January In this Issue. MOOSE RIDERS NEWS Loyal Order of Moose, Northeast Florida. Part 2 of Moose Riders Convention Presentation

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1 MOOSE RIDERS NEWS Loyal Order of Moose, Northeast Florida In this Issue Part 2 of Moose Riders Convention Presentation Volume 6, No. 1 The official unofficial newsletter for all Moose Riders Moosehaven celebrates 90 years Featured Rider is back! January 2013 Tampa, FL, Area Riders put smiles on the faces of children, seniors and veterans page 5 Pipes is published quarterly in January, April, July and October. Our goal is to keep all Moose Riders informed of important issues, to publicize fundraising opportunities and let you know about special events at other Lodges and in other states. Please submit your coming events, articles, information, questions or suggestions to me at mooseriderpipes@aol.com Joan Fedora, Editor

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3 Presenting the Mooseheart Class of 2013 Mooseheart Seniors Need Your L.I.F.E. Support 2013 Mooseheart Graduating class double last year s size 3

4 Crowd not dampened by Florida showers A Happy 90th Anniversary at Moosehaven M oosehaven celebrated 90 years of service this past October featuring a weekend celebration with many special guests and dignitaries, dinners, breakfast, and a picnic, entertainment and, unfortunately, typical Florida afternoon showers on Saturday. Not to worry, the party was moved inside and those who remained outside enjoyed the protection of tents covering the seating area. There were vendor tents offering anniversary memorabilia and raffles and plenty to enjoy. Tommy Moose made an appearance and residents enjoyed the many guests that turned out to help celebrate. Unfortunately for local Moose Riders the October 6th date was in conflict with the annual ride to the Florida Sheriff s Youth Ranch in Live Oak for their big day. Several Mandarin riders took off early on Saturday to represent Moose Riders and enjoy the show with hopes of getting back in time to stop by Moosehaven. [See their story on page 22.] Other Moose Riders from Mandarin did show up at Moosehaven for the celebration along with members of surrounding Lodges to spend time with the residents and other guests and enjoy the picnic lunch. As usual the lunch was great and the taps were flowing with Moose Juice all afternoon. Editor 4

5 Tampa Bay Area Moose Riders Deliver the Smiles Riding to Spread Good Tidings and Christmas Cheer "We live in the United States, the greatest country in the world, and to see these kids smiling and changing some kids lives -- there's nothing better." Bill Brown, Cookson Hills Toy Run co-founder It began Early-November with a toy drive at the Riverview (Florida) Lodge It continued into late November with an Angel tree in the lobby of the Lodge. November ended with scissors, paper, tape and toys galore. Several Riders and Lodge members tore through dozens of rolls of wrapping paper as the toys were wrapped. It culminated in the annual holiday kickoff event for the Riverview Moose Riders. On December 2nd, Moose Riders from Riverview 2158 and North Hillsboro 1741 joined forces with riders from American Legion. 41 riders left American Legion Post 148 in Riverview with one goal in mind...to bring a smile to the faces of many kids, special need individuals and Veterans as we could; to help them forget the hardships and struggles that they face every day, even if just for a single day. It will bring a smile to your face and, at the same time, a tear to your eye. At 11:30pm, we left the Post and headed north for the short ride to Hillsborough County Veteran's Memorial Park. As riders from all over converged on the park, organizers conducted an auction and several raffles to raise funds. At 1:00pm, we began a 20 mile ride through the country to Evan's Park in Seffner, FL. Upon arrival, the approximately 250 bikes were greeted by a news crew, 300 excited children and even a Gasparilla Pirate Krewe. Thanks to several of our rider and non-rider members; they loaded up the hundreds of toys, gifts and gift cards purchased and collected at the Lodge and drove directly to the park and had most everything set-up and ready to hand out. Shortly before 3:00pm, the organizers started out with the Pledge of Allegiance, a Blessing and the release of a 40 Ceremonial White Doves. The dove symbolizes peace, hope and unity, as everyone comes together to support our cause. 5 Then the fun began... passing out the presents. Riders, pirates, elves, children and Santa all started distributing gifts. Unlike a lot of toy drives, this one stands out because you get to hand your gifts to the children of your choice. With so many young faces watching and waiting in anticipation, it is not an easy choice to make. With the gifts distributed, we can enjoy the excitement and smiles as the children open the gifts. Sadly, it wasn't ALL smiles though. One especially difficult time this year was meeting our homeless Veterans, attending for the first time. Homeless. Veteran two words that do not belong together...and yet, there they are; the reality of hardship staring you in the face. It was a pleasure to meet them all and touching as these displaced heroes were each handed a gift card and wished a Merry Christmas. It was an honor to shake their hands and personally thank them for their service. For 19 years and counting Bill and Sheri Brown have been organizing, running and advertising the Cookson Hills Toy Run, always held on the first Sunday in December. The toy run calls upon motorcyclists to ride bearing holiday gifts in a show of compassion and solidarity for the forgotten children of eastern Hillsborough County, the special needs people of all ages, and now seniors and homeless veterans with no family. We would love to have anyone that desires and wishes to, join us next year and throughout this year at any events as we start preparation for the 2013 year. Just contact the Riverview Moose Lodge 2158 Moose Rider Chairman. To view a video of the bikes arriving along with hundreds of pictures of the event, visit the Riverview Moose Riders Facebook page at Riverview.Moose.Riders. submitted by Dave Carlile on behalf of the Riverview Moose Riders

