Units and Clubs |
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Mizpah Shrine has a long tradition of strong clubs and units. These units and clubs are and have been the backbone of the Shrine. The clubs and units are listed in three categories: Mizpah Shrine Units, County Clubs and Units, and Service Units. Below is a page link to each of the clubs and units with a contact person and information about the club or unit. If you wish to reach one of these units or clubs, contact the office and explain your needs and we will either give you a number or contact the unit/club and have them return your call.
The information concerning these clubs and units is under construction. Mizpah Band The band has been performing for many years. It is one of the oldest units within the Shrine Center. The band performs during the parades and hosts concerts throughout the year. If you would like to contact them for a performance, call the Shrine Center and ask them to leave a message for Earl Zimmerman, the director. Mizpah Chanters James Markiton The Chanters are one of the most visible groups within the Shrine. This choral group puts on over 30 performances each year. They love to get out and perform. If you would like them for a performance, contact the Shrine Center and ask them to leave a message for the director, Jim Markiton. Mizpah Class Directors Don Williams The Class Directors are the group responsible for the new candidates as they join the Shrine. They help organize the members and prepare them for the Shrine Ceremonial. This group also has a presence in our summer parades as they are the Steel Drum Band. Mizpah Directors' Staff Jan VanZant The Directors' Staff is the unit responsible for the ceremonial degree. They handle the stage, lighting, sound, and all of the other aspects of the ceremonial. They are an integral part of the degree work that the Shrine puts on for the candidates. The Directors Staff also has a presence in the parades as they are the gentlemen with the dressed up golf carts. Mizpah Clowns The clowns need little explanation as to their function. This group keeps busy throughout the year performing for many groups and organizations. Their biggest joy comes from entertaining the children during the circus. You will see them all over the Coliseum entertaining young and old alike. They do enjoy putting on the grease paint and doing their thing. Mizpah Foot Patrol The Foot Patrol is one of the oldest units at Mizpah Shrine. They have been performing their award winning marching routines for many years. They have competed in the GLSA Foot Patrol contests and have brought home their fare share of trophies. Mizpah Horse Patrol The Horse Patrol is one of the finest Shrine horse patrols in all of America. This unit has captured numerous GLSA titles and has performed in the Rose Bowl, and numerous other national parades. They have also been the sponsoring group for the Mizpah Shrine Horse Show. They perform a drill routine for competition and also put on a beautiful flag routine. When you see the palominos coming in the parades, you are watching one of Shrinedom's best. Adams County/Calliopers J. Michael McConaha Adams County is the home of the Calliope. The Calliope makes several Shrine and local parades throughout the year. Blackford County/Express Isaac Dollar/Stephen A. Kellogg The Blackford County Shrine Club helps provide transportation to and from the Shriners' Hospitals. They share one of the Mizpah Shrine vans with Mizmur (Grant County) Shrine Club. Many of the members of the club are also part of the Blackford Express. The Express ride Honda Mopeds in the Shrine and local parades. Eel River Shrine Club Kent Harting Eel River Shrine Club is based in the North Manchester area. This group makes a substantial donation every year to help the Shrine and the Hospitals. Elkhart Shrine Club Ora Mato The Elkhart Shrine Club is one of the most active clubs within Mizpah. They host several social and fundraising activities throughout the year. They also have a Motor Bike Unit that parades in the Elkhart area. One of their bigger fund raisers is the annual Turkey Shoot. It is held in the late fall over two weekends. Hapzim Shrine Club Hapzim Shrine Club is based in Huntington County. The members of this club are very active within Mizpah and the many units and clubs at the Shrine Center. Many of them are a part of the Racing Shriners. The Racing Shriners have Indy car style go carts that are a crowd favorite wherever they go. Jay County Shrine Club Robert Freemyer/William L. Boughman Jay County Shrine Club is one of the oldest county Shrine Clubs in Mizpah. They are also home to the Wayfarers. The Wayfarers participate in local and Shrine parades. Kosciusko Shrine Club/Mini Bike Patrol Dr. Richard Carman/Roger Laird The Kosciusko Club is the largest of the county clubs. They help park cars at the county fair, host an annual golf outing, and bring almost 1500 children to the Mizpah Circus each year. This club also helps host an annual Christmas Party for underprivileged children. Lagrange Shrine Club Gordon Frost The Lagrange club covers one of the northern territories of Mizpah. They keep busy with trips to and from the hospitals. One of our six Mizpah vans is housed within their boundaries and it makes several trips each month. They host an annual golf outing. They work very closely with the Amish population that has a large presence within the area. Mizmur Shrine Club/Scooter Patrol The Mizmur Club includes those Nobles in and around Grant County. The club shares a van with Blackford and helps make trips to the hospitals with the children. They also help transport children from Wabash County. The club sponsors the Scooter Patrol. The Scooter Patrol ride Rupp mini bikes in local and Shrine parades. They have been riding for over 40 years as a unit. Noble County Shrine Club Roger Allen The noble County Club houses one of the Six vans and help transport many children to and from the hospitals. They are also in a highly populous Amish area and work closely with them. They have been fortunate enough to raise funds for a new van with the help of the Amish through a pizza drive. Pokagon Shrine Club The Pokagon club is based in Angola and includes all of Steuben County. This active club hosts a golf outing each year, along with an annual picnic and other