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At its February meeting, Moose International’s Board of Directors voted to extend the Moose Rewards program an additional two years, with a new targeted end date of April 30, 2024.  Members may continue to earn points through the program simply by doing activities which will strengthen the Fraternity, such as signing new members, participating in training programs, and renewing their dues.  Members may also redeem points for things such as dues renewals, convention registration, donations through Moose Charities, and gift certificates for the Moose Gift Store.  All members are enrolled automatically and earn points as they complete activities without having to submit any forms.  For more information about the program, please go to www.mooserewards.org.

At around 9:05 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2015, the Charleston Police Department began receiving calls of a shooting at Emanuel AME Church. A man described as white, with sandy-blond hair, around 21 years old and 5 feet 9 inches in height, wearing a gray sweatshirt and jeans, opened fire with a Glock .45-caliber handgun on a group of people inside the church during a Bible study.  On that evening in June, Dylann Roof shot and killed nine innocent African-American individuals. At the time, this was one of the two deadliest mass shootings at an American place of worship.

The morning after the attack, police arrested Roof in Shelby, North Carolina.  The 21-year-old white supremacist had attended the Bible study at the Church before he committed the shooting. He was found to have targeted members of this church because of its history and stature.  Roof espoused racial hatred in both a website manifesto published before the shooting and a journal written from jail afterward.

One of the victims was Sharonda Coleman-Singleton– a pastor, as well as a speech therapist and track coach at Goose Creek High School.  She was also the mother of Chris Singleton, a former minor league baseball player drafted by the Chicago Cubs.

Following the tragic loss of his mother, Chris made the difficult decision to embrace love and forgiveness, and not hate.  He became a nationally-renowned speaker with a message of resilience, forgiveness and unity.  He now shares his message with over 60 organizations annually and over 100,000 students and educators across the world. One of his children’s books, Different – A Story About Loving Your Neighbor, was a best seller in its category and has been featured by numerous outlets, including The Obama Foundation.

Chris’ overall mission when speaking is to inspire his audiences with his story of resilience and to unite millions of people with his belief that, “Love is Stronger Than Hate.”

“Ever since my mother was killed at my church back in 2015, it has become my mission to teach our young people to love one another despite their many differences,” said Chris.  “My mother’s life was taken away because of racism, but I promise to keep using my voice to put an end to it!”

Chris Singleton will be the featured speaker at a special presentation to the Moose Fraternity on Friday, July 1st at 4:00pm at the Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando.

Week by week, as construction of the Mooseheart Activity Center (MAC) continues, one of the famous spots on the campus nears a return to campus activity. For decades the site the of the Roosevelt Auditorium, the space that the MAC occupies will again be the site for much student activity.

The MAC, which will give students space to recreate and relax, is still on-pace for completion in Spring, 2022.

“To say we have escaped any setbacks would be false, but we have worked through the things that have happened, and none of the setbacks have been noteworthy,” Mooseheart Executive Director Gary Urwiler said.

The key to having the building fully-enclosed before the winter weather arrived has been to get roofing materials in-place and installed. Urwiler added that placement of the MAC in its historic setting was intentional.

“We wanted to recognize the tradition of the Roosevelt Auditorium. It is a beautiful area of campus and this is going to be a beautiful building. We are a tradition-filled facility and any time we have a chance to build something new, it adds freshness to the campus,” Urwiler said.

Some architecture to the MAC resembles that of the recent addition to Mooseheart school, which brings continuity to both facilities. “I always wanted something that would look contemporary and something that our kids would be excited to want to use. The MAC has done just that with our students – it’s created excitement,” Urwiler said.

Members have the opportunity to view the MAC ribbon cutting, which will take place in conjunction with Mooseheart commencement on June 4. Thank you to all members who contributed to this very exciting project.

Moose members are in for a special treat as we welcome Jimmie Allen, country music star and Moose member, to the stage during the Moose’s 25 Club/Fun Night Celebration during the 2022 International Moose Convention on Sunday, July 3rd.

Multi-platinum recording artist and songwriter Jimmie Allen has been blazing trails since the beginning of his breakout career. He made history as the first black artist to launch a career with two consecutive No. 1 hits off his 2018 debut album Mercury Lane – the first being his debut single “Best Shot,” which claimed the No. 1 spot on country radio for three weeks, and the second being “Make Me Want To.”

Allen won the 2021 Academy of Country Music’s (ACM) New Male Artist of the Year award and is currently nominated for the Country Music Association’s (CMA) New Artist of the Year award. His recent single, “Freedom Was A Highway” with superstar Brad Paisley, climbed through the Top 20 on country radio as he performed on Paisley’s Tour 2021 as his special guest this past summer.