6 Highlights from the Moose Rider Session at the International Convention Part 1 Turning Passion into Productivity Part Part 2 I n the last issue of Pipes we featured a recap of many points covered at the International Convention last July in the first-ever breakout session for Moose Riders. Chris Ecker, Moose International Assistant Director Activities, put together a presentation outlining some of the important issues related to Moose Riders Activity Groups. There was a lot of information offered and a lot to remember. In this issue, we are running a second Installment of the recap, which we hope will complete coverage of everything from the Session. This installment features, logos, patches, merchandise and image or general perception of Moose Riders. Moose Riders Identity Moose Riders vs. M.O.B. The name Moose Riders Activity Group should be the proper name. This program has been established so that all Lodges may have this activity group within the Lodge. The guidelines that were put in place only allow for Moose Riders. Moose On Bikes is a secondary name for a group of motorcycle riding members, and not the name for the approved Moose motorcycle activity groups appearing in the Moose Rider Activity Group Guidelines as published by the General Governor. Moose On Bikes, M.O.B., or Moose Bikers is never the proper primary identifying name for a Lodge motorcycle activity group. Activity Group Merchandise There is no problem with local Moose Riders Activity Groups adopting their own logos or emblems for use on t-shirts or other approved, limited merchandise, so long they are not creating merchandise for public consumption, nor representing the items as official Moose International merchandise. Moose Rider Activity Groups may produce t- shirts and other garments expressing their individual Lodge identity, however these items will be subject to the following conditions: 1. The quantity produced shall not exceed the number of Lodge and Chapter members eligible to become Moose Riders (Remember ANY good standing member of your Lodge or Chapter is eligible to become a Moose Rider). 2. The images shall not depict the Moose Rider Activity Group as a Motorcycle Club (M/C); bear the term 1%, or otherwise link Moose Riders to any Motorcycle Club affiliation. 3. Custom t-shirt logos may not infringe upon established motorcycling or other recognized industry logos, copyrights, or trademarks. 4. Phrases used may not cross the boundaries of good taste, the rules for acceptable Social Quarters language, nor otherwise disparage or demean the Loyal Order of Moose, the public, or any other organization, race, or religion. 5. Items created may not be sold to the public, with 6 the exception of those created to raise funds during an event for supported charitable 501(c) 3 organizations. They may not be sold for Lodge profit or to benefit an individual Moose member (unless that member in need is to be the beneficiary of an approved charitable event). All garment designs will be subject to the coapproval of the Lodge Board of Officers and the Moose Rider Board of Officers. To ensure that there is no conflict, it is best to first submit a copy of the intended merchandise to the Moose International Activities Department, Attn: Moose Riders. No member may sell merchandise using his or her membership or relationship in the Order for commercial or business purposes, which would be a violation of Section 55.3 #20 of the General Laws. A Lodge, member, or activity group of a Lodge or Association (i.e., Moose Riders Activity Group) may sell merchandise to their good standing members. However, it would be a serious violation of IRS regulations and our laws for a Lodge or Association to sell merchandise to the public. Any merchandise bearing the Moose Rider name and infringing on any popular or known manufacturer, service provider, or motorcycle club s logos, name, or imagery will be considered actionable by Moose International and is strictly prohibited. Recognized Moose Rider Emblems The two (2) Moose Rider emblems, recognized by Moose International, identify the Lodge Activity Groups first as Moose Riders. The large Moose Riders back patch is currently an out of stock item, however Moose International is considering making it available again through Catalog Sales. Imagery and Logos For those Moose Riders Activity Groups wishing to wear Moose Riders vest and back patches, the accepted and recognized Moose Riders patch images (Figs 1, 2 & 3), as designed by the Activities Department at Moose International, are the only authorized Moose Riders patches to be worn as representative of the Moose Riders program as outlined by the Moose International Activities Department.

7 Passion into Productivity (continued) Activity Groups to customize the patch with their Association and/or or Lodge and Chapter numbers, as in the example shown. This is a one-piece patch and no other patch additions are allowed, nor are any alterations allowed to the central image. In some cases, because of the prevailing Motorcycle club activity in a state or region, it is not advisable to wear or display any Moose Rider emblems as back patches. Figure 1 The small (4 inch) Moose Riders authorized emblem (Fig 1) depicts a moose skull mount with antlers on a red shield. Above and centered are the words Moose Riders. On either side are the initials L.O.O.M. and W.O.T.M., signifying the Loyal Order of Moose and Women of the Moose. Below the mount is a silhouetted motorcycle, identifying us as riders. Below is the Moose Riders motto Loyal To The Bone signifying the loyalty to the causes of Mooseheart and Moosehaven, going beyond the flesh, to our very core, which is reinforced by the Moose skull mount above. The large Moose Riders authorized emblem (Fig 2) depicts the same image in the center as Fig 1, but includes the words Mooseheart and Moosehaven above and below the central image, with areas on either side for Lodge Figure 2 7 Figure 3 The final authorized emblem (Fig 3) depicts a black motorcycle wheel with a black moose head superimposed over it. This is a modernized version of the original L.O.O.M. logo and identifies us as Moose members and motorcycle riders. Stylized brown antlers, taken from a 1931 Moose International design, are on either side of it. Curved above and centered are the words Moose Riders set on a gold field. Appearing at the bottom of the logo is a white banner with a capital M followed by a clock face set to nine o clock and a capital B, under which are the words Moose On Bikes. The initials M.O.B. are always to be depicted with the clock face set at 9:00 as the O in the center. This is a one-piece patch and no other patch additions are allowed, nor are any alterations allowed to the image. When worn, the Moose Riders back patch must be the dominant feature of the back of the garment to which it is applied. Authorized Moose Riders back patches must not be subjugated to the patch of any motorcycle club or motorcycle owners' group. No other back patch or back patch design is recognized as representative of the Moose Riders Activity Group. Modifications or variations upon the original theme(s), without the expressed written approval of Moose International through the Activities Department, are not authorized. Existing Moose Riders back patches that vary from the above examples must be submitted for approval to the Activities Department of Moose International (Attn: Moose Riders). Specification of the garment upon which the Moose Riders back patch is to be worn is

