To All Virginia Chapters & Co-Workers,

     I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank everyone for all the love and kindness I have been shown since the International Convention and my appointment. It has been so overwhelming that it’s all so hard to take in. I look forward to representing you this year to the best of my ability and make you proud that I was selected as your Deputy Grand Regent. Please know that I am available to you at any time so please feel free to email or call me if there is anything I can do for you.

     The theme this year, “The Time is Now!”, reminds us that it is time to let everyone know of our fraternity and the wonderful things we do for our children, seniors and local community. Let them know of the many benefits available to all members of this great organization. When we let the “best kept secret in fraternalism” be known, it won’t be hard to be in the top 5 in membership next year at the International Convention!

     I will be attending the Triple Play Conference being held in Reno this November. This open forum will be hosted by Director General Bill Airey. It will give coworkers an opportunity to voice their opinion on current policies and programs. I would appreciate input from you regarding any concerns, problems and any suggestions which I may present at that time. If there is anything you would like brought out at this conference, please let me know. I look forward to a large attendance and hope there will be other coworkers from Virginia planning to go. Together we can make our voices heard.
 

     Again, thank you for your trust and confidence. I look forward to hearing from you and working with you this year.

Fraternally,

Doreen Wallace

Deputy Grand Regent

10820 Moore Dr
Manassas, VA 20111
Email – 2wallaces@comcast.net
Phone – (703) 220-1980

     Quoting Grand Chancellor Barb McPherson .....

" Where are the co-workers of Fredericksburg, VA Chapter 1592?  This group of dedicated co-workers donated $10,471.00 "

Congratulations to the 2010 College of Regents Recipients

Theresa Bailey

Gloucester Chapter #1312

Ginny Barbour

Salem Chapter #2232

Mary Emerick

Fredericksburg Ch. #1592

Jackie Francis

Callao Chapter #2253

Patty Funk

Strasburg Chapter #1319

Jo Glass

Vienna Chapter #1050

Peggy Lancaster

Lynchburg-South Ch. #1415

Roslyn Ring

Colonial Beach #1636

Jean Saunders

Lynchburg-South Ch. #1415

Nancy Shepardson

Callao Chapter #2253

Kay Slade

Hopewell Chapter #1180

Virginia P. Smith

Portsmouth Chapter #966

Charlotte Swanson-Smith

Winchester Chapter #1367

Lyn Stewart

King William Chapter #2317

Nita Adams

Hopewell Chapter #1180

Cathy B. Adas

Williamsburg Chapter #1755

Tracey Marie Allen

Caroline County Chapter #2316

Martha Burkhart

Strasburg Chapter #1319

Patrica A. Castello

South Norfolk Chapter #947

Katherine S. Cosby

Callao Chapter #2253

Catherine M. Elder

Lynchburg Chapter #1335

Tatuana Barbara ElShamy

Manassas Chapter #1392

Catherine Fisher

Warrenton Chapter #1813

Tina Garrett

Richmond-Lakeside Chapter #366

Cheryl A. Hawkes

Powhatan Chapter #2258

Sharon Henry

Colonial Beach Chapter #1636

Hannah Hoover

Centreville Chapter #1674

Paulette Jones

Fredericksburg Chapter #1592

Tamara Mandell

Winchester Chapter #1367

Marjorie A. Marsh

Farmville Chapter #1300

Rosella M. Nelson

Sandston Chapter #569

Linda Newman

Dinwiddie Chapter #1296

Robin Nicholson

Culpeper Chapter #1639

Patty Nolley

Tazewell County Chapter #1803

Cynthia O'Connor

Dale City Chapter #1584

Frances C. Payne

Front Royal Chapter #1194

Tami Phelps

Aragona Village Chapter #684

Nonie Richardson

Portsmouth Chapter #966

Patricia Ann Tusing

Timberville Chapter #2022

Brenda J. Varney

Washington County Chapter #2019

Jane Whisnant

Verona Chapter #2225

Aragona Village Chapter #684

Callao Chapter #2253

Caroline County Chapter #2316

Centreville Chapter #1674

Colonial Beach Chapter #1636

Culpeper Chapter #1639

Dale City Chapter #1584

Dinwiddie Chapter #1296

Farmville Chapter #1300

Fredericksburg Chapter #1592

Front Royal Chapter #1194

Hopewell Chapter #1180

Lynchburg Chapter #1335

Manassas Chapter #1392

Portsmouth Chapter #966

Powhatan Chapter #2258

Richmond-Lakeside Chapter #366

Sandston Chapter #569

South Norfolk Chapter #947

Strasburg Chapter #1319

Tazewell County Chapter #1803

Timberville Chapter #2022

Verona Chapter #2225

Warrenton Chapter #1813

Washington County Chapter #2019

Williamsburg Chapter #1755

Winchester Chapter #1367

Click Here to load and print the bulletin issued by Moose International 4/06/2009

Important Information Affecting Your Chapter !

 for Grand Regent Olivia Schmidt

From Grand Chancellor - Barb McPherson and Director of Operations - Judy Sisson

Barb McPherson

Judy Sisson

     As I stood on the deck of the New Jersey house gazing across green lawns, the sun blazing in my eyes I remember thinking wow, this is almost like summer camp. Suddenly I hear a small voice say "hi, I'm Catherine and I live in the Virginia House". Glancing down into this adorable face sprinkled freely with freckles and a pair of big blue eyes reality sets in quick, I feel as if I were kicked in the chest. This is not summer camp and this child isn't here because she wanted to spend the weekend with friends. She is here because this is where she calls home. She has no other options at this stage of her young life, except of course for those that could very well take away her right to be a child and to live without the worry of wondering where she will sleep tonight or where her next meal will come from.

