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People are busy and we appreciate it when they take time to attend meetings. These outlines help us keep on track and get needed business taken care of. They provide the flow of conducting business.

Simple meeting agendas serve as outlines for the business regularly conducted by the various groups. They are the swearing in ceremonies whereby officers pledge to follow the guidelines and work in harmony for success of the fraternal units they are to serve. It includes informational presentations to enlighten new members on the workings, member benefit programs and philanthropic endeavors of the fraternity.

They include non-denominational memorial services to be presented at a funeral home or gravesite for a departed member. An annual memorial service to remember and honor all those who passed in the prior year is also available and encouraged as a joint program for the Women of the Moose Chapters and Loyal Order of Moose Lodges. Moose Legions, Councils of Higher Degrees and state/provincial associations often host a separate annual memorial program.

Of course there are always procedures in any business or organization that outline how various functions are intended to happen or take place. A variety of manuals, rule books, service procedures, informational pamphlets, etc. help us to keep things organized and on track. Some of them provide ideas for social functions or fund-raising programs in sort of a how to format.

Any forms and additional information regarding Moose Ceremonies & Procedures can be found here.

The Councils’ main responsibility and goal is to aid the Lodges, Chapters and Moose Legions in the retention of active dues paying members through personal contact. Our Council members run various social programs and do a fair amount of fund-raising as well. Support of Moose Charities initiatives and our fraternity in general is often very rewarding as done by these groups. After all, they are made up of past and current leaders who believe in our cause and know our needs and how to fulfill them.

Additionally, the Councils normally have an annual banquet and/or other events to honor those new degree holders who have advanced in the past year. These events recognize the individuals and offer a chance to publically thank them for their service among their peers. This in itself promotes benevolence and charity among all members.

As members of the Higher Degrees, these groups are generally in the forefront of support and promotion of Moose programs and lead the cause of fraternalism by example. These groups, at the Chapter, Lodge and Moose Legion level, may meet as often as desired to socialize, work towards building membership strength, raise funds for Moose Charities and help with various other fraternal endeavors.

Any forms and additional information regarding Council of Higher Degrees can be found here.

Membership is generally comprised of those who take an active role in building membership, serve on committees and volunteer their time and talents in service to Moose programs. Those who serve as Chairmen of various committees and as officers in the lodge, Moose Legion, district and associations are most often recognized and recommended for advancement.

November is Fellowship Honor month across the fraternity. The members of this degree are recognized for their services over the years through activities and programs. They also meet to discuss the possibility of recommending other Moose Legion members to be considered for the Fellowship Degree.

Recommendations are confidential until such time as the recommended Moose Legionnaire is selected and called by the Pilgrim Council to be conferred with the Degree of Honor. The opportunity to serve on the Lodge Fellowship Committee is one of the privileges of being a Fellow. This select group may meet as often as they like to socialize, raise funds for special projects or conduct other business beneficial to the Degree or to the Lodge.

The official regalia of a Fellow include a French-blue blazer featuring the Fellowship logo, coordinated necktie, white shirt, black trousers and black footwear. The regalia may be worn at any function of the Fraternity and is symbolic of the character and strength that these men have provided to the Moose fraternal structure.

A Fellow is someone who has been a leader and is now often an all-important mentor to newer members helping to guide them along a fraternal leadership path towards enhancing our existing programs. They continue to serve in various ways to keep their fraternal units strong, often through positive efforts in membership recruitment and retention.