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The Potentate or any member of the divan will be glad to assist anyone with questions concerning protocol.Members and guest invitations are at the discretion of the Unit/Club. The Potentate and Divan, Chief Aide, aides, ambassadors, hospital representatives and Past Potentates should be invited by individual invitation, giving the place, time of social hour, time of dinner, and the price.The Potentate will ask for the closing prayer and dismiss.The Potentate is always the last to speak. The president will ask the Potentate for remarks.The president will introduce the Potentate, who will introduce the Divan and their ladies.The president introduces his officers and ladies, if present (not forgetting his own lady).It is embarrassing to a speaker, whether it is the Potentate, a member of the divan, president or noble, to be denied those few moments of respectful silence. After dinner, gain the attention of the assembly before proceeding to the next item on the agenda.A BRIEF word of welcome by the unit/club president.Another important point: The flag of the country displayed should be on the speaker’s extreme right. It does not matter whether the flags are behind, alongside, or in the front of the speaker, on a raised platform. At Shiners’ functions, the four national flags should be displayed in the position of honor at the Potentate’s or speaker’s right as he faces the audience. The Shriner’s’ Pledge of Allegiance – make sure that the flag is in the proper place and that the noble selected to lead knows and gives the Shiners’ pledge (use hand salute).Invocation – with respect to those of faiths other than the Christian faith, let us be mindful of the times when the Invocation is given to all Shriner’s functions by employing the basics of Masonic fraternity (fez is placed over the heart).Example: Chief Rabban, Assistant Rabban, etc. Nobles and their ladies are seated as couples alternately at the right and left, next divan member in descending order will be at the head table. When ladies are present, the Potentate’s lady is seated at the president’s left, and the president’s lady is seated at the Potentate’s right. If the Potentate is present, he should be seated on the president’s right. The Club or Unit officers will be seated at the head table.To assist Club and Unit officers, the following Shriner Protocol is furnished for OFFICIAL VISITS ONLY: