The Jaffa Shrine

Jaffa Greeters
Text from 100th Anniversary Book

2012 Greeters Officers
President
Richard D. Brehman	416 27th Ave. Altoona, Pa 16601	814-942-9369
Secretary
Barry C. Yingling	611 Robinson Ave. Roaring Spring, Pa 16673	814-224-2250
Treasurer
Richard M. Coleman	3028 W. Chestnut Ave. Altoona, Pa 16601	814-943-4396

 

Jaffa Greeters on parade Photo by A. Osman

Early in 1951, a committee met with Potentate Homer I. Smith relative to forming a unit for bringing new members into the Shrine. It was in December that year that the Committee received approval and held its first organizational meeting in the basement of the Mosque.

During discussions on how to organize, it was recommended that the committee consist of one member from Altoona and two members each from other Shrine clubs. Because of the travel distance involved, cooperation from outside clubs could be improved with this structure.

C. Alvan Huffnaglc was named first president in 1951, serving until 1959 when Glen Clouser succeeded him. At this time a new room committee was formed to meet with the trustees, Arthur E. Winter. Howard D. Coulter, and Charles W. Clugh, who gave approval April 23, 1959 for use of a storage room on the first floor of the Mosque to use as a meeting room. The Greeters assumed the cost of renovating the meeting room and a committee consisting of Ross Clapper, Glen Clouser, Roy Shuffler, William Hammer. William Swan. Irvin Vahey. Carl Shaw. Thomas Puckey, Kenneth Mahaffie, Chester Douty and Walter Straw did the renovating.

Converting the storage room’s raw walls and large air vent kept the committee working hard until its completion November 30, 1959. The room, under the direction of Allan B. Hartman, was beautifully redecorated in 1975.

At the December Ceremonial in 1962, Potentate Raymond A. Long officially made the Greeters a Jaffa Unit, removing the status of a committee.

The first banquet was held by the Greeters at the Juniata Pavilion, March 7. 1959, with 86 present, and a second banquet was held in the 58th Street Methodist Church with 125 present including Unit members, the Divan and their significant others. These banquets have been an annual affair since that time.

The Greeters are proud to have had six members serve as Potentates: Phillip Teah. 1956: Joseph P. Novak. 1961:
Delbert V. Meadows, 1967; William P. Hammer, 1976; Keith D. Snyder, 1978 and Richard D. Gunsallus, 1988.

 

Continue To Other Units
Concert Band	Calliope Clowns
Patrol/Director Staff	String Band
Chanters	Color Guard
Highlanders	Greeters
Drum and Bugle Corps	Motor Corps
Legion of Honor	Mounted Patrol
Oriental Band	Lil' Vettes
Provost Guard	ATC
Cycle Corps	Shrine Band