Mirza Shriners elect new potentate

PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The Nobles of the Mystic Shrine better known as Shriners, elected Stan Jahay, as the 100th Potentate to serve Mirza since its beginning in 1909.

Stan and wife Debbie are long time residents of Arcadia, Kan. were they have been very active in the community. Stan joined Mirza in 1995 and has worked hard toward their cause of helping children.

Stan's slogan for 2009 is "Helping Kids Rise & Shine in 2009."

Shriners started in 1872 in New York City with 13 members, and have since spread all over North America with hundreds of thousands of members. In 1922 they built their first Hospital for Crippled Children in Shreveport, La. Today they have 22 hospitals in North America they treat a number of problems from Orthopaedic, Burns, Cleft Palette and Spinal Cord injuries. The Shriners provide these services free to patients from all over North America and even around the world.

It will be the new Potentate's responsibility to organize and over see exciting fundraising events for Mirza's membership and the public. These fundraisers are what keeps Mirza Shrine Center open so they can continue to raise funds to help support the Shriners Hospitals for Children whose budget is now over $1.9 million per day.

To see upcoming events go to www.mirzashriners.com