Memo from Paul Curtis, President of Moose Legion                January, 2012

Membership and Retention

I hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years. I know that many resolutions for 2012 were made and hopefully one of those would be to continue with new enthusiasm the support of our kids on the Mooseheart campus and our seniors on the Moosehaven campus. That is what we are all about and this is why the greatest majority of our yearly dues in the Moose Legion goes to the support of those kids and seniors.
 

With a cause like this, isn't it amazing that all eligible, active Lodge members are not part of the Moose Legion? Well, maybe not? When was the last time that you approached a Lodge member to join the Moose Legion and told him where his dues were going? It might have made the difference if he told you no and certainly provided a feeling of pride and reinforcement if he said yes.
 

We as Moose Legionnaires are proud to be a part of the future of our kids on the Mooseheart campus and our seniors on the Moosehaven campus. We took the pledge to give of our energy and substance and as Moose Legionnaires we live and breath that oath each and every day.
 

The next time you approach a Lodge member to join the Moose Legion, let him know where his yearly dues will be going and the difference his membership will make in the lives of those kids and seniors. What a selling point that is often overlooked.
 

With only four months left in this Moose fiscal year, we have a long way to go in just a short period of time. With only 54,298 active members as of January 5th, we are down some 5,700 Moose Legionnaires from the nearly 60,000 members we had to start this Moose fiscal year.
 

Now is the time to roll up our sleeves, Create Some Interest, and put forth a concentrated effort on a daily basis for the remainder of this Moose fiscal year to get these numbers back up to where they should be. If just 10% of our membership just signed one member we would be back to that 60,000 member mark and then continue to grow in the future months.
 

I am asking all Moose Legion Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Moose Legion Ambassadors, and "Board of Directors" to please make sure that everyone is working Membership with their "Eligibility Lists" as well as Retention by setting up a phone committee and working their "Arrearage Lists" in their respective Lodges. We can only do this with a concentrated team effort. Can we count on you?
 

Moose Legion Honor Month
 

Moose Legion Honor Month is now half way over and hopefully many Lodges along with their "Board of Officers" have expressed their thanks to the Moose Legionnaires within their Lodge for the giving of their energy, time, and substance over the previous year with something special in their honor. If you haven't done so already, please do so and give them the recognition they so justly deserve. I can tell you for a fact that your Lodge would not be where it is at today without your dedicated Moose Legionnaires.
 

Don't forget that there is still time to earn the special campaign award, which runs until February 15th. Simply sign two (2) new or former Moose Legionnaires and get them transmitted before then and you will receive a Moose Legion travel garment bag, which will prominently display the Moose Legion Logo on the front. Of course you will also earn a years free dues (if you have not already done so this year). What a win-win proposition and no application fee for the candidate.

I would like to convey a special "Thank You" to all Moose Legionnaires everywhere for what you have done and for what you will do for the Moose Legion. This is your month and you deserve all the recognition that comes your way.

Lodge Moose Legion Committees

As promised, I am again reporting on the importance of a self-sustaining, functioning Lodge Moose Legion Committee. I can't express enough how this is the most important Lodge Committee in place to provide service and revenue to the Lodge and its Moose Legionnaires through a variety of special activities for all. The Moose Legion President and his "Board of Directors" for each Moose Legion jurisdiction should be working hand-in-hand with the Lodge Moose Legionnaires to polish all the rough edges on building a successful Lodge Moose Legion Committee in each and every Lodge in the jurisdiction at this point in time.

If you want to be known as a great jurisdiction, then this is the place to start. If you want to measure the success of the "Board of Directors" in any jurisdiction, all you have to do is look at the number of successful Lodge Moose Legion Committees within their area of responsibility. How successful are you?

These committees should be self-sustaining through a variety of fundraisers and provide numerous activities for all Lodge members with special reduced or free events for the Moose Legionnaires in each and every Lodge. This is a tremendous new member tool for signing up Moose Legionnaires as well as a proven Retention tool for getting existing Moose Legionnaires to renew their dues each year. Create Some Interest and develop the Lodge Moose Legion Committee in your Lodge.

Special Projects and Fundraising

On behalf of Councilman Danny Williams and myself as well as our Moose Legion Director and all other Council Members, we would like to express our deepest gratitude for the tremendous job all 170 Moose Legion jurisdictions are doing this year. Moose Legionnaires are the greatest fundraisers to be found anywhere.

Conferral Teams

All Moose Legion jurisdiction "Conferral Teams" should be putting the final touches on their parts and floorwork to prepare for the International Ritual Competition in Tampa, Florida this June. It would certainly be rewarding to see at least 25 to 30 teams competing this year.

Even if you are not going to competition in Tampa at this year's International Convention and Ritual Competition, you should still be finalizing your parts and floorwork in your individual jurisdictions. Nothing impresses a new Moose Legion candidate more than a memorized and professionally presented Conferral at a Moose Legion Celebration.

