1> General Laws Updates
Revisions to Moose International computer systems now allow for all General Law changes that were voted on positively at the June Convention to be implemented at the lodge and chapter level. This includes the ability to cross-sponsor new members into the Order, the ability to re-enroll members into the fraternity after six months in expired status, and the option of reducing the number of Trustees in a Lodge from three to one. Lodges, Chapters and Moose Legions now have access to the LCL.net upgrades when connecting to our server. Below are further explanations of pertinent changes to our general laws. Cross sponsorship and expired member options material is also attached to this e-mail.
Cross sponsorship - how does it work?
Our General Laws now allow a Loyal Order of Moose member to sponsor a woman into the Women of the Moose, and vice versa. This does not allow a man to join the Women of the Moose or a woman to join the Loyal Order of Moose.Applicants must still be endorsed by a member of the Lodge or Chapter in which they are applying. This change in no way effects sponsorship of Moose Legion members.
How does this get entered by the Lodge and Chapter?
Before entry of the new application, the sponsor would first have to be entered into the Sponsor tab. Entry would be done the same way you enter a member that does not belong to your Lodge/Chapter.
BASIC INSTRUCTIONS ON ENTERING INTO THE SPONSORS TAB:
Click the Sponsors tab near the top of the screen
Click the New Sponsor button on the far right side of the screen to open the Out of Unit Sponsor screen
Enter the Sponsor’s MID number in the Member ID field
Click Find
Click the Save button to add the current information to the Sponsors list. This will allow you to either enter the Sponsor MID or select the Sponsor from the list in the future.
More detailed information can be reviewed in your LCL.net Resource Manual, or by clicking on the link below to view this manual on our website:
Cross sponsorship - who gets credit for the application?
The Lodge or Chapter that the new applicant is joining receives credit for this application toward their yearly goal and overall active membership count. They will also be charged for the application fee/dues on their monthly Statement of Accounts.
The sponsor gets credit toward their own member record. If a Lodge member sponsors a woman into the Chapter or a Chapter member sponsors a man into the lodge, they will get sponsor credit for the current campaign, and any short term campaign programs in place, including 25 Club. All sponsor credits are applied to their membership history and will count toward any personal degrees/honors.
Campaign lapel pins are gender-based; therefore Lodges/Chapters must work together to provide their sponsors with the appropriate Moose: Back to Basics lapel pin. If a Lodge member sponsors a member into the Chapter, he would receive his lapel pin from the Lodge.
Reinstatement and Re-Enrollment:
The Moose Fraternity’s General Laws now allow expired members additional options to renew their membership once their dues have expired.
Any person whose dues have expired, but are within six months from their dues expiration date, must:
- Pay dues, which will continue their membership from the date of expiration shown on their most recent membership card.
Action: Remit dues to Dues Processing Center
Any person whose dues have been expired between six months and one year may:
- Pay dues, which will continue their membership from the date of expiration and will maintain their years of service in the Moose.
Action: Remit dues to Dues Processing Center
- Re-enroll in their original Lodge/Chapter or any Lodge/Chapter; however, they will lose all years of service in the Moose. The new dues expiration date, however, will not occur until one full year from the enrollment date reported by the Lodge/Chapter and Moose International.
Actions:
Submit official application, circling the application type as re-enroll
Remit necessary application fee/dues
Sign Former Member Acknowledgement
Any person whose dues have been expired between one year and two years may:
- Re-instate membership into his/her own Lodge/Chapter, retaining all years of service
Actions:
Submit official application, circling the application type as re-instatement
Remit necessary back dues and dues in advance
- Re-enroll in their original Lodge/Chapter or any Lodge/Chapter, losing years of service
Actions:
Submit official application, circling the application type as re-enroll
Remit necessary application fee/dues
Sign Former Member Acknowledgement
Any person whose dues have been expired for more than two years must:
- Re-enroll in their original Lodge/Chapter or any Lodge/Chapter, losing years of service
Actions:
Submit official application, circling the application type as re-enroll
Remit necessary application fee/dues
Sign Former Member Acknowledgement
ATTENTION: Administrator/Recorder - If an applicant is applying as a re-enrollment to his/her original Lodge/Chapter, a re-vote by membership is required. If re-enrolling into a different Lodge/Chapter, the applicant must be approved by the Application Review Committee and Lodge/Chapter membership. The Former Member Acknowledgement must be signed.
Additional Changes that Impact Members
Lodges will now have the option of operating with a Board of Officers with either three Trustees or one Trustee.
For Lodges wishing to operate with only one Trustee, a dispensation from the General Governor is required. The number of officers on the Board at the annual election will remain for the year, unless dispensation is granted. July 1st was the date that dispensations could start to be submitted for a Board with only one Trustee. For Lodges that have a full Board and wish to continue as such, an election will be conducted every year for a three-year Trustee. For Boards wishing to have only one Trustee, but currently have three, one will be rotated off annually until only one remains. Lodge Boards consisting of only one Trustee require four officers to be present in order to make up a quorum.
Please refer to the new General Laws on the Moose International website for changes to the specific responsibilities of officers in a one Trustee situation.
The Guest Policy has changed with the introduction of Cross-Sponsorship.
Spouses of members are exempt from the guest policy and may accompany the member as they have in the past. All other individuals would be considered prospective members, including lady-friends of LOOM members, gentlemen-friends of WOTM members, and children of members who are over the age of 21, and are subject to the two-visit guest rule.
Community Service has now been officially branded as Heart of the Community.
Going forward, we should refer to community service programs as Heart of the Community programs where appropriate, without causing confusion to those outside the organization.
Dissolution of Lodges
A Lodge can now voluntarily dissolve by a majority of the members present at a special meeting to discuss a Lodge’s future. Prior to this change, this could not happen if as few as seven members objected.
Representation at Meetings
An administrator who has received dispensation to hold office in two Lodges may represent both Lodges at conferences and conventions, but may have only one vote.
Advertising
Bingo prices and prizes may now be displayed, as allowed by law, without a dispensation from the General Governor.
With a dispensation from the General Governor, a Lodge can now advertise prices (i.e. price of admission to a dance, price of meals, drinks, etc.) for fundraising events open to the public.
Leasing of Lodge Home
A Lodge may, with dispensation from the General Governor, lease the Lodge home or hall to other not-for-profit organizations whose mission is consistent with that of Moose International. Further, a Lodge may now rent the Lodge home or hall to a member for business purposes with a dispensation from the General Governor.