Organization Overview

The Imperial Divan is the international governing body of Shriners International. The governing body works as a corporate Board of Directors and consists of 12 officers, each of whom is elected to the lowest position on the Divan and moves up one position each year, with the exception of the Imperial Treasurer and Imperial Recorder.

The highest leadership position within Shriners International is Imperial Potentate. The Imperial Potentate is both president and chief executive officer of Shriners International, and is elected for a one-year term. He spends his year in office visiting many of the Shriner temples (chapters), attending regional meetings and visiting Shriners Hospitals for Children locations. He also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for both Shriners Hospitals for Children and Shriners International.

A similar organizational structure is followed at the local level within each temple around the world.

Imperial Potentate Richard G. Burke

Richard G. Burke of Buford, Georgia, is serving his 10th year as a member of the Boards of Directors for Shriners International and Shriners Children’s™. He was elected Imperial Potentate, head of the 12-member body that helps govern the Shriners fraternity, during the Shriners 2024 Imperial Session held June 30 through July 4 in Reno, Nevada.

Burke was born in Endicott, New York, and moved to Atlanta after graduating from college. From 1979 to 1988, he worked as a systems consultant for NCR and Texas Instruments, where he specialized in accounting systems, voice recognition and artificial intelligence systems. After that, he worked as an IT consultant.

In 1992, he joined Payment Technologies Inc. as a partner and vice president of information technology. After selling their initial business in 2002, Burke and his business partners formed a successful internet venture called Financial Operations Networks LLC. As chief information officer, Burke is responsible for online marketing, online development, search engine optimization and part of overall business strategy decisions. The remaining business channel processes millions of accounting transactions for major companies around the world.

Burke and his wife, Judy, have been married for 31 years. They enjoy spending time with their three children, their spouses and eight grandchildren, ages 17 to 24. Burke and his wife have dedicated their lives to raising awareness of Shriners International and Shriners Children’s since their granddaughter, Leah, received care for burn injuries at the Shriners Children’s location in Ohio in 2002.

Education Bachelor’s degree, Business, minors in Accounting, Computer Science, State University of New York at Geneseo, 1979 Fraternities and Philanthropy Master Mason, Buford Lodge #292, March, 2003 Yaarab Shriners, Atlanta, Georgia, 2003 President, Gwinnett Shrine Club, 2006 Potentate, Yaarab Shriners, 2014 Divan Member, Yaarab Shriners, 2008-2014, honored many times for fundraising efforts Regional Imperial Public Relations Director, Southeast, 2009-2013 Member, Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Atlanta Chairman, Salaries, Personnel and Retirement, Shriners Children’s, 2019-2022 Chairman, Shriners Children’s College Classic, 2018-2021 Chairman, Membership Committee, 2019-2020 Chairman, Shriners Children’s Sports Committee, 2021-2023 Executive Committee Member, Donor Development, 2021-2022 Chairman, Philanthropy, 2023-2024 Chairman, Marketing and Communications, 2023-2024 Vice Chairman, Budget, 2022-2023 Chairman, Budget, 2023-2024 Chairman, Investments, 2023-2024

Why I Became a Shriner ‘Love to the Rescue’ – What it means to me…from my heart

By Richard G. Burke

Having grown up in middle-class America, I always thought that only the poor and unfortunate were in need of charity. I took most things for granted and considered charity only for others. All that changed 22 years ago. Our infant granddaughter, Leah, suffered critical injuries caused by an accidental scalding in the bathtub when she reached up and switched on the hot water.

Leah was rushed to Atlanta’s Grady Hospital by life flight where my wife and I met with a doctor who told us, “The best place for a burned child is Shriners Children’s in Ohio.” We were surprised to learn Shriners Children’s was dedicated to providing quality care regardless of families’ ability to pay or insurance status.

The doctor assured us that if this were his child, she would be at a Shriners Children’s burn hospital because they not only provide the best care available for children, but also the best environment for long-term care. The next thing we knew, a flight team from Ohio was on the way to pick up the family. Within 12 hours of her accident, Leah arrived with her parents at Shriners Children’s Ohio, which was located in Cincinnati at that time.

My wife and I gathered what we needed for an undetermined time away and drove all night through thick fog from Atlanta to Ohio. We arrived by mid-morning and were escorted to the family section, where families stay while their children are in the critical care unit. The accommodations and hospitality were extraordinary, and the fact that these were provided at no cost to our family was unbelievable to us. In difficult times, keeping loved ones close by is so important, but what is unique is how well our family was treated and the burden that is relieved by the generosity of Shriners. That morning, we were given the news that Leah’s chance of survival was 50/50 because she was so badly burned over 80% of her little body.

