I hope your Holiday Season was pleasant and wish you all the best in 2012.
Upcoming Association Sporting events to mark on your calendar are:
March 31-April 1, Texas Hold’em Tournament at Lewis/Clark Lodge
April 21-22, Bowling Tournament in Chehalis
Entry forms for the Association bowling tournament that will be held in Chehalis on April 21-22, 2012, are now available on the website at www.wsnima.org. Please plan on attending this event. We HAVE to start supporting each other at Association events if we want them to be successful.
Please be on the lookout for the entry form for the Association Texas Hold-Em Tournament at Lewis/Clark Lodge on March 31-April 1. It will be posted on the website shortly.
I am still looking for a Lodge to host the Association golf tournament, if you are interested please let me know.
Thank you all very much and if you have any questions regarding activities you can run on a weekly or monthly basis at your Lodge or District level please let me know and I'll do everything I can to help.

TOP 5 REASONS TO HOST AN EVENT:
5. To show off your Lodge to other Lodges.
4. To make new friends from around the Association.
3. To put Fraternalism into action.
2. To put $$$s into your Lodge Finances by selling lots of food and beverages (hiccup).
And the number one reason to host an event:
1. To have FUN! FUN! FUN!

From Moose International Director of Ritual and Higher Degrees Bob Neff:
 
January is recognized as Moose Legion Honor Month. It is time to finalize some plans in the lodge to pay tribute to the Moose Legionnaires for all the work and support hey have given over the years.
 Moose International will be running a special campaign for sponsoring Moose Legion applications in recognition of Moose Legion Honor Month. Each member who sponsors at least two (2) accepted new or former members into the Moose Legion will earn a sponsor award. They must be reported between December 15th and February 15th to qualify.
 The gift offered to say thank you during this period will be a Moose Legion travel garment bag. The bag will prominently display the Moose Legion logo on the front. It can be used to transport your regalia or other suits / clothing.
 Simply Create Some Interest among the members of your Lodge. Get a copy of the eligibility list and invite your qualified Lodge members to advance to the Degree of Service with you. Secure the applications and appropriate dues / fees and get them to the Moose Legion Secretary to be reported timely during the period.
 Hopefully, your Lodge will plan some special event(s) to recognize all Moose Legionnaires. Perhaps you might hold an invitational Moose Legion Orientation Program at your Lodge to acquaint your Lodge members with the Moose Legion.
There is information to do so in the “Guide to Success” handbooks, which are available from Catalog Sales for just $2.00 per copy (plus applicable taxes and shipping). There is a lot of good information in the book. I encourage you to get a few copies for your Lodge Moose Legion Committee(s).
 
From International Moose Legion President Paul Curtis:
 
Don't forget that January is Moose Legion Honor Month. I hope that everyone has planned something special within your Lodge Moose Legion Committee for this month of recognition. What better way to say "Thank You" to all of the Moose Legionnaires in your Lodge than to put on a dinner at the Lodge for them and their wife or lady friend on a given Saturday night in January. Then have them stand and give them the recognition they so justly deserve.
A little public recognition goes a long way, and let's face it, the Lodge would not be where it is at today without their Moose Legionnaires. Let's show them exactly how much they are appreciated for all they do throughout the entire year.
And what a great time it is to sponsor new members to join the Degree of Service. Check out the campaign in honor of this special month. Members can earn a travel / garment bag for sponsoring two Moose Legion applications between Dec 15, 2011 and Feb 15, 2012, while working towards several other awards.

Mystery comes to our 65th Annual Mid-Year Conference as we come together in Yakima to renew friendships, meet new friends and learn more about the upcoming International and Association Programs.
We’re planning a fun-filled week-end, too, including a Friday Night Murder Mystery that maybe you can solve. And, we’ll be “going to the Derby” on Friday night, too, with lots of horse racing and games. So, we’d like everyone to participate by getting in the spirit of the Derby and designing and/or finding unusual hats to wear Friday night.

