduled events require a WSA registration badge to participate. The WSA badge is marked for the events that you paid for during registration and the badge is your access credential to those WSA events. $199.00 Candidate Registration: We understand Candidates for the WSA Ceremonial typically have a lot of expenses. The WSA member Shrine organizations recognize the situation and have set the Registration fee to cover the WSA Convention and Ceremonial fees, plus the President s Dinner on Saturday evening for WSA candidates and their Ladies or significant others. WSA registered participants receive: Access to WSA activities designed to show Shriners young and old what being a Shriner is all about. They call the Shrine the playground of Masonry, think of WSA convention as your personal Big Playground in Las Vegas. If you don t have fun, it is your own fault. Areas are set aside for WSA participants to use for their relaxation and a place to make new and renew friendships with Shriners and their ladies from across WSA. More detail will be provided to you at WSA registration. Access to a 900 SF suite on the upper floor of the hotel. This suite will be the WSA Hospitality Room. Registered WSA attendees have access to free beverages and snacks during the convention. This is just another place to relax and make new and renew friendships. The hours are listed in the schedule of events. Once again, if you don t visit you will be missing a fun place to mix with fellow Shriners and their ladies. For those registered at the hotel and registered for WSA, there are reduced fees throughout The Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, to include special discounts to On property Shows and other featured activities. Check your hotel registration packet for details. Other Activities and tours, we suggest you coordinate through the Concierge Desk of the hotel. The Las Vegas monorail has a station just outside the hotel and it provides very reasonable transportation to the Las Vegas Strip. Business Meeting. All Temples in good standing with WSA are automatically a member, this includes all the Nobility of that temple (there are no dues cards for this). The voting reps of WSA are: Current Potentate, Chief Rabban, Assistant Rabban, High Priest & Prophet, Oriental Guide, Recorder, Treasurer, the Immediate (Junior) Past Potentate of your Temple, WSA Officers, and any Past WSA Presidents. All Nobles are welcome to attend the business meeting to understand what is going on with WSA and interface and learn from the Imperial Presentations that have an impact on our fraternity. 3
For the WSA Ceremonial, candidates will need to register, but since the Ceremonial is an activity open to the public, other Nobles may attend without registering, as long as they will not be participating in any activity. Final Thoughts: WSA has considerable costs associated with putting on the annual WSA convention. Through your registered participation, you help WSA cover the costs for services that are necessary to provide an organized and rewarding experience. In addition, WSA requested from the hotel access to meeting rooms for Registration, Ceremonial, WSA business meeting, Unit Competition, a large hall for our Vendor Boutique, and areas for bands and other groups to perform on the property. In exchange, WSA has guaranteed a number of hotel room nights. Your registration to stay in the hotel helps control the actual costs of the WSA convention. HOTEL RESERVATIONS Hotel reservations are to be made by Middle of April, 15, 2016, directly to WESTGATE HOTEL AND RESORT HOTEL https://resweb.passkey.com/go/swsa6 3000 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV 89109 Resort phone: 702 732 5111 Go to the website https://resweb.passkey.com/go/swsa6 to make your reservations, Room rates are $84 a night plus tax and resort fees. If you have issues, please contact the Registration Chairman, Leo Balthazor (602 740 5635) or email him at admin@westernshrine.org Transportation from airport is via Taxi for a fee. There is no hotel shuttle. We hope this map, will help those of you who are driving to the WSA convention. 4
WESTERN SHRINE ASSOCIATION 2016 Tentative SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (Mail in Registration form is on the last page, page 8) to register online go to: WWW.WesternShrine.org/Registration Wednesday May 4, 2016 Noon 6:00 PM Registration (including golf tournament) 4:00 PM 8:00 PM Hospitality Suite Thursday May 5, 2016 6:30 AM Noon Golf Tournament with luncheon 10:00 AM 6:00 PM Registration 11:30 AM 1:30 PM Q Luncheon 11:30 AM 12:30 PM WASOB Meeting 5:00 PM 8:00 PM Meet & Greet Pool Party Dinner, No Host Bar 12:00 PM 4:30 PM Hospitality Suite (closes for Meet and Greet Party) 8:00 PM 12:00 AM Hospitality Suite (re opens after Meet and Greet Party) Friday May 6, 2016 7:00 AM 8:30 AM Western Shrine Association Legion of Honor Meeting (Continental Breakfast available) 8:00 AM 10:00 AM Registration 9:00 AM 12:00 PM WSA Business Meeting Shrine casual Legion of Honor Colors, Inspection and Installation will start Business Meeting 11:00 AM 1:00 PM Ladies Lunch (Dale Obernolte) Hawaiian Theme 12:00 PM 1:00 PM Lunch 1:00 PM 4:00 PM Imperial Presentations (candidates, membership, etc) 6:00 PM 8:00 PM Counterparts Dinner 12:00 PM 12:00 AM Hospitality Suite Saturday May 7, 2016 8:00 AM 10:00 AM Registration 9:00 AM 12:00 PM Ceremonial 12:00 PM 3:30 PM Competitions (clowns, bands) 12:00 PM 4:00 PM Ladies Shopping Trip 5:30 PM 6:30 PM Social for President s Dinner Hawaiian Theme/No Tux 6:30 PM 9:00 PM President s Dinner (Honoring Mother s Day) Accompanied Shriner s Lady is Complimentary Rolex Opportunity Drawing (must be present to win) (TBD) 12:00 PM 5:00 PM Hospitality Suite (closes for the President s Dinner) 9:00 PM 12:00 AM Hospitality Suite (opens after the President s Dinner) Sunday May 8, 2016 Have a safe travel home! 5
