Ziyara Shriners

	Ziyara Shriners
		Circus

*October 7th thru October 10^th 2004***

	Noble Wayne L. Allen	Oriental Guide
	Circus Chairman

Each year, in October, Ziyara sponsors a circus. This is the major moneymaker for us, and every noble is expected to turn out. You will find the activities actually begin in the spring when the plans begin to kick in.

Circus promoters will be contacted, the Chairman will travel to other jurisdictions to see circuses and pick the right one for us.

Novelties will be ordered and backup machinery for making cotton candy and snow cones will be inspected and put on line. A system of hawkers to sell these wares will be set up, which may come either professionally or through the local community.

Ads are placed in local newspapers, radio and TV media. This work begins around June. A coordinated effort is made to assure that everything in print and by voice is exactly as it should be.

Corporations sponsor some of the events, and these preparations need to be made completely and properly. Much sensitivity and compassion is shown by these sponsors and must be met with enthusiasm and competence by Ziyara.

Elementary schools will be contacted because we provide thousands of free seats to the school kids. A parade of perhaps a hundred buses will arrive in the morning loaded with excited kids who came to the circus, courtesy of Ziyara.

Pre-sale tickets will be available. This is done through the hard work and efforts of the Daughters of the Nile. They sit patiently for weeks taking telephone orders of the tickets, and preparing pre-packaged tickets for pickup at the window.

They also sell directly through the window during this pre-circus time, and are responsible for a great amount of the initial income of the shows.

Tickets are also pre-sold at such locations as Wal-Mart, Price Chopper, Sangertown Square, as well as many business locations. These presales need to be set up, and the tickets eventually hand delivered to the locations.

During the event, tickets are sold at the door. Here very competent Shiners and their Ladies act as salesmen and reservation specialists to ensure that everyone has a good seat to see the show. Ticket takers are assigned to the doors, and door guards and ushers will take their places just before every performance. These people are essential to make the process smooth and safe for everyone

The Transportation Unit runs a shuttle to and from the parking garage. The garage is many blocks away from the auditorium, and this shuttle provides a great luxury to our Nobility and their Ladies.

At show time, the Zanies will set up in the rotunda and meet and greet the kids. The Shrine Clubs and the Camel Herder’s Unit will be busy selling the novelties. DeMolay members and others from the community will be busily making and selling snow cones and cotton candy, and the Ladies of Ziyara can be found working hard selling these treats also.

The Legion of Honor opens every show with the posting of the colors, and the Director Staff can be found before and after shows, as well as intermission, selling and collecting tickets to the pony and elephant rides.

Behind the scenes is a whole cadre of people assigned to the” Novelty Room”. Here the novelties are received from shipment and prepared for sale. This room opens about two hours before each performance and is open for at least that long after the performance.

We begin the active work with the Circus Workers Meeting in September. There specific jobs are assigned. The Circus activity winds up in November, when we all gather again to realize the job we’ve done and marvel at the even stronger bonds we’ve made.

The Circus presents no small jobs, and reaps very large profits. Monetary profits, yes, but the true worth is in contributing a month, a day or even an hour to make this venture a success. All who have gone before will tell you that working the circus is an act of LOVE and one that you will never forget.

If you are interested in joining or just more information about this activity please contact the Ziyara Office or our chairman.