Shriners International - General Order No. 02 - Series 2019-2020 - Temporary Amendment to Allow Electronic Participation

Aug 22, 2026

General Order No. 02 (Series 2019-2020) addresses operational and communication adjustments for Shriners International’s subordinate temples during the COVID-19 pandemic. It authorizes temporary amendments to the previously established protocol so that, with approval by a temple’s Board of Directors, officers and noble members may participate electronically in stated or special meetings. The order outlines chair-led procedures for verifying participants, recognition before speaking, discussion rotation, and voting by roll call or general consent, with precautions to protect absentee rights.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

General Order No. 02

Purpose and background (COVID-19 impact)

Authority under bylaws and prior protocol

Temporary amendments effective June 1, 2020

Ordered requirements for electronic meetings

Signature and distribution

SHRINERS INTERNATIONAL General Order No. 02 Office of the Imperial Potentate Series 2019-2020 March 31, 2020 To the Representatives of Shriners International, Potentates, Elected Officers of the Subordinate Temples and the Nobility of the Order, fraternal greetings: As a result of the current world-wide pandemic caused by COVID-19, not only have our personal lives been impacted beyond anticipation, but our fraternal affairs’ have also been altered in ways that could not have been foreseen. As a result, the conduct of the essential business of the subordinate temples is being limited by restrictions on personal movement, limitations of face to face meeting sizes and social distancing. In my opinion, as your Imperial Potentate, it is essential for the health and well-being of the Officers and the Nobility of the Order, as well as the orderly continuation of the necessary business of our beloved Fraternity, that adjustments, within the limitations of the bylaws of Shrines International, be made on the methods of communicating and conducting the necessary business of the subordinate temples. In 2015, the bylaws of Shriners International were amended [see §324.1(d)] to allow the Imperial Potentate to grant Special Dispensations for a temple to allow participation in any stated, special or annual meeting of a temple electronically. Following the amendment of the bylaws to allow electronic participation in a meeting, a PROTOCOL for REQUEST to IMPERIAL POTENTATE for DISPENSATION to ALLOW ELECTRONIC PARTICIPATION in ANNUAL, SPECIAL or STATED TEMPLE MEETINGS was proposed by the Jurisprudence & Laws Committee and implemented by Shriners International. A copy of the Protocol is attached hereto for reference. However, that Protocol specifically provided in the opening paragraph that the terms could be changed at any time by Shriners International. In my opinion, as Imperial Potentate, now is such a time. Accordingly, the Protocol referenced above, is hereby temporarily amended effective immediately through 12:01am on June 1, 2020 as follows: 􀁸 With the approval of a majority of the Board of Directors of a temple, any Officer or member Noble of the temple can participate in a stated or special meeting electronically. 􀁸 At the discretion of the Chair, a procedure must be taken at the beginning of a meeting to confirm that only Officers and member Nobles ofthe temple are participating in the meeting electronically. 􀁸 Participants must state their name and request to be recognized by the Chair before speaking. 􀁸 At the discretion of the Chair, discussion shall take place on a rotating basis. 􀁸 At the discretion of the Chair, votes shall be taken by roll call or general consent. As a result of the above, the following is my General Order No. 02, Series 2019-2020: ORDER 􀁸 It is hereby ORDERED by the authority vested in me by §§206.5(a)(1) and (4), and §324.1(d) of the bylaws of Shriners International, that all subordinate temples are hereby granted special dispensation that with the approval of a majority of the Board of Directors ofa temple, any Officer or member Noble of the temple can participate in a stated or special meeting electronically. 􀁸 It is further hereby ORDERED by the authority vested in me by §§206.5(a)(1) and (4), and §324.1(d) of the bylaws of Shriners International, that unless a longer time is specified in the bylaws of Shriners International for the transaction of a certain type of business, not less than oneweek’s note must be given stating the time, date and business to be considered at the meeting, together with all necessary details for electronic participation in the meeting. 􀁸 It is further hereby ORDERED by the authority vested in me by §§206.5(a)(1) and (4), and §324.1(d) of the bylaws of Shriners International, at the discretion of the Chair, a procedure must be taken at the beginning of a meeting to confirm that only Officers and member Nobles of the temple are partic

FAQs

What problem does General Order No. 02 address?

It addresses limitations on movement and face-to-face meetings caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which affect the essential business of subordinate temples.

Who may participate electronically in stated or special meetings under the temporary amendment?

With the approval of a majority of the temple’s Board of Directors, any officer or noble member of the temple may participate electronically.

What procedures must the chair follow for electronic meetings?

At the discretion of the chair, a procedure must confirm only eligible officers and noble members are participating; participants must state their name and be recognized before speaking; discussion may rotate, and votes are taken by roll call or general consent.

Aug 22, 2026

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