8 Passion into Productivity (continued) The safety of our members is our first and foremost concern when making decisions at Moose International: physical and emotional safety, and safety of property, and other personal assets. left to the discretion of the individual Moose Riders Activity Groups. Under no circumstances are Moose Riders to add unauthorized rockers above or below the core patch or wear multi part back patches, or add the designation Motorcycle Club (M/C) or Riding Club (R/C) adjacent to the back patch. This will be cause for the suspension or dissolution of the offending Moose Riders group. There may be some local resources available to Moose Rider Activity Groups to aid them in becoming known as a neutral motorcycling group. These include becoming active with local ABATE organizations, local chapters of the Christian Motorcyclists Association, and the local Blue Knights. It is also an option for individual members to consider joining the American Motorcyclists Association and displaying their patch. The term Outlaw Club refers to the motorcycling group, club, or organization taking an anti AMA stance. In some cases, because of the prevailing Motorcycle Club activity in a state or region, it is not advisable to wear or display any Moose Rider emblems as back patches. Unfortunately, this is a reality of the greater motorcycling world. Moose International does not currently have a policy of asking permission of any groups or individuals for the right to be recognized. Why do we care? The fact of the matter is, for motorcyclists, it s a dangerous and sue-happy world out there. The safety of our members is our first and foremost concern when making decisions at Moose International: physical and emotional safety, and safety of property, and other personal assets. The secondary concern is that of protecting the brand, equity, intellectual property, and heritage of the Loyal Order of Moose, Mooseheart, Moosehaven, and Moose Riders. In the motorcycle world, a fact of life is that consistent representation equals consistent recognition. Inconsistent use of disconnected, or non-standardized logos representing Moose Riders sends a confusing message to the public, and diminishes the value of being known as Moose Riders. Sending the wrong messages with your logo, the placement of patches, identifying your activity group as a Motorcycle Club, and the appearance that you are laying claim to territory, are all ways to get the wrong attention 8 of people who may cause you harm, or cause the breaking up of your Lodge s Moose Rider group. You can t teach a Pit Bull to be a Pointer Moose Riders tend to be enthusiastic, organized, and willing to take an idea and run with it. They know how to get a job done, though they may not go about it the way non -riders might. They understand how men and women can work together to accomplish a goal, and don t have a problem sharing the praise for a job well done. They re good at problem solving, networking, and fundraising. Moose Riders are passionate about Mooseheart and Moosehaven, and if given the task, will see to it that the Nine O clock Ceremony is observed whenever members are gathered in the name of the Moose, and an endowment collection is made. Chris Ecker * The official updated Moose Rider Guidelines are now posted. Please download a copy for your group. They can be found at: portal/forms/gengov/ Guidelines MooseRiders.pdf

9 North Florida riders remember a busy and successful fundraising year Nassau/Yulee Riders End Year Helping Needy Family The Nassau Moose Riders have had a good year for They have given over $4400 to different sponsorships and needy families in our community this year. The Moose Riders have had several rides this year. The 1st ride of the year was in February it was the LIFE (Laptop Investment For Education) and along with the Ride we raffled off a 22 inch flat screen TV. Our Moose Riders did generate the $500 to sponsor a laptop and printer for a graduating Senior at Mooseheart. The winner of the T.V. was Mr. Lorenzo Wimbley, the ride was a great success for the weather that time of year. The Moose Riders next endeavor was to raise funds for the Color Guard from Mooseheart to go to the National Convention in Tampa in July. We had a fun run in April with the Nassau Lodge and the North Jax.(Lem-Turner Lodge) combining their efforts and raised enough for both Lodges to donate $250 each to sponsor the Mooseheart Color Guard. The riders at that time were part of District 13, which included 5 Lodges in our district. The Moose Riders met the Color Guard at Moosehaven and escorted them to Ocala Lodge for an overnight stay then the rest of the way to Tampa. The next activity for the Nassau Moose Riders was a family with an 8 year old daughter that had cancer. The good people at Camping World donated a Grill-to-Go for us to raffle off to help raise money for this family. As we made plans for the ride the little girl lost her battle with cancer, but the Nassau Moose Riders carried on their commitment to help this family cover expenses not covered by insurance. We raised and gave the family a donation of $2000. The winner of the raffle was Ron Carden, The Governor of the Nassau Moose Lodge and Ron donated it back to the riders group to be raffled next year for another cancer kids run. 9 In July the Moose Riders of Nassau and Lem-Turner Started planning a ride to sponsor a team for the American Breast Cancer Society. The ride was done in September and we raised and donated $1000 to this cause.. The next run was the 3rd of November. The Nassau Moose Riders had a Fun Run to raise money for the Nassau Moose Lodge s Building fund. We didn't have the turnout we hoped for, but we raised and donated $210. to the building fund. We had a raffle to raise money for the Nassau Moose Rider Group and gave away a Gander Mountain Gift Card Worth $325. The winner of that drawing was Ms. Erica Starling from the Macclenny Moose Lodge. The Nassau Moose Riders want to thank all our fellow Lodges that we were participated with the trip to the Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranch in Live Oak, and the ride to the Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranch in Barberville and the Bikers Ball that the Mandarin Lodge sponsored. On December 1, 2012, the Nassau Moose Lodge was the final stop for the Abate of North Florida. They were having a ride to benefit the Council on Aging and having a chili cook off at the Lodge after the ride. On December 8th, The Lem-Turner Lodge sold Boston Butts and low country broil to help a family that was involved in a car accident, where they lost their 3 year old child. All proceeds were given to the family to help pay for the funeral for the child. All Moose Rider Dues will be up for renewal December 31, It s time to renew them now...the New rate is $ for this coming year. Your Moose Riders donated and visited other Lodges in the district as well other areas of the State to help support the Lodges and grow the relationships between the Lodges and the Riders...THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE TO HELP THE NASSAU MOOSE RIDERS AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT...GOD BLESS ALL OUR MOOSE MEMBERS

10 Lake Wales, Florida, Moose Riders: They re BACK! Greetings from Lake Wales We have been very busy with our annual toy run. We raised $3500 in toys and cash donations along with adopting a family. We do this every year to help the Polk County Sheriffs Dept. C.O.P.S. program. All of our donations benefit local children and families who might not have a holiday season without this. Also on January 12th we will host our annual lodge to lodge poker run. Please come and join us. We are growing and getting stronger support every day. Stop by and see us; we would love to have you SAFE JOURNEYS ED MONAHAN LAKE WALES MOOSE RIDERS MOOSE RIDERS!! Save the Dates May 18th, 2013: Blessing of the Bikes Mooseheart May 19th, 2013: L.I.F.E. Presentation St. Charles Lodge May 25th, 2013: Mooseheart Graduation Mooseheart May 24 29th, 2013: International Moose Convention Milwaukee 10