     After promising Catherine and two of her family teachers Mark and Rebekah that we would be visiting their home shortly we were escorted through a tour of the NJ house. Immediately after that our goal was to find the VA home and meet the other girls and teachers that were part of this special family. As we walked across backyards we found ourselves standing in front of a pool. It was surrounded by a safety fence and standing in the center was a sculpture of a dolphin with water spewing from its mouth. We were in the baby village, and there was a line of visitors from the, doors down the sidewalk of the home waiting to go in and visit the tiniest tots in residence at Mooseheart. After inquiring directions we further made our way across campus to our destination, the Virginia House. We were greeted by seven young ladies along with Alicia, Nicole, Mark and Rebekah,
family teachers to the girls that currently live there.

     "Sade" is seven years old and the youngest child in the home. Other children living at the Virginia House are Catherine who loves games and gymnastics, Sidney who likes to write, Lisa who has this huge outgoing personality, Liz the resident artist, Arranda with her great sense of humor, and Crystal who sits back and absorbs everything going on around her. We were offered refreshments and tours through the house, even peeks into personal spaces invited by a young lady that was happy to show a guest around. We started to leave and all of a sudden we found ourselves standing on the front porch talking with Liz about art and school and to Mark about what it is like to work and live at Mooseheart. As we stood there chatting, Mark was "grilling" hamburgers for their dinner on what most of us know as a George Foreman grill. Realizing he was cooking for probably ten or eleven people I wondered surely they must have a bigger grill, don't all of us that choose too have one? Another thing was that we didn't remember seeing two or three televisions throughout the house as we would in most of our homes. That's when it dawned on me just how much we all take the little things for granted. I began to think of the enormous expenses related to running a facility like Mooseheart, such as food, utilities, educational facilities, medical costs and personnel. Those are fundamental items needed, other frills would obviously come last. It brings into reality that the funds to operate this wonderful place comes from everyone of you that donates your dollars, helps with fundraisers, or come out to support the fundraising efforts through raffles, dinners, dances and sales.

     You are the very reason that these children have a home and hot meals and the opportunity to receive an education. On behalf of the children at Virginia house and throughout Mooseheart I would like to offer my sincere thank you and encourage us to keep up the wonderful work that we all do for such a worthy cause. If you're ever in the Chicago area you should take the time to visit Mooseheart. Everyone should have the opportunity to know the feeling of pride that it brings just knowing you are in some way helping to raise a child in a safe and productive environment. As you can see my visit to Mooseheart was definitely one of the biggest highlights of my trip. It actually began with attending the 88th graduation ceremony of Mooseheart where 10 young men and 12 young women were on one hand eagerly waiting to explore the world while on the other was confronted with leaving their home. For some Mooseheart is the only home they've ever known. Thanks to all of you they have the opportunity to pursue their education further and become the worthy citizens of tomorrow
that we can all be proud of.

     PASS IT ON - The Moose Fraternity is a caring and generous organization to Mooseheart, Moosehaven and our local communities. Share your gift as a sponsor and invite your friends that aren't members to join. I dedicate this article to all of you, for your loyalty, dedication and hard work that has been the sustaining foundation for our fraternity for nearly a century.

VIRGINIA HOUSE FUNDRAISER

     The Richmond Lakeside Lodge #1714 is currently holding a fundraiser for the Virginia House.

All donors receive a "donor card" to add their name to, and they are displayed in the Social Quarters.

The donor cards are in the shape of the state of Virginia, and the color of the state you get is determined by the amount of donation.

$1.00 donation-Red State
$5.00 donation-White State
$10 donation-Blue State
$25 and above-Gold State

     This is a WONDERFUL fundraising idea for the Virginia House, but could easily be adapted to suit one of the many fundraising endeavors of the Virginia Moose Association and Moose International.

Hello VMA friends,

     I spoke with Paula at graduation for a bit, and realized that I had not filled everyone from Virginia in on the recent developments with us and the girls at Mooseheart.  Mark and I made the difficult decision to leave Mooseheart at the end of April. It was very sad for us and for some of the girls because of the relationships we were blessed to develop with them.  We had hoped to stay at Mooseheart longer, but unfortunately changes were made there that made it very difficult for us to continue with our employment. We hope to stay in close contact with the girls through phone calls, letters, and visits.  We are currently working at a similar facility in South Carolina.

     It was truly a pleasure to meet all of you, and to see all that you do to support the children and staff at Mooseheart.  Our trip to Virginia was one of our very favorite times with the girls. I know that all of
us will treasure those memories for many many years.  I hope that you can can continue to build relationships with the new children and staff in Virginia home, as well as the girls who moved to New York.
They appreciate your support and generosity so much! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions for us about these changes.  And thank you again for all that you do.

With Sincere Thanks,

Rebekah and Mark Hewitt

Rebekah and Mark can be contacted at rebekah.d.hewitt@gmail.com

Ruthi Doan-Pietras  -  VMA WOTM Sports Chairman