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Written by Dan O’Neal - Special Project/Fundraising

Published: 08 August 2020

To the Moose Legion Secretary, Directors and Members of Bull Run Moose Legion #185, 

On behalf of the Moose Legion Council, Our Director Bob Neff, and President John Prough, we want to thank each jurisdiction for their donation to the Endowment Fund.  Your contributions through the month of August 2020 total $1133.00, which is $1.92 per Moose Legionnaire. 

Please remember endowment funds should be sent monthly, but a minimum of once per quarter.  In addition, jurisdictions exceeding $3.00 per-capita by April 30th receive 30 bonus points toward the Moose Legion Award of Excellence. This is how most jurisdictions will achieve the upper levels of award.

Total dollars collected for the Endowment Fund by the "President Division" amounts to $2,896.61.  The Grand total from all six divisions amounts to $15,458.45.  The Endowment Fund Competition "Top 10" standings for the 2020-2021 Moose fiscal year in the category of "President" consisting of Moose Legions with 426 thru 600 Moose Legionnaires is as follows:

Next month’s contributions will provide your jurisdiction an opportunity to move up in the standings within your division for this Moose fiscal year.  Statistics and competition standings from all jurisdictions in every division can be found in the Moose Legion area of the Moose International website.

Thanks again for all you do and please convey our gratitude to your members for the outstanding service they provide to our fraternity.

Fraternally,

Dan O’Neal

Special Project/Fundraising

International Moose Legion Council

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Written by Dan Sullivan

Published: 20 July 2020

The Loyal Order of Moose held its election on Thursday, July 16, 2020. There was a good turnout to support the lodge even with everything that is going on in the world.

I would like to express my thanks to the current board for all their hard work over the last year. Our lodge has endured many difficulties in the last year. I want to thank all that have supported our board of officers. We have some of the hardest working and most generous members of any lodge. We are in a better place because of your hard work! We do have more to accomplish this next year. I want to thank all the members of the lodge that came out to vote with me for Lodge board candidates.

We will be looking for candidates that wish to join the board for the positions of the trustee.  Stay tuned for more information.

The lodge is hosting a Moose Legion Conferral and Celebration this Sunday, July 26, 2020, starting at 10 am.  We will finish the day around 6:00 pm with the installation of our officers for the lodge.  We invite all members to attend.

Fraternally,
Dan Sullivan
Governor
Vienna Moose Lodge #1896

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Written by Scott Hart

Published: 15 July 2020

If you have been around me during a day in the office over the course of the last 15 years, then you have probably heard me say, “It is going to be a big day at Mooseheart today!” No doubt that every day at Mooseheart, Moosehaven, and in our Lodges has the potential to be a “big day”; but Friday, June 26, 2020, at approximately 7:15 pm changed the way I define what is and what isn’t a “big day.” The Judiciary Committee report was read on the floor of the Convention which included the results of a momentous delegate vote.

I don’t feel I’m going too far out on a limb by saying the General Law amendment vote that rewrote the way for a unified fraternity was the most important in our 132-year history. I am proud to be part of an organization that recognized the need to change and brought gender equality to our Lodge membership. Doing this on the first vote with 77% of the delegates approving the amendments is absolutely incredible! Congratulations and cheers to a brighter future because of this giant step forward.

Given the weight and complexity of the move to a One Moose Lodge membership model, it is going to take a little time to prepare for a smooth transition. The date of May 1, 2021, will usher in the slate of organizational changes and when we get to Cincinnati, Ohio for the 133rd Annual International Moose Convention (June 30 – July 4, 2021), we can celebrate the dawning of a new era in our Moose fraternity.

Congratulations to all who have been elected or appointed to serve our fraternity on a Board, Council, or Committee, or as a Deputy Grand Regent, Deputy Supreme Governor or Moose Legion Ambassador. None of this would have been possible without your leadership and willingness to consider the needs of others greater than your own. I appreciate your commitment to our Moose fraternity – together we are unstoppable – together we are One Moose! God Bless!

If you have a concern or idea you’d like to share with me, use our online form: “Tell the Director-General.”

