« On Brokeback Mountain | Main | On Fanning Flames »
February 13, 2006
On Something Good
Every once in a while something comes along that makes you think to yourself "this is something good, I need to be a part of it."
Such an occurance happened to me last week. As a part of the local Masonic Lodge I am also a Shriner. The two fraternities exist together as the Shriners are the philanthropic branch of Freemasonry. It also happens to a lot of fun. Shriners exist to fund and support the Shrine Hospital in Sacramento and elsewhere. At this hospital children with orthopedic injuries, spinal injuries, and burns can go to get care from the best doctors anywhere, at absolutely no cost to them or their families. If necessary Shriners will fund the care, transportation, rehab, and provide a place for a parent to stay so that the family can stay togeher during hospialization. Free. Always free.
Anyways, I was approached by Brad Azevedo last Tuesday about putting on a Shriners screening clinic. In this children from the area can come to meet a Shrine doctor so that it can be determined if the Shriners can help the child. I've never put on a screening clinic or ever even seen one, despite the fact that I was a patient at Shriners about 10 years ago (I couldn't wait for a clinic, I was admitted directly). I balked at first, thinking about how little free time I have already but soon agreed to help plan the event, knowing that this would be something ultimately good...and knowing the Shriners, very very fun.
So, the moral of this story is this: If you know a child, or know someone who knows a child, that you think MIGHT be able to be helped by Shriner's Hospital, send them to the Masonic Lodge on East avenue just East of the Railroad tracks on the 8th of April in the morning. More details will follow, or contact me, or contact the lodge (I'm at jordanfrazer@sbcglobal.net). The atmosphere will be unlike any medical clinic you've ever known. Shriners like having fun, and so there will be clowns, go-carts, possibly clowns, games, all sorts of fun things for kids. It will be a great time for a great event.
Posted by at February 13, 2006 10:31 AM