Moose International is happy to announce a more user-friendly version of Moose magazine for mobile devices – perfect for members who are busy and on-the-go! The new and enhanced version features flowable text and adjustable font size so you no longer have to struggle to read stories from your phone or tablet! In addition, the contents view makes it easy to see all the stories/features at once so you can jump to your favorite section much faster, while still being able to see the traditional/page view if you desire. A tutorial is also offered to walk you through all the features/benefits of the new platform at the beginning. We hope you enjoy this new enhanced version of Moose magazine, making it easier for those of you on the go to stay connected! Check it out for yourself here!
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Chastain Races for The Moose this Weekend
Members can cheer on Ross Chastain, who will once again be driving the red and black Moose Fraternity Chevrolet Camaro this Sunday as he races near St. Louis in the Enjoy Illinois 300. This is the second of four events that Ross will be in the No. 1 Moose Fraternity car, with races in Watkins Glen and Martinsville later in the season. Sunday’s race at World Wide Technology Speedway is at 3:30pm ET and can be seen on Fox Sports 1 (FS1).
Chastain maintains the slimmest of leads in the drivers’ standings with only a point separating him from second place driver Ryan Blaney, who won last week in Charlotte. Ross raced in the top 20 for most of the day, but a pit road brush-up cost the team a chance to fully compete for the win.
During last year’s St. Louis race, Ross bounced around with the No. 11 car for part of the day, but still ended up with an eighth-place finish at the end. It will be interesting to see what transpires this year, especially as the temperatures are expected to soar into the 90’s.
Prior to the race, Ross will be making two stops on behalf of the Fraternity:
- On Friday, June 2nd, he will be on the Mooseheart campus to observe the 5th and 8th grade promotions and visit with members and guests in attendance. The Moose Fraternity show car will also be on campus, which makes for great photo opportunities. All members are invited to stop by and participate in the activities.
- On Saturday, June 3rd, he will be conducting a meet-and greet at Belleville-Swansea Moose Lodge 1221 from 12:00n – 1:30pm in conjunction with a hog roast, picnic and car show presented by Gear Jammers. This event is open to members and the public, so stop by to wish him well and support the lodge.
Moose Members “Made It Happen”
Moose Fraternity Shows Gain in Membership for Second Straight Year
Twice is nice. For the second consecutive year, the Moose Fraternity has increased its membership total, this time gaining over four times the number of members that it increased by last year. The Moose finished the year at 875,322 members compared to 852,356 at the end of the last fiscal year – an increase of 22,966 members. In 2021-22, The Moose showed an increase of 5,120 members.
“It was a remarkable effort by all of our members this year,” according to Moose International Director of Membership Mike Rios. “What’s most impressive is that while we enhanced our recruiting numbers slightly over last year, the biggest reason our membership increased is that our retention efforts improved. That means as a Fraternity, we did a much better job making our members feel comfortable in our lodge homes and communicating our missions.”
Moose members recruited 167,158 individuals into The Moose in 2022-23. Last year, the recruiting total hit 163,703 members. The 3,455 increase only partly explained the nearly 23,000-member gain, with the rest coming from improved retention efforts.
“Our Board of Directors clearly understood the momentum we had created last year and doubled-down on some very important programs,” said Moose International CEO Scott Hart. “They continued funding our Lodge and Local Marketing grant programs; encouraged and supported the inclusion of women in lodge, association, and national management positions; embraced our successful sponsorship of NASCAR driver Ross Chastain; and visibly communicated a message of inclusion throughout the Fraternity.”
The Women of the Moose impressed with an increase of over 1,000 new members compared to last year, leading to an overall gain in membership of just under 3,000 members. The WOTM ended the year at 350,182 members compared to 347,260 in 2021-22.
For the second straight year, the Moose Legion also gained in membership, undoubtedly holding true to the mission of: “Having fun while providing greater service to the Moose Fraternity.” Year-over-year, Moose Legion membership increased by 624 members, finishing the 2022-23 fiscal year at 53,169 members.
May Message from Dan Gooch
Our fiscal year has come to a close. How did the Moose Legion do? How did Your Jurisdiction do? Did we have an increase in Membership? Did we show an increase in Endowment over last year? Did our other projects meet expectations? Did your Jurisdiction achieve the Pilgrim Level of the “Moose Legion Award of Excellence?” Did we “Make it Happen?” These are a lot of questions, which will be answered in Reno.
We made a very impressive effort to “Make it Happen,” “Because WE Care!” Let’s continue to remember our “Proud Past, while looking for a “Bright Future.” Moose Legionnaires continue to impress me with their giving. We all make a difference in the lives of our Mooseheart Children and our Moosehaven Seniors every day.
So, let’s continue to follow our motto, to “Do Some Good Thing for Someone Each Day”
Fraternally,
Dan Gooch – International Moose Legion President
Annual Membership Campaign
Membership campaigns are created and implemented by the Membership Department at Moose International. Annual Membership Campaigns typically run from May 1 to April 30 and have a unique theme each year.
This year’s Annual Membership Campaign is “Proud Past, Bright Future” which runs from May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024. We are proud of the history of this great Fraternity. While keeping our past successes in mind, we look forward to the bright future with like-minded members who continue to play an important role in their local communities and supporting Mooseheart and Moosehaven for years to come. Working together, our future is bright!
