Moose Magazine Online

November/December/January 2007-2008

Feature Articles:
Let’s all ‘Gimme Five!’ . . . and help ensure the future of Mooseheart and Moosehaven. By LEONARD J. SOLFA JR. Chief Operating Officer Solfa > Five years from now, in 2012, the men and women of the Moose may face a tough choice: How can this fraternity continue to operate our two established missions -- Mooseheart Child City and School in Illinois and the Moosehaven retirement community in Florida -- at a continual substantial annual budget deficit? The hard financial facts tell the story: This year, the combined budgets to run Mooseheart and Moosehaven total $32 million. Every year, the fraternity’s two most important and time-honored humanitarian endeavors open with a $32 million deficit. Every year, these costs are increasing -- so much so that in five years it will simply not be possible to continue to operate both of these facilities any longer. A tough choice, indeed. Fortunately, there’s a smart choice that we all can make today that will help assure that that tough choice will never have to be made. At the recent International Convention in Orlando, Florida, we launched “Gimme Five!,” a program designed to ensure the future funding of Mooseheart and Moosehaven through a modest donation from Moose membership. If the entire membership of the Loyal Order of Moose and Women of the Moose makes the smart choice to participate in Gimme Five!, we will raise enough money over the next five years to allow the returns on the investment of those funds to sustain the operations of Mooseheart and Moosehaven indefinitely -- without the need to request additional donations every year. Gimme Five! isn’t just smart. It’s simple! How simple is Gimme Five? How about this: Every day for five years, just set aside five cents in the morning, five cents in the evening, for the kids of Mooseheart and the seniors of Moosehaven. Five cents in the morning, from the change you put into your pocket or purse as you head out the door. Five cents in the evening, from the coins you accumulate during the day. That’s it -- Gimme Five! It’s really nothing more than that. But it’s also nothing less than this: a systematic fundraising plan that will help ensure the financial future of Mooseheart and Moosehaven, without having to keep coming to Moose members to ask for more. Nickel by nickel, Gimme Five! really adds up! Remember the wisdom of our Enrollment Ritual? “A burden heavy to one is borne lightly by many.” With that in mind, let’s run the numbers for Gimme Five! We honestly believe that very, very few of our nearly 1.3 million Moose men and women will find it a hardship to set aside a nickel in the morning and a nickel at night for the kids of Mooseheart and the seniors at Moosehaven. But let’s be conservative and say that only one million members will participate in Gimme Five! For each of those caring members, five cents in the morning, five cents in the evening is ten cents a day, 70 cents a week or $36.50 a year -- about the cost to fill up your car’s gas tank just one time. Over the five-year program, each participant’s total contribution will be $182.50. Now let’s multiply these modest amounts by one million members. That’s $36.5 million per year. After five years, by the end of 2012, the total is $182.5 million -- and that’s before the accumulating investment interest is added in. And if all 1.3 million members participate in Gimme Five!, the numbers are even more impressive -- more than $240 million total! Imagine $182.5 million plus, invested for the kids of Mooseheart and the seniors of Moosehaven -- all from five cents in the morning and five cents in the evening, every day for five years. Yes, it really is that simple -- but participating in Gimme Five! is even easier!			Please click on any photograph below to view a larger image. The Campaign for Mooseheart & Moosehaven For 85 years, beautiful Moosehaven has provided qualified Moose men and women with a gracious retirement home. Located in Orange Park, FL, active Moosehaven residents enjoy security, comfort, and peace of mind.