11 From the Monterey Bay, CA, Lodge #876 Moose Riders California Riders Reflect on One Year Anniversary We held our annual meeting and elections for 2013 Officers on the 11 th of December. I was hoping to fill the position of Past President that is not occupied, as this is the end of the first terms of our Moose Riders Activity Group, but it seems our Check presentation to Everett Alvarez High School Interact Club group wanted me to be President for one more term. Our officers for 2013 are Derrick Morris President; JR Mendes Vice- President; Fran Sullivan Secretary; Ray Bickel Treasurer; Benny King Road Captain and David Ferreira Sergeant-at-Arms. We still have no Past President. Fran took over as secretary when Alyson passed away and will continue in the coming year. The other new member to the Board is David Ferreira who replaces Mike Chiesa who did a great job. In this time of the Holidays we reflect on our accomplishments for this last year and also look forward to what we can accomplish in the coming year. We have made our Association and Lodge stronger by adding more members to the LOOM and WOTM, we have helped to provide for Mooseheart and Moosehaven via additional endowments, sponsoring FBMA events, LIFE Pledge, Moose Ride 4 Kids, Honorary Valedictorian. We have made a solid partner with the Everett Alvarez High School Interact Club from Salinas. We again sponsored a breakfast with them, which was successful. I had the honor of presenting them their check again this year at their Interact Club Meeting. They are a great group. They are also providing the servers and bus staff for our Christmas Party and Governor s Ball as they did for 100 th Anniversary Gala earlier this year. 11 Officers, L-R: Benny King, David Ferreira, Fran Sullivan, JR Mendes, Ray Bickel, Derrick Morris We will continue to sponsor FBMA Moose Rider events and are well within reach of our $1500 LIFE Pledge for this year. We will be doing our Pledge Run again this year to the Blessing of the Bikes from Monterey, CA, to Mooseheart, IL, for Moose Ride 4 Kids. We have at least one more rider (Benny King) joining Mike Chiesa and me on the journey as well as a Chase Truck/Trailer driven by JR Mendes. THIS IS TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE IT THIS YEAR. We are promoting activities at the Lodge with Concerts, Comedy Night and Breakfasts for local Youth Organizations with our proceeds going towards our LIFE Pledge and FBMA sponsorship. The rainy season is upon us so we are not riding the street bikes as much, although many of us are also off road enthusiasts and have switched to our off road riding for this time of year (Sand, Mud, etc. so much fun). We look to continue growing the LOOM and WOTM and our Activity Group this next year. We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and have a very Prosperous New Year. Fraternally Yours, Derrick Morris President, Monterey CA Lodge #876 Moose Riders Activity Group Monterey CA 876 Moose Riders at the 2013 Annual Meeting

12 NY Riders Reflect on the Past Year Mother Nature Stalls Winter for One Last Ride As the end of 2012 draws to a close, we look back on a great year. The Palmyra Moose Riders impacted many people in many positive ways this past year. We held or participated in the following events throughout the year: Two benefits for Moose Riders raising around $ at each benefit. Annual Poker run raising $ for Make a Wish Foundation. Hosted bike events for a Dice run for the Wayne County Red Cross raising over $ for local disaster relief and the Patriot Guard Riders Labor day ride. We had a cake wheel raffle in October for a member s sister who has stage four cancer and raised $1400 to help the family. We rode in many funerals to pay our respects to family and friends that passed away in They will always be remembered be in our hearts. Supported Western NY Moose Rider Chapters in their major events with large participation from the Palmyra chapter. We also supported Western NY Bike runs for multiple charitable organizations throughout the year. Collected many new unwrapped toys for our Motorcycle Santa to give to needy children in surrounding communities at Christmas time. Made a large food donation to a local food pantry. These are just a few of the things we did this year and look forward to doing it again in We are Moose Riders that s what we do! Even as the end of the riding season was thought to be over, we where able to get in one last ride on November 11 th ; it was a beautiful day in the 70 s. Getting everyone to ride that day not a problem; we rode down thru the rolling hills of southern New York to one of the favorite bike stops in that area, The Blue Eagle. We met up with the Dansville Moose Riders chapter and enjoyed a great day of riding with our sister club. Check us out at: go to the Events Page. We are quickly filling the year up already. Or us at palmyramooserider1420@yahoo.com if you have and event you would like to list or tell us about. Respectfully submitted, John Clark Clarky, Palmyra, NY, Moose Riders 12

13 Ohio Riders keep busy this Fall Circleville Pulls in 1st Prize for Pumpkin Parade Circleville Moose Riders on the Award Winning Pumpkin Parade Float 1st Place! Bike-o-Rama/Camp-a-Rama Weenie-bite bike game. "Time stands still for no one!" And, for the Circleville Moose Riders, there are no exceptions. September and October were two very busy, but productive and rewarding, months for our Moose Riders. With the aid and dedication of two other charitable motorcycle organizations, September's annual poker run held in memory of fallen member Sam Stumbo was a huge success. As in the past, the proceeds from this event benefited our veterans. Together, these groups of motorcycle enthusiasts raised an outstanding total of $ , which was divided amongst Veterans located in our home County Pickaway and our neighboring Ross County. Due to the success of this event, plans are in place to continue this event annually as the "Stumbo Memorial Run, Pale Rider Memorial Run and the Spokes For Folks Veterans Run" and is already scheduled to take place next year on September 21st, We wish to extend a hearty welcome to all to join us for this most worthy cause. On September 22nd we travelled 80 miles north to Bellefontaine for Ohio's Bike-A- Rama/ Camp-A-Rama Despite a little rain and a whole lot of wind, a couple of our members held their own in the bike games with a win on the "weenie bite" and a tie for first place on the "ring toss". We ate well, made many new friends and we all had a blast. We had a great turnout for the October 6th covered bridge run as 25 riders had the oppor- 13 tunity to witness a few landmarks still existing in Ohio. On October 20th, Circleville hosted the OSMA State Moose Riders Quarterly meeting and had 19 members in attendance. Later in the evening, moose rider members from six other lodges (Florida, Dayton, Harrison, Bellefontaine, Buckeye Lake and Barberton) boarded two buses and headed to downtown Circleville to participate in the final parade of the 2012 Pumpkin Show. The adrenaline was certainly flowing as we arrived at the parade line up and discovered that our float was displaying a big beautiful blue ribbon and had been awarded 1st place in the Fraternal/Civic group competition! Several moose rider members worked diligently on building this float and it finally paid off. It was truly an honor to have the opportunity to share this unforgettable event with our visitors. Then, on October 21st, we ended the weekend with 18 Moose Riders taking to the road to enjoy southern Ohio's beautiful changing of the leaves. We began the month of November by hosting an event we referred to as a "Dixie Stampede" style dinner and party on November 16th. Adorned in our western attire, we kicked up our heels and had quite and enjoyable evening. Our upcoming events include a craft show on December 1st and our Christmas party on December 8th. Circleville Moose Riders will bring in 2013 with a good luck run on January 1st and will travel to Zanesville, Ohio, to attend the district s Holiday Bash on January 19th. January 31st thru February 3rd is the OSMA Convention in Independence, Ohio, and on February 16th the Circleville Lodge will hold its annual Beach Party. St. Patrick's Day celebration is scheduled on March 16th and the annual prom will be held on April 20th. To all you camper enthusiasts, keep our Lodge in mind if travelling through Ohio. Circleville's Moose Lodge camping facility is becoming more and more popular. For a mere $10.00/night for electric hook-up, our central state location affords all the amenities of snow skiing, hiking, ice skating and sledding within an hour s drive from our Lodge. Feel free to drop in and join in on the fun, even if you're only "passing through". y Holidays and have a safe and prosperous New Year to all from the Circleville Moose Riders (2440)!!! Sally Henkle, Secretary

