I want to wish all of you a Happy New Year first and foremost.  It's been a rough couple of years, but we are looking to the future and hoping for the best as we start to see some semblance of progress.  Not only have we seen new membership signing up (and welcome to those of you who have joined), we have finally made some headway on the overall project.  If we can get the weather to cooperate, we will certainly find it easier to move forward with those tasks that have already been addressed.  Additionally, some of the red tape we've been through has finally come to light and we are expecting a refund of at least some portion of the excessive fees we've been hit with by the county.  More eyes and voices are battering at the doors as we continue trying to push forward.  My sincere thanks to all of those who've held on and been supportive.  Some know what we've been through and others know they aren't even seeing everything we deal with while still having faith that we are doing everything we can to get the Lodge back in play for all of our members.

     As some of you may have seen, I've turned off the ability to post on Facebook without approval from either myself or Ellen Downing.  We have seen an uptick in negativity there and do not feel it's appropriate for some of the commentary that has gone out given that the recurring individuals are not only unaware of what we are going through in trying to move forward with the Lodge, but also do not bother to attend any meeting or talk to the officers to find out what they might be able to do to help rather than simply complain.  In all fairness, there isn't much that can be done as we wait for the wheels of bureaucracy to catch up with us.  We cannot circumvent the county or building code just to move faster, so we are as impatient as anyone else may be. 

     We are attempting to get a full newsletter format back into place even though it won't look like our original newsletter until we get more things on track.  That said, if you have a submission you would like to have considered (editorial or announcements), please feel free to email the submission to the lodge email address for consideration.  lodge1038@mooseunits.org

From the Lodge President:

     I hope you had a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.  I would just like to hit on a few points about the rebuilding of your Lodge.  When the Lodge burned down, we were in the COVID pandemic that caused delays with engineering and the architects.  When the Board held General Meetings and the plans were approved, they went to the engineering firm which deals with the Pinal County supervisors.  At that time, the Moose Board and membership had no control over the logistics of drawing up plans and submitting them for approval through the County.  The County does a punch list to go back to engineering and the architects to fix any particulars that require revision.  This happened at least five different times and the Lodge had to pay for each of those reviews.  During that time, we simply had to wait for the revisions and submissions to be approved by the County.  We all felt that this was a "hurry up and wait" moment. 

     Now that the plans have been approved and the general contractor engaged, we have been forced to wait on the weather due to the rain every week that has prevented the ground from drying out enough to start additional work.  I am asking all of the Lodge members to try and understand what this Board has been going through and how frustrating it has been.  This has caused many a great deal of annoyance because of the apparent inability to achieve the goals.  I'm asking for your support and patience without getting angry or upset.  There are still more hurdles to come as we progress from stage to stage.  I hope we can all be patient and work together. 

-Steve Ross

President Arizona City Moose Lodge & Family Center 1038

SICKNESS & DISTRESS

     If you are aware of anyone in our membership that requires extra attention for illness or injury, please be sure to contact the Board or Chaplain Ron Jolly so that we can make a note of it. 

Keep Rich Autry in your thoughts and prayers following his quadruple bypass.

Celebration of Life Services will be held for Bill Peterson on January 10th at 3pm at the Tap Inn.

UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS

The next District Meeting will be held at Thunder Mountain Lodge 2475 on January 8th.  Higher Degree meeting at 9:30 with District to follow at approximately 10:15. 

The Moose Legion Celebration will be held at East Mesa the weekend of the 13-15 of January.

Board Meetings are the first & third Monday of every month starting at 6 pm.  General meetings are typically immediately following, although we have allowed general membership to sit in on Board Meetings as invitees since no Executive Sessions have been required at this time.  The meetings are held at the Fire Station unless otherwise noted and communicated.

If you have questions, comments or submissions, please email us at lodge1038@mooseunits.org