Valentines Day

Just a reminder that Valentines Day is coming up in February. Don't forget your wife or lady friend on this special occasion for standing behind you in the pursuit of your Moose Legion activities. They have given up much so we could succeed in our Moose Legion endeavors so let's put them on a pedestal this special day. You won't regret it if you do, but you certainly will regret it if you don't.

Fraternally Yours,
Paul Curtis
Moose Legion President

Memo from Bob Neff, Director of Ritual and Higher Degrees     January,  2012

Moose Legion Honor Month

Moose Legion Honor Month is now in full swing. Many Lodges have scheduled programs to pay tribute to the Moose Legionnaires for all the work and support they have given over the years.

A special campaign for sponsoring Moose Legion applications in recognition of Moose Legion Honor Month is also fully underway. Each member who sponsors at least two (2) accepted new or former members into the Moose Legion will earn a sponsor award. They must be reported with application dates between December 15th and February 15th to qualify. Please get them secured and to your jurisdiction Secretary as soon as you can so he can get them transmitted.

A Moose Legion travel garment bag will be awarded to each qualifying member. The bag will prominently display the Moose Legion logo on the front. It can be used to transport your regalia or other suits / clothing.

Simply Create Some Interest among the members of your lodge. Get a copy of the eligibility list and invite your qualified lodge members to advance to the Degree of Service with you. Don't forget to ask for the former member list also. Often members never really intended not to renew and would welcome an invitation to return to active status. It is up to us to reach out to them.

Guide to Success Handbook

The recently revised "Guide to Success" handbooks are available online as PDF or from Catalog Sales for just $2.00 per copy (plus applicable taxes and shipping). There is a lot of good information in the book. I encourage you to get a few copies for your Lodge Moose Legion Committee(s). Ask for Item Number 1014.

It is a great tool to help organize the Lodge Moose Legion Committee. It includes a suggested agenda, various references to the Code of Rules, a Moose Legion Orientation program outline and much more. Order several copies and distribute them today.

Ritual and Ritual Competition

The 46th Annual Moose Legion Ritual Competition will be taking place in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, June 30th and Sunday, July 1st 2012. Entry forms are posted on the Moose International web site and are now being received. We encourage all staffs to raise some funds to cover some of the cost to send a staff and get your entries in to reserve your time slots without delay.

This year we will have a joint Ritual Awards Banquet on Monday evening, July 2, 2012, along with the Women of the Moose Ritualists. We are excited to be able to offer this program in honor of these members. It should be a great evening of recognition for all our fraternal ritual members.

We are also making plans for a Moose Legion Ritual Judges Seminar and qualifying school. It will likely be in the spring. Watch for further details as they develop.

Retention Efforts

By now you may be getting tired of hearing talk about retention. However, it is a real and vital part of our program and indeed future existence. December is typically a larger dues reporting month. Thus, January 1st is a substantial time to see significant arrearage lists in our fraternal units.

January 2012 was no exception. Moose Legionnaires are needed along with Council of Higher Degrees members and all others to implement a campaign to contact those members who have not renewed. If we wait for someone else to do it, we will slip further during the wait. Our collective efforts can bear fruit. We must step up and take action as individuals to make something happen.

Please secure the arrearage list and start making contact with our members. Remind them of why we exist. Remind them of what we (through their continued membership) do for children and seniors. Remind them of our member benefits and the savings it can provide them.

Some of them simply need to be reminded to renew and to feel like someone actually cares enough to call. We need to be that caring member. Each of us can make a difference. Please take action to save a fellow Brother, Co-Worker or Moose Legionnaire by reaching out to them today. Thank you.

Cordially & Fraternally,
Robert A. Neff 
Director of Ritual and Higher Degrees

Moose Legion Honor Month Campaign starts December 15th.

Zero Application fees (Lodge, Chapter and Yes - Moose Legion) begins January 1st.

 Let's put these to work and Create Some Interest in the Degree of Service!!!

New Year's resolution suggestion:

       Sponsor at least two Moose Legion applicants for Moose Legion Honor Month.

and
Save at least two more members by contacting them about the membership they have not yet paid.
 thus
Truly helping us to grow in strength during our 2011-2012 fiscal year!

     Perhaps you can make this a Happy Hanukkah / Merry Christmas for someone you know by inviting them into our fraternal world with the gift of membership and help us do an even better job of caring for children and seniors at Mooseheart and Moosehaven.  There are folks waiting to be asked.

     Why not extend a fraternal hand and invite someone to join today?

     International President Paul Curtis and the entire Moose Legion Council wishes you all the best,

Robert A. Neff
Director of Ritual, Moose Legion & Higher Degrees
"On the Move" - to - "Create Some Interest" in Building through Retention & Production
rneff@mooseintl.org - Office: 630-966-2227