Struggling lodge to remain open
Brainerd Moose Lodge 1246 is not closing its doors.
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It does, however, face declining membership numbers and extreme financial problems - problems that came to the forefront at Tuesday night's membership meeting.
"We're looking at survival," said Lee Miller, who was nominated as lodge governor Tuesday.
His nomination followed the sudden resignation of governor Todd Bisted, acting administrator Rick Wiersgalla and treasurer Chad Allord.
Bisted presided at the beginning of the meeting and stated the lodge's position succinctly.
Members arrived Tuesday night at the Brainerd Moose Lodge on South Ninth Street on the east edge of the downtown.
Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey» Purchase reprints of this photo.
"We have no funds, basically," Bisted said. "Membership is down. Participation at the lodge is really down. The economy is tough out there."
Moose International regional manager Gary Beck turned the meeting over to Miller to entertain suggestions for the Moose chapter and Beck met with the officers. After their meeting the resignations were announced. Bisted left the meeting and declined to elaborate on why he resigned, saying he just wanted to go home.
"Family comes first," he said. "Better to start with fresh new ideas."
Miller, who has not been an officer recently but who has been in leadership positions and has been a chapter member for about 30 years, said the strategy to overcome the financial difficulties would be to use volunteer help and sponsor activities for members.
"We're going to group together and stop the bleeding," Miller said after the meeting.
While soliciting suggestions from the approximately 70 people who attended the membership meeting he sought to correct the impression gained by people from a recent letter that stated: "Due to current economic times and financial difficulties the Brainerd Lodge No. 1246 will be closing after Bingo." That letter notified members of Tuesday's meeting to discuss the lodge's future.
"We're going to remain open," Miller said. "We need your bodies and your billfolds."
Miller set a membership meeting to deal with some of the Moose lodge's problems for 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday.
Membership estimates for the Moose Lodge have varied. Miller estimated that between the Moose Lodge and the Women of the Moose, there were about 600 members. Miller said at a minimum the lodge will continue to be open on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Bisted, in a monthly letter to members, estimated the number of members at 300. He said in that letter, that membership was "down significantly from the glory days of 1,500 members." Before the meeting, Bisted said the economy may have played a role in the problems of the Moose. He said the choice was obvious if a member had to choose between house payments and Moose dues.
People awaited a the start of a meeting at the Brainerd Moose Lodge Tuesday to discuss the future of the local chapter. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey» Purchase reprints of this photo.
"Nobody wants to see it close," he said Tuesday afternoon by phone. "Gaming is down. People coming in the door is down."
During the meeting members asked what happened to revenues that were obtained when a portion of the building was sold to the Brainerd Elks.
Moose officials said they did not have the paperwork to answer that question and also said there were incidents of meeting minutes that were missing.
"We're not getting into that," Miller said after the meeting when asked about the missing information.
The Loyal Order of the Moose, Brainerd Lodge 1246, was chartered on Jan. 12, 1913. The organization met in the Iron Exchange Building from 1918 to 1924 and then moved to the Knights of Columbus hall. Later the Lodge moved to the Parker building before moving to its current home at 219 S. Ninth St.
On Nov. 26, 1926, the Women of the Mooseheart Legion (later called the Women of the Moose) was formed.
The Brainerd Moose Lodge shares a building with Brainerd Elks Lodge 615 but Bill Bailey, exalted ruler, said the Elks are fairly self-contained with their own kitchen and separate utilities.
"We own the north one-third of the building," Bailey said.
He said the Elks use the center part of the building (the Moose portion) for a Fishing Fling fundraiser in the spring, formal initiation ceremonies and memorial services. The two fraternal organizations share the parking lot.
Bailey said the situation was nebulous and the Elks were just waiting to see what the Moose lodge chose to do.
MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.