2008 Officers
Meets 1st Monday after Temple meeting
7:00 PM
Don Pittier Jr - Rajah - (816) 252-8230
Bill Spotts - President - (816) 257-5767
Dave Wyatt - Secretary - (816) 796-9195 / Bus: (816) 331-0566
Scott Towler - Membership Chairman - (816) 224-6146 /
Cell: 806-2279 Email: SanLTowler@hotmail.com
Liaison - Outer Guard
  
In 1949,
the Oriental Band was formed as a unit of Ararat Shrine.
The band was fathered by the Sentinels of Ararat Shrine
which was organized and chartered in 1946.
Oriental
Band of the Ararat Shrine
The following synopsis of the Oriental Band of Ararat Shrine compiled
for the benefit of potential, new, and existing members
of the Band to help them understand the procedures and
protocol of our unit. Some of these points are set by both the
Ararat Shrine by-laws, others by the Oriental Band by-laws
and some by guidelines set by the Band’s Executive Board
over the course of time. If you have any questions regarding the
interpretation of these points please ask the current
Rajah or President who will be able to answer them or
get the correct information for you. Our past Rajahs are another group with
a wealth of knowledge who can answer your questions and
inform you of the proud history of the Oriental Band.
MEETINGS & PRACTICES
·
Business meetings are held
on the first Monday after the Shrine Meeting each month. The Band does not go dark in the summer
months so in the event of no Shrine meeting in the summer
ours is the first Monday after the second Wednesday of
the month. The Business meeting starts at 7:00 PM
with the attire being our business uniform. The meeting is currently held in the music
room on the second floor behind the stage at the Shrine.
·
Practices are held on every
Monday of each month at 6:30 PM till 7:30 PM in the music
room behind the stage at the Shrine.
Attendance at practices is needed to be able to
form a nucleus for our parades, ceremonials and competition.
Dress for practices is casual.
TYPES OF MEMBERS
Active: A member who regularly attends practices,
meetings and functions of the Band who after a period
of time set by the current Rajah is put on the active
roster with the Shrine office. Our current strength is 30 active members.
An active member is entitled to voting privileges
in the Band.
Inactive: A member who attends some of the functions
of the Band or who needs to be away from the Band for
an extended period of time due to family or health issues. A new Noble is in theory an inactive member
until placed on the active roster by the current Rajah.
Life Member: A member of the Band who has served as
President or Rajah of the Band and who has been an active
member of the Band for 10 years.
Honorary Member: A Noble elected by the band by nomination
at a yearly meeting from outside the Unit who has assisted
the Band over the past as a non-member.
Honorary members do not have voting privileges
in the Band.
Uniforms and Equipment
The Business Uniform
consists of a Fez with the Oriental Band lettering on
it, a Red Sport Coat, Black Pants, White Shirt and Black
Tie. The
Purchase of the Business Uniform is the members expense. For information on where to purchase the
red jacket and the lettering on your Fez please see the
Quartermaster, President or Rajah.
The "GOLD CURLY TOED SHOES", a marquee
of the Oriental Band, are purchased by the new member
unless a pair which has been donated back to the band
is available for use. These shoes are usually a current pair
which are comfortable for walking and are taken to a shoe
repair parlor and have the curls added to them.
Prices vary and we constantly look for vendors
who will do this work for us. Once made the member paints them with
gold spray paint.
Please see the Quartermaster for more details on
this.
Parade and Ceremonial uniforms
are provided by the band for new active and potentially
active members along with your designated instrument. The type of uniform is predicated on availability
and will be issued by the Quartermaster or his delegate
from our current inventory.
The added jewelry for pageantry is the members
responsibility and can be found at garage sales over the
summer months. Gaudy
jewelry is appropriate but must be kept in Masonic Tenants.
Makeup is provided by the Band for necessary usage.
The uniforms and equipment provided by the Band
are the Bands property and an equipment sign out form
is required from the Quartermaster for this property. In the event no uniforms are available, the
new member can purchase a pattern and the material for
a Caftan. We have some of the Casbah Darlins’ that
can make it for you if you cannot have it done yourself. The band will reimburse you for the material
up to $30.00 and up to $20.00 to have it made. We will also provide an eagle for your
headgear, the scarf is your desecration as to the fabric
and color.
OFFICERS & THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES
RAJAH: The Rajah is the DIRECTOR of our unit
and is an appointed position made by the Potentate of
Ararat Shrine. This appointment is made in the latter
part of the year by the Chief Rabban, the upcoming Potentate
for the next year.
The Rajah has the final word in the Band’s functions
and relays information from the Potentate to the Unit
regarding parades, ceremonials and special requests of
the Shrine for the Unit.
PRESIDENT: The president is an elected officer of
the Band voted into the position at the November meeting
of each year. His responsibilities include the running
of all business meetings, appointing the committees for
his year in office, ensuring the smooth execution of the
offices of his line officers and planning any activities
for the social benefit of the Band during his year. He acts as the Chief Executive and Financial
Officer for the Band .
VICE-PRESIDENT: The vice president is an elected officer
of the Band voted into the position at the November meeting
each year. His responsibilities include Chairing
the Circus Committee, filling in for the president in
his absence at business meetings and assisting the president
in requested functions predicated by his availability.
TREASURER: The treasurer is an elected officer of
the Band voted into the position at the November meeting
each year. His responsibilities include the maintenance
of the funds of the Band, making timely deposits, paying
the bills as approved by the Band, providing monthly statements
as to the financial status of the Band, maintaining all
receipts is appropriate categories for all expenditures
of the Band and providing the Recorder with an annual
statement on the appropriate form each year as designated
by Ararat Shrine. The treasurer will need a knowledge of
a computer program similar to Quicken or Money. Based on availability a basic computer
will be provided by the Band to the treasurer for the
execution of his duties.
SECRETARY: The Secretary is an elected officer of
the Band voted into the position at the November meeting
each year. His responsibilities include the mailing
of dues notices to all members annually, the maintenance
of the Band’s yearly roster with correct addresses and
phone numbers of all members and the mailing of the same
by April each year, the mailing of monthly calendar of
events of the Band to each active / potentially active
members, the updating and submission of new members information
to the Ararat business office on a timely manner, the
sending of all correspondence to members at the request
of the president or the Rajah and the reading and posting
of all incoming correspondence related to the general
membership at each slated business meeting. The mailings of the secretary are done
from the Ararat business office and the appropriate fees
for such are paid by the treasurer upon receipt of invoices
from the business office on a monthly basis.
All copies of the same are made at the business
office for the mailings.
RECORDING SECRETARY:
The recording secretary is an elected officer of
the Band voted into position at the November meeting.
His duties include the recording of the minutes
of the executive board meetings and the regular slated
business meetings of the Band.
The minutes of the prior month business meeting
are read by the recording secretary at the start of the
current months’ meeting and voted on for approval by the
membership. These
minutes are an integral part of the Bands archives and
must be kept with the yearly records of the Band.
Please be
aware that the above mentioned duties are an overview
of each position and the Rajah or President may ask any
line officer to assist him in the endeavors of the Band
during the year to relieve excess burden on any one officer. |