14 Florida Moose Rider Groups are popping up all over Fundraiser Feeds 25 Families for Thanksgiving November we had our first Trash or Treasure sale. We had a lot of help from our riders to make this a success. The money raised allowed us to help our Lodge feed 25 families for Thanksgiving. It was a great feeling to know you were helping local people who really appreciate it. We also participated in the Vendor s Show that the WOTM 1324 held on November 10 th. We had a booth to explain the Moose Riders to all attendees as well as educate them on the Moose Fraternity, Mooseheart and Moosehaven. It was surprising how many people have no idea of our Mission. We created new interest in both the Lodge and the Moose Riders. Moose Riders Trash or Treasure Sale helps out community. The Moose Riders of Lehigh Acres, FL, Lodge 2266 in District 26 is moving ahead with great anticipation of the New Year. In the past months we have grown aware of how much guidance and motivation it takes to keep our riders working together. We have had some great successes in the past months. In October our Riders participated in a Poker run hosted by the Port Charlotte Lodge and met up with other riders and shared experiences and some dos and don ts thank you for the help. 14 Our new officers will take their positions in January, a start of a new year filled with excitement. Leo Rodgers will be remaining as the President of Lodge 2266 Moose Riders. Our Riders also have nominated him for Rider of the Year. Leo has spent a lot of time assisting other Lodges with their start up. After spending time with members of the Labelle Lodge 2398, they will be forming the second group in our district. We are glad to welcome them and we offer all our support and wishes for a successful startup. In the New Year we have exciting things planned including more poker runs, mystery rides. Our new road captain has fresh ideas to increase involvement and membership to our group. Till next time, keep the rubber down and the shiny side up! Miss Nettie Linder Lehigh Acres Moose Rider

15 Illinois Riders have a winter plan St. Charles Fundraiser Makes a Fashion Statement Greetings from Saint Charles, Illinois! This past summer we had a grill your own steak party. (Anchorage, Alaska does this every Friday night) We added a Red Solo Cup Theme and as part of a fundraising effort a couple of our craftier riders started making RSC earrings. You may already have seen them popping up across the states. Well, we have been pretty busy ever since trying to keep up with the demand. We would like to thank visiting lodges from Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Florida and all the lodges in between for buying in bulk to help our collective cause of the L.I.F.E. Campaign [See pages 2-3]. Our Artiste, Patti Iwinski, hand paints each one and has started taking special orders for personal designs (within reason). They have taken on a life of their own and became our biggest fundraiser for the L.I.F.E. Campaign. January 27 th we will be holding our Second Annual Turkey Bowl and Meatloaf Cook- Off. We had a blast tossing frozen turkeys in the snow at bowling pins last year and hope to have an even better turn out this year. If you re in the area please stop by: we ll start bowling around noon and will go until the bonfire burns out. Since it is too cold up here in the Midwest to ride bikes around to visit other lodges, we came up with our own version of a moose run called Moose Hopping. Last year we rented a bus on 3 different weekends and visited all 14 other lodges in our district we have decided to hop out of our district and venture to other parts of Illinois and west into Iowa. It is a great way to meet other members and spread the word about the L.I.F.E. Campaign and Cruisin for the Heart Cruisin for the Heart 2013 is a summer long poker run started by the Kenosha, Wisconsin, Moose Riders in 2011 to raise money for Mooseheart. With Kenosha s guidance, Saint Charles will be hosting it this year and hope to expand it from Illinois and Wisconsin to Iowa. If you have not sent in your pledges for L.I.F.E. yet please do so soon. We need to have all funds received by March 15 th. Remember, the suggested donation is only a suggestion, we understand times are tough, but if everyone gave a little, we can continue to ensure each Mooseheart graduating senior receives a Laptop and Printer from the Moose Riders across the nation. Please contact Liza Chamberlain at: nohat79@yahoo.com or your very own PIPES Editor, Joan Fedora at Mooseriderpipes@aol.com. 15

