JACKSON – They’ve actually been operating for many years but Jackson Moose Lodge 1459 recently held a grand opening at their headquarters at Millstone, 560 Monmouth Road.
The event ran all afternoon and featured a free buffet and much more. To say the turnout was good would be an understatement. Hundreds of people flocked that day to the lodge for a good time, good food and to see people they hadn’t seen in a while. There were balloons, food, live music and a lot of camaraderie. Entertainment included a performance by Full Tilt, and there were also giveaways at the event that was open to the public.
The grand opening also provided an opportunity for residents of Jackson and Millstone to find out what the Moose Lodge was all about: community, charity, family, fraternity, and much more.
Before this, Moose members assembled in preparation for the big celebration for a property clean-up project. Members spent nearly two hours clearing any debris and sprucing up the building.
There was an election of officers held on April 19. Moose members are looking to revive some of their past traditions and were busy recently seeking volunteers to cook for a Mother’s Day breakfast event.
The lodge offers up entertainment like singer Alex Chernick and special events like NASCAR races, Hawaiian Night, Karaoke Night, Gametime Moose specials and dinner specials.
The Moose motto can be summed up as “A burden heavy to one is borne lightly by many.” According to the international fraternity’s website, “This is at the core of the Moose organization and what makes us unique in our Lodges, local communities and charitable ‘cities’ that we support. Our roots can be traced to 1888 and the founder of the Moose, Dr. Henry Wilson, who successfully established the first Lodge in Louisville, Kentucky.”
In the early years, the Moose was to serve a modest goal of offering men an opportunity to gather socially, to care for one another’s needs and celebrate life together. The international fraternal organization quickly expanded to include valuable services to the communities where lodges are based.
The charities they focus on concern care for children and teens in need at Mooseheart Child City and School, a 1,000-acre campus, located 40 miles west of Chicago. There is also Moosehaven, a 70-acre retirement community near Jacksonville, Florida.
The fraternity has an international membership of over 1 million and their presence is felt in over 1,500 communities across all 50 states and four Canadian provinces, plus Great Britain. The Moose organization contributes between $75 to $100 million worth of community service (counting monetary donations, volunteer hours worked and miles driven) annually according to their website.
In addition to Mooseheart and Moosehaven, the Moose Fraternity’s Heart of the Community effort is multifaceted with internally developed programs like Tommy Moose. Tommy Moose aids in helping children overcome fears and anxiety during times of stress. Donated to law enforcement, fire fighters and other emergency workers, Tommy Moose plush dolls are presented to children in various traumatic situations.
The external focus of Moose service is directed towards many worthwhile national charities, a few of which are: Salvation Army, Safe Surfin’ USA Foundation, Big Brothers-Big Sisters, and St. Jude Hospital.
Local lodges such as Jackson Moose Lodge 1459, offer a wide array of activities to participate in both as an individual and as a family, from holiday parties, dances, sports, themed dinners and live entertainment. Membership can mean different things to different people and according to Moose Lodge leadership, “the Moose is about celebrating life together, serving those in need within our local community, supporting our children at Mooseheart and standing by our senior members at Moosehaven.” To find out more information on how to be a Moose, visit mooseintl.org/about-us/
For further information about the Jackson Moose Lodge 1459 visit their Facebook page at Jackson Moose Lodge 1459 – Millstone
