‘Let’s Put Aside Our Difficulties and Move Forward’

Chambers insists on compliance with Private Policy: ‘Moose International does not charter bars’

General Governor David Chambers

> David Chambers delivered his 11th annual report as General Governor with a stern reminder that we must strictly adhere to our Private Policy.

As a private organization, our lodges enjoy both an exemption from income taxes granted by the Internal Revenue Service and the right of private association guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U. S. Constitution, Chambers said. Any violation of the Private Policy places our fraternity at risk of being declared a “public accommodation.”

“If we were classified a public accommodation, we would lose this tax-exempt status, the right to choose our own members, and the privilege of adopting our own laws,” he said. If we want to remain free of government interference, we must comply with these policies,” Chambers said.

“It is not worth jeopardizing your Lodge’s very existence over something as unnecessary as selling something to a non-member,” he said. If Lodge leaders consider it necessary, “then I suggest you open up your own bar. Moose International does not charter bars; Moose International charters Moose Lodges.”

“Please understand that the last thing that the General Governor or anyone else at Moose International wants to do is close any Lodge,” he said.

Lodges are only closed for the following reasons:

• The Lodge is in serious violations of the laws of the Order and/or Private Policy and all other reasonable efforts to obtain compliance have been exhausted.
  
  
• The Lodge is in violation of the association’s attendance policy as mandated by the laws of the Order.
  
  
• The Lodge is in violation of one of the following Supreme Council directives:
  
  
  • All Lodges shall maintain Worker’s Compensation insurance.
    
    
  • All Lodges shall maintain Directors and Officers Liability Insurance.
    
    
  • All Lodges shall meet their financial obligations to Moose International.
    
    
  • All Lodges shall have a computer and software.
    
    
  • All Lodges shall make sure every alcohol server is TIPS trained.

“While these requirements may sometimes seem harsh or intrusive, they are absolutely essential for us to protect and preserve Mooseheart and Moosehaven,” Chambers said.

Chambers presented the Top Association banner for 2006 to leaders of the Arkansas Moose Association (right). The Arizona/New Mexico Moose Association took second place. Third place was received by the Massachusetts-Rhode Island Moose Association.

The General Governor said that despite many changes in the last year, hard feelings and differences must be put aside, because “the need we face today is the same need faced by our fraternity 100 years ago when James J. Davis joined the Order--and that need is for every member of this Order to pass on the story of the Moose--a story about an organization that is dedicated to caring for children in need, caring for its senior members and their spouses, bringing communities closer together, helping others, and celebrating life.”

“At this point in our history, it is essential that we as fraternal brothers rally around our Director General and international officers and give them our unbridled support as they face the challenges that lay ahead,” Chambers concluded.

For the complete text of Chambers’s address, see www.mooseintl.org/public/2006Conv.aspx; for more information on the Private Policy, click here (log on using your moose member username and password).