Campaign ads to use in your Lodge/Chapter newsletter can be found in our Forms/Documents section.
April Message from Cathy Funkey
“No Winter lasts forever, no Spring skips its turn. April is a promise that May is bound to keep.”
— Hal Borland
Guess what…it’s April again. April comes from the Latin word “aperit” which means to open. It’s the month that signals “real” springtime when the days get longer and warmer, blossoms appear and hibernation ends. April is also the month when we close the fiscal year for our Lodges and Chapters. And as with all things, when one door closes another one opens.
To many, April is a time of rebirth, regrowth and renewal. That applies not only to our personal lives but to the members of our Fraternity. The key word is renewal as we contact delinquent members so we can reach our “plus 1” goal for the Award of Achievement. “She believed she could, so she did” (unknown). Review your “Checklist for a Successful Year” and submit any missing reports.
We “wrap up” this year with the installation of the 2023-24 Chapter Officers. That’s not the end of things. Remember “April is a promise that May is bound to keep.” So, say hello to May, “a month of new beginnings, new mindset, new focus, new start, new intentions, new results” (Filling the Jar). Congratulations to all the new Officers and Chairmen.
April Message from Dan Gooch
It is hard to believe that it is already April. Our fiscal year is about to come to a close. We are looking like we could have another year showing an increase in membership. We are counting on you to “Make it Happen” again! We have seen a lot of men achieve the Ambassador’s Key Club. These are the leaders throughout the fraternity, “Leading by Example.” We have also seen Jurisdictional Boards achieve their Director’s Keys. Every member of their Board signed at least (2) Moose Legionnaires. As you can see, we ALL need to “Lead by Example.” Please work on those Expired Lists, and work on keeping the members we already had. Phone calls, postcards, personal visits, whatever it takes, let’s get it done.
As the year approaches an end we are also thinking about our Fundraising. Our endowment fund giving is lagging behind at this time. We still have time to increase our funds. So please send in your endowment donations. Our Youth Awareness Scholarship monies are an important part of our program. All of your contributions are important to continue the Moose Legion Program. Be sure to get your checks in As Soon As Possible, so that they will be counted for this fiscal year. Let’s finish the year on a high note.
We want to have a big celebration in Reno!
Fraternally,
Dan Gooch – International Moose Legion President
Sports
For additional information on any of these tournaments, or if your lodge would be interested in hosting a future tournament, please contact:
Activities Department
Mooseheart, IL 60539-1172
630-966-2214
March Message from Charles Barber
The Moose Legion Code of Rules specifies the following:
24.4 “Celebrations SHALL be held at LEAST four (4) times a year, on a quarterly basis.”
Quarterly Jurisdiction wide Celebration remain the preferred vehicle for conferring new members and providing an opportunity for our long standing members to gather as a whole.
Why is this Quarterly meeting so important? First it is your opportunity to make a good first impression on your new members as well as providing a continuing source of pride in the Moose Legion for our long time members as well as an opportunity to engage in fund raising activities that are not available otherwise. In addition, planning and promoting these celebrations for your entire Jurisdiction, and ensuring that all members are aware of the date, location and planned activities can actually help in your retention efforts. Members who don’t see much activity are less likely to renew their dues than members who are informed and actively involved.
Celebration is defined as: “The action of marking one’s pleasure at an important event or occasion by engaging in enjoyable, typically social activity.”
Since these celebrations occur quarterly it provides the Jurisdictions Directors and committees 3 months in which to plan an enjoyable, memorable and fun event.
In conclusion, please take some time to plan and promote your quarterly celebrations, directors please read through the Code of Rules and find what your duties are in planning, promoting and presenting enjoyable and memorable CELEBRATIONS.
Fraternally,
Charles Barber IMLVP
February/March Message from Cathy Funkey
“Let us welcome February and take every chance to show love to all we meet.”
From Valentine’s Day to St. Patrick’s Day with March Madness in between, the next two months will be filled with celebrations for all. What a great time to “show love to all we meet” and recognize your members for all they do in the Lodge and Chapter. It’s an overlooked phenomenon called “noticing.” Each time we notice what others are doing and respond with a positive remark they feel better. Think about making a random positive remark when you see someone clear a table or decorate the Lodge. You will be surprised about the impact it has on them.
It’s also time for the final Nominating Meetings and the Election of 2023-24 Chapter Officers. Don’t forget that the election timeline changed when our mandatory meetings were reduced to one a month. Your Chapter Advocate is not only a great source of information about the election process, but she can help you start off the new Chapter year on the right foot. Many CA’s are scheduling Women of the Moose Training Sessions to coincide with the Mid-Year Conference to help the incoming Officers. Many Associations are also offering computer training so please take advantage of these sessions.
Don’t forget to review the Checklist for a Successful Year found on the back of your Officer and Treasurer Handbooks. Double check LCL.web to insure your 114 and 166 forms have been accepted.
Finally, the existing Board of Officers should plan to meet with the new Officers to make the transition to the new Chapter year run smoothly. If you present a united front, it will go a long way to encouraging other members to attend meetings.
“It is March, you have total 31 days bring positive changes into life. Believe in yourself because every February gust is followed by a March spring.”
