It has been a wonderful time of the year.  We have reached out and given a hand up to many in our neighborhood. That is what its really all about helping people and building stronger neighborhoods.  Service brings like-minded people together to create change and build bonds.  My neighborhood growing up was like extended family. Everyone looked out for everyone else. Neighbors gathered regularly in our yard to discuss the weather or brag about the latest and greatest kid. When one family worked on their house, we all pitched in to help complete the project. Someone always had your back in time of need.  I made a commitment this year to bring that same feeling to my neighborhood. I challenged each and every member to get to know their neighbors a bit better. Welcome that new family who moved in down the street. Keep a watchful eye and survey the area where you live. Is the yard overgrown, trash can out for days, mail and papers piling up. Does a veteran or elderly couple live around the corner? Maybe its been a while since you spoke to them. Reach out and let them know you care. These are the kind of things that make a difference.  A very wise man once said;"No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care." I want to thank the WOTM for hosting a fabulous Easter party for some very special kids. Amazing how those eggs worked. I wanted to thank Harlow Brewster, and the rest of the lodge bowling team. They run 50/50's all the time for charity and the most recent winner was The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  Thanks to Dan and his Road gang for beautifying the area all around the Lodge. Also a shout out and a well done to John and Jim Price for hanging the pool table light. It looks fantastic gentleman. We had a great Blood drive and thanks to all who pitched in and made it a success. Remember that the time we give to others is a great benefit to them. But I'll say without fear of error, the time we give benefits us much more. Finally I leave you with the definition of community service so lets all be on the lookout for ways to enrich others.

Com·mu·ni·ty Serv·ice
Noun

1. Voluntary work intended to help people in a particular area.
2. Unpaid work, intended to be of social use.

Please contact me with any comments, ideas, projects, or needs for the community.
Yours in Service Michael Cogburn

We have had a lot of membership activity here at the lodge in the last few months.  Are you doing all you can do to help?  The last membership drive has been very successful for our lodge and fraternity.  An amazing fact is that fifty-two members have signed up one or more members this last year.  I want to thank everyone for all the effort you have shown for Mooseheart and Moosehaven.

As I am stepping down as the membership chairman, I know that some might be disappointed in this.  No worries.  I have been recruiting a new younger member from our ranks to replace me.  I am proud to announce that for 2012 – 2013 your new appointed membership chairman is Jon Jacobs.  I will continue on as a member of the membership committee to help Jon.  Please welcome Jon and give him all the support you have shown me in the past nine years.  I know he will be a great membership chairman.  I would also like to thank our Board of Officers for their hard work in 2011 – 2012.  They have worked hard to improve our lodge in so many ways.  I would also like to congratulate Jon Jacobs for his joining the new Board of Officers too.  Jon was installed as our newest Board Trustee on April 19, 2012.  Jon is the youngest board member in our lodge’s history.

As our lodge gears up for the next year, we are looking forward to a great convention in Tampa, Florida.  We will also be getting the next membership campaign after the convention.  Please be ready for Jon’s message to you in our next newsletter.

I am excited to tell you about our latest numbers for membership for the 2011 – 2012 year.  As of April 19, 2012, our lodge has signed up 178 new members.  We are more than 241 percent over our quota for the year.  I am currently in first place for signing up new members for the entire state of Virginia.  I have signed up only twenty-five new members this year.  Again this year, my closest rival is Ronnie Lee from the Manassas lodge.

On April 6th of this year, our Lodge participated in the 1st annual Blood Drive. It was a sight to see that big purple bloodmobile parked right out side our doors. Personally speaking, it filled me with pride and made a bold statement to all who passed by our Lodge that day. We are involved and helpful to our friends and neighbors in the community. Come on inside and see what we do and become a part of it. I want to thank each and every one of you who signed up. A total of 34 people registered – 3 for Alyx (double red cell procedures) and 27 units of blood were donated – 6 from Alyx procedures. On behalf of the patients and families and friends who will benefit from your gifts of life, thank you for your generosity.

Currently they are experiencing a very critical shortage of O negative. Lodge members who missed the blood drive, please contact them about giving at one of their other locations. Call 1-866-256-6372 or visit www.inova.org/donateblood.Use sponsor code 7889. Our drive was a great success and I want to especially thank Goose who recruited additional donors and signed two new members. I want to thank Barbara for helping with the sign-in desk. Thanks to Mark Smith for taping off the parking lot and getting the bus set-up. To those of you who took time away from family and friends on a holiday to make a special trip just to donate and support our lodge, thank you. To the first time donors Kim and Wendy, thank you for your courage. To those who tried to donate and where unable to, thanks for the try. Let that be a wake-up call to all of us to have regular check-ups and follow the Dr.'s orders. We love our members so please be mindful to eat right and exercise as often as possible. If you donated and didn't get to sign the Blood drive Poster, let me know asap. I want to get that framed. Please give me any feedback or suggestions on how we can improve on the 2nd Annual Blood drive. WELL DONE!!

On Saturday, April 7, 2012, the Centreville Moose Lodge held its quarterly Adopt A Spot - Road Clean Up.  It was a great day for the clean up.  The weather helped in so many ways too!  Sunny skies and 70 degrees were on tap.  We had a great turn out by the lodge.  We started the work at nine AM sharp.  The lodge provided breakfast burritos for the entire crew from Anita’s of Fairfax.  Work continued well into the afternoon.  We managed to fill Tom Hoover's dump truck up again!  Thanks to Tom Hoover, Blake Simon and George Barboza for providing many of the tools needed for this months clean up.  Many thanks to all the unmentioned members that gave their time to help this lodge look great too!  We still have more improvements coming to the lodge.  We have a load of fresh mulch coming to keep the weeds down in the flower beds around the lodge.  We will be posting another article on the website if we need additional Moose muscle to get that job done.  To state that there were a lot of members helping this time is an understatement.  Please accept our gratitude for your unwavering support of the City of Fairfax and our lodge!  Click on photo for larger picture.