The Administrator and I have just returned from the Moose International Seminar in Las Vegas. There were many important subjects brought up but the 2 subjects that really caught my attention were membership and building a relationship with our community.  The Moose membership has been on a steady decline since 1981 and as of this date we only have 750,000 members on roll.  People I have heard time and time again we are the best kept secret in town; well it’s time to let the cat out of the bag. And the first place to start is in our community. Tell them of the millions of dollars Moose International donates every year, tell them of our 1000 acre child city Mooseheart, tell them of our 70 acre campus for our Seniors Moosehaven, talk to them about the thousands of dollars that Manchester #699 donates to the Down Syndrome Foundation, the Bedford County Special Olympics, the Boy scouts, the Kidney Foundation, the Wounded Warrior program, and so many other worthwhile organizations. Who knows we might even pick up a member or two along the way.

  The month of February is the month that we start the forming of our nominating committee. I encourage everyone to take an active part in their lodge. If you would like to be considered please contact any member of the nominating committee who’s names will be read on the open floor at our February 20, 2012 Lodge meeting.

Our Christmas and New Year’s Eve Dance were a great success due largely in part to the hard work of our faithful Volunteers. If I did not get a chance to thank you personally, please forgive me. The Moose was founded on Volunteers and it is the Volunteers that has made Moose and Manchester #699 what it is today, but it is the Volunteers that receive the greatest reward, fun and fellowship with their brother and sister, the gleam in a child’s eye when you have enriched their life and the joy of our senior’s faces when we know that we have helped to make them a bit happier. It is with your help that keeps Manchester in the top five list of contributors to Mooseheart, Moosehaven, and our community. You are our most precious resource, God bless each and every one of you.

I encourage everyone to attend our Lodge meetings which are always the first and third Monday’s of every month. Get involved with your Lodge, your vote does make a difference.

Lodge Meeting February 6, 2012 and February 20, 2012

Dinner 6:30 pm. , Meeting at 7:00 pm