The Austin Shrine Club and Oriental Band recently installed officers for 2018 and  made $7,000 in annual donations.

The 2018 officers are Treasurer Norm Hecimovich, Business Manager Brad Stout, Secretary Neil Hanson, Vice President Mathew Woodworth and President Gary Brolsma.

Several guests attended the ceremony at the Austin Country Club, including Richard Purcell, potentate of the Osman Shrine, Mike Nehm, Anders Haugen, Mark Galloway, Larry Norte and Jim Gratias of Osman Shrine, and past Potentates Frank Peterson and Bruce Thomas.

In addition to Installation, the Austin Shrine Club and Oriental Band made its annual donations that divided approximately $7,000 among these organizations:

• Salvation Army of Austin,

• Shrine Hospital for Children,

• Austin High School Austinaires,

• Osman Shrine Travel Fund,

• Shrine Hospital Auxiliary, and the

•. Fidelity Lodge Scholarship Fund.

The Shriners is a charitable society founded in the United States in 1872.

Austin’s Shriners Club is one of 19 that are part of the Osman Shrine. Others are in Winona, Rochester, Mankato, Albert Lea, St. Cloud and Alexandria as well as several in the metropolitan St. Paul Area.

The Shriners’ mission includes “fostering self-improvement through leadership, education, the perpetuation of moral values and community involvement,” according to BeAShrinerNow.com.