INFORMATION ON THE MAJOR ACTIVITIES GOLF OUTING Thursday May 5th 6:45 AM 12:00 PM Las Vegas National Golf Club Las Vegas National Golf Club, located less than 10 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, is a classic and traditional style 18 hole championship golf course that provides golfers of all skill levels with a unique challenge and a fun, enjoyable experience. The par 71 course features thousands of trees, well positioned sand bunkers and a few water hazards that protect lush fairways and manicured greens. "The National", designed in 1961 by architect Bert Stamps, has a rich history to say the least. The course hosted a number of LPGA & PGA events including the Tournament of Champions, Sahara Invitational and the Las Vegas Invitational. MEET AND GREET POOLSIDE DINNER PARTY Thursday May 5th 5:00 PM 8:00 PM Join us poolside for a WELCOME TO WSA party. Meet and greet old friends. This is a great way to start off the convention. This has proven to be one of the favorite activities of WSA. You don t want to miss this one. WSA BUSINESS MEETING Friday May 6th 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Business meeting agenda will be provided upon arrival. Lunch will be provided for all Nobles attending the meeting. Business will include LOH Installation, WSA Officer Election and Installation, WSA Business, Candidate Announcements, Membership, Imperial Officer Presentations, and Imperial Potentate Presentation. LADIES LUNCHEON Friday May 6th 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM In addition to a great buffet lunch, there will be a program provided and Imperial First Lady Lisa Gantt will talk on Membership, Hospital News and her Special Project. COUNTERPARTS DINNER Friday May 6th 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM This event is a real fun tradition within WSA. It is a time for members of the current Divans and Appointed Divan that includes leaders such as Membership, etc. and Past Potentates to mingle and enjoy a great time. This is an active event to reminisce, share ideas and make plans to strengthen the Shrine organization. 6
CEREMONIAL DEGREE Saturday, May7 th 9:00 AM Noon 1 st Section El Bekal proudly presents their Ritual Teams. This Shrine Ceremony is for the entire family. Ladies, children, friends, and Shriners are welcome to attend. This is a great way to share in the ritual and presentation that show what we are all about. Come and experience the beautiful Shrine Ritual and impressive Arch Degree Teams. OUTLET MALL SHOPPING TRIP Saturday, May7 th Noon to 4:00 PM Taxi fares to the Outlet Mall start at $15.00 and can go as high as $31.00 one way, depending on traffic. Our price for this is only $10.00 and provides a round trip by bus. As if the Las Vegas casinos don t have enough ways to part you from your money, the Outlet Malls provide more ways for you to leave your money. Spend the afternoon on a fun bus ride and shop to your heart s content. UNIT COMPETITIONS Saturday, May7 th 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM Shriners love to show off their talents playing in a band, riding a motorcycle, or figuring out a drill or performance to entertain others. There will be competition between Bands of all varieties, Oriental Bands, Go Karts and Motorcycles, and Keystone Cops groups. The leader of the unit/club needs to pay the registration fee via the WSA Registration form. The rules for the competitions are available online at www.westernshine.org CLOWN COMPETITION Saturday, May7 th 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM If you or your family enjoys Clowns, this may be an experience for you. The free Clown competition brings the Clowns from across WSA sharing their great skills in makeup and the various types of Clowning. Clowns will be competing in four categories: Make up; Paradability; Skits 1 man, 2 man, and Unit; Balloons, single and multiple. The registration forms for participants are available online at www.westernshine.org PRESIDENT S BANQUET (Honoring Mother s Day) Saturday May 7th No host Cocktail party at 5:00 Dinner at 6:00 Finish off your 2016 WSA Experience by attending the President s Banquet. The theme for the evening is Hawaiian. Join us for an evening culminating activities, awards, and entertainment. and Candidate Fezzing. Dress for the evening is business casual, no shorts or jeans please. After 3 days of fun and camaraderie it will be time to say good bye until next year. Members of your registration team will be at the door to assist as needed. 7
2016 WSA Registration form NAME LADY ADDRESS CITY/STATE/ZIP PHONE ( ) CELL ( ) EMAIL SHRINE TEMPLE TITLE Activity # of Per Tickets Ticket Registration fee (Nobles only) - No fee for Ladies $99.00 Registration fee (WSA Ceremonial Candidates only) (includes Registration and Ceremonial fees, plus President s Dinner with your accompanying Lady) $199.00 ( ) Filet and Shrimp ( ) Chicken and Shrimp Total Golf per person -Enter Team s Name or None - Thurs. HERE: $89.00 Golf Club Rental - Thurs. specify with circles: Right, Left, Men s, Lady s, Senior $30.00 Q Luncheon - Thurs. $48.00 Meet and Greet Pool Party Dinner (No-host bar) - Thurs. $30.00 Legion of Honor Meeting (Continental Breakfast) - Friday $22.50 Ladies Luncheon (Hawaiian Theme) (Buffet) - Friday $25.00 WSA Business Session Working Lunch - Friday $1.00 Counterparts Dinner (Buffet) - Use Title Field Above - Friday Divan, Appointed Divan (line or key position), P.P. $35.00 Ladies Shopping Trip - Sat. $5.00 Clown Competition (Per Participant) - Sat. $30.00 Band Competition (Per Team) All Categories - Sat. $30.00 Oriental Band Competition (Per Team) - Sat. $30.00 President s Banquet (Noble with accompanying Lady) - Sat. ( ) Filet and Shrimp ( ) Chicken and Shrimp $50.00 President s Banquet (Unaccompanied Noble or Lady) - Sat. ( ) Filet and Shrimp ( ) Chicken and Shrimp $50.00 Total Enclosed Revised 3/2/2016 Mail in Forms and Checks so they arrive by April 15 th to: Ill. Sir Leo Balthazor P. P. El Zaribah Shrine 552 N. 40 th Street Phoenix, AZ 85008 8