activities. They are one of the larger groups bringing children to the Shrine Circus. The club is proud of the Pokagon Princess and have been active in getting the Princess into the Shrine and other local parades. This club is also the home club of many Past Potentates. Randolph County Shrine Club John H. Edwards The Randolph Club helps bring some children to the circus. They make the longest trip each year as they bring the children to the show. Wabash County Shrine Club Robert E. Gillespie The Wabash County Shrine Club is the main force behind the GLSA Salmon Derby. Many of the active members of the Shiners hail from Wabash County. This club has been one of the strongest county clubs throughout the years and still maintains that standing. Whitley County/Giant Fez The Whitley County Club is one of the most active groups within Mizpah. They have a traveling elephant ear trailer that makes the rounds at many of the local fairs in the summer. They are also sponsors of the Giant Fez. This group participates in all of the local parades and the Shrine parades. Mizpah Antique
Car Larry J. Lehman The Antique Cars have been a staple of Shrine and local parades for years. If you have a classic that is over 20 years old and want to join them they will be happy to include you in the group. This unit hosts an annual car show in the early fall each year with lots of prizes. Mizpah Antique Power
Unit James F. Wall The Antique Power Unit is one of our newest and most active units. You can't miss them in the parades as they drive down the street on their antique tractors. The club also includes members interested in old engines, particularly the hit and miss engines. This unit hits many local parades as well as the Shrine parades. They host an annual Antique Power Show in Columbia City each year in June. During the show they have a tractor drive, an auction, and an antique tractor pull. Mizpah
Bagpipers Owen
Stiles The bagpipers are another of Mizpah's active units. They are called upon throughout the year to perform at all types of events. They also march in local and Shrine parades. Feel free to contact the Shrine if you would like to have them perform at your event. Flying Shriners Dale R. Dolby The Flying Shriners have been an active part of Mizpah for several years. They were the original hosts of the Annual Fly-In Breakfast. This has since become a Mizpah function. If you are a pilot or have an interest in flight, they will be glad to include you in their membership. Hillbilly Clan #95 Jorell T. Tucker The Johnny Appleseed Hillbilly clan is one of the newest units in Mizpah. Affiliated with the national Hillbillies, this unit is dedicated to having fun and making funds for the hospitals. They have a national convention every year in different parts of the country. This unit hosts an annual Chili Supper at the Horse Grounds in Columbia City every year. They also have available the Poor George Calendars. Hospital Unit James Kyler The Hospital Unit is the group most responsible for transporting children to and from the hospital. Most of the van drivers are a part of this unit. Their focus is the transportation of the children. Photographic Unit Bobby R.Wade The photographic unit is responsible for keeping a pictorial history of the Shrine and its activities throughout the year. Iron
Camels Greg Colelli The Iron Camels is a proud group of motorcycle riders. This relatively new unit has competed at the Great Lakes Shrine Association Motor Corp competition the past three years and won the overall trophy during their second year in competition. This unit has two components: besides the competition and parade unit, they also have some weekend rides to local sites of interest. Khyber Gun Club John T. Neiger The Khyber Gun Club is a unit comprised of shooting enthusiasts. They meet and practice shooting throughout the year. They do have a trap shoot set up at the Columbia City Horse Grounds and help entertain the Nobles during the fall supper held at the Horse Grounds. Mizpah Racing Shriners
Thomas E. Smith The Racing Shriners (Little 500) love to parade. This group can be found in the parade lineups by listening for the squalling tires. They love the tight turns. Most of them replace tires every two years because the others have no tread left. Mizpah Legion of
Honor Martin H. Lee The Legion of Honor consists of those Nobles who have served the United States in its Armed Services. Membership is predicated on being an active member or holding an Honorable Discharge. They are active members of local and Shrine parades. Mizpah Radio Unit John A. Coleman The Radio Unit is one of the older units within the Shrine. These Ham radio operators keep in touch with each other and the world. They help provide a valuable service in times of need. Mizpah Shrine Provost Guard Jack L. Dooley, Sr. The Provost Guard is the equivalent of our local enforcement agency. They are called upon to help marshal parades, assist in securing areas of the circus when animals are brought from the basement to the arena, and assist in helping our ladies to their vehicles following the ladies parties. They are an invaluable part of many activities at Mizpah. Mizpah Shiners Larry Andrews The Mizpah Shiners is the local unit that handles all of the arrangements for the GLSA Salmon Derby held in Michigan City every year. They organize the boats, captains, handle housing, banquets, prizes, weighing in fish, and all other aspects of the Salmon Derby. The Derby has made over $280,000 worth of donations to Shriners' Hospitals for Children. Samsar Charles R. Atkison The Samsar is a group dedicated to developing membership. They have been responsible for bringing many new members into the Shrine. The requirements for joining this group revolve around membership. YOSHI
Mike Emberton The YOSHI is one of the newest groups within MIzpah. The Young Shriners consist of members under the age of 40. This active group is responsible for our Children's activities incluyding the Easter Party, the Kids' Fishing Derby, the Halloween Party, and the Childrens' Christmas Party. They also host Monte Carlo nights twice a year. They are one of the most active units within the Shrine. |
Earl Zimmerman 
Rodger Hettinger 
Jerry McIntosh 
William Kintzel/Ray Giant 
James Wall 
Robert Kendall/Doran Kendall 
William W. Bryan 
Jon Muchow/Brian Khyler 