Here’s how to Gimme Five! We could provide every Moose member with a piggy bank to collect their loose change. But instead of trying to remember to physically set aside a nickel in the morning and a nickel in the evening, every day from now through 2012, we’re offering a few simpler ways to participate in Gimme Five!: Mail a check for your annual gift of $36.50 or your total five-year gift of $182.50 to: Moose Charities 155 S. International Dr. Mooseheart, IL 60539 Call Moose Charities at 630-966-2200 and donate by providing credit card or debit card information. Visit the Moose Charities web site at www.moosecharities.org and make a secure donation. Sign up for direct debit on the Gimme Five! Direct-Debit Plan web page at www.moosecharities.org. At state/provincial Association or International Conventions, visit the Gimme Five! booth and donate using cash, check, credit/debit card, Direct Debit Program or get in contact with your State/Provincial or Regional LOOM or WOTM Gimme Five! Co-Chairperson. When making your donation, please specify that the funds are to be used for Gimme Five! All contributions to Gimme Five! will be kept separate from other donations, ensuring that they will not be used for any other purpose. And because Moose Charities is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 charity, your entire Gimme Five! contribution is 100% tax-deductible. To ensure a better tomorrow, make the smart choice today If every Moose participates in the Gimme Five! program, we can reach a goal which our fraternity has struggled with for more than 90 years -- financial security for Mooseheart and Moosehaven. By participating in Gimme Five!, the membership of the Moose will take a giant step towards ensuring the future of Mooseheart for the children who attend now and those who will attend in the future, and for securing Moosehaven as a place where our seniors can always find the caring comfort they deserve. Freed from the need to direct funds to Mooseheart and Moosehaven each year, we will be able to return our financial focus to Moose Lodges, Chapters, Legions, Associations and communities -- the foundations upon which this great fraternity was established over a century ago -- and revitalize our initiatives to grow our organization. For decades, we have expressed our pride in these two great Moose humanitarian missions, and our members have told us, loudly, clearly and repeatedly, that they want to keep these two campuses healthy and operating well into the future. The Gimme Five! program can establish a legacy we can all be proud of -- but only if we all participate. “Gimme Five! -- Together, we will make it happen. For more information on Gimme Five! giving options, please e-mail cperry@mooseintl.org or talk with your Lodge or Chapter Gimme Five! Co-Chair. You also have Gimme Five! District Co-Chairs, State Co-Chairs and Regional Chairs. North American Co-Chairpersons are Grand Chancellor Emeritus Tonie Ewoldt and Past Supreme Governor Tom Hatcher.

Gimme Five! Frequently Asked Questions Who should contribute to Gimme Five? Every member of the Loyal Order of Moose and the Women of the Moose is urged to contribute. The program will only be successful if near-100% participation is achieved. What is my fair share to fund the campaign? Give the equivalent of 10 cents a day or 70 cents per week, which is $36.50 a year for five years, for a total of $182.50. How much should I donate to start? This is up to you -- any amount will be appreciated as long as you reach the $182.50 total within five years. The sooner we receive your donation, the more interest it will earn for Mooseheart and Moosehaven. Can I donate more than the $182.50? Yes, you can certainly donate more! $182.50 is simply the suggested minimum amount needed to make the Gimme Five! program successful. What will the Gimme Five! money be spent on? None of the funds donated will be spent until the campaign is funded. Then only the interest will be spent, leaving the principal untouched. What will be done with interest from the campaign when it is fully funded? We are working on plans to make Moosehaven a break-even facility, so most of the interest will go to fund operations at Mooseheart, with a lesser amount going to Moosehaven. How do I enroll in the Gimme Five! Campaign? No enrollment is necessary. Simply make your donation by cash, check, credit card or electronic debit payable to Moose Charities and indicate that it is to