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Garden Grove Legion ... WHO WE ARE
The Garden Grove Legion is one of four district legions that make up ORANGE COAST LEGION #203. The other member legions are from Anaheim, Buena Park, and La Habra. The Garden Grove Legion meetings are held every month after the Garden Grove LOOM General Meeting. The Board of Officers will discuss the scheduling of activities and projects within its lodge to promote the ongoing support of the Moose Fraternity. Although the legionnaires are serious about "Moose Business', they also believe in having "FUN" !!!!! Every quarter, there is a "Legion Celebration" held at a pre-determined lodge. This is a meeting for all Legionnaires to attend. Also, an enrollment ceremony takes place where new Legion members take their oath. A dinner and band are usually included for the festivities.
Directors 2007 - 2008
| PRESIDENT | Mel Puls, Fullerton #339 |
| VICE PRESIDENT | Leonard Chapman, Garden Grove #620 |
| CHAPLAIN | Cloyd Summers, Fullerton #339 |
| SECRETARY | Bill Peterson, Buena Park #1945 |
| JR. PAST PRESIDENT | Monte Shuput, Garden Grove #620 |
| FRATERNAL DIRECTOR | J.R. Rogers, Garden Grove #620 |
| FINANCIAL DIECTOR | T.J. Stiler, La Habra #1858 |
Officers 2007 - 2008
| CHAIRMAN | J. R. Jim Rogers |
| VICE CHAIRMAN | Joel Bowling |
| JR. PAST CHAIRMAN | Leonard B. Chapman |
| MARSHAL | Rick Chandler |
| SECRETARY | |
| ASST. SECRETARY | J. R. Jim Rogers |
The Legion 203 meeting will be held at the Buena Park Moose Lodge on May 18th at 2:00 PM.
The Garden Grove Legion meeting will be held at the Garden Grove Moose Lodge on May 21st following the LOOM General Meeting.
Brief History of the MOOSE LEGION
(taken from "A Guide to SUCCESS")
The "Moose Legion", "Second Degree", or "Degree of Service" was created by resolution, during the annual convention of the Supreme Lodge in Cincinnati, Ohio, and adopted by the Supreme Council in 1913, as the "Mooseheart Legion of the World". Initially, and continuing until 1931, women enjoyed full membership, as an intricate part of the Mooseheart Legion of the World. Early issues of the Moose Magazine proclaimed this union of men and women with the headlines….. "Mooseheart Legion for Men and Women". These Moose Legionnaires, and thousands who followed have proven over and over again … "active Moose Legionnaires are the greatest asset a Lodge can possess!"
Rodney Brandon, the degree's first administrator, carrying the title Grand Regent, devised the first emblem, which incorporated a moose head centered in a pyramid with the letters "F", "H", and "C" at its points superimposed over a heart, surrounded by a circle and containing the words "Alces” and "Machlis", all of which had individual meanings. The pyramid symbolized the core of our existence, Faith, Hope and Charity, while the heart symbolized heart of the fraternity, and the word "Alces" meaning moose or large beast and "Machlis" meaning leader. The emblem was used, in conjunction with the Women of the Moose, continually until 1991 when a change was made to give both the Moose Legion and the Women of the Moose specific logo identity.
The year 1931 brought the formal organization of the Women of the Moose, and produced an amicable split from the men, as a separate and distinct unit of the fraternity. In the same year, the degree changed its name to "Legion of the Moose", and continued under this banner until early 1991, when the name changed once again, to "Moose Legion", with reference to the "degree of service". Moose Legionnaires, first committed to building a one-million dollar endowment fund, also recognized the needs of the newly created "Child City - Mooseheart". Extending their efforts, they provided the funds to purchase the first dairy herd; funded construction of the first major building, "Loyalty Hall" -1914 (now renovated and converted into a learning center). Added shortly thereafter were, "West Legion Hall” - 1917, "East Legion Hall" - 1919 and "Fez Hall" - 1921. In addition, Moose Legionnaires have provided funds to help with every major project on the Mooseheart campus, and individually have funded construction of the indoor swimming pool adjacent to the school (1965); construction and maintenance of the metric track located at the Illinois Memorial Stadium (1978 & 1994). Renovation of Camp Ross Swimming pool (1999), Purchase of more property, including a Bunk House (2001), and renovation of the House of God (2003).
Development of Mooseheart's Camp Ross became a concern of the Moose Legion in it's early years, and in addition to its obligation for the annual budget, the Moose Legion committed to a 5 year improvement program, which included the construction of a new Camp Director's cabin in 1995. Now, brought about by the volunteer efforts of the Moose Legions, Camp Ross is a full 12 month per year facility, providing a camping experience for Mooseheart children, as well as educational and retreat facilities for Moose International and Mooseheart staff and employees.
Even though the great amount of monies raised by the first Moose Legionnaires were of significant value to Mooseheart, these accomplishments are overshadowed by the commitments made to the "City of Contentment - Moosehaven”.The Moose Legion provided the original funding for the purchase of the 63 acre retirement community campus in Orange Park, Florida. (A little known fact … for many years after the founding of Moosehaven, admission was open only to those holding the Moose Legion degree.)