Later that day, we toured the facility, seeing where leading-edge burn research takes place, saving children with burns over 90% or more of their bodies. We also met interns as they prepared to be future doctors. We later found out that the recommending doctor from Grady had interned at one of the Shriners Children’s burn hospitals. We saw where children are schooled while having procedures. We spoke with kids and their families about how great the care is and how the kids enjoy their time at the hospital. We met other children and families coming in for follow-up visits who praised the efforts of Shriners and felt indebted beyond their means to Shriners.

We visited the “Drivers Lounge,” where Shriners rested while their patient passengers had follow-up visits. These Shriners, known as “Road Runners,” came from as far as 750 miles or more and volunteered their time to drive vans with patients for follow-up appointments. We were told volunteer Shriners make the trip from Atlanta over 100 times per year.

While in the lobby, we learned all this is possible because of the generosity of Shriners, their current fundraising efforts and a large endowment fund. I was embarrassed to think I hardly ever lowered my car window to give to that Shriner on the street. I wondered why I did not know more about Shriners and Shriners Children’s hospitals I said, “If you will get me a fez and a bucket, I will stand out in the street every day while I am here.” After being told I had to be a Mason and a Shriner before I could do that, I took the first step and asked, “How do I become a Mason and a Shriner?” Charity entered my heart that day, and my life’s priorities changed for the better.

Today, I am proud to be a Shriner, and this year I am honored and humbled to be the Imperial Potentate (President & Chairman) for Shriners and Shriners Children’s locations all over the world.

Today, I truly understand the meaning of the phrase, “It is better to give than to receive.” Being a part of the Shriners community has changed our lives. My wife and I enjoy thousands of new friendships with equally committed volunteers who, along with our family, work to support Shriners Children’s. We participate in numerous fundraisers to not only raise money for our healthcare system but raise awareness of the great work Shriners do.

We can help more children if more people know what we do and why we are so passionate about our cause. I never thought I would be one of those men wearing a funny-looking hat collecting money to help kids. But, today, my wife and I dedicate a large part of our lives to doing our part to help children in need and giving back to an organization that has given so much to us. It is amazing how often someone comes up to me and sincerely says, “Thanks for all you do.”

For more information, please visit ShrinersInternational.org or ShrinersChildrens.org.

First Lady Judy Burke

Judy Burke, First Lady

Whenever Richard started this journey, many years ago, we decided that we were going to tell the story of our granddaughter, and let everything we do highlight her and what she went through and what we went through at Shriners Children’s. The tragedy we went through helped me realize that there are different levels of care, and Shriners Children’s is the best care anywhere. I have chosen the name On Angels’ Wings this year for my project, and the reason that I have chosen On Angels’ Wings is because everyone in this room is an angel to these children. You are supporting a child with your contribution. Through this program, you will be helping families cope, heal, and hopefully prevent a burn tragedy from happening. In fact, you may be able to save a life of a child.

Arlene Burns, BSN, RN, CPN, PACU Nurse, Shriners Children’s Ohio:

Leah was a large burn, 81.5%, and at that age, and that percent burn, especially a scald, you know it’s going to be rough.

Kathy Zaeske, MSN, RN, Director of Patient Care Services, Shriners Children’s Ohio:

From the moment they first did her dressing change and kind of assessed her and everything, you could tell the gravity and the seriousness of her injury.

Arlene Burns:

I remember being there when our doctors informed them that it was quite a deep burn, and it was like the devastation happened all over again.

Judy Burke:

The number one thing that Shriners did with our family was help us through this tragedy. When we got to the hospital, we didn’t realize the severity of the burns, and they took us under their wing. They showed us the facilities, they took us to their research department to show us what they were going to do and help her be what she needed to be. It was just the most amazing experience.

Kathy Zaeske:

I will just say that for someone who had such a tragic, devastating event to happen to their family, and they took that opportunity to turn that into helping other children is phenomenal. And to increase awareness about scalds, for one thing, it’s always a risk for babies. Things happen, and it happens in the blink of an eye. So if you can increase that awareness to families, new mothers, new dads, so that they have that in the back of their mind of, “Hey, I really need to be aware.”

