Monday conversation
By Chris Walker (Contact)
Originally published 12:50 p.m., February 11, 2008
Updated 12:50 p.m., February 11, 2008
Monday Conversation is an interview with someone in the news. This week’s interview is with Dave Mize, executive director of the Kansas Shrine Bowl, which will be played July 26 in Emporia.
Q Tell us about the Shrine Bowl. Why is it important to the community?
A The Shrine Bowl brings the best football players from around the state together for a football game. This event lets the community see some of the best athletes in the state. This event also brings lots of people to town and can have a tremendous economic impact on the community. I have heard estimates that it can contribute $1 to 2 million to the local economy. This is substantial for a one-day event.
Q The Shrine Bowl used to be just a football game but you have added more events over the years. Why have you done that and what events will Emporia host?
A The extra events are to create more interest for more people other than just football fans and to make it a bigger community event. Emporia will have the football game, parade, kids fair, wine tasting, fashion show, banquet, 5K race, arts and crafts fair, high school combine, golf tournament, poker run, marching band camp, cheer clinic and more.
Q The Shrine Bowl is a benefit for the Shriner Hospitals. What are Shriner Hospitals and where are they located?
A There are 22 Shriner Hospitals. The one most frequently used by kids in Kansas is in St. Louis, and that is an orthopedic hospital. We also treat kids from Kansas with severe burns in the Galveston hospital. All the hospitals are specialized in specific areas and they treat children absolutely free with no charge to children or parents, government agency or insurance.
Q Who are Shriners and why do they drive little vehicles in parades?
A Shriners are Masons who band together according to their own hobbies and interests for the benefit of Shriners Hospitals for children. The little cars people see are their special interest and they like to draw attention to the Shriner Hospitals by being in community parades.
Q Tell us about the selection process to have a community host a Shrine Bowl.
A The site-selection process is one where we deal with the convention and visitors bureau, colleges and the communities to see who can put a proposal together three years in advance that will best benefit the Shriners Hospital for children. The event here has been successful twice before and we expect it to be successful again. This is because of two reasons. One is the community gets behind it 100 percent and two, because it is the center of Kansas, so it is easy for everyone from players to parents, relatives, friends and Shriners from all over Kansas to get here in a relatively short time.