… To engender greater fellowship among the several M.S.A. Shrine Centers and their members; and to secure

greater recognition of the institution of the Shrine throughout the territory of this association .

The Imperial Shrine of North America recognizes 20 regional Shrine Associations. These Associations allow individual

Shrine Centers to join together for fun, fellowship and camaraderie. It also allows Shriners an opportunity to share ideas

on how to improve Shrinedom in their areas. At Association conventions Shrine Units compete against one another for

who are the best Chanters, Bands, Clowns, Motorized Units, Pipes & Drums, Foot Patrols, Horse Units, etc.

Osman Shrine Center received dispensation on June 20, 1885 and our charter on June 14, 1886, making us the

22nd Shrine Center. It has Shrine Clubs in the Alexandria, St. Cloud, Rochester, Austin, Albert Lea, Mankato,

Winona. and St. Paul areas of Minnesota.

 Today the Midwest Shrine Association has 12 Shrine Centers with members from the States of Iowa, Minnesota,

Wisconsin and North and South Dakota plus Centers in the Canadian Provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

These Centers have a combined membership of about 20,000 Shriners.

The Midwest Shrine Association holds an annual business meeting in early February. Those attending are normally

the Shrine Officers along with committee heads that have an interest in topics to be covered at the session. Average

attendance is about 250 Shriners.

The summer session is normally held in mid to late August, on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The sessions usually

includes two major Shriner parades and time for Shrine Unit competition. All MSA Shriners and their families are invited

to attend. In recent years attendance has averaged 2000 to 2500, of which two-thirds are Shriners and the balance

Shriner Ladies and family members. A different Center hosts these meetings each year.

2009 will be the first time Osman will host the Midwest Shrine Association in Rochester, Minnesota.