By Sam Black, Assistant Editor

After a year-long campaign of visiting the Clubs and Units of Yaarab Shrine,seeking the office of Recorder, Richard Burke won the bottom line office on the Divan during the annual business meeting and election, Saturday, January 12, 2008.

In his powerful nomination speech, Illustrious Potentate Eddie Eskew cited the personal terrible tragedy involving Richard’s loss of his granddaughter, Leah. Suffering burns over eighty to ninety percent of her body by hot water in a home bathroom accident, Leah was recommended by the late Jim Martin to receive emergency treatment at the Cincinnati Shrine Burn Hospital. She sadly took her final breath on Sunday, March 17, 2002. If there was any good to come out of this tragedy, it was that Leah’s grandfather, Richard Burke, was determined to become a Shriner. Illustrious Sir Eskew then continued with presenting Richard’s accomplishments making him well qualified and determined for not only Recorder, but any leadership
position at Yaarab Shrine.

For the past five years since Leah was a patient at the Cincinnati Shrine Burn Hospital, the NFL Alumni Shrine Golf Tournament has been held in Charlotte, North Carolina. All net proceeds are donated to the Cincinnati Shrine Burn Hospital in Leah’s name, and almost $ 1.5 million has been raised to date by family members.

Richard G. Burke was born in Endicott, New York on May 29, 1957. Richard and his wife, Judy, currently reside in Buford Georgia. They have three married children and eight grandchildren, ages four months to eight years. He received a Bachelor’s Degree, with a Business Major from State University of New York at Genesco in 1979. He also has Minor Degrees in Accounting and Computer.

Richard worked from 1979 to 1988 as a Systems Consultant for NCR and Texas Instruments. He specializes in accounting systems, voice recognition and artificial intelligence systems. From 1988 to current, Richard has been self-employed as an IT consultant. From 1992 through 2002, Richard was partner and Vice President for Payment Technologies, Inc. This business was sold to Profit Recovery Group of Marietta in 1999. Richard currently is coowner in a successful internet venture, Financial Operations Networks, LLC. The main business function is to supply information to accounting professionals. As Chief Technical Officer, Richard is responsible for online marketing, backend accounting, on-line payment processing systems development, search engine optimization and overall business
strategy.

Richard was raised a Master Mason in Buford Lodge #292, February 27, 2003. He then was created a Yaarab Shrine Noble on March 5, 2003. Richard joined Gwinnett Shrine Club on March 17, 2003, and served as Gwinnett Shrine Club President in 2006. He earned his first Gold Executive Aide Fez in April 2003 for raising over $ 5,000.00. In the Fall of 2004, Richard won First Place as top individual Yaarab hospitals collections and won second place in the Fall 2005. Having reached the 100,000 Crown of Honor Points his picture joined the distinguished, Yaarab Wall of Honor in May 2005, and currently has accumulated over 160,000 Crown of Honor Points.

In July 2006, Richard became a member of the Order of Quetzalcoatl (known as “Q Club”), AztecAtlanta. He has been a member of the Royal Order of Jesters, Atlanta Court, since April 2007. Richard became an Honorary Member of the Yaarab Red Devil Clowns in 2007 and was also Chairman of the Yaarab Circus Staff Media, 2007 and 2008. As Circus Staff Media Chairman in 2007, Richard redirected 40% of the circus advertising budget, resulting in a more effective circus ad campaign. He also served as Chairman of Yaarab Public Relations in 2008.

Richard has redesigned the Yaarab Circus logo, posters and over 50 print ads to increase public exposure. He was responsible for bringing in WSB radio and The Bull, as new Atlanta radio sponsors. New billboard advertising on I-75 and Cobb Parkway was reintroduced. Richard was responsible for getting over $ 25,000.00 worth of donated billboard space from Lamar Advertising for the Shrine Hospitals. These billboards were delayed due to a new redesigned Shrine hospital logo, but the company has been patient in this endeavor and these new billboards will be displayed over various Georgia locations over the next three months. He also developed a website dedicated to Yaarab Shrine Circus and Carnival. Over 1,800 email addresses from the public were gathered.

Richard Burke is a personable person that spreads the Shrine Mission to everyone he contacts – “Taking Care of Kids”. He has all the hardworking criteria and experience that is necessary to fulfill running the operations of Yaarab Shrine. Richard loves Masonry and Shrinedom and is dedicated to the work and success of Yaarab Shrine. He is very proud to begin his six-year service on the Divan, ultimately becoming Potentate, and we wish him well.