“For he’s a jolly good Fellow…” Montpelier Moose Lodge 312, Loyal Order of Moose, is celebrating another achievement. Robert “Bob” Gearig, lodge administrator and social quarters manager, received the distinguished Fellowship Degree of Honor while attending the annual convention of the Ohio State Moose Association in August at Independence, near Cleveland.
The degree was conferred upon 20 lodge members from around the state in a special conferral ceremony Saturday, Aug. 15th. Bob joins 16 other Montpelier Moose members who have achieved this honor: David Bailey, Dennis Baden, Charles R. Beck, Dennis Bishop, Donald Brown, Doug Cargle, Randy Esterline, Phil Hallock, Alex Hart, Richard Hart, James Heller, Ted Huston, Charles Schelling, Phil Thorp, Kenny Wilcox and James Witker. Eight other new Fellows from Ohio received their degree in conferral ceremonies during the Moose International Convention held in Nashville, TN in July.
In order to qualify for the degree, a Moose lodge member must be a member in good standing of the lodge and Moose Legion, be an active sponsor as a member of the 25-Club or be striving toward this level, fulfill other personal requirements as stipulated by Moose International, and the lodge must be in good standing in the state association and have received the lodge merit award. Many who achieve this honor are past governors or administrators of their respective lodge.
Members of Montpelier Lodge 312 and Montpelier Chapter 270, Women of the Moose, join in congratulating Bob for receiving this degree which was made possible not only by his personal commitment to the Moose fraternity, but also by the officers and members of the lodge working together to achieve success for Mooseheart, Moosehaven and the local community.
Bob joined the Montpelier Moose in 1969, re-enrolled in 1983, and was elected administrator of the lodge in 2010. He joined the Moose Legion in 2012 and currently serves as OSMA District 4 Prelate for 2015-16, having served the previous year as district treasurer. During 2012 Bob achieved 25-Club sponsor status and has progressed to the 75-sponsor level. He also attends Maumee Valley #30 Moose Legion celebration meetings on a regular basis and represents the lodge at Mid-Year and Annual Conventions of the state association and Moose International Conventions. Bob was also honored to be selected as 2013 Moose of the Year for the local lodge and a nominee for the Ohio Moose of the Year.
A 1966 alumni of Montpelier High School, Bob is a graduate of International Business College in accounting. For 12 years he was employed in production control at Hayes-Albion Corp., spent 13 years as production control manager and operations manager for Plastigage Corp., and 16 years as operations manager for Seagate Plastics.
Bob and his wife Lorraine have three children, all Montpelier Moose members, and eight grandchildren. Sincere congratulations to Bob and his family!
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