Shriners International - Kena Shriners
"Helping Kids Defy the Odds"
In the Oasis of Fairfax, Desert of Virginia

Why Join the Kena Shrine

Visit BeAShrinerNow.com an excellent website created by Shriners International about being a Shriner with several videos and other very useful information.

Here are 17 excellent reasons to join the Shrine that you should share with your Non-Shriner Mason friends:

1. Friendship and Fellowship:  In an increasingly complex world, the Shrine provides two of man’s most basic needs:  friendship and fellowship.  These two prime reasons contributed to the birth of the Shrine in 1872.

2. Children’s Hospital Medical Services:  The Shrine is recognized as “The World’s Greatest Philanthropy” because of the great service provided in our Children’s Hospitals.  We are proud that over 98% of all contributions to our hospitals are used for this charitable function.  Furthermore, there is no charge for these hospital services.  This is the best reason for becoming a Shriner.  Further, it is tremendously rewarding to know that you contribute to this great cause.
3. Personal Growth and Development:  Membership in the Shrine adds to member’s growth in human relations.

4. Leadership Development:  Serving in leadership roles in Shrine units, clubs or other organizations helps develop the ability to motivate and influence others. 

5. Citizenship in the Community:  Membership in a Shrine organization makes us a better citizen in our community.  The average Shrine Center consists of the most active citizens of any community.

6. Continuing Education:  The various Shrine units provide programs designed to keep members informed about our community, nation and world.

7. Fun:  The Shrine is a lot of fun.  The meetings are fun.  The club and unit projects are fun.  Social activities are fun.  Transporting patients to a Shriner’s Hospital is fun and rewarding.

8. Public Speaking Skills:  Many individuals who join the Shrine develop confidence and skill in public speaking. 

9. Citizenship:  Every Shriner wears a pin that says “Shriner.”  A Shriner is welcomed and encouraged to attend any of the 191 Shrine Centers and their 3,500 units and clubs throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Panama.  There are few major cities in North America that do not have a Shrine Center or Shrine Club.

10. Assistance when Traveling:  Because there are Shrine Centers and Shrine Clubs almost everywhere, many Shriners who have needed a doctor, lawyer, hotel, dentist or medical advice while traveling have resolved their need quickly through a local Shrine Center.

11. Entertainment:  Every Shrine Center has dances, parties, meetings and other activities that provide meaningful diversions to daily life.  The Shrine also has regional conferences and national conventions which provide fun at parades as well as Shrine information and education.

12. Development of Social Skills:  The Shrine is for people who like people and want to make new friends.

13. Family Programs:  Most Shrine activities include the wives of Shriners.  Many activities, such as summer picnics, Easter egg hunts, puppet shows and Christmas parties, are targeted towards members’ children, grandchildren and friends.

14. Practice of Moral and Ethical Standards:  Shriners practice the moral and ethical standards that they learned in Masonry.

15. Cultural Awareness:  Around the world, practically every religion, country, culture, race, creed, political persuasion, language, color and ethnic identity is found in a Shrine.  It is a cross section of the world’s most prominent citizens from every background.  Shriners become aware of other cultures and learn to love and work with people everywhere.  They become better citizens of their community and their country in the process.

16. Prestige:  Shriners are prominent people.  They are leaders of business, the professions, art, government, sports, military, religion, and other disciplines.  The Shrine is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious fraternities. 

17. Nice People:  Shriners, above all, are nice people:  the nicest people on earth.  They are also important people who adhere to the policy “that while it is nice to be important, it is more important to be nice.”

Please share these reasons with potential new Shriners and “ASK” them to join. 

Bennie Bough, Membership Chairman Membership@Kena.org 703-690-9701

Membership Requirements

If you hold the Master Mason degree in Freemasonry, you qualify and are invited to join the Kena Shrine.  A man receives the three degrees known as the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason Degrees in the Masonic Lodge, often known as the Symbolic Lodge, Blue Lodge or Craft Lodge. In Freemasonry, there is no higher degree than that of Master Mason (the Third Degree). In Virginia, Masonry does not solicit members. In this area, no one is asked to join, and a man must seek admission of his own free will — he must ask. In some areas, Masons are permitted to solicit new members. In all cases, a man interested in becoming a Mason, if he has not been asked, or for men who would like to receive additional instruction and explanation regarding the allegory and symbolism learned in the Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite or the York Rite bodies elaborate on the basic tenets of Freemasonry, should consult a friend whom he believes to be a Freemason to secure his good counsel and recommendation concerning this important undertaking.

The Shrine of North America is a fraternity that grew out of Freemasonry over a century ago. Because of this, the Shrine is dedicated to Masonic principles. The Shrine Fraternity provides Masonic brothers a means to widen the fellowship first enjoyed in the Blue Lodge. It also offers men, their wives and their families an opportunity to meet new friends who have similar interests, tastes and feelings.
A Master Mason does not have to be a member of the Scottish Rite or the York Rite to become a Shriner.

The Kena Shriners Invite You to Join

 Shriners International offers membership video's. We hope that after you experience this multimedia presentation, you will consider joining our fraternity of fun, fellowship and philanthropy.

How to Apply

If you are a Master Mason of a Lodge recognized and in amity with the Conference of Grand Masters of North America, you can petition to become a Noble of the Mystic Shrine.

You can download and print the petition for initiation and membership Kena_Petition.pdf 94kb

Contact Kena Recorders Office, 703-573-4202 Recorder@Kena.org For the current initiation fee.

 For this fee the new member gets...

1.  Walks the “hot sands” during the Ceremonial;
2. His lady attends the Ladies Luncheon on the Ceremonial Day;
3. Both he and his Lady attend the Dinner Dance that evening honoring the new Nobles and Ladies; and
4. Both he and his Lady can go on the bus trip to the Philadelphia Hospital in the fall.