June, two months into our 2025/2026 Moose year. As of June 1, 2025, we, as an association, are at 35.1% retention and renewal, with a goal of 85% for our association. Capital City, with 66.1%, leads the pack. 

We have year-to-date renewals of 1962 members in June, with 688 paid, leaving 1274 members to contact and bring back to the herd.

Retention of our great members is our lodges growth. The road to growth is “paved by retention.“ Time to get on the phone or make personal contact, telling these members how important they are. In most cases, renewal dues are less than a dollar a week; for that small amount to help children, seniors, and the community they live in is well worth it. July and August members’ dues should be worked on now, also. Example people— Let’s say your lodge has 10 due in July. Working retention with your CHD, you renew 8; now you only need 3 (not 11) to grow. CHD board, I would like to suggest you assign each board member a lodge to work with on retention in the district; this is the focus of the CHD. I have visited the La Crosse lodge for their district meeting and CHD, and also Rice Lake for their meetings. Thank you for the kind welcome and attention to the importance of retention. I will be visiting the West Bend lodge in August, also. I am available to help if I can in any way. Just call.

 

Sincerely

Dennis Dost – WMA CHD / Retention Chair

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Wisconsin Moose Association

Dells Days 2025

July 26, 2025

Noah’s Ark Waterpark in Wisconsin Dells

A favorite Wisconsin tradition is back! Spend the day with the children of Mooseheart at Noah’s Ark! With over 50 water slides and attractions, from all-out thrilling to laid-back chilling. Named Best Outdoor Waterpark in Newsweek Magazine’s 2024 Reader’s Choice Awards, Noah’s Ark Waterpark is more than a waterpark; it’s a true splash of Americana. Online registration is quick and easy. https://tinyurl.com/wmadells

If you’re unable to register online, please print and complete the reservation form.

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Beginning May 1, 2025, through April 30, 2026, to earn the Premier Lodge Award, a Lodge must:

1) Increase Active Membership over the fiscal year ending 4/30/2025

2) Increase in Total Giving to Moose Charities over the fiscal year ending 4/30/2025. Includes Youth Awareness and individual Donor Circle donations to Moose Charities for your members

OR

Lodge per capita contributions to Moose Charities during the fiscal year ending 4/30/2026 must equal or exceed the fraternity-wide per capita average of $8.69 per member (as established during the prior 2 calendar years)

3) Submit Heart of the Community Reports and receive a grade of “Excellent” or “Superior” on each report

4) Indebtedness on the monthly Moose International Consolidated Billing Statement is reduced at least 5% at April 30, 2026, than the balance due shown on the May of 2025 statement (any April 30, 2026, balance of zero or less is considered less than the prior year)

5) Submission of Moose of the Year nomination form by established deadline

6) Lodge must be represented at the 2025 International Convention, 2025 Association State Annual Convention, and 2026 Association Mid-Year Convention by any lodge member

7) Lodge must remit Endowment Fund contributions to Moose Charities in at least 10 months during the year

8) Lodge must hold an Orientation/Lodge enrollment a minimum of every two months during the year, starting no later than June

9) Conduct Monthly Financial Reviews and Submit Report to TM (all 12 months)

10) Submit the Current Year IRS Form 990 on time (Due September 15, 2025, or file extension March 15, 2026). All previous filings shall be current and have no loss of tax status.

Leadership Awards

When the Lodge qualifies for the Premier Lodge Award, both the President and/or Administrator can earn a Leadership Award, qualifying each of them for 100,000 Moose Rewards points. In order to qualify, the following criteria must be met individually:

  • Must serve a full term from May 1 through the following April 30th
  • Must be an active Chapter/Moose Legion member at the close of their term, April 30th
  • Must sponsor at least three members into The Moose during term of office
  • Must, during their term of office, have personally attended all meetings below during their year of service (Alternate Delegates qualify for a Lodge’s representation but do NOT qualify for the Leadership Award)
    • Association Annual Convention AND Association Mid-Year Conference
    • 2025 Moose International Convention
  • Must have successfully completed the minimum required training, pursuant to the Training rules and regulations.
  • (Administrator only) Reconciliation QuickBooks 10 of the 12 months starting May 1 of current year to April 30 of closing Moose Year
  • (President only) Financial Review Committee formed and conducting monthly reviews

Without exception, ALL of the above conditions MUST be met in order to qualify for the award.

