Moose Club bans smoking nationwide

Effective Wednesday, Jan. 1, Moose Club International went tobacco free.

"The thought behind making this was the health of our members and their families and our future members,” said Lodge No. 349 administrator Carol Lesko.

Back in July at their international convention, Moose Club members voted to ditch chewing tobacco, vaping and cigarettes at their clubs because they say children's welfare is central to the organization's mission.

“What it is all about is the children, Mooseheart and Moosehaven,” said Sid Walker Jr., Lodge No. 349's governor. “It's about the children and family.”

Three years ago, the Windber Moose Club made the independent decision to go cigarette-free.

“A lot of Moose lodges are just lodges, but Windber’s lodge has been designated as a family center,” said Lesko. “You have to kind of pass a test to be designated the family center and decision just goes along with the whole idea of helping the kids.”

Besides a few grumbles, officials say most people are happy with the change and they say the tobacco ban has been amazing for business.

“Food sales went crazy,” said Walker. “Now we have more money coming in that we have to donate. Because by law we are only allowed to keep 40 percent and 60 must be donated away each year. The money is just flowing in from people coming in and families coming back.”

Officials are hoping, like in Windber, the change will encourage new members to join because expansion means more money given back to local communities.

"That is what Moose International is hoping for,” said Walker. “That it will become more family oriented. Well, yeah. That is what it is all about.”

If you would like to become a member of the Moose Lodge, you can head to its website.

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