16 Michigan Riders already have big plans for 2013 Big Turnout for Summer Camp Burn Program Benefit Kids Burn Camp Helping Kids Heal Emotionally and Physically Kids Burn Camp is a special week for kids ages 7-17 who have suffered burn injuries. Formed in 2003 in collaboration with YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin, the camp provides a safe, therapeutic setting that allows children who have suffered burns the opportunity to meet kids like themselves burn-camp Well, Summer '12 is a memory and, for that matter, so is the Fall. Here in Western Michigan, Winter has set in. The MOB had a good year and is starting plans for another good year. Since the last issue of PIPES we have presented our annual benefit for the Children's Burn Program at our local YMCA summer camp. The benefit brought in a full house with live music and raffles. Once again, we met our goals and will present a check at the January membership meeting. Looking ahead to next year, the annual Black and Blue Ball that's black leather and blue jeans is coming up on March 9. We have live music by OTC and a bunch of raffles, the big one being for a 1/2 beef. That one was a real big hit last year. This gathering will benefit the Rockford Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding. We have a lot of events on our calendar for next year, our big event, the annual MOB Charity Ride will be held in July. We're looking for 150+ bikes. Please check out our calendar and other pictures and news at site/mob50sparta/ The attached pictures are from the Nov. 9th, Burn Camp Benefit. "Riding Together Making Kids Our Destination" Dick PreFontaine, SAA Moose On Bikes, The MOB GR/Sparta Moose Lodge # N. Division Sparta, MI

17 Some news from our Buckeye Lake, Ohio, Moose Rider friends Moose Riders Initiate Fundraising Flip-Flop Flop Program Visit our Tiki Bar when you are in our area. One of our fundraising projects is our personalized Flip-Flop program at Tiki Bar. For just $1.00 you can personalize a flip-flop. It will help decorate the bar and all money goes to our charitable projects. Coming to Ohio? buckeyelakemooseriders@yahoo.com Hope to see you soon. YES! We do have nice weather in OHIO!! The Buckeye Lake #2434 Herd has been out enjoying it! We participated in many charity runs/ rides around the lake and the surrounding counties. Some of our best rides have just been those impromptu rides that get put together by a quick text or message on Facebook. We enjoyed volunteering at TENT TOWN for Special Olympics and already marked our calendar to do it again in We had a few FIRSTS this year! In September, we had a Moose Hop. We visited 5 lodges within 120 miles of our Lodge. The weather was great and we even had to wear sunscreen! Ohio has some of the best scenic roads and we d love to have you all come and join us next year. November 10 th we joined up with the Thorn Twp. Fire/EMS for a Toy Drive. The air was brisk and the sun was bright, GREAT day for a quick parade style ride to the fire house to drop of the donated items. We had over 20 bikes, 4 vehicles, and Skippy in his antique truck participate. What a great feeling to give back to the community. We continue to have our food drive, every time you come to the lodge and you bring 5 food items for the pantry, you can enter to win a steak dinner gift certificate! Doesn t get any easier than that. Randy Willis 17

18 New Florida Rider Group Supports Community Port Charlotte Riders Think Pink on a Run On November 20th Port Charlotte Moose Riders rallied together and put on an awesome event at Lodge Their Think Pink Annual Poker Run raised funds for Angie Graham Kreitz, a local women struggling with the hardships that accompany her battle with breast cancer. The place was hopping with riders from all over the county. Local merchants and fellow riders donated many items that filled tables making the auction a big success. Everyone enjoyed the great food, many getting introduced to a western New York specialty Beef on Kimblwick. The music was great and fun was had by all. Not stopping there with their Community Service, $235 worth of leftover food was taken to the Arcadia Center for the Needy to be used to feed the homeless and the hungry in the community. Port Charlotte Riders Lodge 2121 is proud to say it has been growing in its membership. They look forward to supporting other Riders in the District and future service to Mooseheart and community. Laurie Nelson, Port Charlotte 18

19 MY MOOSE RIDER FAMILY My name is Monica Houghten and I am a Moose Rider from 2121 (Port Charlotte, FL) and their secretary. I have had one of the best years of my life with my new brothers and sisters from the 2121 rides and also many of the other riders from the surroundings Lodge groups. I have met so many fantastic people that I felt that I wanted to recognize them all in my own way so here's what I wrote and dedicate to my new "family". God Bless, ride safe and see you in the wind. =-) My friends are bikers. Ya, that's right, we might be loud and crazy; We might drink or smoke, Hell we curse & sometimes yell. But, my friends are loyal, loving & fiercely dedicated to what we believe in AND to each other. You call 'em, they're there...you need 'em, they're there... They would give you the shirt off their back, help you when you're down, support you when you need it. They will be your shoulder to cry on when times are tough, Laugh with you when times are good, Celebrate with you when you reach a milestone. Judge if you must because we don't fit in the way YOU think we should but Yes, I am proud to say... MY FRIENDS ARE BIKERS! 19

20 Texas riders lending a hand and showing support MRC 2 : Riders on the Move in The Lone Star State The fall and winter months in Central Texas have not stopped the Moose Riders from Lodge 2029 in Copperas Cove, TX, (MRC2) from keeping up with their tradition of supporting worthy causes. Kicking things off, September 22 nd, MRC2 along with the Canteen of Harker Heights, TX, hosted the Inaugural Toy Drive Bike Run raising over $4,000 for the event and the Toys for Tots program. pendent School District (ISD) Homeless Awareness Response Program (HARP). Killeen ISD identified 1,309 homeless students last year. This year, as of the fifth week of school, 479 students were identified as homeless. HARP provides various school supplies, hygiene kits, backpacks and food On Saturday, October 27 th, seven members departed before sunrise and headed to Arlington, TX, to support the first annual Tommy Moose Fun Run sponsored by Grand Prairie Lodge 1818 and Buffalo Wild Wings in Irving. Weathering a 39 degree morning, MRC2 members rode their bikes for almost four hours and 170 miles to support the event. Stopping just shy of the Lodge, they picked up additional members to participate; once signed in, they were joined by 1818 Moose Riders for the run. Upon completion of the run that day, everyone visited the famous Strokers Dallas, owned and operated by Rick Fairless. Members stayed overnight in the area before making the brisk return ride back on Sunday totaling close to 450 miles for two days. MRC2 had an unexpected visitor, Florida Moose Rider Charlie Titheridge, stopped by for a quick visit with our fellow Moose Riders. Additionally, on November 17 th, members rode to support the Killeen Inde- items for the children. Rounding things up, members participated in the 17 th Annual Bell County Toy run on Sunday, November 18 th. Leaving from Fort Hood Harley Davidson and riding to Temple, more than 850 bikers from the area supported the annual event. Fred McKay, director of the Fort Hood Texas Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) Chapter, was pleased with the turnout. It s great to have this many people support the organization and charity, McKay said. Everybody knows bikers are a generous community. Finally, MRC2 welcomed home four of its members from Kuwait and Afghanistan deployments this year. Stack Hanko Moose Riders C2 Lodge

