Whereas,   The Great Lakes Shrine Association provides significant funding for expert, innovative medical care for children at the 22 North American Shriners’ Hospitals, especially for children with orthopedic problems, severe burns, and spinal cord injuries; and,

Whereas, The Great Lakes Shrine Temples sponsor fundraising events such as football games, horse shows, and hospital paper sales throughout the calendar year to provide funding for   Shriners’ Hospitals; and,

Whereas, The Shriners’ Hospitals use fundraising to increase money available for research and building and equipment improvements to create more opportunities for patient care, having added 37,755 new patients in 2005 alone, bringing the current total number of patients to 123,385; and,

Whereas, The Great Lakes Shriners strive to maintain their position at the forefront of providing specialized pediatric orthopedics and burn care treatment, free of charge to children in need of expert care, as well as conducting research and providing education to medical professionals; and now therefore be it,

Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim September 21-24, 2006; as Great Lakes Shriners Days in Michigan as Lansing hosting the Great Lakes Shrine Association’s 2006 Fall Ceremonial Session.