Amidst the dull thud of sand-filled bags smacking wooden cornhole boards, teams competing in the Longmont Moose Lodge’s cornhole tournament on Saturday discussed their scores over the din.
“What is that? 8 to 3?” one contestant shouted at his partner who stood down range. “Yep, 8-3,” the man said back. “Okay, 8 to 3,” the first man repeated before drawing his sandbag behind his back as if to load it up, and just as quickly, he snapped his arm forward before releasing the bag — thud.
Scenes like this one filled the large halls of the Moose Lodge during their public-invite tournament. Typically, the building isn’t accessible to nonmembers, but 12 times a year, Moose International, the governing body, allows lodges to invite the public into their halls.
Skip Monroe, who organized the event, said, “I put this on and opened the doors to the public so people can see what we do here, hopefully get some new members, and get people to sign up and have fun.”
For this specific tournament, 29 teams signed up, with about 20% of contestants being nonmembers. The top three teams won a prize, with the Moose Lodge dividing 80% of the tournament proceeds among the winning two-person crews.
First place received 50% of the cash prize; second place took home 30%. The third-place team collected the remaining 20%. Members and nonmembers alike ate hot dogs and hamburgers. Kids hurried around the building and more bags fell from the ceiling.
But cash prizes and food are secondary to the fundamental mission of the lodge.
Of the 20% of proceeds that stayed with the lodge, it could go to any number of community-minded missions that seek to better the communities in which Moose Lodges across the country operate.
Recently, the Longmont chapter contributed to the Longmont Police Department. They also sponsor kids and help pay for their athletics. However, none are as important to the lodge as Mooseheart and Moosehaven.
Rob Burkett, vice president of the board, explained the two programs.
Mooseheart is an Illinois-based residential childcare facility that provides education and housing for disadvantaged kids. It’s a 1,000-acre campus with an archery range, bowling lanes and more. The lodges sponsor kids through the program from elementary to high school.
Moosehaven is a residential housing community for older adults in Florida. The lodges help to fund this residential program and provide seniors with a safe, fun and welcoming place to enjoy life.
Ultimately, the public events the lodge puts on are to pull the curtain back on the organization and show potential members what happens inside the organization. To learn more, head to the lodge, which is located at 2210 Pratt Street.