21 Bike Raffle fundraiser a huge success Ohio Raffle Winner Opts for Custom Bike over Cash Pictured is the winner of Bucyrus, Ohio, Moose Lodge #669 Moose Rider s 2012 Bike Raffle. Our herd [Bucyrus Moose Riders] got a great deal on the one of a kind show bike and sold 1000 $20.00 each to raise a little money to donate back to our charities, both at the local, state and national levels. Once the 1000 tickets were confirmed sold, we held the drawing with the local chief of police doing the honors of pulling the winning ticket. The winner ended up being Wanda Berry the wife of Bob Berry; they have been riding with the 669 Moose Riders since we started the herd and had both helped greatly with the sale of tickets. Wanda could have had the motorcycle or $10,000.00; she choose the motorcycle, stating she had always wanted her own motorcycle. I believe that once the weather gets warmer next spring she ll be going for her license and joining her husband on the rides. On her very own bike. Bill Mankey 2013 President Lodge #669 Moose Riders Bucyrus, Ohio Bucyrus, OH, Moose Rider Wanda Berry on her raffle prize a custom one of a kind show bike. 21

22 Another FSYR success story thanks to support like ours Once No One s Kid, Now Everyone s Daughter! DS Catherine Payne & Victoria L-R: Undersheriff Bolante, Megan Becker, Sheriff Shoar, Victoria Hardina, Alli Sigman, Becky Henson By Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Donor Relations Officer Frank Kenny I wanted to share a story that recently ran in the Winter edition of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches quarterly magazine The Rancher. It s a story about a girl named Victoria, and I m sure you ll agree it s a special one: When her father remarried, Victoria was sent off to live with other relatives. When that didn t work out, she was brought to the Youth Ranch for an interview where her father essentially implied, You better make them like you because your only other option is the street She recalls that day with a great deal of pain. Basically, he dumped me there. I was only 12 years old. I didn t know anyone. I was so scared and felt abandoned and alone. I really believed I was nobody s kid. Moving into a home with nine other girls, Victoria immediately began to thrive. She bonded with her house parents, Mom and Pop Orkney, and got involved with school and church activities. Finally, she had found a home where she was accepted, loved and most of all WANTED! For three and half years, Victoria lived at the Youth Ranch. She became a typical teenager and her vivacious, positive personality infected everyone she met. She set high goals for herself and achieved excellence in all areas of her life. A local family took her under their wing and eventually she moved in with them as she finished her high school education. Victoria is now attending Flagler College in St. Augustine on a Youth Ranch Scholarship. She is a senior with a 3.5 GPA, majoring in Communications and Journalism with a special interest in photography. She studied a semester abroad in Italy and is considering pursing a Master s Degree in Visual Arts. This past summer, Victoria spoke to the Sheriffs of Florida 22 and Saint Johns County Sheriff David Shoar was so impressed he invited her to apply for a part time job at the Sheriff s Office. Today, along with a full load of classes, she is gaining solid, real life work experience in the Sheriff s Office Communication division. Victoria brags about her job and is especially thankful for her mentor/supervisor, Deputy Catherine Payne. When I was 12, I felt abandoned and thought I was no one s kid. I grew up fighting hard for a better life and given a chance, I believe good things can and will happen in my life. I promise I will never stop fighting for a brighter future! I have been given the opportunity to pursue my dreams because of the Sheriffs Ranch, our donors, the Sheriff s Office and all those who helped raise me. Today, I am creating my own family with folks who love me and believe in me. I clearly see that the people who invest in you and stay in your life are your true family, Victoria shared triumphantly. We are so proud of Victoria! She is collectively OUR daughter, a shining star who has only just begun her journey in life. Because of your generous support of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches through your gifts and prayers, children like Victoria will become productive, healthy adults who are able to face the future with a sense of direction, ability and hope. Without the financial help of donors that care about the future of Florida s neglected children success stories like this simply wouldn t happen. The mission of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches is to prevent juvenile delinquency and to develop self-confident, law abiding and productive citizens, like Victoria, who will make a positive contribution to our communities for years to come. The Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches was founded in 1957 and operates four residential programs: Boys Ranch, Youth Villa, Youth Ranch/Safety Harbor, and Youth Ranch/ Bradenton-Sarasota; two camping programs: Youth Camp and Caruth Camp; and other family services around the state of Florida. If you would like more information on how to help support the kids in our care, please contact Frank Kenny, Donor Relations Officer at or visit us at Contact: Jim Karantinos, jkarantinos@ youthranches.org, Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches

23 Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches: Live Oak Open House and Barberville Turkey in the Ground Nine Moose Riders from Florida s Mandarin 42 joined by 4 family members rode their motorcycles as well as some in 4 wheelers to Live Oak to enjoy a day (Oct 8th) with great entertainment from the Boys Ranch Riding Team and all the festivities from all the riding clubs. Everyone had a great day touring the school, a boys residence and having a great BBQ. Weather this year was beautiful and lots of people made the day a success. Riders gather for photo op at Florida Sheriff Youth Ranches Live Oak Facility in October. November 11th sixteen Moose Riders from Mandarin and Nassau Lodges along with 17 family members and friends rode to Barberville for the Florida Sheriff's Youth Camp "Turkey in the Ground". Tours of the camp were given and everyone enjoyed one heck of a Thanksgiving feast of turkey, mashed and sweet potatoes, green beans, corn, stuffing, cookies, pies, and cakes. Special thanks to Allison Evans, Frank Kenny, and Debbie Girard, Donor Relations Representatives for a special invite to the Moose Riders. Every year the rider group gets larger as everyone hears about the wonderful day, great feast and beautiful ride. Rich Vernon Like the mythical phoenix, the turkey rises from the ashes in Barberville. Riders gather for photo op in Barberville for Turkey in the Ground Day. 23

