Dwindling numbers threaten the future of the Moose

The Loyal Order of the Moose have put out the call and are desperately seeking new members, all in hopes to bring new life to their organization and help to keep the doors open at their downtown Prince Rupert lodge.

The longtime local service organization, like many others in the city over the years have seen their active members list drop, bringing the Moose to the point today where there are only four active members involved in the organization from a roll call list of 70 on their books.

It's the same scenario which saw the decline of the Elks and more recently the Royal Canadian Legion branch, which both closed their doors over the last decade. The Legion at one time was reported to be planning on building a new home on Park Avenue, but little progress has been made on that site and recently a large For Sale sign has appeared on the land on Park Avenue.

Considering the need for members for the Moose and a home for the Legion, one would think that the logical solution would be for the two groups to combine their resources in the current Moose building, that way the needed repairs to the lodge roof could take place and the Legion could once again provide a meeting place for its local members.

However, that it seems is not a possibility for the moment, instead the Moose intend to continue to seek out new members, with a meeting scheduled for Monday at 7:30 pm at the Moose Lodge for for anyone who is interested in joining.

The Daily News featured the fate of the Moose as their front page story in Friday's paper.

MOOSE LODGE MAY BE LOST AS MEMBERSHIP DWINDLES
Handful of active members fear doors may close forever if things don't change
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, April 04, 2008
Page one and three

The last service club in town to actually have a club house is desperately seeking new members to help keep the doors open.

The Loyal Order of the Moose, which has the Moose Lodge at 745 First Ave. West, has about 70 members on the books, but there are really only three or four people keeping the club active, said Gerry Law, president.

The Moose desperately needs new members who are interested in fundraising and volunteering in order to keep the lodge doors open.

There will be a meeting for anyone who is interested in joining on Monday, at 7:30 p.m., at the Moose Lodge. Everyone is welcome.

"We do a lot of work for the community," said Law. "We are looking for people who like to volunteer and help out their community."

The building itself is in good shape, but it needs a new roof, which will cost about $25,000. They currently have about $1,500 in a new-roof fund.

However, the work that goes on under that roof helps contribute about $25,000 per year in charitable donations to local community groups.

Law said they hold garage sales during the summer as well as bingo fund-raisers in order to be able to provide scholarships for local graduates, sponsor local sports teams and make donations to support children's health care.

"When the Elizabeth Apartments caught fire, we kept the lodge open for 30 hours straight so the firefighters and ambulance personnel would have some place to sit down and have a cup of coffee and a sandwich," he said.

Keith Lambourne, president of the Moose mixed darts league, said it would be a real shame if they don't get enough people to keep the Moose Hall open.

"Basically, it boils down to bodies," said Lambourne. "If the Moose Lodge closes, we lose all those donations to the community and the last remaining service club with a club house."

Currently, the Moose Lodge is open six nights a week, with bar service. The Hall also has a full kitchen and is a good location for music.

The Royal Canadian Legion closed the doors on its large facility two years ago when it sold the building to Chances Prince Rupert.

The Loyal Order of the Moose and Women of the Moose are a family-based fraternity founded in 1888.

New members need to be nominated by two existing members, however, Lambourne said they would be happy to take any new members they can get.

"Anyone with any ideas to save the Moose should come to this meeting," he said.

Following the meeting on Monday for new members, there will be an additional meeting of the Moose executive on Mon., April 14, during which members will decide the future of the Moose Lodge in Prince Rupert.