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Meet the Divan
The Divan is the “board of directors” or “executive council” of the organization, and serves as the management team for both fraternal and business activities of the Shrine. Each Shrine Center has its own Divan, and the minimum number of Divan members is set by Imperial by-laws at five, with each of these being elected by the Nobility (membership). Therefore, all Shrine Centers have at least five members on the Divan.
Allen Sorbie
Potentate
941-264-4150
Sherry Sorbie
941-600-8301
Allen Sorbie began his Masonic journey in 1994 in the Caledonian Lodge of Uganda No 1389 of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. In October of 2005 he became a plural member of The Builders Lodge No. 376 Free and Accepted Masons here in Sarasota, ultimately becoming Worshipful Master in 2008 and District Deputy Grand Master for the 27th Masonic District in 2014-15.
Allen was regularly Received, Admitted and Constituted a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in Sahib Shriners of Sarasota, Florida on December 1st, 2006. He joined the newly reformed Past Masters Unit and served as the Warden in 2009 serving as the Master/President in 2013. He has been a regular participant in the Ceremonial team since 2009 as well.
in 2006 Allen joined Scottish Rite Valley of Tampa Scottish Rite and installed in Consistory as the Master of Kadosh in 2019. Allen was also invested with the rank of "Knight Commander Court of Honour" (KCCH) in 2019.
He joined the Royal Arch in 1995 and became a Knight Templar in 2004 both in Scotland. He has held the office of District Deputy in all three York Rite bodies and served as Most Illustrious Grand Master in 2021-22. Allen was also invested with the rank of "Knight of the York Grand Cross of Honour" (KYGCH) in 2022.
Allen was born in Connecticut, however his parents moved back to Scotland when he was four. He came back for the military to serve in the US Navy when he was seventeen and went back to the UK after that. Allen came back over for a third time, this time to Sarasota, Florida in 1999 and he has been here since. He works for a Tax Software company as a Director of Information Security.
Oh, and he likes to play golf when he can :)
Bob Collins
Chief Rabban
352-391-7081
Donna
Bob was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Lodge Le Progres De L'Oceanie No. 371, Honolulu, Hawaii on September 13, 1974. He was conferred the 32° in the Valley of Honolulu A.A.S.R.– S.J. on April 3, 1976. He was initiated into Aloha Shrine on April 3, 1976. He received the York Rite degrees in Albuquerque, NM in 2005. He was invested as Knight Commander Court of Honor in the Valley of Santa Fe on December 3, 2005, and coroneted 33° IGH in Washington, D.C. on October 6, 2009.
He is Past Master of Bethlehem Lodge No. 56; twice Worthy Patron of Jessamine Chapter No. 45, Order of the Eastern Star; and twice District Deputy Grand Master for the Fifth Masonic District, Grand Lodge of New Mexico.
He served as Ballut Abyad Shrine Chaplain, Patrol Lieutenant, and for two years as Wagon Master for the Ballut Abyad Shrine Nomads. He developed the Ballut Abyad Shrine website and served as the Web Master.
He served on the New Mexico Grand Lodge Education and Membership committees and served for three years as the state chairman for the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association.
He served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Santa Fe Scottish Rite Temple Historical Preservation Foundation and the New Mexico Scottish Rite Foundation. He served on the Valley of Santa Fe Investment Advisory Board and the Sovereign Grand Inspector General's Advisory Conference. He was the Director of Development for the Orient of New Mexico for six years.
He was President of The Villages Shrine Club, The Villages, Florida in 2016 and President of the Venice Shrine Club in 2022.
He is a member of the National Sojourners and the Heroes of ‘76.
He earned a bachelor's degree from Chaminade University of Honolulu in 1975 and a master's degree from Ball State University in 1978. He enlisted in the Air Force and served fourteen years as an enlisted member before obtaining his bachelor's degree and a commission as a second lieutenant. He graduated from the FBI National Academy 142nd Session in 1985. After 31 years, Bob retired from the United States Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel. He is an FCC licensed Extra Class Amateur Radio operator and a certified SCUBA diver. His Lady, Donna, has cheerfully supported him in his Masonic endeavors for over fifty years. Their son, Brian, is a Master Plumber, and a Shriner. Their daughter, Kimberlee, is a retired Dental Hygienist, and is married to a retired Air Force fighter pilot. They all reside full-time in Venice, Florida.
