Details

Written by Nominations Committee

Published: 04 September 2022

As reported in the last General Membership meeting (September 1, 2022), we have two openings for board positions here at the lodge.  We have formed a Nominations Committee to fill the following positions:

• Chaplain 
• 2nd-year Trustee.

I would like to thank our resigning Chaplin Scott Flesch and 2nd-year Trustee Andrew Jennison for their help in navigating a tough year.  They both have served with distinction and while it is hard to accept their resignations, I do understand the stress it has put on them both.  I want to personally thank them for all their hard work.  I have heard from both and they say this is not the end of their help.  They both are continuing to help with lodge committees and lodge events.

So, our next meeting of the Nominations Committee will be held on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at 6:00 pm.  At this meeting, we will review any applications that are submitted and will set the hours for the next three meetings.

I am inviting any members that would like to help move the lodge in the right direction to apply now.  For information on the duties of each officer, I am including a link to our officer’s handbook.  All applicants must be either a Woman of the Moose or a Moose Legion member and if not, Officer trained they must be trained within 60 days of taking office.

Details

Written by Dan Sullivan

Published: 26 July 2022

The lodge is scheduling a special membership meeting on Thursday, August 11, 2022, at 7:00 pm to notify the members of the current state of affairs at the lodge.  During this meeting with guest speaker Mike Stumbaugh of Moose International, we will talk about the current financial struggles the lodge is having.  We will also talk about efforts to replace the aging hall HVAC units and the current estimates for replacement.  There will be many different choices the membership can make at this meeting.  Please put this on your calendar and attend, we need everyone’s voice at this meeting.

Thanks in advance for attending this meeting.

Details

Written by Dan Sullivan

Published: 19 July 2022

As the hot days of summer are upon us, we again ask every member to attend our general membership meetings on the first and third Thursdays of each month.  I know this sounds like a broken record, but you can find out important lodge information.  The lodge is still very much struggling to make ends meet and attending might help you to know where you might help.  This is not to say we are not having any successes; we are!

Our lodge for all its efforts has attained the Premier Lodge Award given by Moose International each year at the convention.  Our lodge along with many other lodges of Virginia attained this because of members like you and your efforts to increase membership, efforts to support our community at large and other requirements.  This is something everyone can be proud of!

Reporting from the Moose International Convention in Orlando from June 30 to July 4, 2022, the lodge had three members attend this year (myself, Sharon Chappell, and Cheryl Shrey-Hovey).  It was an amazing time with our fellow brothers and sisters.  Your representatives attended many classes on “Moose Marketing and More”, “The Lodge Financial Review Committee: Worry Less About Your Unit's Finances”, “Lodge Operations - Things I Should Know”, and “The Compliance Side of the Lodge”, and others.  There was a lot of good information in the classes.  

As part of the Moose International Communications committee, I got to give out the awards to the best of the best of the fraternity in the categories of the newsletter, news article, editorial, lodge/chapter websites, and association websites.  There were so many good submissions this year.  Congratulations to everyone that applied.  Virginia Lodge was well represented!  If someone else was to chair the communications committee for our lodge we could enter the competition.  We have one of the best websites in the fraternity!

The lodge is continuing to have issues with the main hall HVAC system (installed in 2005).  I want to thank Sharon Chappell for her calling the right AC company to get the system up and running again.  This is not to say the system is fixed.  As you have noticed we are having lots of events to raise money to replace the current hall system.  Stay tuned for a lodge capital improvements announcement coming soon.  The lodge needs lots of TLC (Tender Loving Care) and we need money to take care of these items.  We are also applying for a Lodge Grant from Moose International to cover part of the cost.

So big shout out to Wendy McClelland our amazing bartender for stepping up and filling in where needed for the last few months.  She is amazing in so many ways but most of which is her flexibility to fill in at a moment’s notice.  To Wendy’s mom, Tanya McClelland for helping with her beautiful art projects during events and serving our banana splits at the “Save the Heat” event last Saturday.  We always look good when she is helping!  To Earl Green for helping to take up the slack from others during this time.  We are lucky to have him.  To the men and women that volunteered at the “Chillin on Church” in Vienna last weekend and served beers for the Caboose Brewery.  You all made us look fantastic.  To our newest committee member Steve Rao.  Steve takes over where we have not had a person to chair the community service committee in some time.  If you are interested in helping Steve and his committee, please reach out to him at the lodge or on Signal.  Now, I am sure I am forgetting a lot of people but I want to thank the entire board of officers for sticking with the lodge during this hard time.  These men and women have been pulling together and doing things to keep this lodge moving forward in the right.  I know we would not have survived this last year without them all!  If I forgot even one person, I am sorry.  To the membership at large, Thanks for helping the lodge in so many ways.  You continue to surprise me with your amazing volunteering efforts at the lodge and in our community.  Thank you so much! 

