Osman Shrine is headquartered in Eagan at the Lost Spur Golf Course and the City View Conference Center, located on Highway 13 just south of the I-494 Bridge over the Minnesota River. This nine hole public facility is leased to an outside contractor.
The name OSMAN is the name of the first Turkish conqueror. It is interesting the letters, when re-arranged, form the word "MASON".
We received dispensation on June 20, 1885 and our charter on June 14, 1886, making us the 22nd Shrine in Shrinedom. It shares geographic territory across central, western, and southern Minnesota with Zuhrah Shrine of Minneapolis, which was the 23rd Shrine.
In July of 1908, Osman was host to the 34th Imperial Session, the same year it held its' first Shrine Circus. In 1913, it traveled to the Miralores Locks of the Panama Canal and held a Ceremonial in the bottom of the dry lock before it was flooded and opened for shipping. This was the inspiration which resulted in the founding of Abou Saad Shrine of Panama. The plaque laid during the 1913 ceremonial is still the only plaque installed in the entire canal, except those dedicated to those who died in the building of the canal.
In 1996, Osman again traveled to the Republic of Panama and conducted the Shrine’s first all country ceremonial with representatives from Canada, Mexico, Panama, and the United States in the cast. The Divan members, Imperial Potentate, and our spouses were honored to go out to the center control house of the 2nd chamber of the Miraflores Lock to view the 1913 plaque.
The Divan, headed by the Potentate for his one-year term, runs Osman. As a potentate comes into office he appoints the Outer Guard to the Appointive Divan. Under traditional practice, he moves up the ladder each year via appointments from the in-coming Potentate to the offices of Captain of the Guard, Marshal, and 2nd and 1st Ceremonial Masters. He then stands for election each year for the offices of Oriental Guide, High Priest and Prophet, Assistant Rabban, Chief Rabban, and finally Potentate. Thus, a Divan member usually has at least nine years of experience in Shrine leadership before he assumes the highest office.
Two other Osman Nobles are elected annually to the Elected Divan, the Treasurer and the Recorder. The seven elected Nobles are the Board of Directors entrusted with governing Osman. Osman members also elect three Nobles as Trustees to manage invested funds.
Other officers appointed annually by the in-coming Potentate include:
? Chief of Staff - who, assisted by any Assistant Chiefs of Staff and Marshals, is responsible for the activities of the various units, especially at parades.
? Chaplain
? Circus Director - who heads a very large volunteer staff of Nobles and their ladies to present the circus. It must be noted that circus funds are used to support Osman, and are not given to Shriners Hospitals for Children, and are therefore not a chartable tax deduction.
? Ceremonial Director - assisted by the Director's Staff Unit, is responsible for the ceremonials and for most of the rolling stock used in parades.
? And all special event chairmen
Osman has 17 Clubs, which are normally social rather than performance orientated. Osman Clubs are located in Winona, Rochester, Mankato, Austin, Albert Lea, St. Cloud, and Alexandria as well as several in the metropolitan St. Paul area.
Osman has 20 Units, which are normally parade or performance orientated. The color and pageantry of the Shrine is shown to the public through the Units. There is an Oriental Band in Austin, Parading ATVs in Alexandria, TBird little cars in Mankato, GoCarts and Classic Cars in St. Cloud, Motorcycles, Classic Cars, Clowns, and the Dragon Patrol in Rochester. St Paul has the Drum & Bugle Corps, Bag Pipers, Caballeros Horse Patrol, Chanters, Clowns, Legion of Honor Color Guard, Classic Cars, and the Provost Guard.
All Clubs and Units have meetings, practices, dances, picnics, or parties throughout the year. In addition to Club and Unit activities, there are numerous Osman-wide functions scheduled throughout the year, which includes your Lady and or family, such as the Potentate's Ball, Family Picnic, and pilgrimages every summer to the Midwest Shrine Association Session and the Imperial Session.
You have spent a great deal of time and effort to join the “World’s Greatest Philanthropy”. The real value in Shrine membership is the fun and companionship of the people who are members of our Clubs and Units. Please take the time to explore these groups with the goal of joining one or more that meet your interests. You should also be aware that the Divan is always looking for groups of Nobles who wish to form new Clubs or Units based on new interests. Like anything in life, you get out of it what you put in. Welcome, Nobles, to the Shrine of North America.
To obtain a Petition for Membership click here.