Hello Members new and old, and welcome to the Moose Fraternity. In case you are not able to attend one of our Member Orientations in person, we have put together a new member packet of information to help you better understand what our Fraternity and Lodge have waiting for you. This is a two-part seminar with a lot of important information about the Moose and the Surfside Beach Moose Lodge included. It is best to read and digest each section one day at a time. Please copy and save them for future reference. There are two videos, 1 short and 1 lengthy, included in part one, so please allow time to review them.
Welcome to the Moose: Part 1.
Please review this short introduction video first:
Welcome new Member to the greatest charitable Fraternity in the world. The Moose!
So, just what is the Moose you may ask? We are a fraternal international organization founded in 1888 that consists of approx. 1 million members and over 1400 lodges across 49 states, Canada, and the United Kingdom. We are dedicated to caring for the young and the old, bringing communities closer together and celebrating life as a fraternal family. Our Lodge is divided into two areas. The Social Quarters, which include the bar, all games, and is the only way to enter the Lodge. We have three entrances to the S.Q. Per IRS law all guests must be signed in at the S.Q. front door and wear a guest sticker. The second area is the Meeting room which also is our main dining room. The Moose is a not-for-profit organization. We do not collect taxes on food, beverage, or Moose merchandise.
The “Mission of the Moose” is to strive for excellence in four areas:
- To provide a family environment and education for our children at Mooseheart.
To provide for the needs of our senior members at Moosehaven.
- To form a Fraternal program & community service within our lodges.
- To promote membership growth within our Fraternity.
From time to time, you will see a member collecting for an Endowment Fund at the Lodge. 100% of money collected from you and our members goes directly to helping our children at Mooseheart and our seniors at Moosehaven. Give as much as you like, but please give something. Nightly, at approx. 6:30pm we ask that you please refrain from speaking, remove your hats, fold your arms, and bow your heads as we join our little children at Mooseheart in silent prayer.
Please watch the following video from our Director Scott Hart for more information introducing you to our Moose Charities including helping children in need, taking care of our Senior Members and our involvement with our local communities and Heart of the Community efforts. (Click on below link)
Welcome to the Moose: Part 2
A Brief history of our Lodge:
Surfside Beach Moose Lodge was established on February 26, 1989 by 100 charter members. We are the largest Moose Lodge in South Carolina with over 4600 active members. A few examples of Moose service projects that our lodge is known for in our local community are: supplying the local food banks, providing back to school supplies, furnishing clothing and supplies for women’s shelters, nursing homes and children’s organizations and supporting a local Girl Scout Troop.
Officers’ Duties & Committees of the lodge:
President: Fraternal leader of the Lodge & presides over all meetings.
Vice President: Stands in when the President is unavailable and is their right hand.
Chaplain: Presides in the absence of the President or Vice President. Visits the sick, disabled & distressed, updates our members Sick & Distressed Board, and sits on the Lodge Financial Review Committee.
Treasurer: Ensures that the financial processes for the Lodge are following state and Moose laws.
Junior Past President: The immediate former President of the Lodge who serves as a voting member on the Board of Officers.
Administrator: The Chief Operating Officer of the Lodge and secretary of the Board of Officers. The administrator generally oversees the day-to-day business activity within the lodge.
Trustees: Take monthly inventory of all Lodge assets, inspect the Lodge & premises monthly for loss prevention and safety issues, and examine & approve all bills.
Appointed Officers include: A Sergeant-At-Arms, an Inner Guard & Outer Guard, who help keep order in the Lodge and during meetings.
Lodge Committee Chairmen: Committees include Membership, Member Retention, Activities, Financial Review, Heart of the Community, Communications, Moose Charities, Loss Prevention, Moose Legion, & WOTM.
Higher Degrees:
Our Lodge is held up by 2 massive columns, the Higher Degrees, consisting of the Moose Legion & the Women of the Moose, without whose support our Fraternity would surely crumble to the ground. They were formed for those members interested in elevating themselves within our Fraternity. You must belong to one of these bodies to run for an office in the Moose organization.
The Moose Legion: The Degree of Service. (For men who want to take a more active role, become part of the leadership, and advance in our Fraternity.) Our Moose Legion meets once a month, usually the third Sunday and is followed by a social gathering consisting of a dinner, dancing, and plenty of fun. The Moose Legion is known as the degree of service. The purpose of this degree is to band together the most loyal and devoted Moose members who desire to take the next step up in moose fraternalism while providing fun and entertaining activities for our members and their families. The official colors of the moose legion are red, white, and purple with purple being predominant. You will also see moose legionnaires sporting maroon blazers and informal vests. Once you become a Legionnaire, there are 2 higher degrees of the Moose Legion that you can attain. The Fellowship Degree of Honor, whose members wear a French blue blazer featuring the fellowship logo in recognition of their acceptance into this higher degree. And the Pilgrim Degree of Merit, which is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a member of the Loyal Order of Moose. This degree is only conferred at the House of God at Mooseheart and comes as a reward for extraordinary service to the order. It is the rarest and most difficult degree that can be earned in the Fraternity. The official regalia of a Pilgrim is a gold blazer featuring the Pilgrim logo. We currently have 26 Fellows and 8 Pilgrims in our lodge.
The Women Of The Moose: (For women who want to take a more active part and/or advance in our fraternity.)
