Carla Clark | For The Republic Kerry Woodcock, president, holds the license plate presented by Paul Curtis, chairman of the board of directors of Moose International to Moose Lodge 398, Columbus, Indiana, Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Local members of The Moose heard from one of their international leaders this past weekend.
Paul W. Curtis — chairman of the board of directors for Moose International — spoke during a breakfast at the local Moose Lodge in Columbus on Saturday.
“He’s traveling around the state of Indiana, visiting different lodges, and we were lucky enough to be one of them,” said Brian Holbrook, an administrator with the local lodge. He said it was Curtis’ first time visiting both Columbus and its chapter.
Curtis joined his home lodge in Camas, Washington in 1985. Since then, he has served his lodge, the Washington State-Northern Idaho Moose Association, and Moose International in a variety of leadership positions, receiving various awards for his service. Curtis was elected chairman of the board in July of 2021 during the 133rd International Moose Convention.
Holbrook said that during his visit, Curtis discussed recent updates from Moose International, which underwent a transition regarding male and female membership and rights last year.
“The women and the men came together,” said Holbrook. “And the women still have a higher degree chapter, but for years, it’s been two separate charters, I guess you could say. The women had theirs. The men had theirs.”
During the 132nd meeting of the Supreme Lodge, delegates voted to pass new amendments creating “a new and unified Moose membership where all members, male and female, would have equal opportunities, rights and privileges within the Lodge.”
The changes went into effect in May of 2021 and included renaming the Supreme Council as a Board of Directors and allowing women to serve on the board.
Curtis also discussed Moose International’s childcare and senior care operations, said Holbrook. He added that the visit went well, and Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop was among those in attendance.
“It’s an honor to have the chairman of the board, obviously, come to your lodge, because he can’t go to every lodge in the country,” said Holbrook.
Carla Clark | For The Republic License plate presented by Paul Curtis, chairman of the board of directors of Moose International to Moose Lodge 398, Columbus, Indiana, Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Paul Curtis, chairman of the board of directors of Moose International, speaks during a breakfast held at Moose Lodge 398, Columbus, Indiana, Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Paul Curtis, chairman of the board of directors of Moose International, speaks during a breakfast held at Moose Lodge 398, Columbus, Indiana, Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Paul Curtis, chairman of the board of directors of Moose International, at right, speaks during a breakfast held at Moose Lodge 398, Columbus, Indiana, Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Brian Holbrook administrator, at left, being presented with a special license plate, by Paul Curtis, chairman of the board of directors of Moose International, during a breakfast at Moose Lodge 398, Columbus, Indiana, Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Brian Holbrook, administrator, introduces Paul Curtis, charman of the board of directors of Moose International, during a breakfast held at Moose Lodge 398, Columbus, Indiana, Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Brian Holbrook, administrator, introduces Paul Curtis, charman of the board of directors of Moose International, during a breakfast held at Moose Lodge 398, Columbus, Indiana, Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Paul Curtis, chairman of the board of directors of Moose International, poses for a photograph during a breakfast held at Moose Lodge 398, Columbus, Indiana, Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Dan Evann, at left, Paul Curtis, chairman of the board of directors of Moose International, and his wife Bonnie Curtis visit during a breakfast held at Moose Lodge 398, Columbus, Indiana, Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic David Apple, at left, Mayor Jim Lienhoop and Paul Curtis, chairman of the board of directors of Moose International, visit during a breakfast held at Moose Lodge 398, Columbus, Indiana, Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Kerry Woodcock, Brian Holbrook, David Apple, Mayor Jim Lienhoop, Paul Curtis, chairman of the board of directors for Moose International, Bernie Cox, Joe Pugh, Terry Coriden, and Tim Horton pose for a photograph during a breakfast held at Moose Lodge 398, Columbus, Indiana, Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Mayor Jim Lienhoop and Paul Curtis, chairman of the board of directors of Moose International, pose for a photograph during a breakfast at Moose Lodge 398, Columbus, Indiana, Saturday, April 9, 2022.
Carla Clark | For The Republic Kerry Woodcock, president, holds the license plate presented by Paul Curtis, chairman of the board of directors of Moose International to Moose Lodge 398, Columbus, Indiana, Saturday, April 9, 2022.
