New York State
Moose Association

Cross-Country Adventures

My co-pilot, Chris Garner, and I—along with our wives—had an amazing experience driving across the mid-states to the convention in Oklahoma. Along the way, we hit some truly unforgettable landmarks. Buc-ee’s is easily one of the largest travel centers I have ever rolled into, successfully branding their name on absolutely everything.

On the way home, we stumbled upon one of the most interesting stores I have ever seen: the Uranus Fudge Factory. The fudge was spectacular, we bought plenty of souvenirs, and the clever slogans certainly left a lasting impression on all of us!

A Heartfelt Journey with Mooseheart

Of all my adventures as your State President, the most meaningful was escorting our Mooseheart girls around Western New York. I met some of the most remarkable young ladies and developed lifelong friendships.

These young women, coming from all over the United States and Africa, proved to myself and my wife, Darlene, that Mooseheart is absolutely doing the right thing. They were incredibly respectful, polite, and driven to better themselves and make a difference in this world. They truly touched my heart, and the lessons I learned from them will stay with me forever.

The Push for Membership & Retention

As the Moose Fraternity marches toward our 1 millionth member, I cannot overemphasize the vital importance of signing up new members—and keeping the ones we have. In New York, we successfully hit 32,002 members earlier this July, but that number has since dipped slightly due to expiration lapses.

We must all do our part with retention. Please remind your friends, children, and family members to keep their dues current. Our goal is to be solidly at or above the 32,000 mark for the upcoming State Convention in a few weeks. We are so close, and if everyone just pays their dues, we will achieve it!

Upcoming Annual Convention & Web Updates

The upcoming Convention in Binghamton is going to be fantastic, especially with our Redneck Theme—so get your outfits ready! Registration should be up and running within the next week.

A massive thank you goes out to Rick Clawson, who came out of retirement to completely redesign the NYSMA website. It looks exceptional so far. Thank you, Rick!

Celebrating Our Leadership Team

It takes an incredible team of leaders to keep this State Association running smoothly:

• State Secretary Pete Harrigan: A special shout-out to my good friend Pete. He does more behind the scenes than anyone will ever know or give him credit for. He keeps our state running efficiently and keeps me on track with plenty of friendly reminders. We are incredibly lucky to have him.
• The NYSMA State Board: This is one of the finest boards we have had in a long time. We all share a common goal, bring diverse opinions to the table, and voice them when needed to move us forward.
• Past President Transition: As most of you know, I have accepted a Territory Manager position with Moose International. Therefore, we will warmly welcome back Paul Lamantina this coming year to finish out the remainder of my upcoming term as Junior Past President.

Final Thanks and Gratitude

I want to extend my deepest appreciation to everyone who supported me this year with reminders, advice, suggestions, and fellowship:

• Our District Presidents: Thank you for putting in countless hours driving, attending meetings, and successfully putting out fires all across New York State.
• Our Committee Chairpersons: You have done an outstanding job organizing events and functions that were thoroughly enjoyed by all.
• South Buffalo Moose Lodge 1407: A huge thank you to the officers and members who stepped up to keep our home lodge running flawlessly while I was out on the road. I could not have served the State without your unwavering local support.
• My Wife, Darlene: Most of all, thank you to my incredible travel partner. Darlene kept me on schedule, reminded me where I needed to be, pointed out when my shirt was on backwards, and supported me every single step of the way.