Hello all – for this month I have a statement I feel needs to be made and even though it may not be all ‘positive and full of cheer’ it remains a story that needs to be told.  This is in regards to our new NO SMOKING policy we recently had cast upon us.

On a Friday evening around 6PM we were visited by members of the Buena Park Police who noted we had to put out the smokes then and there.  I immediately complied.  I had also received two letters from the health department to the effect that they had been receiving written complaints about smoking in the lodge.  Due too all of this I not only shut down smoking for the night but continued the non-smoking directive until further notice.  NOTE:  Just after the police left I contacted our Regional Manager who stated I did have the authority to do that.

Here’s the deal – the VERY NEXT DAY I had already planned to outline our plan to stop smoking in the lodge in an orderly, planned fashion we could all live with – and to detail the reasons why.  That was the Town Hall meeting we had in August.  Unfortunately, as you all know, we were NOT given that opportunity.  Against the General Laws and the very oath we took or signed to become members, one or more of our group decided to turn us in to the authorities.  Rather than stretch this thing out and have more visits from authorities, I decided to respond by stopping the smoking entirely.

I finally lost my temper on this issue on Labor Day and asked ‘the question’…WHERE ARE THEY?  The “they” being the non-smokers who have written letters to me, to Moose International, and have talked to me personally about the smoking issue.  Indeed, now that we can no longer smoke those individuals still have not started coming in to support us.  But now I think – WHY SHOULD THEY!?!  Due to the actions of a few disgruntled people, we are now a lodge deeply divided.  We are mad, suspicious….you name it.  It is now US and THEM.  People, this is *WRONG*.

If you want to BLAME someone, then perhaps take a look at the person or persons who caused us the embarrassment and humiliation of having the police come in to our lodge.  Are you outraged about that?  Well, SO AM I.  Then let’s all GET OVER IT and move on.  What else is there to do?  Fortunately for them, I can’t prove anything right now anyway!

One last thing I want to make clear – this is to those few individuals who are currently strutting around the lodge taking full accolades and credit for turning this into a non-smoking lodge.  Join me in telling these blow-hards to CAN IT.  One person said to put away the ashtrays and keep them put away – that was me.  I could just as easily have had them returned to service that very evening.  And I am NOT looking for accolades OR credit.  It was a difficult thing to do – and trust me it was something these blow-hards would never have had the nerve to do had they been in my place.  It made me mad.  I’m sorry I got mad but enough is enough.  This person (or persons) has tried to rip the very heart out of our lodge and divide us all.  ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW THAT?!?!?

Please let’s all get past this, “forgive them because they know not what they do”, and keep a closer eye on certain people and how we chose to let them affect our lives.  Trust me, I will keep a VERY close eye on this type of activity and they won’t get away with this type of subversion again.  PERIOD!

I’m very sorry for those I offended on Labor Day or at any other time with this most difficult issue or any other issue for that matter.  I’m only human – and I am defending my FAMILY – the Buena Park Moose!

Thanks to all of you for your support. - Dennis