Georgia Moose Association​

Georgia Moose Association

2026 Annual Convention Agenda

September 24-27, 2026

Unicoi State Park & Lodge, Helen, GA

Welcome OV John Sipes, Chairman, Mooseheart Board of Directors

Heart of Community Project / President’s Project:

Northeast Georgia Food Pantry

 

 

 

Thursday September 24

                All Thursday Meeting in Board Room

• 10 AM Convention Committee Meeting

  • Convention Set-Up and Agenda Review

    • Executive Board & Liaison

  • Committee Meetings with Executive Board

    • Credentials/Registration Chairperson

      • Rules & Order Committee Chairperson

      • Resolutions Committee Chairperson

      • By-Laws Committee Chairperson

      • Audio/Visual Committee

• 11:30 AM Financial Review Committee

  • Budget Overview

  • Audit

 

• 1:30 PM Nominating Committee Meeting

  • Nominating Committee

  • Election Committee

• 2:00 PM Executive Committee Meeting

• Board Meeting immediately following the Executive Committee Meeting

(Executive Committee and District Presidents)

 

• 2:00 PM Registration Opens (Closes @ 5 PM)

  • Lobby in front of Masters Hall Ballroom

 

• 3:00 PM GMA Full Board

  • Elected Officers, Appointed Officers & Committee Chairpersons

    • Have all Displays for your committee ready to set up in the lobby

    • Give the Secretary a copy of your reports

 

(Times can change based on the length of meetings)

 

**6 PM-10 PM Hospitality “Dogwood” Room Open**

MEET & GREET WITH OFFICIAL VISITOR John Sipes

Friday September 25

 

• 8 AM Registration Opens (Closes @ 5 PM)

  • Lobby in front of Masters Hall Ballroom

    • Registration will be closed from 12 PM- 1:30 PM

 

Breakfast buffet opens in Lodge Restaurant @ 7 AM – pay in restaurant

                                $15.95 per person (before tax or gratuities)

 

• 8:30 AM Past Presidents Meeting – Fireside C

  • Chairperson Van Johnson

    • Lifetime Achievement Award

Read & Nominate from Entries Received

 

• 8:30 AM WOTM Meeting – Fireside Lobby

  • Town Hall Meeting, Open to ALL

    • Tammy Moore, Chapter Analyst Coordinator

 

 

OUTER GUARD / INNER GUARD report to registration 30 minutes before session(s) opening

 

• 10 AM General Session 1 –  Masters Hall Ballroom

  • Call to Order – Jr Past President Billy Hand

  • Safety Briefing – Jr Past President Billy Hand

  • Invocation – Chaplain Wayne Allen

  • Presentation of Colors – Sgt @ Arms Marina Weininger

  • Pledge of Allegiance – Jr Past President Billy Hand

  • National Anthem - Audio

  • Credentials Report – Danny Walker

  • Convention Obligation – Jr Past President Billy Hand

  • Obligation to President & Presentation of Gavel – Billy Hand

  • Opening of Convention – Presiding Officer

  • Welcome Guests, Officers and Delegates – Presiding Officer

  • Welcome First-Time Attendees –Presiding Officer

  • Recognition of Military/Veterans/First Responders – Presiding Officer

  • CEO Scott Hart – Video

  • Roll Call of Officers / Chairpersons – Secretary

  • Roll Call of Lodges – District Presidents

    • Members are to be counted with the Lodge registered

  • Introduction of Official Visitor – Presiding Officer

  • Brief Remarks from OV – John Sipes

  • Report of Rules & Order Committee – Wayne Allen

  • Report of the Nominating Committee – Election Committee Chairperson

  • Introduction of Guests & Remarks –Presiding Officer

  • Report of the President –  Presiding Officer

  • Report of the Secretary – Secretary

  • Report of the Treasurer – Cindy Baker

  • Budget Report, Financial Review Committee – Walt Zurowski

  • Report of the By-Laws Committee – Wayne Allen

  • Lifetime Achievement Award – Secretary

  • Grand Chancellor Barb McPherson - Video

  • Report of Chapter Advocate – Tammy Moore

  • Introduction of Territory Manager/Liaison – Joseph Groat

  • Remarks from Joseph – Territory Manager

  • Recess

  • Endowment

Endowment will be collected at the end of each session

Endowment could also have been included in the registration fees if you chose

 

 

• 12 PM – 2 PM Lunch Break

  • Burger Buffet will be available in the restaurant – pay in restaurant

  • The Tavern Grill will also be open – pay at tavern

  • If you go to town, there are several locations in Helen to choose from

 

• 12 PM Council of Higher Degrees Meeting – Masters Hall Ballroom

  • Required Meeting of the Council (approx. 30 min)– P J Maloney, President

 

 

OUTER GUARD / INNER GUARD report to registration 30 minutes before session(s) opening

 

 

2 PM General Session II – Masters Hall Ballroom

• Call to Order –Presiding Officer

• Safety Briefing – Presiding Officer

• Welcome First-Time Attendees – Presiding Officer

• Recognition of Military/Veterans/1st Responders – Presiding Officer

• Report of Resolutions Committee – Wayne Allen

• Moose Activities Committee – Chairperson Ken Roberts

• Heart of Community Service Report – Chairperson Cindy Baker

• Heart of Community Project, “President's Project”, Presiding Officer

• Valued Veterans Program – Chairperson Cindi Case

• Historical Committee – Chairperson Mike Harris

• Special Committee’s Report – Roger & LaDonna Sexton

  • Chili Cook-Off @ Moosehaven

  • Georgia Tree Lighting @ Moosehaven

• Remarks from OV – John Sipes

• Remarks from Liaison – Joseph Groat

  • Moose Grant Programs

• Roll Call of Lodges – District Presidents

• Silent Roll Call of Officers / Chairpersons – Secretary

• Announcements – Secretary.

