Reflections of the past
Thirty-four years ago Vera Smallridge joined 49 other area women as they signed the Charter that began the legacy of the Women of the Moose Dunnellon Chapter No. 1662.
“It was a group of close nit friends,” Vera Smallridge said of those days. “It was challenging in some ways and a lot of fun in others.”
The day the Chapter was instituted, March 25, 1988, was a special day for Smallridge.
“It was the beginning of something new,” Smallridge said. “Carlotta (Edwards Nicklas) was the first Senior Regent,” Smallridge recalled. ”She was an amazing leader. She knew how to share the
responsibilities of her leadership and she was honest, totally honest. If you did something wrong you were going to know it. She’d tell you in a nice way. It wasn’t behind your back it was to your face.”
The camaraderie among Chapter members and the way they worked together are both high on Smallridge’s list of memorable moments.
Together, with the men of the lodge, they prepared dinners, held fundraising events, and had a good time.
“We were like brothers and sisters, husbands and wives – which we were,” she said. “It was very close nit.”
She also recalled the things that the Chapter did like cake sales, selling ice cream at Dunnellon’s Boomtown Days, going to daycare centers and senior citizen homes to visit, spread cheer, have parties, and celebrate life with them.
“I think that over the years the changes in leadership have a big bearing on how the chapter operates,” she said. “There’s a chain that is meant to be followed in an organization where you do what the book says and then you pass that knowledge on to the next person. For correct answers you always referred to that book (WOTM General Laws). We follow a fundamental rule of conduct and high ethics. I also think that because we were always together, our commitment to each other and the program was much stronger.”
A lot has changed since those early days. The Moose is now unified with men and women sharing responsibilities and working together on Lodge, State, and International boards, all with the same purpose.
“The women for years wanted a voice in the leadership in the lodge and as of last year they
were beginning to take their parts in that leadership with good results,” she said.
She also knows the importance of the Women of the Moose and their endeavors of caring for the children at Mooseheart, the seniors at Moosehaven, and all the charitable work that the Chapter does in the community.
“I think my Moose membership has meant so much to me over the years that I keep everything,” she said.
Her memorabilia includes MI Theme/Slogan pins, her membership card, name badges from her roles within the Moose, Charter Member pin, donation and sponsorship pins, tassels, and her
original Green Cap.
“I am proud to be a member,” she said.
Pictured at top is Vera Smallridge, third from left, as she took the Oath of Office during the 110th Women of the Moose Convention Monday, July 4, 2022. Smallridge is now a member of the WOTM Grand Council. Photo right is a shadowbox of Women of the Moose memorabilia with a collection of tassels, pins, and membership cards that Vera Smallridge has saved since she joined the Moose 35 years ago. Smallridge was one of 50 women who helped to institute Dunnellon WOTM Chapter 1662 in 1988.
DUNNELLON WOMEN OF THE MOOSE CHAPTER 1662
2023-2024 WOMEN OF THE MOOSE DUNNELLON CHAPTER 1662
TO BE INSTALLED APRIL 23, 2023
BOARD OF OFFICERS:
Senior Regent – Laurie Nelson
Junior Past Regent – Selina Moore
Secretary – Linda Cole
Treasurer – Karen Garland
CHAIRMEN:
Fraternal Activities - Marcia Stone
Higher Degree - Kimberly Kelly
Membership - Vicky Cacciatore
Fraternal Activities - Marcia Stone
Mooseheart/ Moosehaven - Diane Lally
APPOINTMENTS:
Guide - Sylvia Common
Audit - Karen Wilson and Gloria Pudlo
Application Review – Melanie Newhouse and Alma Whitman
2022-2023 WOMEN OF THE MOOSE DUNNELLON CHAPTER 1662
BOARD OF OFFICERS:
Senior Regent - Selina Moore
Junior Past Regent - Linda Cole
Treasurer - Laurie Nelson
Secretary - Melanie Newhouse
CHAIRMEN:
Fraternal Activities - Clasina Vanthul
Higher Degrees - Kimberly Kelly
Membership - Alma Whitman
Mooseheart/Moosehaven - Gloria Pudlo
APPOINTMENTS:
Guide - Sylvia Common
Audit - Nancy Russo
OUT AND ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY
2023 FLAMINGLE JINGLES
2023 Dunnellon Christmas Parade
2023 Dunnellon Christmas Parade
Dunnellon WOTM Chapter 1662 participated in the FMA Flamingle Jingles event with an event of their own held at Citrus County Speedway and Track in Inverness. They dressed as elves and handed out candy to the children on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. The Chapter donated $240 for Mooseheart as part of the event.
2023 Dunnellon Christmas Parade
2023 Dunnellon Christmas Parade
2023 Dunnellon Christmas Parade
Dunnellon WOTM Chapter 1662 participated in the parade held on Saturday, Dec, 2, 2023.
Golden Gavel recipient Linda cole honored
received golden gavel at first-ever wotm golden gavel conferral
Linda Cole was honored with a special Women of the Moose Golden Gavel event at Dunnellon Moose Lodge 2308 on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 11:30 a.m.
The first-ever Golden Gavel was presented to a full class of Junior Past Regents who qualified for the honor. The honor replaced the Green Cap honor which originated in 1950.
Eligibility for the Golden Gavel honor is limited to a member who served a full term as Senior Regent and fulfilled the duties as stated in the WOTM General Laws. The Chapter also must qualify for the Award of Achievement.
Cole and WOTM Dunnellon Chapter 1662 met the requirements and she was conferred with the honor at the WOTM Golden Gavel Conferral in September 2022.
As the Junior Past Regent, Cole currently serves as the Chairman of the Golden Gavel Committee for the 2022-2023 Moose year.
The Golden Gavel committee provides funds to assist Mooseheart students with Physical and Occupational Therapy. A number of children at Mooseheart require short and long-term treatment in the areas of Physical and OccupationalTherapy. Whether children arrive at Mooseheart requiring a continuation of services, receive a referral by our Pediatrician
or are recovering from an injury, these medical treatments are often not covered by the state’s children’s health care planor, a provider within the plan is too far away from Mooseheart.
Junior Past Regent Linda Cole presented two checks at the special meeting. The first
was earmarked for the Physical and Occupational Therapy program at Mooseheart. The second was for the Women of the Moose Scholarship and Maintenance Fund.Each check was in the amount of $30.
WOTM CHAPTER 1662 HOLDS CRAFT AND VENDOR FAIR
Dunnellon Chapter 1662 turned Dunnellon Moose Lodge 2308 into a winter wonderland filled with hand-crafted and vendor wares perfect for gift giving. The twenty-two spots were filled with fall, Christmas, candles, food, clothing, and home decor items.
The event was the first of what the Chapter hopes will become an annual event.
"It was exciting to see the response we had from local crafters and vendors who showed for the event," Kimberly Kelly said. "I can't wait to expand on the event for next year."
"This event helped the community learn a little about what the Moose is about: which in part is making new friends and gaining new members all from a fun day," said Selina Moore.
Kelly and Moore created the event as a way to raise funds for the Chapter's travel fund.