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Written by Dan Sullivan

Published: 11 July 2020

We hope you, your family, and extended families have been safe during this trying time.  We know this has been hard for all of you.  We are pleased to have not heard of any lodge members stricken by this virus.  We have heard many stories of friends and other families that have not been so lucky.  At the beginning of this pandemic, we made the decision to furlough all paid employees until times were safe to start again.  We want to thank all the amazing volunteers that continued to help the lodge pay the unending bills during our Grab & Go meal services.  Without their help, we would be in an even bigger hole.

Meanwhile, the nation's leading infectious diseases expert warned Americans that the nation is still "knee-deep" in the first wave.  With all the states around Virginia showing an uptick of new infections and hospitalizations, the board of officers made the hard decision to continue our closure until Tuesday, July 28, 2020.  As you know many of our lodge members are of an age and have underlying medical conditions that make them more at risk than the general population.

Our current plans (that are subject to change based on future information), we will be opening the main hall as the temporary Social Quarters.  We will be abiding by all CDC, State, and Fairfax County regulations on functioning during a pandemic.  Face masks are not optional, if you cannot wear a mask please stay home.  If you need a mask we have one for you.  We have been rearranging the Main Hall to include the movement of the gaming machines downstairs.

We cannot stress the value of our volunteers during this time.  We also want to thank all the members that came in and made a purchase of any size during this time.  Because our volunteers were getting tired, we also decided to give them a break.  We will not be holding Grab & Go’s until we re-open.

Finally, we started holding our General Membership Meetings outside in the pavilion the first and third Thursdays of each month at 7:30 pm.  At the last meeting, we announced to the membership the slate of board officers running for the 2020 - 2021 year.  Below is the list of candidates.   We invite all members to come out for our election on July 16, 2020.

• Governor:  Bunky Clark
• Jr. Governor:  Bruce Chappell
• Treasure:  Jeff Sargent
• Prelate: Jaime Connelly
• Trustee: Gerry Piddington

As we get more information, we will be reaching out via our website, Facebook, email blast, and text messaging.  Meanwhile, please be safe!  We want to also let members know that we will be holding the Bull Run 185 Celebration on Sunday, July 26th. We will be posting the schedule soon.

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Written by Scott Hart

Published: 28 May 2020

We are in the midst of a pandemic that is testing every fiber of our being, our Fraternity and our nations. As a Fraternity that is nearing 132 years old this April, we have weathered many trials over that time. It has taken the collective strength of our membership to carry the Moose Mission forward in good times and bad. This point in our history will be no different. We will care for one another, serve our communities and provide a loving home for our children at Mooseheart and our seniors at Moosehaven.

During this time when many of our Lodge homes are not accessible to the general membership due to precautionary measures or state restrictions, let’s remember that there are a few things that we can do –

Be safe in this time of uncertainty and look to the guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and follow state/provincial and local orders to minimize the impact of this pandemic (www.cdc.gov)

Give our Lodge a good deep cleaning. Invite a limited number of men and women over a period of several days to tackle different parts of the building. Let’s just not sanitize, but thoroughly clean areas that have needed it for a while.

Work the Expired Member List by phone and let them know the good that your Lodge provides in the community and for Mooseheart and Moosehaven. Every Administrator and Recorder should be able to provide a copy of the monthly list.

Make needed repairs or updates that the Board has been meaning to do – a new coat of paint goes a long way to providing a fresh look when food and beverage service begins again.

Communicate with your members. This isn’t the time to stop the Lodge Newsletter or let the Lodge website slide. If your Lodge doesn’t have a Newsletter, consider a special mailing with a letter from the Board of Officers reminding them of the good things that have happened in the past year at the Lodge and what good things lay ahead.

Review the Lodge Safety Report and take corrective action.

Take a complete inventory of Lodge, Social Quarters’ and kitchen supplies and order items that you will need when the Lodge reopens.

Put together a Lodge Calendar of some of the old favorites with a mix of new activities to involve all members and their families.

Check up on your elderly members. Make sure they are okay and see if they need anything. This is a great way to keep them connected and feeling valued.

Doing the above will make you fully prepared when the Lodge doors reopen. Our members and their guests will be hungering for fellowship and social interaction. Let’s make sure the Moose is the first place they want to visit!

