Making it Easier
to Spread the Flame

O’Brien announces return to sponsor credit at application--for men and women

Director of Membership Darrell O’Brien

> Undaunted by the challenges that the fraternity withstood this past year, Darrell O’Brien delivered an upbeat message of gratitude and optimism in his first address as the sixth Director of the Moose International Membership Department.

“I’m here to recognize the thousands of individual members of this Moose fraternity, who refused to falter in the face of adversity, who embraced the proposition of changing today, in order to provide for a better tomorrow, and who chose to honor the obligation they took the day they enrolled,” said O’Brien, “to strengthen our Defending Circle by inviting, and enrolling, qualified men to join with us as we care for youth and seniors, make our communities better places to live, and celebrate life.”

O’Brien reported that there were 18,488 one member sponsors during the ‘Light the Torch’ campaign period of January 1, 2006 through April 30, 2006. In the same period some 2,651 individuals sponsored three members.

During the ‘Moose Momentum - Imagine The Possibilities’ campaign taking place between May 1, 2005 and April 30, 2006, Director O’Brien reported that 33,377 sponsors enrolled at least one member; 11,419 men enrolled at least two members; exactly 700 men went the extra mile to enroll 10 members.

O’Brien noted that in this first (and as it turns out, only) year of sponsor-credit reported only upon enrollment rather than receipt of application, only 432 sponsors qualified for new designation in the Moose 25 Club. With an immediate return to sponsor credit upon report of the membership application (for both men and women; an announcement which drew an ovation), O’Brien and the Membership Department look for a return to more qualifiers for the new membership effort.

In 2006-07, O’Brien said, “the Membership Department, through field staff and Association volunteers, will strive to serve fraternal units with as much support and advice as they require to ensure gains in good standing membership.” Toward that end, one program enthusiastically promoted by the Membership Department is the Annual International Enrollment Week--a push to have every Lodge offer as many enrollment opportunities as possible to candidates during the last week of the Moose fiscal year.

Top Membership Department staff, from left: Assistant Directors Byron Dalton and Ron Kozuszek, Administrative Assistant Joanne Svendsen and Assistant Director Kim Thompson.

In April of ’06, “we are very pleased to report that 802 Lodges reported 5,324 members enrolled during the final seven days of the fiscal year, in 1,438 separate enrollment ceremonies.” He noted that 196 more members were enrolled in the final week of 2005-06, than during the final week a year earlier. “What strikes me as being even more impressive is the extra mile our Lodges were willing to go,” he said. “Our lodges conducted 199 more enrollment ceremonies this year during Enrollment Week to enable us to report that 196 member gain in enrollees over last year.”

O’Brien also announced a new revision to the membership application form (now available online in printable form.) While the changes may not be immediately noticeable, they’re intended to clarify the application--particularly in the distinction between re-enrollment and reinstatement qualifications. A former member must still acknowledge his awareness that he is losing credit for prior years of membership by choosing to re-enroll rather than reinstate.

Too often, O’Brien explained, a member with many years of service--credit toward Moosehaven eligibility, or Life Membership after 50 years--is talked into re-enrolling in order to “save money” rather than paying back dues and keeping longevity.

Members using the new online form must remember to print both pages, and to fill them out completely.

O’Brien noted that personnel and their functions at Moose International have changed swiftly and repeatedly in recent years. Numerous tasks of immediate urgency have shifted people from throughout the building to various departments.

“It would be impossible for me to recognize them all individually without omitting someone,” said O’Brien. “Thanks to everyone at Moose International for the efforts they’ve expended to ensure we are on track for a return to normalcy.”

O’Brien concluded: “My brothers, I consider it my privilege to serve and support you as we build the awareness of the good the Moose does in each of your communities; as we build brighter futures for our children at Mooseheart and our seniors at Moosehaven; and as we build the membership of our Moose fraternity.

“James J. Davis may be credited with igniting our fraternal flame--but millions of members just like you, and me, have kept that fire burning for over a century. This eternal flame cannot and will not be extinguished now . . . keep the fire burning, share of your Moose membership! Sponsor a new Moose member--PASS IT ON!”