During the 132nd Meeting of the Supreme Lodge, delegates voted favorably to pass a set of General Law Amendments that would essentially create a new and unified Moose membership where all members, male and female, would have equal opportunities, rights and privileges within the Lodge. Nearly, 77% of the delegates voted in favor of moving to a unified Moose membership, easily surpassing the 67% majority necessary for adoption.
For a brief rundown, check out this handy FAQ Sheet they have put together.
The changes are scheduled to go into effect on May 1, 2021 and will impact the membership in the following ways:
For the Supreme Lodge:
- The “Supreme Lodge” and any references to “the Order” will now be referred to as “The Moose.”
- There will be individual title changes for what was previously referred to as the “Supreme Council;” now the Board of Directors. Women will be allowed to serve on the Board beginning May 1, 2021, however, no terminology change will be necessary to make this happen.
- The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than nine (9) or more than thirteen (13) members, including the following five (5) officers, who shall serve on the Moose International, Inc. Board of Directors during the terms of their respective offices: The Chief Executive Officer (Director General); the Junior Past Chairman of the Board of Directors (Jr. Past Supreme Governor); the Chairman of the Board of Directors (Supreme Governor); the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors (Supreme Jr. Governor); and a Director/Chaplain (Prelate).
- “The Moose” shall be composed of Past Chairmen of the Board of Directors; members of the Moose International, Inc. Board of Directors; officers of The Moose; committeemen of The Moose; Past Lodge Presidents; Past Senior Regents (having received the honor prior to May 1, 2021); and representatives of the member Lodges. Each member shall be entitled to one (1) vote, and except as otherwise defined herein, the majority shall rule.
- No changes at this time to the men’s or women’s higher degrees.
For Associations:
- The ability to incorporate chapters into an Association is no longer applicable as this function is no longer needed in the “One Moose” Lodge structure. All Moose Lodges (as well as the entirety of their membership) will automatically be members of their local Associations.
For the Lodge:
- Women will become members of the Lodge automatically on May 1, 2021. Women may become elected to the Board of Officers beginning May 1, 2022; however, qualified women may be eligible or appointed to open positions on the Board or to committees beginning May 1, 2021.
- Individual title changes will occur for the lodge officers, including “President” for Governor; “Vice President” for Junior Governor; “Chaplain” for Prelate and “Past Lodge President” for Past Lodge Governor. Any member, man or woman, may serve in the new positions as long as they are a member of either the Moose Legion or the newly structured Women of the Moose, or join within 60 days,
- All previous honors will transition seamlessly to the new integrated Moose. i.e. Any member receiving the honor of Past Lodge Governor shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of any Past Lodge President of The Moose.
- The revised Laws for Moose Social Quarters and Homes (Section IV) eliminates the House Committee; those duties will now be performed by the Lodge’s Board of Officers.
- An Executive Session has been added to every Board of Officer’s meeting, if necessary, to discuss confidential topics (i.e. personnel matters, legal matters, etc.), including issues previously handled by the House Committee.
- The minimum proposed dues amount for the Lodge will be $38, although Lodges have the option to set higher dues amounts.
For the Chapter:
- The Women of the Moose will be structured similarly as the Moose Legion; as an affiliated unit of the new Moose lodge.
- The WOTM will maintain all honors, charitable focus, lower dues and influence.
- Chapters will retain their current assets, without turning monies over to the Lodge.
- The minimum proposed dues amount for the chapter is $15, although Chapter dues are waived for the first three years of the transition to the One Moose lodge structure.
- Stand Alone Chapters will need to be chartered as a new Moose Lodge although the current WOTM Chapter will still exist.
- Similar to the Moose Legion, women have the option of joining the Lodge without having to join the Chapter.
Additional information regarding the changes to occur May 1, 2021 will be distributed in the coming months to aid in the transition.