The WOTM was founded in 1913. Our Chapter #1950, combined with the lodge in May of 2021 when we became One Moose. The Lodge depends highly on the WOTM for support of Moose and local charities from their fundraising efforts. The proceeds are used to assist in maintaining and caring for the needs of our children at Mooseheart, senior members at Moosehaven and supporting the local charities. The various collections by the WOTM are used to aid many of our local community Charities. The WOTM, known as co-workers, can earn degrees by holding an officer or chairman’s position and by meeting the requirements set forth.
As a member of the WOTM, you can elevate within the Chapter. There are three higher degrees within the Women of the Moose that you may achieve. Academy of Friendship, Star Recorder & College of Regents.
Our Chapter meets once a month (third Monday of Month) to conduct business and enjoy each other’s company. The official emblem of the Women of the Moose is a heart with a triangle in the center. In the center of the triangle is a gold standing moose. On the points of the triangle are the letters F, H, C, which stand for Faith, Hope and Charity. These are the three great principles of the WOTM. Please see any WOTM for more information and/or to join our Chapter.
Valued Veterans: The Moose and our lodge also have a Valued Veterans program to recognize those who served our country. We also recognize a different Valued Veteran each month in our Lodge Moose Talk newsletter. If you have served in our nation’s armed forces, please see our Veterans Chairman Clay Marcoux for more information.
Communication:
So how do we communicate with over 4600 members? You will receive the Moose Magazine (Bi-monthly mailing from Moose International) and our Surfside Beach Lodge “Moose Talk” Bi-monthly Newsletter in the mail. We have a scrolling E- Sign in Social Quarters for current & upcoming events and activities, a 2-3 month Friday evening band schedule and many various bulletin boards scattered throughout the Lodge. Twice a month, we have Monday evening Membership meetings (2nd & 4th Monday @ 6:30PM) We have nightly announcements that are read at approx. 6:30PM after our evening prayer. We have a lodge website: surfsidebeachmooselodge.com as well as a presence on Facebook search Facebook for: “Friends of Surfside Beach Moose Lodge”
Moose International (the head of our organization) also has a wealth of knowledge and information on their website: Mooseintl.org There you will also find your complete membership record at the bottom of the homepage under “My Membership Record” (click that link). Simply register your username and set up your password. (This will be the same username and password that you will use for our Moose Membership app.) There are two state conventions and one Moose International Conventions each year jam packed with the latest information and training seminars to keep you apprised of everything moose for that year.
Moose Membership Card & Mobile App:
When you receive your Membership Card the front side has your membership information on it and the back side has the key that will open every Moose Lodge door in the world. Simply scan the QR code located on the back side of your card below or in front of the card reader to enter any Lodge you may be visiting. We also have a Moose Membership app. that you can download for free to your phone from the app. store located on your phone. Once downloaded, you can set up your username and password (the same info you set up on Mooseintl.org) for instant access to your cyber card and so much more. Use the cyber card in place of your plastic one and you will never have to worry about forgetting or losing your card again.
Membership Benefits:
As a Moose member you are also entitled to a vast array of discounts for Insurance, Hotel chains, Car rentals, Travel vacations and much more. Go to Mooseintl.org/Member benefits for the complete list.
We have 5 RV overnight parking spaces that can be rented for $20/night. That includes water and electricity. No dumping services provided. No reservations, it is first come, first served. You may stay for a limit of 29 consecutive nights.
As a member, you can rent our function room for weddings, anniversary parties, memorial services, and other social functions. Please inquire at the administrator’s office for details and available dates.
Members may obtain a Back Gate pass to enter and leave the property from McDowell Shortcut Rd. The fee is $25 per year or you may purchase a lifetime pass, which is good for as long as you are a member, for $125. Back gate passes are for members use only and will terminate when your membership dues expire.
Beyond the Lodge:
Each Lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose belongs to a District comprised of several Lodges, we along with the Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, Darlington, and Kingstree Lodges belong to District 4, which in turn is part of a state association referred to as the S.C.M.A. (South Carolina Moose Association), and finally that association is a member of the Moose International Organization headquartered in Mooseheart, IL.
In Closing:
So, how can you get involved? A burden heavy to one is born lightly by many! Volunteer work, Community Service, working on a Lodge committee, running for, and serving as a Lodge Office, joining the Moose Legion or WOTM Chapter, and/or by simply clearing your table before leaving the Lodge. Please, help keep your Lodge and grounds clean. If you would like more information on how to get involved with your Lodge, please see any Lodge officer or Committee Chairman.
Important Moose Information
Lodge Hours: Sunday through Saturday Lodge opens at 11am. Scheduled Lodge closing Monday – Saturday is 10pm. Sunday close 9pm or at the discretion of the Bartender.
Kitchen Hours: Tuesday through Thursday & Saturday 11am – 7pm. Monday & Friday 11am – 8pm. (Lunch specials available until 4, Dinner specials start at 4:30pm, Monday – Friday) Sunday lunch 12pm – 6pm. NFL Sunday Menu available in season.
Lodge Contact information:
Office Number: (843)357-4506
Lodge Social Quarters (Bar) (843)651-6667
Lodge Email Address: [email protected]
Lodge Mailing Address: P.O. Box 14947 Surfside Beach, SC 29587
Lodge Website: Surfside Beach Moose Lodge #2351 – The friendliest Lodge in Town.
Surfside Beach Lodge on Facebook: Search for “Friends of Surfside Beach Moose Lodge,” once there you have the option to join or just visit.
Moose International Website: Moose International (mooseintl.org)