24 A birthday in New York Dansville Rider Membership Keeps Growing Dansville NY Moose Riders is 1 year old! This has been a very exciting first year for the Dansville Moose Riders. In October of 2011 we started the group with just enough people to fill the 6 officer s positions. Over the year we have grown to 26 members. On August 4, 2012, we had our first bike run. We chose the Vincent House (local hospice) to receive the money raised from our run. We were very happy to present them with a check for $ The very next day we helped at a benefit dinner for a new member of ours who had been diagnosed with cancer. Even though the weather was in the 90s and the air conditioning was broke in the Moose Lodge, we all felt good about what we had accomplished in one weekend. Pictures of our events can be seen on our website www. dansvillemooseriders1130.us. We are looking forward to being part of the L.I.F.E. campaign for Although I am not sure how we will raise our money for this I know it will involve a lot of fun and friends. The Dansville Moose Riders would like to say a BIG thank you to our brothers and sisters from the Palmyra Moose Riders for the help getting us started and the support throughout the year. Without their support our first year would not have been so successful. Sheila Freas New North Carolina Group helps local charity Serving the Community with Pride and a Ride The Spruce Pine (NC) Moose Riders were sponsors for the local Shop with a Cop Run, a fundraiser to provide warm clothing and toys to children in need in Mitchell County. The event was hosted in October by the Spruce Pine Fire and Rescue unit and this newly formed Moose Rider Group from the Spruce Pine Lodge 1159 were proud to be a part of it and to contribute to the community. The ride began at the Fire and Rescue and went to Bakersville, Red Hill, Burnsville, South Toe and back to Spruce Pine. The hope was to raise over $3,000 for the Shop with a Cop program. We look forward to hearing more about this new group of Moose Riders from North Carolina. Lee Simmons 24

25 Ride the back roads and take a look around One Florida Moose Rider s Perspective Hello folks, it s nice to have a national mag that we can read and inform ourselves of fellow bikers and other Frat brothers and sisters. It s difficult at times to keep up with the next district or state for that matter. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Val and I reside in Labelle, Florida. I have been a Moose member off and on since 2009; 2012 was the year of get-up-and go for me. I am a husband, dad, biker, Lodge officer, Moose Rider, newsletter editor, webmaster, etc I wear many hats, just like the rest of us, I suspect. To our amazement, we came up on a wooden-planked bridge, which had been refurbished earlier this year. Now, I did not plan for all of these things, they just kind of presented themselves and I always said, I am not making any promises, but I will try to make this work. So I go about the day looking for the opportunity to help do something or help someone and, well, the rest just happens. I recommend to all of you do not overfill your plates; however, do something, participate in your Lodge without fear. Serve. Some may say, I cannot do that. Who are you fooling? Just try, make no promises, it will work if you re out to serve others. I love barflies, they keep us in business for the sake of Mooseheart and 25 Moosehaven, but there is something better waiting for each of us to bring forth. You ll find it soon, I have not a doubt. For example, this old man pictured here (LOL) could have been on a usual ride to finding new roads or eateries, though, on this day I was on the way to the Wachula, Florida, Lodge where our northern neighbor Moose Frat needed our support, for a great cause indeed. My gorgeous wife and I left Labelle, Florida, headed west on CR 78 towards Ft Myers, then north on SR 31 through some new back roads off the beaten path. As we arrived in the bustling town of Arcadia, Florida, we turned west on SR 70, then followed CR 661 north. Then CR 661 becomes CR 663 as you travel north. This single lane road is great but, fair warning, it s curvy so be careful! Just east of Herbs Limestone Country Club (may he rest in peace) take Murphy Rd. and follow it east and then north. Along this path lined with farm after farm is another community named Ona and there is where we struck gold or maybe platinum. To our amazement, we came up on a wooden-planked bridge, which had been refurbished earlier this year. Yes, I was and still am excited, and maybe easily amused by our find. So we dismounted the bike and explored it for a little while before continuing on to the Wachula Lodge. We enjoyed the clear blue sky and the silent breeze that day. I believe you will agree, this is what riding is all about. By the time you read this article the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year s Holidays will have passed. I hope everyone faired them well and I am sure you have picked out your favorite dietary plan to reduce the extra gold that was added to our waistline. We re entitled, it s ok. If the holiday season was a bit strenuous on the checkbook, now may be a good time to give to a local charity or benefit, there are so many out there. The Mooseheart Endowment Fund could use your help as well. I invite all Moose Riders to visit Southwest Florida. The weather is great and we love making friendships to last a lifetime. We always wave as we go by, see ya soon. Val Alsina, Editor, Labelle Moose News.

26 Riders Bulletin Board The Moose Riders of Sedalia Moose Lodge 1494 presented a check for $250 to The Embassy, a homeless shelter for men in Sedalia. Pictured are Les Hott from The Embassy and Barney Puffinbarger, president of the Moose Riders. Source: Send flyers for posting to: mooseriderpipes@aol.com. 26

27 Featured Rider Custom Bike for Winston-Salem Moose Rider Jodie Gibby, current Moose Rider President for the Winston Salem Moose Riders I have had the joy of riding now for 3 years! I was very lucky to start out on a 99 Ultra Ground Pounder that has been completely customized by Kendal Johnson, and if I had it my way it would be the only bike I would ever ride! A high percentage of men don t think a woman can ride a custom motorcycle with power, and I love the fact that mine is nicer than theirs! I am currently the Winston Salem Moose Riders President and love participating in any events of the North Carolina Moose Riders with great friends I have met along the way. There is nothing like hearing the WHOOPAW of my motorcycle, and the wind in my face!!! It is pure freedom that I enjoy as much as possible. Jodie

28 HONORING OUR VETERANS Mandarin (Jacksonville, FL) riders took part in the Jacksonville Veterans Day Parade last November. Pipes continues to evolve, representing more and more Moose Rider Activity Groups throughout the country. This issue introduces a new Pipes 2 logo featuring dual pipes and a slightly different layout. This new logo is symbolic of the increased news coverage and my intention to make even more noise about the fundraising efforts and high level of community service of our dedicated riders. Look for more changes down the road and me with any ideas at mooseriderpipes@aol.com. Editor 28