Good day to all my fellow lodge members. Our Community Service outreach was in full swing the last two months. I want to thank all who participated. We started with the resounding success of the backpack drive for great kids in the area. Jeff Elliott and his crew participated in the Dulles Plane Pull to benefit Virginia Special Olympics and raised $2,493.46. The Moose Team huffed and they puffed and they pulled a 197,000 pound plane and came in sixth place.  What great Ambassadors for the lodge.

There were many smaller community service endeavors done and I'd like to thank John Scofield from Twinbrook Tree and Jim Craun from A-Z hauling for helping remove a rather large piano from the VOA Homeless Shelter in Arlington. This freed up a rather large area in the common area and allows for better use of the space. That was a real chore, thanks again guys.

Steve Petty and his poker crew also pitched in by collecting toiletries for the Homeless shelter and over three hundred items have been delivered. We all can pitch in and bring small size soaps, shampoo, lotions, razors, and hair products. Barbara and her ladies have been organizing and keeping track of these things until they are delivered. Great job Barb!

I hope many of you got to meet the US Air Force Airmen we hosted in Sept. We took them to a ball game and the Shrimp-feast which was absolutely amazing. The men and women of the Air Force where be grateful. As for those who wrote a note in the guest book, thank you. If you could have seen the tears in their eyes as they read it.

We continue to work with the Arlington Shelter in planning and staging their Harvest for Hope Fundraising Gala on the 19th of November. Please see Luther or myself if you can help with the set up, work at the event, or help break it down. There is something for everybody. I'd be remiss if I didn't thank Wendy Barboza for all she does with the food and clothes drives. I saw first hand the impact that has on the community when I toured the store and met the staff at WFCM.  Truly a great work. That  is an ongoing effort so keep up the good work and bring in food and clothes. It makes a difference.

Finally, you will notice the poster in the lobby of our Lodge announcing the 1st Annual Blood Drive. Please read the requirements and sign up if you can donate blood, We need forty donors before we can schedule the drive. I will make sure it is held at a convenient time for all who want to donate. Tell friends and family. Lastly, if you know of a person or group in need please let me or my committee know: Garrett Ackward, Luther Hodges, Dan Sullivan, Charley Brown, and Gov. Tom Pavlik. I couldn't do any of this without them.  Great Holidays to All.

Yours in Service,  Michael Cogburn