be used for Gimme Five! Can I make a donation online? Yes, go to www.mooseintl.org and click to link to Moose Charities or go directly to www.moosecharities.org and click on the Gimme Five! icon, then follow the directions. Can I set up an automatic withdrawals to fund my donations to Gimme Five? Yes, go to www.moosecharities.org and download a Direct Debit enrollment form. Where else can I make donations? At District meetings, Association Conventions/ Conferences, Mid-Year Conferences, the annual International Convention, and over the phone to Moose Charities, Inc., at 630-966-2200. Is my donation tax deductible? Yes, completely! Moose Charities has a 501(c)3 Tax status. Your donation will be confirmed with a “thank you” letter from Moose Charities, which will serve as proof of your tax-deductible donation.

LOYAL ORDER OF MOOSE GIMME FIVE! CO-CHAIRS Alabama Willard Kitchens, Regional Co-Chair; Tom McNamara, State Co-Chair Alaska Ron Burke, Regional Co-Chair; Vern Ellwein, State Co-Chair Arizona Ron Burke, Regional Co-Chair; Bob Delsiva, State Co-Chair Arkansas Willard Kitchens, Regional Co-Chair; Cecil “Buck” Brown, State Co-Chair California Milton McGinnis PSG, Regional Co-Chair; Russell Nelson, Jerry O’Connor, State Co-Chairs Colorado Ron Burke, Regional Co-Chair; Fred Miller, State Co-Chair Connecticut Fred Boyd, Regional Co-Chair; Herbert Horner, State Co-Chair Delaware Bruce Berger, Regional Co-Chair; John Horstman, State Co-Chair Florida Liguori Saladin, Regional Co-Chair; John L. Lavelle, Tom Burnam, State Co-Chairs Georgia Willard Kitchens, Regional Co-Chair; Jimmy McGuffey, State Co-Chair Hawaii Ron Burke, Regional Co-Chair; Vern Ellwein, State Co-Chair Idaho Paul Barbeau, State Co-Chair Illinois Bob Neff, Regional Co-Chair; Bill Girard, Rich Davis, Mark Hanford, State Co-Chairs Indiana Chuck Staugler, Regional Co-Chair; Bob Elston, John Martin, Don Carpenter, State Co-Chairs Iowa/Eastern Nebraska George Pemsl, Larry Minner, State Co-Chairs Kansas Galen Griffen, State Chair Kentucky G.W. McCullough, Regional Co-Chair; Steven Feigenbaum, Ron Houston, Rick Stewart, State Co-Chairs Louisiana Willard Kitchens, Regional Co-Chair; Houston W. Nelson, State Co-Chair Maine Fred Boyd, Regional Co-Chair; Gene Joyce, State Co-Chair Maryland Bruce Berger, Regional Co-Chair; John Horstman, State Co-Chair Massachusetts Fred Boyd, Regional Co-Chair; Steve Rice, State Co-Chair Michigan Chuck Staugler, Regional Co-Chair; Bill Taylor, State Co-Chair Minnesota Lewis Allen, Regional Co-Chair; Lee Alto, State Co-Chair Mississippi Willard Kitchens, Regional Co-Chair; Gator Haynes, State Co-Chair Missouri Steve Porter, Chuck Lewis, State Co-Chairs Montana Paul Curtis, Regional Co-Chair; Lee Goeres, State Co-Chair Nevada Milton McGinnis PSG, Regional Co-Chair; Dan Steffen, State Co-Chair New Hampshire Fred Boyd, Regional Co-Chair; Gene Joyce, State Co-Chair New Jersey Bruce Berger, Regional Co-Chair; Bruce Masopust, State Co-Chair New Mexico Ron Burke, Regional Co-Chair; Paul Herrera, State Co-Chair New York Bruce Berger, Regional Co-Chair; Robert Laux, Wayne Washburn, Brian Best, Earl Hebert, State Co-Chairs North Carolina G.W. McCullough, Regional Co-Chair; Ralph Williams, Central Co-Chair; Steven Wayne Edge East Co-Chair; Jeffery Scott West Co-Chair North & South Dakota Lewis Allen, Regional Co-Chair; Terry Gilbertson, State Co-Chair Ohio Chuck Staugler, Regional Co-Chair; Ron Martin, State Co-Chair Oklahoma J.C. Patton, State Co-Chair Oregon Paul Curtis, Regional Co-Chair; Ron Waits, State Co-Chair Pennsylvania Bruce Berger, Regional Co-Chair; George (Eddie) Hopkins, Matt Reik, State Co-Chairs Rhode Island Fred Boyd, Regional Co-Chair; Steven Rice, State Co-Chair South Carolina G.W. McCullough, Regional Co-Chair; Duane Murtomaki, Roy D. Damron, Dominic Cisson, State Co-Chairs Tennessee GW McCullough, Regional Co-Chair; Bob Spingler, Tracy Herman, Charlie Liddell, State Co-Chairs Texas Craig Clyburn, North Co-Chair; Ray Cooke, North Central Co-Chair; Mike Stueber South Central Co-Chair; Neil Bitting, South Co-Chair Utah Paul Barbeau, State Co-Chair Vermont Fred Boyd, Regional Co-Chair; Gene Joyce, State Co-Chair Virginia Danny Williams, Regional Co-Chair; Billy Britt, State Co-Chair Washington Paul Curtis, Regional Co-Chair; John Prough, State Co-Chair West Virginia Danny Williams Regional Co-Chair; Mike Neal, Randy Mick, State Co-Chairs Wisconsin Louis Allen, Regional Co-Chair; Allen Limberg, State Co-Chair