• Recess

• Endowment

 

 

• 4:30 PM WOTM Golden Gavel Convocation Rehearsal –Fireside ABC

 

• 7 PM Hospitality Room Opens – Dogwood Room

  •  Drawdown starts about 7:30 PM

  • Games & Socializing

  • No outside alcohol is permitted

 

• 11:00 PM Hospitality Room Closes

 

 

Saturday September 26

 

Suggested dress code for the day – Regalia, to show honor for those who have earned a Higher Degree

COR- only wear Cap& Gown in the Conferral and Memorial Service

Regalia can be Jackets or polo shirts. Others wear a theme shirt.

 

               

Breakfast buffet opens in Lodge Restaurant @ 7 AM – pay in restaurant

                                $15.95 per person (before tax or gratuities)

 

• 7:30 AM Registration Opens Master Hall Lobby (closes 5 PM)

  • Registration will be closed from 1 PM-2:30 PM

 

• 7:45 AM Moose Legion Meeting – Fireside ABC

  • Moose Legion Ambassador – Chris Conley

  • Moose Legion Area Manager – Walt Zurowski

 

• 8:15 AM Fellowship Meeting & Conferral – Fireside ABC

  • Fellowship members in Regalia. Open to Fellowship Degree Holders and Candidates – Chairperson Van Johnson

 

• 9:30 AM WOTM Golden Gavel Convocation – Fireside ABC

  • Convocation Director – Tammy Moore

  • Open to all Moose Members

 

OUTER GUARD / INNER GUARD report to registration 30 minutes before session(s) opening

 

 

• 10:30 AM Memorial Service – Chairperson Walt Zurowski – Masters Hall Ballroom

  • Memorial Staff

    • Angel Volunteers report to Ladonna Sexton

  • All Degree Holders wear Regalia

    • This can be a beautiful Event honoring those who have passed if all COR (in Cap & Gown) and Pilgrim march in wearing regalia. All other degree holders are encouraged as well to wear Regalia. (Legion, Fellow, AOF, Star) Regalia can be jackets or polo shirts recognizing your accomplishments.

 

 

 

Please be scanned to record attendance for this meeting

 

                11:00 AM Session III – Masters Hall Ballroom

• Call to Order – Presiding Officer

• Safety Briefing – Presiding Officer

• Welcome First-Time Attendees – Presiding Officer

• Recognition of Military/Veterans/1st Responders – Presiding Officer

• Introduction of Fellows – Chairperson Van Johnson

• Introduction of New Golden Gavel Recipients – Tammy Moore

• Youth Awareness – Chairperson Mike Coker

• Membership Video – Director

  • Membership – Production & Retention – Chairperson Randall Asbury

  • Liaison Report– Joseph Groat

• Moose Legion – Area Manager – Walt Zurowski

• Higher Degree Committee Report – Chairperson PJ Maloney

• Mooseheart Video – Gary Urwiler

  • Mooseheart Report – Chairperson Robert Vaughn

• Moosehaven Video – Helen Taylor

  • Moosehaven Report – Chairperson Jeanenne Lautzenheiser

• Moose Charities Report – Chairperson Tommy Brown

  • Power Point

• Remarks from OV – John Sipes

• Roll Call of Lodges – District Presidents

• Silent roll call of Officers / Chairperson – Secretary

• Election of New GMA State Officers

• Announcements – Secretary

• Recess

• Endowment

 

 

• 1 PM – 3 PM Lunch Break

  • Dogwood Room (Hospitality Room)

    • 1:30 – 2:30 – Chili Cook-Off Judging for District Representatives

      • Judging for winner by (3) Judges

• The Tavern Grill will also be open – pay at the tavern

• If you go to town, there are several locations in Helen to choose from

 

• 2 pm Pilgrim Meeting – Fireside C

  • Degree Holders Only

 

OUTER GUARD / INNER GUARD report to registration 30 minutes prior to session(s) opening

3:00 PM Session IV – Masters Hall Ballroom

• Call to Order –Presiding Officer

• Moose Education – GMA Coordinator Walt Zurowski

• Risk Management Report – Chairperson Bob Vaughn

• Awards – Joseph Groat

• Remarks from Official Visitor – John Sipes

• Remarks from Territory Manager/Liaison – Joseph Groat

• Remarks from Regional Manager – Robert Lee

• Remarks from International Officers

• Roll Call of Officers/ Chairpersons – Secretary

• Roll Call of Lodges – District Presidents

• Announcements of the NEW GMA Officers – Secretary

  • Election Committee Report

• Installation of NEW GMA Officers – Secretary

• New GMA President Comments

• Final Credentials Report – Chairperson Danny Walker

• Announcements – Secretary

• Closing Prayer – Chaplain Wayne Allen

• Motion to Adjourn- Sine Die – Presiding Officer

• Endowment

 

• 4:30 PM Newly Elected Officers Meeting – Masters Hall Ballroom

  • Newly Elected Officers, Appointed Officers & Chairpersons for 2027

  • Review Duties & Responsibilities

 

• 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM 25-5 Club Banquet – Dogwood Room

  • 25-5 Club Recipients recognition

  • Hors D’oeuvres

 

• 6:30 PM – 11 PM Hospitality Room – Dogwood Room

  • Drawings for Conference Fundraisers

  • Games & Socializing

  • Hospitality will close promptly @ 11 PM for cleanup

  • NO Outside Alcohol Permitted

We would greatly appreciate any volunteers to help with cleanup and load the trailer

​

Safe Travels Home