***At the discretion of the Chief Compliance Officer, a Lodge may be disqualified from earning the Premier Lodge Award or Leadership Award for failing to abide by our General Laws. REVISED 5/9/25

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The following information is a brief summary of the General Laws amendments that were voted upon and passed during the 2025 International Moose Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The amendments were voted upon as four separate Categories and each category was passed by the Delegates of the Convention.

Voting Category One:

In Sec. 50.2, removes the spouse of member as an indefinite qualified guest. New language would specify that all qualified family members, over the age of 21, shall be considered a prospective member and limited to two visits before making application for membership.

Voting Category Two:

In Sec. 36.1, a nominee for Administrator must be an active member of the Lodge for at least six (6) months immediately preceding the date of appointment/election.

In Sec. 52.1, increased dispensation requirement threshold to $10,000 for sale or purchase of personal property or equipment.

Voting Category Three:

Word updates only in Composition of The Moose and Article X.

Chapter 7, removal of all information referring to Lodgic Holdings, Inc., as corporation is no longer in existence. Chapter 7 remains, but not in use.

In Sec. 24.11, change in the number of days for an appeal to be filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Forum from thirty (30) to fifteen (15). Matches Sec. 60.6.

In Sec. 33.5, change requirement for Lodge Treasurer to at least six (6) months of active membership immediately preceding the date of election.

In Sec. 33.7, further defines prohibited campaigning tactics to include electronic social media (texting, Facebook, etc.).

In Sec. 34.1, further defines the position of Junior Past President, as must have served as Governor/President of lodge in which they will serve as Junior Past President.

In Sec. 35.15, more clearly defines the process for conferring the honor of Past Lodge President upon a member.

In Sec. 36.11, if the Treasurer is performing the duties of Administrator, due to a vacancy, they remain as Treasurer and do not receive the title of Acting Administrator.

In Chapter 41, clarifies that Appointed Officers are not part of the Lodge Board of Officers meetings and Executive Sessions.

Voting Category Four:

In Section 42.3, clarifies that a Special Meeting cannot be incorporated into a Lodge General Membership meeting and must be held as a separate meeting, per the date and time on the notice to all active members.

In Section 43.4, raises the dispensation requirement threshold to $10,000 for purchase of personal property or equipment.

In Section 44.3, requires an approved dispensation for all lodge community service and charitable fundraising events.

In Section 45.2, adds Social Media to the advertising options that must conform to set conditions.

In Section 46.2, clarifies the manner in which an Elected Officer would be compensated for services such as, janitorial, landscaping, entertainment, etc.

In Section 46.3, clarifies that any member with an approved dispensation that has a condition of obtaining a bond, is personally responsible for obtaining the bond.

In Section 46.12, clarifies a lodge may be used as a political polling place, with an approved dispensation and copy of insurance from the local/county election board.

New Section 46.21, requiring lodges to provide adequate meeting space for any lodge-affiliated Moose Unit or committee of the lodge. This includes all affiliated Chapters, Moose Legion jurisdictions, Associations or committees.

In Section 48.2, adds that a Special Meeting cannot be incorporated into a General Membership Meeting.

In Section 48.8, further explains that a suspended member may arrive 5 – 10 minutes prior to an official lodge meeting and must depart lodge property 5 – 10 minutes following the end of the meeting, with no social quarter’s privileges.

New Section 48.9, provides detail on the approved use of security cameras.

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Greetings, Brothers and Sisters from Moose Charities

With the start of the 2025-2026 “Moving Forward, Giving Back” Moose year, your yearly cumulative contributions to Moose Charities programs for League of Guardians qualifications will reset. The annual household required minimum donation is $1500.00 to qualify as a League of Guardians member. The six League of Guardians levels are:

Guardian                    $1,500 – $1,999

Defender                    $2,000 – $2,999

Protector                    $3,000 – $4,999

Sentinel                     $5,000 – $9,999

Champion                  $10,000–$49,999

Distinguished $50,000 +

Which League of Guardian level would you like to achieve? 