Wyoming/Western Nebraska Louis Allen, Regional Co-Chair; Mike Bellew, State Co-Chair WOMEN OF THE MOOSE GIMME FIVE! CO-CHAIRS Alabama Connie Nyland, Regional Co-Chair; Kay Kitchens, State Co-Chair Alaska Pat Walker, Regional Co-Chair; Donna Reese, Barbara Riley, State Co-Chairs Arkansas Cathleen Bradshaw, Regional Co-Chair; Anita Zajic, State Co-Chair Arizona Faye Monk-Erwin, Regional Co-Chair; Vicki Carmack, Nancy Tomczak, State Co-Chairs California Pat Walker, Regional Co-Chair; Patricia Adams, Brenda Grani, Sue Hicks, State Co-Chairs Colorado Sandy Thompson, Regional Co-Chair Connecticut Judith Davis, Regional Co-Chair; Annette Dulude, State Co-Chair Florida Marlene Snyder, Regional Co-Chair; Phyllis Jewett, Linda Mulligan, Gloria Petrea, Donna Sargent, Linda Wimpee, State Co-Chairs Georgia Connie Nyland, Regional Co-Chair; Sandra Langford, State Co-Chair Iowa/Eastern Nebraska Cathleen Bradshaw, Regional Co-Chair; Patricia Davis, Nancy Minner, Delcia Itzen, State Co-Chairs Idaho/Utah Sandy Thompson, Regional Co-Chair; Janna Cowger, State Co-Chair Illinois Judith Gipson, Regional Co-Chair; Mary Becker, Carol J. Bowker, State Co-Chairs Indiana Charlene Welch, Regional Co-Chair; Leanna Miller, Dona Strausbaugh, Wanda Igou, State Co-Chairs Kansas Cathleen Bradshaw, Regional Co-Chair; Claudia Durr, State Co-Chair Kentucky Margaret Roach, Regional Co-Chair; Vicki Staubach, State Co-Chair Louisiana Connie Nyland, Regional Co-Chair; Mary Anderson, State Co-Chair Maine Judith Davis, Regional Co-Chair Maryland/Delaware/DC Connie Nyland, Regional Co-Chair; Olivia Schmidt, State Co-Chair Massachusetts Judith Davis, Regional Co-Chair; Grace Flint, Julie Marshall, State Co-Chairs Michigan Charlene Welch, Regional Co-Chair; Georgia Beardsley, Mary Dunn, Marion Friend, Catherine Funkey, State Co-Chairs Minnesota Judith Gipson, Regional Co-Chair; Carolyn Allen, Patti Haus, State Co-Chairs Mississippi Connie Nyland, Regional Co-Chair; Jean Benton, Guy Nell Haynes, State Co-Chairs Missouri Cathleen Bradshaw, Regional Co-Chair; Melody Ross, State Co-Chair Montana Sandy Thompson, Regional Co-Chair; Alyce Haider, State Co-Chair Nevada Pat Walker, Regional Co-Chair, Jean Fahl, Linda Young, State Co-Chairs New Hampshire Judith Davis, Regional Co-Chair; Tama Mitchell, State Co-Chair New Jersey Connie Nyland, Regional Co-Chair; Jan Grecco, Mary Pat McCann, Sunday Padona, State Co-Chairs New Mexico Faye Monk-Erwin, Regional Co-Chair; Connie Cope, State Co-Chair New York Estelle Hebert, Regional Co-Chair; Carol A. Bowker, Bonnie Hamelynck, State Co-Chairs North Carolina Connie Nyland, Regional Co-Chair; Abbie Blake, Jane Helm, Debra Williams, State Co-Chairs North Dakota Cathleen Bradshaw, Regional Co-Chair; Barbara Stelzmiller, State Co-Chair Ohio Charlene Welch, Regional Co-Chair; Mary Bayles, Pam Rich, Joyce Schelling, Karol Smith, State Co-Chairs Oklahoma Faye Monk-Erwin, Regional Co-Chair; Jo Ann Hornback, State Co-Chair Oregon Pat Walker, Regional Co-Chair; Molly Brown, Sharon Elliott, Kari Rae, State Co-Chairs Pennsylvania Estelle Hebert, Regional Co-Chair; Patsy Baxter, Ethel Harmon, Linda Mamula, State Co-Chairs South Carolina Connie Nyland, Regional Co-Chair; Charlotte James, Barbara Springfield, State Co-Chairs South Dakota Cathleen Bradshaw, Regional Co-Chair; Mary Froning, State Co-Chair Tennessee Connie Nyland, Regional Co-Chair; Shirley Gentry, Sally O’Brien, Waneta Tyler, State Co-Chairs Texas Faye Monk-Erwin, Regional Co-Chair; Yvonne King, Shelia Sager, Linda Terry, State Co-Chairs Vermont Judith Davis, Regional Co-Chair; Virginia Buck, State Co-Chair Virginia Margaret Roach, Regional Co-Chair; Thelma “Lynn” Jenkins, Barbara Kochis, Patricia Maxey, Cindy Millard, State Co-Chairs Washington Pat Walker, Regional Co-Chair; Arlana Bishop, Margaret Stillwell, State Co-Chairs Wisconsin Judith Gipson, Regional Co-Chair; Margaret Achter, Marlene Carrell, Janet Fassino, State Co-Chairs West Virginia Margaret Roach, Regional Co-Chair; Karen Gageby, Betty Kesling, State Co-Chairs Wyoming/Western Nebraska Sandy Thompson, Regional Co-Chair; Debora Wessels, State Co-Chair CANADA Alberta Wendy Matthew, Canadian Co-Chair; Mary Cook, Lilian McFaul, Provincial Chairs British Columbia Wendy Matthew, Canadian Co-Chair; Wendy McKinley, Provincial Chair Ontario Wendy Matthew, Canadian Co-Chair Quebec Wendy Matthew, Canadian Co-Chair; Maryse Dexter, Provincial Chair
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