Sellersville Moose Family Center #1539 Women of the Moose Chapter #471 Serving our Members and Community Editor: Harry Ricker Asst. Editor: Chris Perry February/March 2009 Issue #12 Moose Fraternity 121 Years Old Though the Moose fraternal organization was founded in the late 1800s with the modest goal of offering men an opportunity to gather socially, it was reinvented during the first decade of the 20th century into an organizational dynamo of men and women who set out to build a city that would brighten the futures of thousands of children in need all across North America. When Dr. John Henry Wilson, a Louisville, Ky., physician, organized a handful of men into the Loyal Order of Moose in the parlor of his home in the spring of 1888, he and his compatriots did so apparently for no other reason than to form a string of men's social clubs. Lodges were instituted in Cincinnati, St. Louis, and the smaller Indiana towns of Crawfordsville and Frankfort by the early 1890s, but Dr. Wilson himself became dissatisfied and left the infant order well before the turn of the century. Dr. John Henry Wilson It was just the two remaining Indiana Lodges that kept the Moose from disappearing altogether, until the fall of 1906, when an outgoing young government clerk from Elwood, Ind., was invited to enroll into the Crawfordsville Lodge. It was on James J. Davis' 33rd birthday, October 27 that he became just the 247th member of the Loyal Order of Moose. Davis, a native of Wales who had worked from boyhood as an "iron puddler" in the steel mills of Pennsylvania, had also been a labor organizer and immediately saw potential to build the tiny Moose fraternity into a force to provide protection and security for a largely working-class membership. At the time little or no government "safety net" existed to provide benefits to the wife and children of a breadwinner who died or became disabled. Davis proposed to "pitch" Moose membership as a way to provide such protection at a bargain price; annual dues of $5 James J. Davis Founder: to $10. Given a green light and the title of "Supreme Organizer," Davis and a few other Mooseheart & Moosehaven colleagues set out to solicit members and organize Moose Lodges across the U.S. and southern Canada. (In 1926, the Moose fraternity's presence extended across the Atlantic, with the founding of the Grand Lodge of Great Britain.) Davis' marketing instincts were on-target: By 1912, the order had grown from 247 members in two Lodges, to a colossus of nearly 500,000 in more than 1,000 Lodges. Davis, appointed the organization's first chief executive with the new title of Director General, realized it was time to make good on the promise. The Moose began a program of paying "sick benefits" to members too ill to work--and, more ambitiously, Davis and the organization's other officers made plans for a "Moose Institute," to be centrally located somewhere in the Midwest that would provide a home, schooling and vocational training to children of deceased Moose members. A Message from the Governor t From the Desk of the Administrator As I sit here thinking of what to write, we Ladies, and Co Workers, are faced with another big project. Our parking At the time I am writing this letter, there lot is now in need of repair. Just like every other is snow on the ground. But spring is just around project it requires money. Your officers have the corner and will be very welcome. come up with fund raisers to help, but we need My year as Governor is coming to a close. you, our members, to come into the Lodge and The new Brothers, Governor will be installed on take part. For without you and your support we Sunday April 26th. Why don’t you plan on do not have a Family Center. attending the installation of the new officers? We had several major issues occur in the In just a few months we will be electing a new last year which required a very large board. New challenges will be facing them. expenditure of monies. We have embarked on A Nominating Committee has been posted on the several fund raising events to replenish our board in the social quarters. Please feel free to resources. I thank you for supporting these talk to these men if you are interested in being endeavors. part of the board of your Lodge. There are 4 This year the Appreciation Dinner will be appointed and 7 elected officers of the board. held on April 4th. Several people had approached me about having this dinner later because of the The new door system has been installed and is unpredictable weather in February. Invitations working great. Just keep in mind the new cards will be forth coming as the date nears. need to be in contact with the receiver. So those The Moose Legion will be sponsoring a of you with thick wallets or big purses put your breakfast on March 29th with eggs to order. At card on the outside. the same time we will be having our spring meat shoot. In an attempt to raise funds there are a lot of The Easter egg hunt will be Saturday Fun Fund raisers planned for the upcoming April 11th. year. Watch the web site and the communication I would like to thank everyone that has board in the social quarters for these events. supported me for the last two years and made my job as Governor so fulfilling. As most of you know, I always have a lot to say. I plan to offer my continued support to I was told to keep it short, but must say the all the incoming officers and wish them every Lodge owes the Governor Charles Staley and his success. board a big thank you for a great year! Please come out and support your Lodge in the coming months. In closing I thank all of you for being a part of Fraternally yours, the greatest family fraternity in the world. The Charles E. Staley Lodge cares for both young and old while Governor continuing to improve the community. Fraternally Yours, Phil Febus Administrator Women of the Moose WOTM General Laws Sr. Regent Message Section 39. DROPPED FOR NONPAYMENT OF DUES FINES OR OTHER CHARGES. Dear Co-Workers, a. Non-payment of dues - Every member shall be in This will be my last newsletter. The next couple of arrears after the expiration date of her dues and becomes a member not in good standing. An expired member shall months will be very busy as we prepare for our not be entitled to any privileges of membership, including upcoming Chapter year. but not limited to: 1) Attending fraternal meetings. Saturday March 21 we have our St Patrick's Day 2) Attending association meetings or social factions. dance run by Barbara Staley, who is our College 3) Enjoying the privileges of any social quarters or Of Regents chairperson. The D J will be Rock N home. Ron. Cost will be $10:00 per person with door 4) Participating in any fraternal gatherings or activities. prizes and raffles (8.00pm - 12.00am). Come out and have a good time. An expired member does not qualify as a guest for admittance into any Moose Home. It is the member's responsibility to know the date her dues will be Chairperson Joyce Koehler (Family Involvement) delinquent. A member's failure to receive notice of her is running an Easter Flower Sale Thursday April 9, dues or arranges shall not release her from her Friday April 10 and Saturday April 11 providing responsibility to pay her dues on or before the dues there are flowers remaining. Chairperson Sarah expiration date. Moose International shall drop from the Beyers (Star Recorder) is having her yearly bake rolls any members in arrears after the expiration of twelve sale Friday April10. Please bake one of your cake (12) months. specialties and bring it to the Lodge about 4:30pm that day. We thank you for all your help. In case anyone wonders why we the WOTM have all these Please Contact our Chaplain fundraisers? This is how we make money to Kathy Ferrigno support the charities to which we donate eg. Mooseheart, Moosehaven as well as local At 215-538-2960 charities.etc. etc. if you have information about a Co-Worker who is ill The children's Easter Egg Hunt will be on Saturday or has suffered a death in the family, so that April 11, 2-4pm. Signup sheet will be on the table appropriate actions may be taken. by the Lodge door- note child's name, age, and whether boy or girl. Key Card Holders A new key card system has been installed. Please contact the Harrys Hints Administrator about getting a new card. Your old one will not work with the new system. You Wish-Bone Thousand Island must turn in your old card to get a new one or Salad Dressing there will be a $4:00 charge for a new card. I thank all the Co Workers, Chair People and Remove white rings and spots from wood Officers for all your dedication, support and help during the past 12 months. furniture. Thanks are also due to the men and women of the Lodge/Chapter who ably assist when required, especially at the WOTM monthly Wipe Dressing on and let stand for one (1) breakfasts. hour, and wipe off Just a thought, "The future depends upon what we do in the present" Fraternally Yours BettyThomson Senior Regent.