We are trying to communicate so much and more often right now, if you are wondering what is going on around the lodge, please check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Lodge email or text message blasts, or our Signal group.  We want you to know and have a reason to visit the lodge every day we are open.  If you are not on the Lodge Signal group, just find a member who is on it and ask to be included.  I know it is summer time and many are going on vacation and will be out of town, but the lodge will not survive without your continued support and attendance in lodge events.  We can all work very hard, but if you as a member do not attend, the lodge cannot last forever.

In conclusion, please mark your calendars for the Big Yard Sale on Saturday, July 23 (this Saturday) starting at 10 am.  There are still spots available.  And also, on Saturday starting at 6:30 pm is a great band the Hand Painted Swinger.  Don’t forget we have Cornhole nights on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays each month starting at 7:00 pm.  On Saturday, August 27, the lodge will host Mars Rodeo starting at 5:00 pm.  We are also starting a weekly Karaoke night starting that is just in the starting stages (we are thinking Fridays).  Finally, thank you for being a member of this great fraternity.

Fraternally,

Daniel Sullivan

Vienna Moose #1896 President

Moose International Communication Committee

Details

Written by Dan Sullivan

Published: 18 May 2022

Hello, Vienna Moose 1896 Members!

Welcome to the beginning of the Moose year!  Below, we have a “Welcome” letter of sorts, that will help you navigate some of the various communication methods we have within the Vienna Moose Lodge, as well as other pertinent bits of information.

Additionally, as we begin this year, we are looking for anyone interested in heading or joining any committees  (now that we are ONE MOOSE, any gender can fulfill these roles).  There are some in need of some loving attention.  We need someone to head up our Community Service committee.  Currently, all other committees have been doing the work of community service.  It would be nice to have a group that could coordinate with all the other committees when needed.  We are also looking for a few members to help during our General Membership meetings; for instance, we need a Sergeant at Arms and inner and outer guards.  For the Sargent, inner and outer guard positions at this point, they just need to attend two meetings a month.  If you are interested in any of these positions, please reach out to any board officer or me.  I am hopeful that some of our members will step up and help out our lodge.  Thanks in advance for even considering it!

Dan Sullivan
President

Details

Written by Roger Chang

Published: 15 January 2022

Everyone, if you don't already know Betty is one of our long time bartenders at the Moose but unfortunately she's had some health issues recently that's preventing her from working and therefore not getting paid.  But we also want her to get better so she can come back to work for us.  So we started a GoFundMe to help her out and not have her worrying about money so she can get better.

Here's the link below:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/helping-out-our-bartender-betty

We did hit our original goal of $1500 but would really love to see if we can get to $2000 or even $2500.  Thanks everyone!

Spread the word!!

Details

Written by Dan Sullivan

Published: 11 December 2021

The Vienna Moose is looking for members that wish to participate in being a volunteer guest bartender on different nights of the week and to fill in when our regular bartenders cannot make it to work.  This position would not be a paid position.  But all the guest bartenders would keep all tips.  The only requirement for helping in this capacity is to be alcohol server certified by either Tips training or State of Virginia trained.  To become Tips trained it costs $40.00 and the State training is free.  If you decide to become state-certified, we ask that you take the state Managers' Alcohol Responsibility Training (MART) exam.

If you are interested in this quest, please let a board member know today!  We can help you with your alcohol training.

If you wish to do the Tips Training please use code "MOOSETIPS" for a 40% discount.

Details

Written by Dan Sullivan

Published: 11 December 2021

The Vienna Moose has had an unexpected opening on its board of officers.  Rob Vilardo had to resign because of a work conflict of interest this month.  I cannot express enough gratitude for his help during the last few months.  He has been instrumental along with all other board officers in turning the lodge in a new good direction.  We have only grown and become more efficient in our efforts.  I want to personally thank Rob for his help; you will be very missed.

