‘United in Purpose’

Ewoldt proudly details WOTM’s $8.6M contribution despite a year of management adjustments


Tonie Ewoldt
Grand Chancellor, Women of the Moose

> Perhaps no other area at Moose International headquarters has undergone more of an adjustment during this past year of management restructuring, than the office of Grand Chancellor Tonie Ewoldt.

As the men and women of our Lodges and Chapters have moved progressively closer in working together on nearly all aspects of the Moose fraternal programs--Community Service; Sports and Family Activities; even running the overall facility via our Joint Management option--it was determined that administration of such programs from headquarters should logically also be interwoven--that General Governor David Chambers and Grand Chancellor Ewoldt would, jointly, oversee one office of Community Service serving both Lodges and Chapters; one office of Youth & Family Activities/ Sports/Ritual; one office of Government Relations; one office of Lodge/Chapter Development.

While this has meant that Grand Chancellor Ewoldt has had to adjust to administer the functions unique to the Women of the Moose--degrees, boards, Chapter requirements, etc.--it has also meant more resources at her disposal.

Ewoldt straightforwardly acknowledged the ongoing stress of this adjustment in her Tuesday afternoon address to the Loyal Order of Moose General Session: “Just like a family, we all have our ups and downs. We sometimes see things differently and we may not always agree,” she said. “But the one thing we must remember through all the changes--whether we like them or not; whether we agree with them or not--the Moose is a family fraternity. The Women of the Moose is a unit of Moose International, just as the Loyal Order of Moose is a unit of Moose International--two separate units, united in the same purpose; the same cause--taking care of dependent children and providing for them in their sunset years.”

Ewoldt took pains to emphasize: “During all the changes that have ocurred during the past year, we have received many questions and concerns regarding the future of the Women of the Moose. Even though we no longer have a separate department at Moose International... let me assure you, the Women of the Moose are alive and well. And we will survive all the changes that have occurred and changes that may be coming in the future.”

Indeed, the Grand Chancellor continued, the Women of the Moose continued to be an essential financial underpinning for the fraternity’s programs in 2004-05, raising and giving a total of $8,632,161.40 for the fiscal year. Included in that total:

• the full commitment of $110,000 to Mooseheart Music Department (though actual contributions to this fund were less than $70,000, and the difference had to be made up from reserves in this fund;
  

• total contributions of $446,620.63 received for Mooseheart projects from Chapter Development, Special and Standing Committees;
  

• total contributions of $477,365.18 received for Moosehaven projects from the Chapter Development, Special and Standing Committees;
  

• total donations of $81,188.77 to the Women of the Moose Scholarship Fund for Mooseheart graduates;
  

• total donations of $410,651.56 for the Women of the Moose Maintenance Fund;
  

• total donations of $563,170.87 to the Mooseheart/ Moosehaven Endowment Fund;
  

• total donations of $2,205,099.57 from Chapters to Lodges (for building funds, utilities; maintenance/repairs. furniture, taxes, insurance, improvements, entertainment, mortgages and loans;
  

• total donations of $2,266,281.30 from Chapters to State/Provincial Associations toward special projects for Mooseheart, Moosehaven, Association scholarship funds, Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps, and Youth Awareness programs;
  

• total donations of $114,26451 from Chapters to local scholarship funds and $231,887.01 to local community projects
  

• total enrollment fees of $245,556.28 and per-capita tax of $4,141,326.81, contributed toward operating Mooseheart and Moosehaven operating expenses.
  
  

> Grand Regent Joan Collins has been active in the Women of the Moose since joining in 1953. She has been a member of Vacaville, CA Chapter 1498 since 1965. She attained the Academy of Friendship Degree in 1958, the College of Regents Degree in 1966 and the Star Recorder Degree in 1970. She served As Deputy Grand Regent for California during 1972-73 and served on the Grand Council from 1976-78. Joan’s husband, Andy, is a Past Supreme Governor of the Order, having served as the fraternity’s chief presiding officer in 1992-93. The couple has three daughters and six grandchildren.

	Carolyn Allen Grand Council Manakta, MN
	Debra Christopherson Grand Council Buhl, ID
	Sarah Schultz Grand Council Albuquerque, NM
	Linda Terry Grand Council Austin, TX

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