Do you ever wonder where your dues money goes? Well here’s the scoop...the majority of your dues payment (along with all applicable enrollment fees for new members) stays with Moose international to support daily operations at Moose International, Mooseheart and Moosehaven. Only $8 of men’s dues (next year this will be $6.00), and $5.00 of women’s dues are returned to the respective organizations. That doesn’t even pay for basic lodge operating costs for the year, let alone provide entertainment and special events for the members such as the annual picnic and the Christmas party. Those funds must come from the lodge’s income, which comes entirely from the members who patronize the lodge and from special fundraising events such as the Gun Bonanzas. The women’s income is from bingo concessions and fund raising events like Vera Bradley bingos, silent auctions and white elephant sales. We must work hard to provide you with these local benefits. Unfortunately, patronage is down and there only a handful of men and women who come to the meetings and show up to help with the fundraisers. So, when the fare for the parties is not quite what you expected, this is the reason. We do our best to keep providing these local benefits to you and sometimes that means cutting corners.
But there is good news however...your Moose membership automatically gives you discounts on vehicle purchases, Sears Gift Cards, subscription service, movie, theatre, and theme park tickets, as well has hotel, car rental and vacation packages. To see a full list of benefits, visit http://www.mooseintl.org, click on the Members Only box in the upper left. You will have to enter your Moose ID # and the password Nashville. When you’re in the site, go to the right menu bar and scroll down to Moose Benefits and click. We hope you will take advantage of the many benefits offered.
More important, we hope to see you back in the lodge in the near future. The more members that patronize the lodge, the more local benefits we can provide back to you. Thank you for your membership and loyalty!

On behalf of the children at Mooseheart and our seniors at Moosehaven, I would like to introduce you to our Moose Charities program and thank you for helping to make a difference. I have served as the Moose Charities chairman for the state of West Virginia for the past two years and have felt honored and privileged to serve in this role.
There are many ways that each of you can help…through the Gimme 5 program, … a donation of 10 cents per day, a nickel in the morning and a nickel at night, or $36.50/year. Please remember that Giving to the Gimme 5 program is committing to the future of Mooseheart & Moosehaven.
There is also a Defending Circle Society, through which donors can create gifts such as bequests, various type of trusts, charitable gift annuities and life insurance. Every one of us wants to leave something to our family. Mooseheart and Moosehaven are part of our extended family. Other ways of contributing include the Endowment Fund Club, and “Goodsearch/Goodshop” on the internet. West Virginia participates very actively in the Moose Charities “Recycle for Mooseheart” program. Empty printer cartridges and used cell phones are collected and sent for this program, which helps to provide school supplies for over 200 Mooseheart children. To date, West Virginia has contributed over $1200 to the program. Any contributions can be placed in the blue garbage can in the front foyer of the lodge. Visit the Moose Charities website at www.mooseintl.org for additional information on the ways that you can help.
The children at Mooseheart need a safe, warm, loving place to live and learn as do your own children and grandchildren. This is made possible through your contributions to Our Child City. Again, we thank you for all that you do.

Barb Sheppard,
PDGR/Moose Charities Chairman/WV

Horseshoe League

Meetings have already started. Anyone interested should attend the meetings held every Thursday at 6:00 pm.

Pool League

If you're a billiards fan, this is for you! A new league is starting up and Donald Willingham will be coordinating the league. Keep your eyes and ears open at the lodge. We will provide updates as we get them.

Are you interested in sports? Would you like to see more organized sporting events? Give us your suggestions. We are always looking for Sports Chairmen (men AND women) to help organize activities for the lodge. Check in with one of the lodge officers or attend the next LOOM or WOTM meeting to learn more.

On March 16, 2011, the Chapter voted to change the bi-monthly meeting dates from the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 7:30 PM to the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:00 PM. As you know, Tuesdays are the "drawing" night and a lot of you are already at the lodge. We hope this will make it more convenient to attend the Chapter meetings. The date change takes affect May 1st (beginning of the Moose fiscal year). The first meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 10th at 7:00 PM. Hope to see some new AND familiar faces. We will have a short meet and greet, then refreshments at the end of the meeting. Hope to see you soon!