Traditional monetary support for Moosehaven, continued and took on an added dimension in 1991, when Moose Legionnaires, adopted the "Moosehaven Seniors Medical Fund", wherein another major portion of annual dues is diverted directly to the Moosehaven budget for outside medical service of our seniors. This permanent project has provided for senior health care at Moosehaven in excess of three-million dollars.
Lodges with active Moose Legion committees operate at a higher level, in membership building and retention: profitability, and harmony among its membership. The Moose member, once elevated to the Moose Legion Degree, and with an active committee through which to channel his fraternal desires, exhibits a strong desire to give of time, talents and leadership ability, thus contributing to Lodge progress.
Let's consider three known facts: first… of those Lodge members who are dropped for non-payment of dues each year - 9 of every 10 are not Moose Legionnaires. Second… of those Moose members who achieve Lodge new members sponsor status each year - 8 of every 10 are Moose Legionnaires, and Third… ninety-eight cents of every dollar raised at the Lodge level by Moose Legionnaires finds it way back into the Lodge, in the form of a new or remodeled buildings, purchase of equipment, payment of insurance premiums or some special project. When we have an active Moose Legion Committee in our Lodges - we have individuals who accept projects and get things done in the Lodge.
Considering the positive effect on our Lodges by Moose Legionnaires, it is imperative we place greater emphasis on Moose Legion membership. We must bring those qualified for membership in the Moose Legion into our ranks, and then provide a schedule of activities and projects within the Lodge, through an active Moose Legion Committee.
This will be accomplished by acquainting the Moose member with the Moose Legion, educating him on the value of Moose Legion membership, and elevating him to the second degree. At this point, we will have added assets to our Lodge by including a member who will be more likely to remain a Moose member … one who will sponsor his friends to membership, and one who will be willing to dedicate his efforts through service, to the Lodge, community and fraternity.
A Moose member, who elevates his membership to the degree of service does so out of love for and dedication to, the fraternity. He places the needs of his Lodge, District, State or Province, and the Fraternity ahead of his personal desire for recognition or advancement…he steps forward, pays his fee and dues, and then proudly announces…"I'm part of the future, use me to advance the cause of children and seniors!"
MOOSE LEGION HAS MADE SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
The Second Degree of the Loyal Order of Moose, known as the Moose Legion, was organized in 1913 to provide an opportunity for those members of the fraternity who desire to make further contributions to the Order's philanthropic objectives.
Also known as the Degree of Service, the Moose Legion provides a means of distinction for its members. Becoming a Moose Legionnaire is the first step towards advancing to the higher degrees.
There are at present more than 200 Moose Legions in the United States and Canada with an average membership of 10 percent of the Moose membership. Moose Legion "celebrations" are held at least quarterly in each jurisdiction.
The Second Degree now enjoys a high position of membership strength, respect and prestige. It has achieved this lofty level by compiling an outstanding record of fraternal achievement.
The first philanthropic project of the Moose Legion in 1913 and 1914, was to contribute $6,000 to provide the nucleus for a herd of Holstein dairy cattle at Mooseheart.
Moose Legion contributions financed the building of West Legion Hall in 1917, East Legion Hall in 1919, and Fez Hall in 1921. (All are or were residential structures on the Mooseheart Campus.) The Moose Legion helped finance the founding and operation of Moosehaven in 1922, underwrote the founding of the Moosehaven Research Laboratory in 1947, and built the Community Building in 1949. In 1953, the Moose Legion financed Faith Hall, Legion Hall in 1958, and Jubilee Hall. In the 1960s, the Moose Legion also helped raise funds for the Paul P. Schmitz Health Center.
Since the 1980s, Moose Legionnaires have also funded all prescription drugs and all outside health care needs of Moosehaven residents.
The Moose Legion helped build Mooseheart's House of God in 1950 and contributed $150,000 to the Mooseheart High School building fund in 1954. The Moose Legion successfully completed a $100,000 campaign to develop Mooseheart Camp Ross in the late 1950s and early 1960s. (The early-1990s upgrades at Camp Ross are also a Moose Legion project.) In the late 1960s, the Mooseheart student bank was completed and placed into operation, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool was added to the Mooseheart school complex, both thanks to the Moose Legion.
In 1973, the Museum of Moose History was dedicated and was sponsored entirely by the Moose Legion. There was also a complete renovation of Jubilee Hall at Moosehaven in 1980-81.
Another milestone by the Moose Legion was the financing in the late 1970s of a new metric track at Mooseheart, at a cost of more than $180,000; this track was completely resurfaced in 1994 at a cost of $56,000--also borne by the Moose Legion. By now the Museum of Moose History had outgrown itself. A completely new addition, doubling the size, was also funded by the Moose Legion and dedicated in 1985.
In 1989, the Moose Legion adopted Camp Ross as its permanent project, guaranteeing the continuation of the Summer Camp Program and maintaining its reputation as the "Degree of Service." The Moose Legion is triumphantly fulfilling its basic function in the God-given work of the fraternity. Today, and in the future, the Moose Legion will take part in virtually every endeavor of the Order.
In early 1999, the way was cleared for even more dedicated Moose members to elevate to the Second Degree. By vote of the Moose Legion Council, there are no longer any prerequisites of Lodge committee service or length of membership;any Moose in good standing may now make application to join the Moose Legion.