As we look to tomorrow, let’s be safe, be healthy and be One Moose!

If you have a concern or idea you’d like to share with me, use our online form: “Tell the Director General.”

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Written by Dan Sullivan

Published: 25 March 2020

To all members of the Moose,

As members of the Commonwealth of Virginia and as members of a fraternity that prides itself on helping children and seniors in need, we want to step up and help those in need.  In the coming days, we are asking that if you are a member (lodge affiliation is not a determining factor) over the age of 60 and contracts the COVID-19 virus we want to hear from you.  We will be helping all that we can if you live near the lodge.  We are starting within a few miles of the lodge.  This requirement is adjustable based on your condition and need.  We are just setting a baseline.

This list will be used to check in on you, and procure needed items during your illness.  We see this as a way to give back to our amazing members and community.  So, if you are sick and in need, please contact the lodge.  You can do this by sending an email, calling the lodge, or telling us of someone in need.

We are going to also need volunteers to help in this effort.  We will need members for transportation of stuff (technical for anything) and needed items to sick members.  Please let us know if you can volunteer!  We have a few to start, but will need others!  Now if you can, please donate in any amount you can to help support this effort.  Now for safety, we will communicate with the sick member and find out a transfer place where both will be safe from infection.

No matter if the lodge is open or closed, we will continue to try to help in any way we can.  This is an open invitation for all members of the fraternity.  We will help members from any lodge that is nearby!  Everyone has a role to play during this national emergency, this is ours!

Thank you in advance for all your efforts and help during this time of great need.

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Written by Membership Reporter

Published: 29 October 2019

Brothers and Sisters,

It is with a heavy heart that we tell you that Kent Caldwell has passed on October 27, 2019.  Many of us have fond memories of him and Heather at our lodge.  It hurts to know that Kent has left this world too soon.  We pray for his family in their time of need.

A celebration of life has been planned for Saturday, November 9, 2019, at 3:00 pm at the Vienna American Legion Dyer-Gunnell post #180.  The address for the post is 330 Center St N, Vienna, VA 22180.

If we get updates, we will update this article with more information.  Again, we ask that you pray for his family.

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Written by Dan Sullivan

Published: 05 September 2019

Someone once said, "Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose."  And, I want our lodge to win and win big!  So, I ask, is our lodge providing the activities and things you want to do?  Do you want to see more members in our lodge on a daily basis?  Do you want to help us?

I am here to ask for your support!  We can use everyone's help.  Maybe you can help check membership cards at big events at the lodge?  Maybe help in volunteering to cook or clean during our once monthly lodge breakfasts or other food events?  Do you have an idea for something you would be willing to volunteer for?  The volunteering can be big, but small will do too!  If you think you can help let us know!  For your information, we will need members to help with the crab leg feast, balloon fight, Christmas party, and the campfire socials coming up!

Now, there is always turn over in lodge boards and committees!  And, change doesn't always happen on a neat time table. You may have read that we have started a new Nominations Committee to staff the board position for Junior Governor.  This is a very important position in the lodge.  The Junior Governor supports the lodge by standing in should something happen to the Governor.  It is also a voice to help move the lodge in the right direction during our meetings.  So, we are looking for the best someone with a big MOOSE heart and excitement to help the lodge in moving forward in the right!  If you think you might be the right person or are interested in helping the lodge in some other way, big or small, now is the time to let the board know.  We are accepting nominations now!

The workaround the lodge never really ends.  This last month, we made another donation to a great charitable organization that helps to heal and lift up those devastated by addiction and its effects on the addict.  We also upgraded our lodge Wi-Fi and cable boxes.  We have been working on the playground by painting and maintaining the horses and playset.  We did maintenance on the kitchen lighting to make it brighter and more efficient by replacing old ballast styled lighting with LED lights.  It is so much brighter!  We even upgraded some of our Grover Gaming machines with new taller units.  I could go on, but there are other things to talk about.

