Looking to Help

Moose members make a difference in people’s lives

By MICHAEL ANICH, The Leader-Herald

JOHNSTOWN - Membership in the city's Moose fraternal organization is flourishing, and those members are making a difference in many lives by making more than $35,000 in donations per year, group officials say.

The local Chapter 1185, Loyal Order of Moose - also known less formally as the Johnstown Moose Lodge - donates to various local causes as well as to Mooseheart in Illinois and Moosehaven in Florida, which are run by parent organization Moose International.

Mooseheart is a children's home - a 1,000-acre community for children and teens in need located 40 miles west of Chicago. It is open to children who have no place to go, such as those whose parents have died. By Moose organizations supporting these kids, they are able to graduate high school and even go on to college if they desire.

Moosehaven is a 63-acre retirement community near Jacksonville, Fla., for senior citizen Moose members who have been a Moose member for at least 15 years.

Mal Rumrill, governor of the Johnstown lodge, said his chapter makes more than $35,000 in donations annually. He said it is one of the most active Moose chapters in the region. But, he said, there is still some confusion about the Moose organization.

Worldwide, Moose lodges conduct approximately $50 million worth of community service projects annually. They are assisted by Women of the Moose support groups.

"It's amazing how many people don't know what the organization does," Rumrill said.

He said some Moose chapters serve only as social gathering places, but the Johnstown chapter continues to conduct numerous activities and fundraisers and has rebounded in recent years. He said the Johnstown lodge membership is now at 940 men and 717 women.

"Over the years [membership] had dropped, but in the past six years it has recovered a lot," Rumrill said.

Rumrill said New York state's Clean Indoor Air Act that went into effect July 24, 2003 - banning smoking from facilities such as the Johnstown Moose Family Home - hurt membership tremendously. Eventually, he said, membership increased as more people have dedicated themselves to community service in a smokeless club.

Many local organizations now use the Moose facility regularly for weekend breakfast fundraisers.

Janet Miller, the Johnstown Women of the Moose reporter, says of the local Moose organization, "We're pretty proud of what we do."

According to Moose International's Web site, the Loyal Order of Moose is a fraternal and service organization founded in 1888 with nearly 1 million members in roughly 2,000 lodges in all 50 states, four Canadian provinces, Great Britain and Bermuda.

In Fulton and Montgomery counties, there are three Loyal Order of Moose chapters. The Johnstown chapter is located at the Johnstown Family Home on Route 30A, while the other chapters are at 140 E. State St. Extension in Gloversville and at 159 Erie Blvd. in Canajoharie.

Don Sanders, past governor of the Gloversville Moose Lodge, says his organization is also active in "community service" by helping local school children's projects and helping the Senior Citizens Service Center of Gloversville & Fulton County. The Gloversville Moose Lodge has 300 male members and more than 100 in its Women of the Moose support group.

Sanders said his chapter will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year.

New Johnstown Women of the Moose Senior Regent Julia Hull said she is particularly proud of the work that is done by her chapter to assist with donations to facilities such as Mooseheart and Moosehaven.

"I'm a strong advocate," says Hull, who also serves as her group's president.

Rumrill said more people are finding time to become Moose organization members, donating their time to help serve dinners or assist at holiday activities for children.

"It's a nice place where you can bring your kids," Rumrill said.

Hull said the Johnstown Family Center is more than just a place for members to socialize, but a true place that spawns volunteerism.

"It's not just a beer hall," said Hull.

Rumrill said organizations such as the Johnstown Moose lodge have traditionally taken on numerous community service projects. For example, he said the lodge conducts fundraisers and projects that directly benefit the Johnstown Senior Citizens Center, both the Johnstown and Gloversville Little Leagues, improvements at Knox Field, help out Scout organizations and offers Moose scholarships at many area high schools.

Moose dollars go not only to Johnstown causes, but throughout the area, Rumrill said.

Of course, the fraternal organization holds many fun activities for its members, such as dances and an annual Family Picnic in July. The lodge holds an American Red Cross blood bank in September.

Miller noted the Johnstown chapter sponsors a 15-year-old girl from Gloversville, who lives at Mooseheart. Her mother died when she was 3 and the girl has been living at Mooseheart since she was 9.

Miller said all the Moose International chapters contribute to Mooseheart and that facility pays for college for its children.

"Any [child] living at Mooseheart is ensured of a higher education," she said.

With the exception of a few paid staffers, Rumrill said the Johnstown Moose community consists of "all volunteers." He said it costs $20 for men to join the Moose chapter and $40 annually to maintain their membership. For women joining the Women of the Moose, the cost is $20 to join and $25 per year. Most of the cost of the memberships goes directly to Mooseheart.

Hull said anyone 21 years of age with good moral character who is a good citizen can join the Moose organization. Word of mouth or referrals from other members is what usually leads to new members being recruited. Both the men's and women's groups meet at 7 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of the month at the home.

"When you sign someone up, you don't want to bring anyone in that you wouldn't want to bring into your house," Hull said.

Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com