‘We Have to Relight the Fraternal Torch and Do What We Do Best: Serve Childhood and Old Age’

Bill Scott believes that if we concentrate on the basics, our fraternity will enjoy a revival

By MICHAEL McCULLOH

Supreme Governor William R. Scott

> Supreme Governor William R. Scott is on a mission to spread the word about the great work the Moose fraternity does for children--at Mooseheart, of course, but also in local communities.

During his 2006-07 year as Supreme Governor, Scott is promoting the new Cooperative Community Fundraising Events program --in which Lodges and Chapters are urged to identify an appropriate children’s charity in their own communities, and to conduct fundraisers in which proceeds will be split between the local charity and Mooseheart Child City & School. The “Caring for Kids” project helps fraternal units find easy ways to organize fundraising events which not only benefit the children at Mooseheart, but children in their own communities through a local 501(c)(3) charity.

“It is a little different from previous projects, but I am pleased to say it still helps children, which is one of the things our fraternity is all about,” Scott said.

In addition to helping work as an advocate of children and the fraternity he loves, Scott is proud to serve as only the third Supreme Governor from Canada in the history of the Moose fraternity. He was preceded by Norman G. Heyd of Toronto Lodge 1600 in 1926-27, and Jack L. Tessier of Windsor, ON Lodge 1499 in 1977-78.

As with so many other Moose members who become leaders at the International level, Scott said would likely not have joined the Moose had it not been for a friend who simply asked him to join on a social basis.

Future Supreme Governor Scott (third from right) was a longtime proud member of the Sault Ste. Marie Lodge 535 Ritual staff, shown here in 1984.

He had a friend involved in real estate in their hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, ON, who had joined Lodge 535 because “he thought it would help him to get clients and meet contacts,” Scott said.

Scott accepted his friend’s request and joined the Lodge in July 1977; he was not quite 28 years old. The guest speaker at the enrollment was the late Jay Stoehr, who served as membership director from 1974 to 1988. Scott, along with 55 other men enrolled that night, were enthralled with Stoehr’s charismatic presence.

“I remember what a good speaker he was, especially how he described Mooseheart and Moosehaven,” Scott said.

Scott, now 57, is a veteran practicing attorney in Sault Ste. Marie who wasn’t that active in Lodge leadership at first. It wasn’t until 1979, when his Lodge came into financial difficulty, that he started to lend his talents to the fraternity. He stepped in and helped the Lodge consolidate debts and work with creditors. He did the work without fee, and impressed the Lodge officers so much that he was asked to serve on the Board of Officers. He eventually served several committees, and ultimately as Lodge Governor. Scott has been named his Lodge’s Moose of the Year twice.

He has served from 1983 on at the Provincial level; two years as an Ontario Moose Association district president and on the advisory board to the executive committee -- on which he has served as legal advisor for 23 years.

In the mid-1980s two events happened to Scott that increased his involvement at the International level.

One, Ontario was doing extremely well with membership gains, and then-Director General Paul J. O’Hollaren had an opening on the Supreme Forum. He asked Eric Wood, then Director of Canadian Operations, if there was a young man with both legal and fraternal experience.

“Eric met with me, then I met with Paul, and I was appointed to the Supreme Forum at the International Convention” in 1985, Scott said.

“I was told it was a fairly easy appointment, and there were no cases for 10 or 11 years,” Scott said. But, from 1985 to ’94, Director General O’Hollaren appointed him to special committees; plus he was a consultant from Canada on revisions to General Laws, constitutions and the Women of the Moose rules, Canadian Lodge operations rules, etc.

Another way Scott became involved at the International level occurred in 1989, when Ontario put in a bid in for the International Bowling Tournament. Although Scott was chairman and the committee worked tirelessly for a professional presentation, then-Director of Sports Chet Albright thought the facilities too small. “But we wooed them and we were allowed (to host it),” he said. The committee had even distributed shirts to the Supreme Council which said “Bring ’Em to the Soo.”

In 1995, then-Director General Frank Sarnecki chose Scott for the Supreme Council. During the last 10 years Scott helped wrestle with the toughest challenges the fraternity has had to face since the Depression: sudden changes in leadership, a crash in investment markets, and the multiple reorganization of operational structures at Moose International. “But we need to put all that past us and go back to the basics,” he said, starting with making members proud.

“Our main objective is to restore pride and fraternalism in our members,” Scott said. “We have to relight the fraternal torch and go back to what we do best: serving childhood and old age.” Everything else, he said, will fall into place, .

“I’m proud to go out around the continent to represent the Moose, and show people what we are all about,” he said. “I’m also proud to represent Canada.”

Scott is also happy that his wife Dubravka (affectionately known as “Duke”) will be along his side for the travels he makes as Supreme Governor. Scott met Duke in 1988 and the two became close friends, ultimately marrying in Las Vegas in 1994 just before the International Convention. He has two adult children and two grandchilden--most of whom were present to see his ascension in Chicago, and all of whom are proud of his accomplishments. Wood, who has watched Scott move through the ranks of the fraternity, has no doubt he is the right man for the job.

“He has a great knowledge about the Moose fraternity and has an active law career as well,” Wood said. “I think he’ll do a really good job as Supreme Governor.”