As the new year begins let us start with a bang!
I hope all Lodges have been working on Retention! The Council of Higher Degrees are helping some Lodges but are not being asked often enough to help more.
Enrolling new members is tremendous, but we also need to retain our older members. I know I hear all the time that I’m not paying my dues because none of the officers or other members feel the need to visit with members. Somewhere we are losing it.
Let us make all of our members feel important. The Council of Higher Degrees is hard at work helping administrators with Retention. Hope you are taking advantage of what the councils can help with.
Hope the new year brings us health and happiness.
See you in Costa Mesa.
Frankie Wysocki
CHD Chairman
(661) 747-4345
frankiewysocki@yahoo.com
Angeles Desert Council of Higher Degrees
President Art Sorem (310) 213-0004
Secretary Gerilyn Walsh (310) 343-1167
CA North State Council of Higher Degrees
President Linda Huber (916) 531-1220
Secretary Linda Savely (916) 743-6699
Gold Coast Council of Higher Degrees
President Robert Leon (409) 772-3584
Secretary Ann Cooke (831) 27-4320
Surf & Sand Council of Higher Degrees
President Bonnie Trejo (562) 260-6079
Secretary Linda Ethier (562) 833-3626

Official Logo
The official logo of the Council of Higher Degrees is the standing Moose overlaid on six (6) interlocking rings representing the degrees of the Order. The color of the rings denote the degrees: Pilgrim is gold; Fellowship is French blue, Moose Legion is purple, College of Regents is black, Academy of Friendship is blue and the Star Recorder is green.


Composition Of Higher Degrees
The Council of Higher Degrees consists of:
Members of the Pilgrim Degree of Merit, the Fellowship Degree of Honor, the Moose Legion Degree of Service, the College of Regents, the Academy of Friendship and the Star Recorders.


Purpose
Council is a separate and autonomous unit of the Order. The purpose of the Council of Higher Degrees is:
- To be actively involved in the retention of Lodge, Chapter and Moose Legion members.
- To promote and support the programs of Moose Charities.
- To honor all newly elevated members of the higher degrees.
- To honor the memories of deceased members of the Council of Higher Degrees.
- To promote the programs of The Moose and Women of The Moose.
- To encourage fraternal and social unity, benevolence and charity among all members of the Order.


RETENTION
If you want to keep your members
R is for: Realizing that members need to be Reminded of their worth.
E is for The extra effort make members feel welcome.
T is for: Thinking about and listening to members concerns and ideas.
E is for: The Elemental Enjoyment and understand of the moose family.
N is for: The nucellus part of the moose in each lodge to grow solid ( in this case the officers need to reach out to all of their co-workers.
T is for: Tapping the talent in each lodge, to make the Moose Home more welcoming.
I is for: Including each member in each function and meeting.
O is for: Overcoming Obstacles so you may work and plat together.
N is for: Nuking the needless negativity floating around the lodge home.
I know you all love the moose as I do so lets start working together and get our members back.
Remember: Volunteers do not necessarily have the time, they have the heart.
Fraternally
Frankie Wysocki
ATTENTION
FIDELITY BOND COVERAGE
REQUIRED OF ALL COUNCILS
Councils of Higher Degrees do have to carry Fidelity Bond coverage (also known as employee theft coverage). You may purchase this coverage from any source that you wish provided that the Insurance Company has a Best’s rating of A or better. Most Fraternal Units purchase this coverage through Lockton Risk Services. You may contact them at 1-866-836-3373.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Best regards,
Cynthia D. Traynor
Senior Staff Attorney
Moose International, Inc.
(630) 859-6619
ctraynor@mooseintl.org
One in Purpose and One in Commitment
It has come to my attention that a few of our higher degree members may be incapacitated in some manner (in a rest home, etc.). This is the perfect time to make a personal contact with the member or the family to offer aid or comfort. AND, some unit should pay the man’s Lodge and Moose Legion or woman’s Chapter dues to keep them in good standing and on the active rolls of their degree. This is brother helping a brother and co-worker helping a co-worker at its highest level. Remember we are the Moose and — We are One in Spirit, One in Purpose and One in Commitment.
Thanks again for all your efforts and for being a piece of the solution!
Jim Fleminbg
Moose International