Sara M. Higginson, M.D., Chief of Staff, Shriners Children’s Ohio:

Putting a spotlight on burn prevention, I’m very grateful for. I think it’s something that gets missed often, I think. Until an accident happens, you don’t realize that setting a cup of coffee down on the table could end up with your toddler having a graft all the way to their wrist because they put their hand in and now they have full thickness burns to the wrist. And so I think if you raise awareness and really get people talking about these ways to prevent these injuries, it would have such an impact on the lives of so many children. Just by being aware of these small things, we can prevent quite a few accidents.

Judy Burke:

Shriners Children’s treat all kinds of burns, from scalds, electrical, chemical, and flame. We have facilities in Boston, Ohio, Texas, and Northern Cal, and we are continuing to build on our burn program. We have learned that the burn care at Shriners is the best care anywhere. All the technologies, all the procedures that they do. They also provide recreational occupational therapy for these children, and most important in my mind is the psychological treatment that they receive. It helps these children be perfectly fine with their disabilities that they may have.

We also provide them prosthetics and orthotics. It’s just an amazing thing that we do. And our psychology department go into the schools before those children go back to school, and help the children at the school realize that there’s going to be a difference, and that this child is no different inside. It is amazing to me that we step out of the box and do that for these kids. The care that they get afterwards with the support groups, I mean, I just can’t even say. This is just the most amazing thing that could happen to a child, is to be at Shriners Children’s with their tragedies, because it is the best place to be.

Through the years, we have met some amazing patients, and they have become the spokespeople for Shriners Children’s through their treatment at the hospital. They are just like anyone else, and they just blossom in life, and it just amazes me that a child doesn’t lose their drive, and that is what Shriners Children’s do for these kids.

Courtney, Patient, Shriners Children’s Ohio:

When I was 13 or 12, I was in a very bad severe car accident with an 18-wheeler, and I had flew out the car because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here today because back of the car was smooshed. And so I flew out and I was this far away from the engine, so that’s why I think I got burned. I felt like a whole dream. It didn’t feel like any of it was real. I was just waiting until I woke up, but it wasn’t that dream. It was real life. I was like eight to six months in the hospital. And the nurses at my old hospital, Winston Salem, they were good, but it’s nothing compared to the Shriners because the Shriners are like… they’re more like family, because I can connect to them better.

Sara Higginson:

Pediatric burn patients, they grow, they change, they need more surgeries and more care, and often insurance companies will say that it’s cosmetic when it’s truly about functional and quality life measures. I’ve worked for many other burn centers and was very excited to see an opening at Shriners, because Shriners, it isn’t “Will the insurance company let me do it?” but “Does the child need it?” and then “Let’s figure out how to get that done.”

Courtney:

Shriners gave me… it gave me my life, back because with all the surgeries, I feel like more like myself than I used to.

Sara Higginson:

I think because of the way the system is set up and because as an organization, we fund travel and we are open to having children move between locations, I think bottom line, if the child needs it, we figure it out, and I have not worked any place that has been this fantastic.

Courtney:

I’m excited that Ms. Judy is raising money for kids like me with burns. It pays for surgeries and stuff that most families probably couldn’t pay for because surgeries kind of like this or really, really expensive.

Judy Burke:

This year, with the program, I hope to accomplish more research, more educational guides for the doctors and the nurses, and also the burn prevention for us would’ve been knowing what to set your hot water heater on, and I don’t feel that a lot of people realize this, but through educating people about what your hot water heater should be set on, we can prevent a lot of scalds for our children.

And in order to support the project, we have several things that you can purchase. We have a pendant, earrings, and a bracelet for ladies with interchangeable ribbons so you can change the colors. We also have a lapel pin, the cufflinks, and the button covers for the men. Whenever we wear these pieces of jewelry, the bracelet, the pendant, the earrings, that a lot of people will notice them, and they will be asking about the pieces of jewelry that you’re wearing. This is your opportunity to share with them that this is a product that I purchased to support the burn program at Shriners Children’s, the prevention of burns, and also the education and the research to help burn children go on with their daily lives.

Courtney:

If I wouldn’t have been at Shriners, I wouldn’t know what I would be, where I would be, or how I would look, but I’m happy because now I look like myself again, I act like myself again, and just better.

Judy Burke:

We chose burn care for Leah and to keep her and show her the honor that she deserves. The people that we’ve met have enriched our lives and made us better people.

https://www.shrinersinternational.org/en/site-search?type=Fundraiser&cat=newsmedia#:~:text=https%3A//www.shrinersinternational,Jul%2003%2C%202024