This is good news, however, I am wondering if the city will even be here two
years from now. Its okay with me if the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order comes
over here, but I sure as heck aren't taking any trips over to their
place --- Egypt. We had enough of that place years back. PS- All bags and
luggage will be very closely inspected for anthrax. Do not even think about
bringing any over here. I do not care how much livestock you got -- we are
getting to be very strict.

PS- In case anyone thinks I am ignorant, I am not. I know who the Shriners
are. They are not from Egypt.

FROM ARTICLE:

"Edward B. Darnell, imperial potentate, or chief executive officer, said his
group, with 35,000 members worldwide, last met in Philadelphia in 1974. He
issued a call certain to gladden hearts in the business community. "

"Tell your merchants to have their shelves stocked. When our conventioneers
come to town, it's a vacation," Darnell said. "Our wives, mothers, sisters
and daughters comprise our auxiliary, and they come along with the children.
It will have a positive impact on your city such as you have not seen in a
while."

REPLY:

They liked the place so much that they rushed right back -- I guess! Barf on
the "stocking of the shelves" advice. That is what got us in this trouble in
the first place. What are we, a bunch of camel traders or something?

Joel M. Eichen, D.D.S.

If I were in charge, we'd have no business left. Fortunately, Mayor Street
handles this himself.

********************************************************************

Thursday, October 18, 2001

Philadelphia gets convention with 15,000 attendees for '03

Mayor Street accepts a gift from Edward B. Darnell, imperial potentate of
the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, as they
announce that the group will hold its 2003 convention in Philadelphia.
(Gerald Williams / Inquirer)
By Linda Loyd
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
The National Shrine Convention signed a contract yesterday that will bring
Philadelphia potentially millions of dollars: It will hold its 2003 Imperial
Council Session at the Convention Center.
The gathering is expected to be the second-largest African American
convention ever in the city, drawing 15,000 attendees. They are expected to
spend an estimated $14.5 million for the five days they are in town, Tom
Muldoon, president of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, said.
"We are proud and honored you are coming," Mayor Street said at a City Hall
news conference to announce that the 110th Imperial Council Session will be
held in the city Aug. 17-21, 2003. "You will have a tremendous positive
economic impact on our city."
The meeting is particularly welcome news now for Philadelphia because of the
drop in travel and hotel bookings across the country after the Sept. 11
terrorism attacks, Muldoon said. "The importance of conventions has moved to
a higher level," he told the audience.
This year, Philadelphia has booked 16 major conventions, down from 24 last
year. Muldoon said 27 organizations have booked conventions citywide for
next year. That includes the nation's largest African American religious
group, the National Baptist Convention, with 30,000 attendees expected Labor
Day weekend.
The booking of the African American Shriners, who call themselves the
Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, brings the total
number of conventions signed up in Philadelphia in 2003 to 21 representing
328,000 attendees, 156,000 room nights, and $150 million in delegate
spending, the bureau said.
"This would be in the top tier of any convention in the city," Muldoon said,
noting that a few health-care conventions have attracted larger crowds of
16,000 to 20,000.
The Shriners "are a major convention from a prestige standpoint," he added.
"These are professional men who are involved in other fraternal and church
groups. They have the potential to bring future business to Philadelphia."
John Chapman, the principal of Ben Franklin High School in Philadelphia and
an officer of the Imperial Council, said that there are two separate
Shriners organizations and that his group's members "are men of color
mostly." He said that, like the other Shriners group, his organization is
involved in many charitable works. The United Negro College Fund and the
Howard University cancer center are among the endeavors that his
organization aids.
Edward B. Darnell, imperial potentate, or chief executive officer, said his
group, with 35,000 members worldwide, last met in Philadelphia in 1974. He
issued a call certain to gladden hearts in the business community.
"Tell your merchants to have their shelves stocked. When our conventioneers
come to town, it's a vacation," Darnell said. "Our wives, mothers, sisters
and daughters comprise our auxiliary, and they come along with the children.
It will have a positive impact on your city such as you have not seen in a
while."

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