May 1 is WOTM ‘Independence Day’

At Grand Chancellor’s recommendation, all co-workers to be free of ‘affiliation’

Grand Chancellor
Janet Fregulia

> As of May 1, 2006, the concepts of “male affiliation” and “Home Chapter” in the Women of the Moose are remnants of the past.

Grand Chancellor Janet Fregulia made such a recommendation that was approved by the Women of the Moose Grand Council in January; this unanimous decision was ratified by another unanimous vote from the Supreme Council in February.

At its inception as a recognized component of the Moose organization in 1913, the Women of the Moose required new members to declare an affiliation with some related (male) member of the Loyal Order of Moose. For many years, only wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of a Lodge member could apply for membership in any Chapter of the Women of the Moose. (Gradually, requests were made to open those potential affiliations to nieces, aunts, etc., such that ultimately, some 15 possible affiliations were established.)

However, Home Chapter was established shortly after World War II, to enable women without any affiliation to join the Women of the Moose. But even until the early 1990s, Home Chapter members did not completely enjoy the same rights as affiliated Chapter members -- such as the right to serve in any Chapter or International office.

By the end of the ’90s, the question was coming from both Moose men and women: Why continue to maintain Home Chapter? The answer was a practical one: The income from Home Chapter dues was valuable--going a long way toward enabling the Women of the Moose to make its large annual donations to Mooseheart and Moosehaven; extra income to supplement donations received from our Chapters for these essential endeavors.

“But, co-workers, you have asked for this change and now you have it,” Fregulia said in March. “It is my pleasure to announce that effective May 1, the Women of the Moose will no longer have (male) ‘affiliations.’ . . . in fact, you may cross out any reference to this word in all Women of the Moose books, applications, etc. A woman who meets the membership qualifications listed on the application and in our Handbook amendments may be invited to become a member of your Chapter.”

The Grand Chancellor explained that Home Chapter members currently associated with a given Chapter will now simply be included in that Chapter’s membership total. “Only members from closed Chapters will pay annual membership dues to ‘Chapter 3000,’ which is maintained at Moose International headquarters.”

Fregulia noted that while revenue lost from the Home Chapter program must be made up in the form of an increase in annual WOTM per-capita to $12 beginning May 1, each Chapter will also now receive annual income of $8 for each former Home Chapter member (more, if the Chapter’s dues are more than $20). She concluded: “All Women of the Moose members are now fully equal . . . this is a win-win situation!”