The Imperial Divan is the international governing body of Shriners International. The governing body works as a corporate Board of Directors and consists of 12 officers, each of whom is elected to the lowest position on the Divan and moves up one position each year, with the exception of the Imperial Treasurer and Imperial Recorder.
The highest leadership position within Shriners International is Imperial Potentate. The Imperial Potentate is both president and chief executive officer of Shriners International, and is elected for a one-year term. He spends his year in office visiting many of the Shriner temples (chapters), attending regional meetings and visiting Shriners Hospitals for Children® locations. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for both Shriners Hospitals for Children and Shriners International.
A similar organizational structure is followed at the local level within each temple around the world.
2024 Divan
Welcome Letter from Kenny Buckner, Potentate
Happy New Year, Nobles and Ladies! We hope this finds you safe and warm, and with all the great promise a new year brings!
Speaking of great promise…Lady Becky and I are trying something new. Since the next 12 months will find us attending more events together, both as a couple and as a Shrine family, we are opting to write this column together! We’ll see how it goes. Our hope is that two minds are better than one!
Our new year started off with the public installation of 2024’s Calam Shrine Divan. The event was (reportedly, as I, Becky was not in attendance) well-attended, with a good number of our family attending. Illustrious Sir Kenny was overwhelmed by the turnout of friends and family. Lady Becky was just overwhelmed. Our thanks go out to everyone who braved the weather, sent messages, and generally took care of us. We love you all! Special thanks go to Chief Rabban Dan Bundy and Lady Stacie for the wonderful gathering at their home on Friday evening. While the past potentates enjoyed their evening with Kenny, the rest of us spent time eating and chatting and getting to know each other a little better. Thank you to all of the Divan members for stepping up. There is no way we could even anticipate a successful year without you. Last, but certainly not least, our thanks to Noble Kevin and Lady Virginia Mize for making the trip from Mississippi (yes, I sang that as I typed it!) to surprise us for IS Kenny’s installation. What a special gift you are to all of us!
We have a few upcoming events on the calendar, starting with the Latah Shrine Club’s annual Crab Feed on Saturday, January 27 at the Latah County Fairgrounds. Tickets for this are limited, so get them while they’re hot! Contact PP Jim Logan for more information.
February 24 will see the Shrine Dart Tournament at Sports Edition in Lewiston. Wear your fez and support this great event. CR Dan Bundy has more details!
April 20 is the date for the Calam Shrine Fun Run. Registration and base camp will be set up at Cruz Meadows in Waha. This was a great event last year, and we are hopeful this year will be every bit as fun and successful! Put it on your calendar!
Wrapping this up for now, we’d like to thank PP Matt Plemmons for inviting IS Kenny to the Board of Directors meeting for Shriners Childrens Spokane. Kenny is looking forward to becoming involved with the Hospital on a larger scale, so thank you, Matt!
As always, please be safe, be kind, and take care of each other!!
IS Kenny and Lady Becky