Jonathon Mitchell
High Priest and Prophet
941-587-5794
Jennifer Mitchell
Tom Houser
Oriental Guide
941-915-5875
Marcia Goldstein
941-809-1109
Paul Bekkenhuis
Recorder
Born in Boston, and raised in Norfolk, MA, I graduated from King Philip Regional H.S., Wrentham, MA. I enrolled at New England Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences, in Boston, now part of the University of Massachusetts, Boston. After graduating, and passing my State Boards, I embarked on my forty-year career beginning as a freelance trade embalmer for several funeral homes. In 1981, I purchased an established funeral home in my hometown, and then in 1986 opened a branch in Andover, MA. I served on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association for several years.
I have been married to my favorite Radio City Rockette, Andrea, for 47 years; have five children and three grandchildren. My two favorite sports are ice hockey and golf and I am lucky to have been able to play and excel in each. I played hockey in high school, college, and semi-pro leagues, then became a Certified High School & NCAA College Hockey Referee for eleven (11) years and a Varsity High School Hockey Coach in my home Town of Reading, MA for 15 years, during which time my team won several League, Division and State Championships! What a thrill it was to play, referee and coach at Boston Garden (now TD Garden), home ice of the Boston Bruins! I have also always loved the sport of golf. I am currently a member of Pelican Pointe Golf & Country Club in Venice, FL..
I have one hobby, Barbershop Quartet & Chorus singing which I did for over 50 yrs. I have been a member of several groups including Chorus of the Keys, Sarasota, FL and International competing chorus, THX of Sunrise, FL. It was amazing to compete at the Rogers Center (now the Scotia Bank Center) in Toronto, Canada, home ice of the Toronto Maple Leaves, when we placed 7th in the International Championship in 2016.
In 2002 I retired as CEO of Edgerley & Bessom Funerals Homes Inc. of Reading and Andover, MA and Andrea and I moved to Florida. Retirement did not seem to suit me though and I decided to get a part time job: first at Plantation Golf & Country Club, Venice, then as a bar tender at Sahib Shrine, Sarasota. Venice Theatre, recruited me to tend their bar twice a week. Which quickly led to my 14-year, full time job as Concession Stand Manager & bar tender.
My Masonic background began March 2, 1983, when I was Raised to the Subline degree in Good Samaritan Lodge AF & AM, Reading, MA. Among other offices I held I was elected as Master to serve in 2001-2002. I was a member The Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Boston, Aleppo Shriners, Wilmington, MA, and Bektash Shriners Concord, NH. At Bektash, I was quite active as a member of their Aides Unit. Upon moving to Venice, I joined Sahib Shrine and became a member of the Mariners Unit. I have served as Fleet Captain, Vice Commodore and then Commodore in both 2010 and 2021. I was honored to be appointed as Asst. Rabban in 2021, elected as Chief Rabban in 2021 and Potentate in 2022. To be part of a great team hear at Sahib and Shriners International is the high point of my working life. Because We Care, Paul F. Bekkenhuis, Potentate
Larry M. Burbank
Treasurer
618-334-1117
Jan
Larry was raised as a Master Mason, December 1977, elevated to 32nd Degree in the Scottish Rite, February 1978 and then crossed the Hot Sands in 1978 at Ainad Temple, East Louis, Illinois.
He served four years of active duty with the US Army and is a Vietnam veteran with service-connected disabilities.
Larry earned his BS Degree in finance from Southern Illinois University, completed the Graduate School of Banking at University of Wisconsin and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at University of Pennsylvania.
He served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive officer of three commercial banks and the financial cooperative Federal Land Bank of Missouri.
Since affiliated with Sahib, Larry is a member of the Manatee Shrine Club and is a past commander of the Legion of Honor.
Larry and his Lady, Jan married after both were widowed. They have four children and five grandchildren.
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