Moose Lodge 1329

Every Moose lodge can sponsor a child at Mooseheart to give support and encouragement over the years of their stay. These children are referred to as sunshine children. Woodstock Moose Lodge 1329 sunshine child over the past year has been Courtney Davies. Courtney is graduating from Mooseheart this year and plans to go to college and become a cardiologist.  Our lodge threw a graduation party for her on the 8th of May. Courtney, eight of her dorm mates from Illinois House, and Michelle Penick a teacher at Mooseheart attended the party.
It was neat to meet these kids and watch them have fun at our lodge. Games of bags, wii, and darts were enjoyed by the kids. Karaoke was the evening’s entertainment. The girls of Mooseheart did not hesitate to sing and perform several line dances in the banquet hall of the lodge. The girls’ enthusiasm was infectious and prompted lodge members to sing and dance late into the night. We have some potential American Idols in our membership.
Woodstock Moose chef Dave Jayne, a graduate of Mooseheart himself, prepared an awesome dinner.  At a cost of only $5.00, people were lined up to eat Dave’s roast beef, mashed potatoes, roasted peppers and zucchini, and delighted over a dish of curry chicken with rice. The dinner was followed by a dessert of cake and ice cream.  It’s a wonder how we all got up and danced afterwards with all that food in us.
After several hours of celebration it was finally time for the kids to make the trip back to Mooseheart. The kids were sent off with a song from several lodge women. Courtney was congratulated by all and received gifts from the Woodstock Moose.  I have seen Courtney’s picture in the lodge over the past year and knew we were helping her through our activities.  However, after actually meeting Courtney and the other fine young ladies of Mooseheart, it really hit home the good that we are doing for these kids here at the Woodstock Moose.
Mark Montgomery Woodstock Moose 1329

On May 8th the lodge was lucky enough to have our Sunshine Child and the girls from Illinois Home here at the lodge. Courtney and the girls seemed to have a great time with the dinner, entertainment, games, and meeting members of our lodge. Courtney as well as Diane from the Illinois Home were the two graduates here that night. I wish to thank all those members who took the time to pick up a card, or in many cases a gift for the two Graduates. Though I know they weren’t expecting it, I believe they were presently surprised by the generosity of our Moose members. I have to say, our lodge has some outstanding members. Thank you so much for helping to make our girls time here a good one.
The week before Graduation on Friday, May 21st we were also lucky enough to welcome 7 Moose members from Tredegar, United Kingdom to our lodge. Courtney’s family was here for her graduation and they visited our lodge while they were here. I hope many of you got to meet them. Tredegar is well known for a few things. Its the birthplace of James J. Davis who founded Mooseheart. It’s famous for starting the first National Health Care system. Its also well known for the 150 plus year old clock that stands in the center of town. For those of you who saw or heard of the famous “Teenager Driver Safety movie of girls texting while driving”, you might be surprised that it was filmed in Tredgar as well. This movie went viral on the web and was played on many TV stations around the country. However, it is always  nice to visit with members not from our lodge, and especially from out of the country. I am glad they were able to make the Woodstock Moose a stop on their visit to the states.
Randy Tipps, Governor

Pictured from Left to Right: Courtney Davies, Birthday January 23, 1993, Illinois Home; Jacob Quinn Montano, Birthday, Sept. 6, 1995, Oregon Home; Estefania "Stefani" Camacho, Birthday, July 10, 1997, New Jersey Home; Chon Montano, Birthday, August 14, 1994, Oregon Home; and Rena Croft, Birthday, February 3rd, Moosehaven, Florida

What is the Sunshine Child and Grandparent Program?
The Sunshine Child and Grandparent program are two programs worked in conjunction with Mooseheart and Moosehaven. Our Mooseheart children currently come from all different parts of our country and Great Britain. There is at least one student who has been at Mooseheart since he was two months old. They all came there for different reasons but all of them are there because they are in need. Whether it is to a loss of a parent, a situation where the parents or grandparent just can’t take care of them, it can be for many reasons. But being away from your family or without a family can bring on feelings of being alone or forgotten.
Our Moosehaven residents currently come from all over North America, plus Great Britain and Bermuda. Also being far away from their families, friends, Lodges, and Chapters. Too often, the distance and long time between family visits can create a feeling of being forgotten. As a lodge or chapter we maintain contact with our Sunshine grandparent in order to help ease those feelings.
With both programs we get the chance to develop some rewarding relationships with some people that really could use to hear from us.  It is imperative I believe that they know they have others thinking of them. It is our responsibility to stay in touch with them and not forgot them. That could mean sending cards at their birthdays, letters just because, sometime gifts or small amounts of spending money. Some gifts are things like stamps, gift cards, needed clothes, etc. These two programs are important programs and your Lodge and Chapter members have taken on this very important responsibility. We will soon be displaying the pictures of our Sunshine Children and Grandparent in a prominent place within our Social Quarters. Information on what they like, their birthdays, and things the need will be available. If you care to write them, send them something, or just want to get more information. Feel free to contact myself or any officer of the lodge.
Randy Tipps, Governor

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