Please come and join us at Mid-Year Conference as we welcome for the Loyal Order of Moose, John Reiter, member of the Moose Charities Board of Directors. John joined the Moose in 1989 at Ocala, FL, Lodge 1014 where he became a Life Member in 2006. He also joined Inverness, FL, Lodge 2112 in April 2006 and uses this as his primary membership. He is a member of the 125 club of the Moose 25 club and holds the Fellowship and Pilgrim Degrees.
For the Women of the Moose, please welcome Pat Mancuso, Past Grand Regent (2004-2005) and currently a member of the Moosehaven Board of Directors. She joined Atlantic City, NJ, Chapter 340 and currently holds membership in Jackson, NJ, Chapter 2342. She also is a member of the 125 Division of the 25 Club and holds all honor degrees.

Listed below is a complete list of Annual Convention Awards:

HIGHER DEGREE RAFFLE WINNERS
Molly Brown won the Basket
Ross Winters won the Camera

CONVENTION REGISTRATION
LOOM 138
WOTM 143

APPLES FOR MOOSEHEART PLAQUES
For LOOM, Bellinham Lodge #493
For WOTM, Finley Chapter #2384

ENDOWMENT FUND AWARDS
Camas Lodge #1492 - $2,937.96
Dollars Corner Lodge #2119 - $1,550.00
Bellingham Lodge #493 - $1532.77
Nisqually Valley Lodge #1905 - $1646.30
Lakes Lodge #1865 - $1820.16
TOTAL collected from Lodges $17,250.71

Chehalis Chapter #250 - $587.11
Pasco/Kennewick Chapter #1204 - $1993.85
Woodland Chapter #2002 - $717.00
Bellingham Chapter #277 - $790.00
Lakes Chapter #511 - $543.41
TOTAL Collected from Chapters $10,268.92

PREMIER LODGE AWARD WINNERS
Port Angeles Lodge #996 - Bronze
Peninsula Lodge #2362 - Silver
Finley Service Center #2681 - Silver
Woodland Lodge #2394 - Gold
Camas Lodge #1042 - Platinum

GOVERNOR AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Bob Bielman - Camas Lodge #1042
Ron Keller - Chehalis Lodge #1109
Dale Keck - Woodland Lodge #2394

PULL TABS COLLECTED
Winner - Mt. Vernon Lodge #1640 and Chapter #383

R. ROBERT DALE SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
Aaron McGaughey, son of Co-Worker Terri McCaughey from Kennwick Chapter

FELLOW OF THE YEAR
Anthony Gibson - Finley Service Center #2681

PILGRIM OF THE YEAR
Gerry Ohler - Pasco/Kennewick Lodge #482

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Gerry Ohler & Marjorie Lee from Pasco/Kennewick

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS
Honorable Mention to Grand Coulee, Enumclaw, Mt. Vernon, Olympic, Lakes, Peninsula.
Bronze Award to Camas, Chehalis, Nisqually Valley and Woodland.
Silver Award to Montesano

BRIGHT STAR WINNERS
Marjorie Lee - Finley Chapter #2394 for WOTM Community Service Volunteer of the Year

Sam Hooper - Montesano Lodge #1210 & Mike McKernan - Bellingham Lodge #493 tied for LOOM Sports Person of the Year

Kayla Stookey - Moscow Chapter #710 for WOTM Family Involvement Volunteer of the Year

Dave Montonye - Chehalis Lodge #1109 for LOOM Lodge Volunteer of the Year

Elizabeth Lucke - Finley Chapter #2394 for WOTM Chapter Volunteer of the Year

Doug Bubnick - Montesano Lodge #1210 for LOOM Family Activities Volunteer of the Year

Elizabeth Lucke - Pasco/Kennewick #1204 & Bonnie Walther - Pullman Chapter #2350 tied for WOTM Recorder of the Year

Scott Conley - Finley Lodge #2681 for LOOM Community Service Volunteer of the Year

Ramona Stults - Vancouver Chapter #970 for WOTM College of Regents Volunteer of the Year

Kenny Propper - Woodland Lodge #2394 for LOOM Trustee of the Year

Sharon Varzandeh - Pasco/Kennewick Chapter #1204 for WOTM Senior Regent of the Year

Ron Keller - Chehalis Lodge #1109 for LOOM Governor of the Year

Port Angeles Chapter #3 won for WOTM Chapter of the Year

Camas Lodge #1042 won for LOOM Lodge of the Year