Minot Shrine Club

From Clowns

to Clones

In August of 2004  these Minot Merrymen clowns were resting and posing with the awards they had received in the Midwest Shrine's Clown Unit competition in Sioux Falls SD when Nobel Paul "Gizzmo" Zaharia suggested a way that they could capture the moment.  His idea was to make small replicas of the clowns as wooden figures. Since his mother had crafted similar dolls he thought that it would be a quick and easy project. 

Paul started the project right away but had to set it aside for other more pressing matters.  Finally (masterpieces aren't created overnight) he was able to get back to the project with the help of his wife, Margaret, and mother, Sophie, and finish the now expanded production of the 30 inch high clown clones in February of 2009. 

Seated left to right in the top photo are Richard "Happy" Glessing, Ken "Dizzy" Gillespie, Paul "Gizzmo" Zaharia, and Orren "Buttons" Anderson.  They are in the cloned photo.  The two other"clones" represent Merrymen Shrine Clowns Gary "Duffer" Angel and Charles "Buddy" Wathen.

 Any Shrine clown interested in having        himself cloned can contact Paul.

   Sophie (left)  Margaret (right)

Red Nose/Gold Nose Awards

Three Members of the Minot Shrine Club’s Merrymen unit were presented the Prestigious Red Nose Award by Minot Shrine Club’s  President Robbie Roberts at the February 2009 monthly Shriners Noon Luncheon. Ken “Dizzy” Gillespie, Chuck “Buddy” Wathen, and Orren “Buttons” Anderson received the International Shrine Clown Associations symbol of appreciation for their generosity of effort and purpose.

If this sounds like last years news - you are right - the same three Merrymen received Red Nose awards before, however, these are not awards that mean the job is done. They have to be earned every year. To join the extremely small group of North American Shrine Clowns that achieve this award, each clown must perform over 150 hours in clown makeup at Shrine Parades, Shrine Circuses, or other Shrine activities and have raised and donated contributions in excess of $150.00 to the Shrine Hospital Burns research fund via the “Sneaker Fund”. In 2008 they raised and donated in excess of $1,700.00.  They quit counting the hours after they attain 150 hours.

This year Orren “Buttons” joined a very exclusive group by receiving the 1^st time Gold Nose Award for having been awarded five previous Red Nose Awards and qualifying again in 2008.  Chuck “Buddy” Wathen will get his gold nose this year, and Ken “Dizzy” Gillespie is well on his way to the second Gold Nose award.

These Shriners are very proud to represent the Minot Merrymen unit, the Minot Shrine Club, and Kem Temple and expressed thanks to all members for the support they received.  

Dizzy Brings Home Great Honors

Our own Ken "Dizzy" Gillespie brought home great honors for Kem Temple and the Minot Shrine Club by representing us in the competition at the International Shrine Clown Association's Mid-Winter Convention held in Atlanta, Georgia in February of this year.

Ken was awarded 1st runner up for Clown of the Year among all the Shrine Clowns in North America for his efforts in 2008.  In this year's competition he won 1st place in the most important category of clowning for Shriners -- the Paradeability Award.  This contest judges how well a Shrine Clown can get the attention and entertain the crowd while moving in a parade.  Ken also won 2nd place in the One Man Skit, 3rd place in the Balloon Sculpturing Contest, 2nd place in the Two Man Skit, and placed top 5 in the Clown Extraordinaire, which is the contest between only the top winners from previous regional International Shrine Clown Association contests.

Ken was very proud to represent Kem Temple and the Minot Shrine Club.  He wishes to thank everyone for their support.  He especially wants to thank his unit, the Minot Merrymen, and the other Kem units that helped him to make the trip to Atlanta.

Minot Shrine Club Trailer

One of our Minot Shrine Clubs members, Marty Boser did a little "horse trading" and we ended up with a beautiful, valuable, useful, pull-type, enclosed trailer that will be used for many years, and all at a bargain price. The sides of the trailer are now decorated with graphics that advertise our Northwest Shrine Circus and a few of our own clowns' pictures. The trailer made its debut at the Minot State University's Homecoming Parade accompanied by Shriners and it looked great.  We plan to use it in many parades.