Great Lakes Shrine Association GLSA - About GLSA/GLSA Through the Years

Great Lakes Shrine Association Beginnings

A Work in Progress

The Great Lakes Shrine Association has a proud history and legacy built by generations of dedicated and forward-thinking Shriners. Their vision created the foundation we continue to build upon today, and we owe them a lasting debt of gratitude and respect. It is our responsibility to honor their efforts by continuing to strengthen GLSA for future generations.

The Great Lakes Shrine Association was organized in 1949 and is the 12th oldest of the 20 Shrine Associations in Shrinedom. GLSA began with 22 Shrine Centers located throughout the Great Lakes watershed. Mocha Shriners of London, Ontario, Canada, later joined the Association, bringing membership to 23 Shrine Centers.

Over the years, the Association's membership changed. In 2005, Beja and Ahmed were granted permission to demit from GLSA, followed by Tripoli in 2017, leaving the Association with 20 active member Shrine Centers.

At the 2026 GLSA Fall Session, the membership voted to welcome Tripoli Shriners of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, back into the Great Lakes Shrine Association, pending approval at the 2027 Imperial Session. Upon Imperial approval, GLSA will once again represent 21 Shrine Centers across the Great Lakes region.

The charts and historical information that follow provide a look at GLSA's membership through the years and help preserve the history of the Association for generations to come.

The Beginning — 1949

Newspaper coverage announcing the formation and first officers of the Great Lakes Shrine Association.

Our Original Charter

The charter formally recognizing the Great Lakes Shrine Association.

Our Great Lakes Footprint

The Shrine Centers that make up the Great Lakes Shrine Association across the region.

GLSA Through the Years

From the early efforts to organize GLSA in 1948 to today, the Great Lakes Shrine Association has brought Shriners together through fellowship, tradition and service. Here are a few milestones from more than 75 years of GLSA history.

1948–1949

The Beginning of GLSA

Imperial Sir Thomas W. Melham of Tripoli Shriners was instrumental in organizing the Great Lakes Shrine Association. In 1948, he helped bring the new Association together but declined to hold an office, instead becoming GLSA's Honorary President.

The Great Lakes Shrine Association was formally organized in 1949 with 22 member Shrine Centers.

1950

The First Ceremonial Session

Murat Shriners welcomed GLSA to Indianapolis for its first Ceremonial Session on September 8–9, 1950. Fifteen Shrine Centers participated in a weekend that included concerts, a parade and activities at the Indiana State Fair.

The following day, three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Wilbur Shaw, then president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, arranged a demonstration race and rides around the famous track for GLSA attendees.

1956

GLSA Takes Over Cleveland

GLSA's 1956 gathering demonstrated just how large these early sessions could become. Approximately 20,000 people attended the festivities in Cleveland, with thousands participating in a procession to the lakefront stadium.

Nearly 80 Shrine bands were reportedly in town, filling downtown Cleveland with music and Shrine fellowship.

1969

GLSA Takes Over Milwaukee

Twenty years after GLSA was organized, approximately 10,000 Shriners and 230 parade units filled downtown Milwaukee for the Great Lakes Shrine Association parade.

The procession featured bands, clowns, miniature cars, mounted units, Scottish pipers and the Medinah Black Horse Troop. Thousands lined the streets, while approximately 8,000 spectators watched the parade conclude inside the Milwaukee Arena.

2026

A Full Circle Moment

Tripoli's connection to GLSA comes full circle.

Imperial Sir Thomas W. Melham of Tripoli Shriners helped organize the Great Lakes Shrine Association in 1948 and became its Honorary President.

At the 2026 GLSA Fall Session in Dayton, Ohio, GLSA membership voted to accept Tripoli Shriners of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, back into the Great Lakes Shrine Association, pending approval at the 2027 Imperial Session.

Nearly eight decades after a Tripoli Shriner helped establish GLSA, Tripoli is on the path toward becoming part of the Association once again.

ORIGINS OF OUR SHRINE CENTER NAMES

The names of our Shrine Centers reflect the history and traditions of Shriners International, with many inspired by places, people, and terms associated with the Middle East, North Africa, and the ancient world.

AINAD — Derived from an Arabic word meaning “obstinacy” or “persistence.”

ALADDIN — An Arabic personal name traditionally interpreted as meaning “nobility of faith” or “excellence of religion.”

AL KORAN — A historical English rendering referring to the Qur'an, the sacred scripture of Islam.

ANSAR — Arabic for “helpers” or “supporters,” historically referring to the people of Medina who welcomed and supported Muhammad following his migration from Mecca.

ANTIOCH — Named for Antioch, the name of several important cities of the ancient world, most notably the historic city in ancient Syria.

ELF KHURAFEH — Traditionally interpreted within Shrine history as “1,000 gathered fruits.”

HADI — An Arabic word meaning “guide.” Al-Hadi, meaning “The Guide,” is one of the traditional names or attributes of God in Islam.

MEDINAH — Named for Medina, the historic city in present-day Saudi Arabia and one of Islam's holiest cities.

MIZPAH — A biblical place name from the ancient Near East, derived from a Hebrew word meaning “watchtower” or “lookout.”

MOCHA — Named for Mocha, the historic port city on the Red Sea coast of Yemen.

MOHAMMED — A traditional English spelling of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam.

MOSLEM — An older English spelling of “Muslim,” meaning a follower of Islam.

MURAT — Traditionally associated in Shrine history with Bir Murat, an oasis in the Nubian Desert bearing the name Murat.

ORAK — The exact origin of the Shrine Center's name is uncertain; historical Shrine references have suggested a possible connection to Iraq.

SALADIN — Named for Saladin (Salah ad-Din), the renowned 12th-century Muslim sultan and military leader. His name is commonly translated as “righteousness of the faith.”

SYRIAN — Referring to Syria or something associated with Syria.

TADMOR — The ancient Semitic name for Palmyra, the historic oasis city in present-day Syria.

TEBALA — A historic place name associated with the Arabian Peninsula.

TRIPOLI — From the ancient Greek Tripolis, meaning “three cities.” The name has historically been used for cities in both Libya and Lebanon.

ZENOBIA — Named for Zenobia, the celebrated third-century queen of Palmyra.

ZORAH — A biblical place name associated with ancient Israel; the precise origin and meaning of the name are uncertain.

Historical Note: Many Shrine Centers were founded more than a century ago, and their names reflect the traditions and imagery adopted by Shriners during that era. The descriptions above use contemporary terminology while preserving the historical origins of the names.

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