This last month your lodge attended the Virginia Moose Association's Convention in Roanoke, Virginia.  We participated in the election of new Virginia Moose officers.  Received our Moose International Premier Lodge award presented by Danny Williams from Moose International's Justice of the Supreme forum.  We listened to the reports on the different topics presented.  And, gained a new appreciation for all things Moose!  I want to personally thank you for your continued support and membership to help the kids and seniors entrusted to our care at Mooseheart and Moosehaven and for helping our communities to be a better place to live and work!  Congratulations to our newest State President Ken Kennedy!  Over the last few years, I have gotten to know "MY BROTHER" Ken at the many functions and conventions.  I have assured him that our lodge is willing to help in any way we can to make his tenure as the State President successful!  At this year's convention, I was personally acknowledged as a member of the Moose International Communications Committee.  I am still in awe of this honor.  I am looking forward to the activities this entails over the coming year!

There are so many members to thank each month for the successes that we have.  I want to start with what I consider is a many times overlooked and rarely thanked enough group our employees.  I want to personally thank Carl Thomas, Sharon Chappell, Gwen Smith, Codi Smith, and Richard Pyle for the work they do day in and day out.  You all help to make our members experiences in the lodge great.  Thank you for all you continue to do!  I also want to thank Mark Los, Bunky Clark, Chris Martin, and Garret Awkard for helping around the lodge with the many different events.  You all helped to pull together a great Cajun Seafood Boil and Summer Island Luau party.  If you missed the pictures from these events please check them out on Facebook.  Now, as usual, I know there is going to be someone that I miss in thanking personally.  I try to do this when you help.  If I have missed you, please know that your help is not going unnoticed.

In conclusion, I have said to many that I have a lofty goal for our lodge, something that is near impossible, to gain two hundred new members in two years!  As my last request for this message, I am asking for your help in attaining this for the lodge.  Our lodge once had over 2000 members.  With the non-smoking rule going into effect on January 1, 2020, please contact our former members and friends and see if they would consider checking us out again.  We have so much going for us these days.  I see good days ahead for our lodge!

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Written by Dan Sullivan

Published: 28 August 2019

In accordance with the General Laws of the Loyal Order of Moose, because of resignation from the current Board of Officers, we announced a Nominating Committee at our General Membership meeting on Thursday, August 15, 2019.  We are now accepting nominations to join the board of officers.  The position that will be opening will be for the Junior Governor position.

We want to thank Greg Kunstbeck for his work with the board over the last few months and the help he has provided over the last year.  We understand the pressures of being on the board and how they conflict with family life and work.  We understand that he's leaving the board in no way means we will not see him around the lodge.  If you get a chance please thank him for all the work he as done for the lodge.

The special election will be held on the first Thursday of October 3, 2019, at 7:30 pm.  If you have wanted to help the lodge more, now is your time.  If you have the intent to help the lodge more, but don’t want to join the board, please consider joining one of our many committees.  Please remember, the members make the lodge!  Your help is needed, welcomed, and appreciated!

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Written by MIKE RIOS/Director, Membership

Published: 15 August 2019

As a result of Moose International/Supreme Council considering encouragement from the membership, the overwhelming majority recently voted at the Las Vegas Convention to cease smoking in our Moose lodge homes. Theban includes all tobacco products - including smokeless tobacco and vaping and further includes the use of cannabis products.

Our world has changed and that has been shown in the votes taken on a smoking ban, which have shifted in less than a decade from a "no" majority to a "yes" majority. In Las Vegas, that majority easily surpassed the two-thirds majority needed.

The question now is how this vote will be accepted. What we ask is that you respect the decision of the membership at the same level that the previous decision was acknowledged and accepted. I personally feel that if we use the excuse that the lodge is going to close as a result of this, we are looking for an excuse to fail or we are catering to a few in order to keep things the same.

Instead, we should be looking at the positives of this vote. We could consider working on a plan to adapt and overcome vs. giving up. We could go back in our membership records and contact those who dropped because of the smoke and let them know what’s going on. I never want to be controversial but it’s time that we tell it like it is.

OUR PAST CANNOT SUPPORT OUR FUTURE! If you TRULY LOVE the Moose and believe in what we do, I know it's not an issue for you. I ask the lodge leadership to work to accommodate all of our members and be sincere in your considerations. We can make this work! We are part of a bigger plan. It's NOT all about "US"!