Mankato Hosts 2011 Minnesota Moose Assn.Convention
The 86th State Convention of the Minnesota Moose Association will be hosted by the Mankato Moose Lodge on September 15-18, 2011. Hundreds of LOOM and WOTM delegates will enjoy all that goes with staging a great convention here in River City. David Cowan is the host chairman for that part of the Convention that affects delegates enjoying themselves "off-site" at the local Mankato Moose Lodge. Cowan and Louie Allen, former Minnesota Moose Association Secretary, met on Thursday, December 27, with Best Western hotel conference planners to provide them with preliminary information on the 2011 State Convention. What goes on in the convention headquarters hotel is the business of the State Association and its Minnesota WOTM affiliate and not the concern of the local Mankato Moose Family Center. Mankato's Moose Lodge will certainly entertain convention delegates the Friday night of the convention and hopes to feed them Walleye dinners at the Mankato Moose Family Center in the Belle Mar Mall. Transportation between the Convention Headquarters at Best Western and the Mankato Moose Lodge is the responsibility of the local Lodge planning committee headed by Cowan. North Mankato's Best Western will be the Convention Headquarters, assuming approval from the present leadership of the Minnesota Moose Association.

Cowan will need help so feel free to contact him 381-2312 or email: dczarcon@aol.com

Moose International's Regional Manager Gary Beck

"To the members of the Mankato Moose Lodge # 1414 and WOTM Chapter # 606, congratulations to your new fraternal officers, and Joint Management Board members. I know that these officers will all do the best they can for the entire year.

"Membership should be the main concern for the year, if you do not sign new members you do not get any growth. I have not received your new membership quotas as yet, but if we use last year's targets you only need to sign one new member a week for the men and one new member every ten days for the women. This is the way you need to attack your quota for the year and not look at it as a number that you cannot reach. YOU CAN DO IT !

"As of 4/29/08 contratulations go out to Lee Overmoen, Lori Summers, and Winona Zimmerman on being '5 Club ' members for the 2007-08 year.

"Contratulations needs to go out to Louie Allen for being the Moose Legion Ambassador for the 2008-09 year. I know you all will support Louie in whaever he needs for this coming year.

"Good luck with all the work that goes into moving into your new location."

Contract Signed for New Lodge Digs at Belle Mar Mall
On February 22, 2008, a signed contract from The Goodman Group arrived at the temporary headquarters of the Moose Family Center in the lower lever of the American Legion Post 11. At its meeing of Tuesday, Feb. 12th, the Joint Management Board signed the 15 year lease agreement with The Goodman Group for new "digs" at the Belle Mar Mall. JMB members hope that the Moose Family Center can be relocated in the remodeled space up on the hill by June 1, 2008. Since August 1, 2007, the Moose Lodge's temporary headquarters has been in the lower level of the American Legion Post 11 at 222 1/2 East Walnut Street. At a December 10, 2007, special meeting the Combined Membership of the Moose Family Center voted to proceed with a contract with The Goodman Group - of the 69 who cast a ballot, 62 voted in favor, 6 voted against, and one ballot was invalidated.

The remodeling project was projected to cost $255,000, the bulk of which was to be picked up by The Goodman Group. The Moose Lodge was responsible for a $30,000 construction loan with a five year interest free payback at $500 a month on top of a projected monthly rental of $3,800 with incremental increases in rent spread over the life of the 15 year lease. The cash flow model had the Gambling Fund renting space from the Moose with payments averaging $750 monthly, a sum that would be used to offset the $3,800 monthly rent charge from The Goodman Group. Moose International approved the contract.

Members Vote to Return to

Belle Mar Mall
At the special meeting held on December 10, 2007, the following proposal was discussed at length. The jist of it was to enter into a long-term lease with The Goodman Group which provides for the return and relocation of the Mankato Moose Family Center to remodeled space within the
Belle Mar Mall.

- Proposed 15 year leasing term from 2008 to 2022.

- Proposed use of 3,740 square feet of remodeled Belle Mar Mall space.

- Proposed $9 per square foot for base rent + $3.20 per square foot for common area maintenance, taxes, insurance. Combined monthly charge = $3,800. Rate adjusted every two years until 2022 when rate is $11 per square foot.

- Proposed that $255,000 in remodeling costs be covered with: $50,000 from Blue Earth County; $30,000 from an interest free "construction" loan issued by The Goodman Group to the Moose Family Center to be paid back in five years at $500 per month; and $175,000 picked up by The Goodman Group.

- Moose Family Center must cover costs of all flooring, wall paint, and/or wall coverings.

Also discussed was a proposed 12 month financial plan, which the Joint Management Board believed addressed revenue and cost forecasts once the relocation and remodeling is complete. The Joint Management Board believed the new location would "cash flow" and not seriously deplete our CD investments. Click here to check out the 12 month budget forecast.

Budget Forecast Associated with Move Back to Belle Mar Mall
Initial decision to move back to the Belle Mar Mall was made by membership on Dec.10, 2007, at a Special Combined Membership Meeting. Though not formally approved by those present this Estimated Income/Expenditure Budget was presented as a "forecast" once the Moose Family Center opened its doors in the new location at the Belle Mar Mall.

Combined Membership Votes to go Back to Belle Mar Mall
At the December 10, 2007, special meeting of the combined membership of the Moose Family Center, which includes the members of the fraternal women's WOTM Chaper #606 and men's Loyal Order of Moose #1414, it was decided to endorse the proposal from The Goodman Group which would result in a move back to freshly remodeled space in the Belle Mar Mall. The Mankato Moose Family Center is now temporarily headquartered in the lower level of the American Legion Post 11 - 222 1/2 East Walnut Street. Of the 69 who cast a ballot, 62 voted in favor, 6 voted against, and one ballot was invalidated. Moose International must now review the matter before any contracts can be finalized. A May 1, 2008 date for the move back is not unrealistic if Moose International and The Goodman Group move forward on the arrangement.