Speaking of reset, Mooseheart Boosters also enters the yearly reset. As a Mooseheart Booster, you help provide a home and education to our Mooseheart children. Your generosity enables Mooseheart Child City & School to provide services to children who need and deserve the opportunity to live a happy and successful life. Please consider making your yearly donation to support Mooseheart Booster.

Donations for Moose Charities programs can be found at: www.moosecharities.org/ways-to-give/

Here is a copy of the Moose Charities WMA Report for March 2025. Click here to view.

Thank you for all you do for our Mooseheart children and Moosehaven senior residents through Moose Charities.

Cheryl Ripp
WMA Moose Charities Chairperson  

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Hello everyone,

Our 2024/2025 Moose year is coming to a close. But we still have some work to do. The growth of our lodges and fraternity is so important. It is important to have more people to help our MooseHeart children, Moosehaven seniors, our community, and our lodges. 

As of April 22nd, our overall retention was over 79%, which is not bad, considering we have a goal of 85%. As I have said, our road to growth is paved by retention. I see many lodges are growing already—thank you. There are 16 lodges with a low number of members to grow, with 4 lodges in single digits.

Time to rally the troops, people. Get hold of your CHD committee. Your Council of Higher Degree, along with whoever you have at your lodge handling membership, get on the phone NOW! Ask your administrator to run a phone list of those still due and in arrears. Give them a call, explain to them how important they, like all our members, are, and bring them back to the herd. Let’s close out BIG and grow while increasing our retention percentage.

Sincerely

Dennis Dost – WMA Retention and CHD Chairman

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My husband Dan was diagnosed with Latter Onset Limb/Girdle Muscular Dystrophy at the age of 48. From the time of his diagnosis to his death at age 66, he never gave up hope of finding a cure or treatment.

Dan Marsden

I am asking each District, Lodge, Chapter, and Moose Legion for this year’s president’s project to hold fundraising events. The funds raised will be used in Wisconsin for the several MDA Care Centers and for sending children with MD to camp. 

If you wish to donate individually, here is the website: https://bit.ly/WMAPP2025

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MDA’s mission is to empower the people we serve to live longer, more independent lives. This document discusses MDA’s impact on the state of Wisconsin.

 

Fraternally,
Margie Marsden
WMA President

2024-2025 State Fundraising Projects

The Wisconsin Moose Association currently has 3 association fundraisers, and the WMA now has a link where you can go and donate to the projects at any time!

The Penzkover COB Fund is to donate funds for when our own Mooseheart Graduate and Muskego Moose Member becomes Chairman of the Board in Oklahoma City in 2026. Mark is currently serving as the Director Chaplain of the Moose International Board of Directors. He is the most humble fraternalist one can meet. If it were up to him, there would be no celebration or recognition to go along with this, but it is a big deal, and certain celebrations are required. These celebrations can be somewhat costly, and so we need to raise funds. If you make a donation of at least $10 to the COB fund on the website, please get a wristband from us the next time you see us!

Mark’s Story: https://wismoose.org/moose-on-a-mission-the-penzkover-story/

The Wisconsin Home. We are honored to have a house on campus that is currently housing students. The home is our responsibility, and we need to have funds available to help with the upkeep of it.

The third project is the Moosehaven AAA Project. We still have to go to meet our commitment to Moosehaven for the construction of this state-of-the-art facility for our senior members to enjoy their activities.

Please, if you can, donate to one or all of these projects. If you wish to give an amount larger than the amounts shown, please either make multiple entries or contact us, and we can add additional amounts if necessary.

Thank you.

WMA Fundraising Donation Link: https://tinyurl.com/WMA-Fund

QR for WMA Fundraising is the red one below.

2024-2025 State Fundraising Projects

2425 WMA Pres Pro

The WMA President’s Project for 2024-2025 is:

From WMA President Margie Marsden: My husband Dan was diagnosed with Latter Onset Limb/Girdle Muscular Dystrophy at the age of 48. From the time of his diagnosis to his death at age 66, he never gave up hope of finding a cure or treatment.

For this year’s president’s project, I am asking each district, lodge, chapter, and Moose Legion to hold fundraising events. Funds raised will be designated to be used in Wisconsin for the several MDA Care Centers and for sending children with MD to camp.

If you wish to donate individually, here is the website; there is also a QR code attached for your convenience: https://bit.ly/WMAPP2025.

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