Wednesday the 24th February Lady heather and I had the privilege of being the guests of Noble Jack and Lady Fay at the Showmen's Shrine Club in Riverview Florida. This Shrine Club is in the International-Independent Showmen's Ass. building located on 55 acres in Riverview, Florida.

The International-Independent Showmen's Ass, is a non profit private organization made up of people in the outdoor amusement industry. The original club building opened in 1966 and has expanded to be the largest Showmen's Association in the United States. It is also the home of the largest trade show in the carnival industry.

The Museum of the American Carnival has been a dream held by historians, carnival enthusiasts, and those in the outdoor amusement business for the past decade. With the generous support of the International Independent Showmen's Museum Corporation, Greater Sun City Center Community Foundation, International Independent Showmen's Association, members of the International Independent Showmen's Association, and University of South Florida Libraries Special Collections Department, the museum is near completion. The museum currently features historical wagons from various carnivals and traveling shows, several rides, rare games, photographs, and other carnival related artefacts.

The Showmen's Shrine Club was created to have fun and raise money for the Shriner's Hospitals. Many of its members are made up of Carnival and Circus related Shriners and include all of those who have an interest in either field, showmen or shrinedom. All Shriners in good standing are eligible to join.

At the dinner I met Ill. Sir Butch Seward P.P. of Cairo (2003) and presently the first V.P. of the club.

I then met a most interesting Noble who was wearing a Karnak jewel. His name is Noble Chuck Schlarbaum and he was the band leader for Ian Garden of Garden Brothers Circus for over 50 years. He told me stories of the many years they performed for Karnak at the Montreal Forum. He could not remember which Potentate made him an honorary member of Karnak. This is a good quiz question for some of you senior Shriners.

For both their large public events such as the circus and now a poker run - and particularly for their quiet good deeds such as providing Christmas dinner for 100 needy families, the members of the Showmen’s Club most certainly deserve acclaim. They have earned it.