The multi-talented Allen’s debut picture book, My Voice Is a Trumpet – a powerful story about speaking up for what you believe in, at any age – was published on July 13, 2021 with Flamingo Books.  Further, Jimmie was still competing as a celebrity on season thirty of ABC TV’s “Dancing with the Stars” as of the beginning of November.

Listen to some of  Jimmie Allen’s hit songs below and get ready to hear him live at convention!

It has been a busy few months at Moose International as there have been several staff changes in areas that directly impact our volunteers and members. Those changes are highlighted below:

Director of Moose Legion and Higher Degrees

Shawn Baile has returned to Moose International as Director of Moose Legion and Higher Degrees following the loss of long-time director, Bob Neff.

From 2006 – 2015, Shawn was responsible for a range of programs including the Moose Legion, Membership, and Activities/Heart of the Community. Shawn has continued to garner additional Moose-related experience since 2015, serving as Lodge Administrator and Secretary of the Pennsylvania Moose Association. Most recently, Shawn served as Moose International’s Outer Guard during the 133rd International Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio.

His contact information is Shawn Baile and by phone at 630-966-2260.

Director of Business Operations

Gordie Dailey has been promoted to the role of Director of Business Operations following the passing of long-time director, Charlie Palochko.

Prior to coming onboard at Moose International, Gordie served as a Lodge Administrator, President of the Mississippi Valley Moose Legion and as the Iowa/Eastern Nebraska Moose Association’s Secretary.

Beginning in 2014, Gordie served our Fraternity first as a Territory Manager and then Regional Manager in the Great Lakes Region.  In December of 2017, he accepted the duties associated with the Coordinator of Activities and Heart of the Community position.

His contact information is Gordie Dailey and by phone at 630-966-2230.

Coordinator, Activities and Heart of the Community

Will Harrison has been selected to lead the Activities and Heart of the Community programs for Moose International.

Will joined the Moose Fraternity in 1999 in Duncan, Oklahoma.  As a member of Duncan, Ok Lodge 2202, Will has served as both the Association’s State Sports Chairman and Membership Chairman.  He is a Past President of Sooner Moose Legion 147 and of the Oklahoma Moose Association.  Will was honored with the Pilgrim Degree of Merit in 2016 and served as Deputy Supreme Governor in 2020.  Since 2015, Will has served as the Administrator for the Duncan, Ok Lodge No. 2202.

His contact information is Will Harrison and by phone at 630-966-2214.

Chief Compliance Officer

Rick King has been promoted to the role of Chief Compliance Officer.

Rick has served as Senior Compliance Officer for Moose International, appointed to this post in August of 2019. Prior to this position, Rick served as Territory Manager and Association Liaison for Oklahoma/Southern Kansas, Texas, Louisiana after serving the Iowa/E. Nebraska and Missouri/N. Kansas in the same capacity from 2015-2018. Prior to this, he served as a Lodge Administrator for 11 years, Association President for Oklahoma-Southern Kansas, and was a Moose Legion Ambassador from 2011- 2012.

His contact information is Rick King and by phone at 630-966-2222.

Senior Compliance Officer

Bethany Bowser has been promoted to Senior Compliance Officer.

Bethany has served as a Compliance Officer for Moose International since February of 2019. Prior to this position, she worked in the Moose International Purchasing Department as a Purchasing Clerk.  Bethany has served the Mooseheart Chapter of the WOTM as Senior Regent, Junior Regent, Junior Graduate Regent and as Community Service and Activities/Sports Chairman.  She and her husband were also Family Teachers with Mooseheart Child City & School.

Her contact information is Bethany Bowser and by phone at 630-966-2207.

Training Manager

Chris Maher accepted the position of Training Manager and has transitioned over from the Membership Department where he served as a Financial Review Specialist.

Within Chris’ employment history are 13-years as a Divisional Instructor with the American Red Cross as well as a background of Moose-related positions that include Lodge Administrator, Territory Manager and Financial Review Specialist. He is a member of the 50 Club, a recent Fellowship Degree recipient, and a former Moose of the Year for his lodge, Buena Park 1945.

His contact information will be Chris Maher and by phone at 630-966-2294.

Risk Manager

Mike Leuer, Moose International’s current General Counsel, will absorb additional responsibilities within the area of Risk Management following the departure of long-time Manager, Ann Price.  Mike already had oversight of the Risk Management program, but will now deal more directly with our partners and lodges.

His contact information is Mike Leuer and by phone at 630-859-6634.