Now on to the unexpected open board seat, the Treasurer seat is now open.  We are looking for someone to fill a very important role on the board.  But first and foremost, we are NOT looking for someone to fill the role of temporary Administrator.  So, we are just looking for someone to fill the treasurer role.

The Treasurer of the Lodge is the Treasurer of the corporation. The duties of the Treasurer include the following: 

1. Attend Lodge, Board of Officers, and House Committee meetings; 
2. Ensure that the Administrator deposits all funds as often as possible but not less than once per week;
3. Receive, from the Administrator, duplicate deposit slips showing the weekly deposits made by the Administrator to the Lodge, House Committee, and other authorized accounts, and he shall initial the duplicate deposit slips to be retained by the Administrator as a receipt; 
4. Be the custodian of all securities along with the Administrator and Governor; 
5. Perform all other duties required of him by the General Laws of the Order; 
6. Sign authorized checks, but never when blank; 
7. Conduct a weekly inspection of all Lodge and House Committee financial records to verify that all accounting entries are current, and such entries are consistent with all receipts and expenditures; 
8. Serve on the Lodge "Rookie Of The Year" Selection Committee;

Please know that the person that steps up to fill this seat will not be doing this alone.  All board officers are here to help the new person get up to speed.

If you are interested in helping our board, please reach out to a current board officer and ask us questions about the position.

Fraternally,

Daniel Sullivan

President Vienna Moose Lodge #1896

Details

Written by Dan Sullivan

Published: 07 December 2021

There has been a break in our defending circle.  On December 1, 2021, William Harrold Jones died after battling illness.  Bill had only been a member of our lodge for a short time but he was someone everyone liked talking to.  For me, he was a friend, a confidant, and someone I enjoyed sharing stories with.  If you are a long-time resident of the Vienna area, I am sure your paths crossed.  I met Bill and his wife Judy more than 25 years ago. It hurts to know he has broken free of his earthly bonds.  Bill, you will be so missed by so many.

Friends are a gift from God

They bring us joy and happiness

And help us in times of need

That's why I can truly say

How glad I am I had this friend

If you knew Bill please leave a message of support for him on the Dignity Memorial website.

Details

Written by Dan Sullivan

Published: 15 November 2021

Brothers and Sisters,

It is with a heavy heart that we tell you that Robert Mock has passed on Friday, November 12, 2021.  Robert was a member for more than 50 years.  He was our go-to guy for many things back in the day.  You would never meet a kinder humbler soul than him.  It hurts to know that he has left this world too soon.  We pray for his family in their time of need.

If we get updates, we will update this article with more information.  If a member has a photo that Robert and would like to share for inclusion in this article please contact us.  Again, we ask that you pray for his family.

Details

Written by Dan Sullivan

Published: 08 November 2021

As most everyone that grew up in the Vienna area as children, we all remember going Trick or Treating with friends.  We had the hard plastic masks that you could not see through and the costumes that made us think we were some kind of superhero.  The last couple of years with COVID it has been tough for the little Trick or Treaters.

As almost like a Superhero the lodge held a Trunk or Treat on Sunday, October 31, 2021.  The festivities started at 1:00 pm.  The lodge had about 50 trick-or-treaters at that time.  The cars were decorated in spooky Halloween or NFL football themes.  We had all sorts of costumes like a huge rainbow unicorn (Mr. Torregrossa) to multiple huge tyrannosaurus rexes, to a tiny Superwomen, Disney was well represented with so many princesses from Elsa to Sleeping Beauty and others.

The lodge was surprised by the amazing turnout.  At the end of the day, we guestimate that we had over 200 kids and parents in attendance.  With this kind of turnout, we already have plans for another next year.  And next year we will do it even better!

I want to thank everyone involved in the Trunk or Treat from the members that dressed up in costume, the members that decorated their cars, the soup cooks, the pinata helpers, the smores makers, to the fire pit watchers, and to those just cheering everyone on.  It was an amazing day for everyone.  The joy on the faces of the kids, parents, and yes members were priceless.  Thanks, everyone for a job well done!