With the convention for Moose International starting this week in New Orleans, we are excited to represent our lodge this year. This year is a year we are working hard to get back to basics. This means that we are following the rules set forth in the Bylaws and the leadership represented in the manuals created by Moose International.
If you have not been in the lodge for many weeks, changes are happening. We are happy to report that we have started a new Lodge Membership drive. We are waiving all application fees for all LOOM and WOTM members for the summer. Yes, we know we don't have a Lodge Chapter currently. We even received a question on Facebook about free application fees for WOTM members. This was our answer.
"Yes, even WOTM! While we don't have a chapter right now, we still want everyone to be welcomed here. So, if someone wants to frequent our lodge, we sign them up as "All Hearts" chapter with the hope of transferring them in when we are able to start a Chapter again. The Women of the Moose are such an integral part of the Moose fraternal system. To not have a Chapter, makes our lodge less welcoming! We want and need the support of a lodge Chapter to make our lodge whole again! While it may not be in the cards now, we are working towards this goal.”
We have signed up 5 new women in the last three weeks. We hope the removal of the application fees makes it easier for you to sign up new members.
As we continue to move forward, you may have also noticed that we have extended our operating hours on Friday's until 1:00 am. This was facilitated by one of hopefully many new activities starting at the lodge, Free Texas Hold'Em. We have been getting a good group to play each Friday including current and new members. Our Friday Night sales are increasing too! Just to let you in on a secret, if you want an extra $1000 in free poker chips (no real cash value), just buy dinner!
Some other noteworthy news, we have extended our hours on Sundays too (until 10:00 pm). And, we have started using our Point of Sale system here at the lodge. We know many of you will take advantage of this system. If you would like to use a credit or debit card for your purchases at the lodge now you can. We have even more great things happening in the near future too.
Our lodge has endured many hardships in the recent past. And, I am sure there will be more hardships in the coming days, but we as a lodge are moving forward. One can only hope that we move forward together! One of the ways we are trying to change things is through communication. While we work on everything, you will be hearing more from us during meetings and on our website.
Finally, we know we sound like a broken record sometimes, but we need volunteers to help with the new activities, new committees, and help in staying on top of what is already going on! We are only as strong as our membership! And, thanks to everyone already helping and to each of you that have signed up a new member this year.
In conclusion, I want to thank all the volunteers (Sandi, Gwen, and all the others) that are helping set up the Paul Behneman fundraiser. We are getting help for this from so many local businesses too! The response has been amazing. If you are free on Saturday, July 21, please come on down to the lodge and support Paul by participating in this event. There will be great food, amazing music by the "Rusty Highway Band”, and lots of supportive raffles for Paul. We have already started a raffle for a 55 inch HD television. You can see the TV and purchase your tickets in the Social Quarters! Good Luck and thanks for your support!