MOOSEHEART, IL, July 9, 2008 -- Director General William B. Airey announced today that Grand Chancellor Janet Fregulia had accepted an appointment to the position of Executive Director of Moose Charities Inc.

In the wake of this move, Airey announced simultaneously that he had appointed WOTM Director of Operations Barbara McPherson as the ninth Grand Chancellor of the Women of the Moose. Executive Assistant Judy Sisson has been promoted to McPherson's position as Director of Operations.

All of the appointments become effective August 1.

As Moose Charities Executive Director, Fregulia will have authority and responsibility for fundraising for all Moose endeavors - developing, implementing and promoting funding programs from the Loyal Order of Moose and Women of the Moose, as well as seeking contributions from outside corporate and foundation sources to support our fraternal programs, especially Mooseheart Child City & School. She and her staff will operate out of Moose International headquarters at Mooseheart, IL.

Airey pointed out that prior to being appointed Grand Chancellor in September 2005, Fregulia had served as Director of Fraternal Fundraising for Moose Charities.

"Jan Fregulia has kept funding levels strong in the Women of the Moose, and has generated membership increases--doing both in an extremely tough economic environment," Airey said. "The Women of the Moose historically have been among the most ardent contributors to Moose Charities. Jan's dedication to the principles and precepts of our Order, her deep love for the children at Mooseheart and senior members at Moosehaven, and a personality that draws people to the programs in which she believes and supports, led me to the conclusion that Jan is the precise person for this challenge. She has the full support of the Supreme Council, the Grand Council and the Moose Charities Board as she begins her new position."

Fregulia had been on the senior staff of the Women of the Moose and Moose Charities since 1996, when she came to headquarters at Mooseheart from Petaluma, CA, where she had held sales and purchasing management positions in the construction industry.

A native of London, Ontario, Fregulia emigrated to the U.S. as a young girl in 1955; she is a naturalized American citizen. She joined Petaluma Chapter 574 of the Women of the Moose in 1968, and immediately took a committee chairmanship at age 23. She served through the Chapter's chairs over the next five years, attaining the Academy of Friendship Degree in 1970, the College of Regents Degree in 1974 and the Star Recorder Degree in 1978. She served as Deputy Grand Regent for California/Nevada in 1987-88, and as a member of the Grand Council from 1994-96.

Barbara McPherson rises to become the ninth chief executive of the Women of the Moose after having served nine years as a senior staff member at WOTM headquarters at Mooseheart. She has variously served since May 1999 as Director of Administration, Director of Sports and Ritual, and briefly in 2005-06 as Director of Youth, Family Activities & Ritual for both the Loyal Order of Moose and Women of the Moose. McPherson had rejoined Grand Chancellor Fregulia in the Women of the Moose office in the new position of Director of Operations since June 2006.

McPherson joined the Women of the Moose in 1982 at Woodstock, IL Chapter 364. She attained the Academy of Friendship Degree in 1984, the Star Recorder Degree in 1985 and the College of Regents Degree in 1987. She served as Deputy Grand Regent for Illinois in 1990-91, and on the College of Regents Board from 1994-96.

Judy Sisson, who takes over McPherson's responsibilities as Director of Operations, is a member of San Diego, CA Chapter 2; she moved with her husband Bill to the Mooseheart area in spring 2007 to become Executive Assistant to Grand Chancellor Fregulia. Sisson earned both the Academy of Friendship and College of Regents Degree in 1991, and the Star Recorder Degree in 1992. She served as Deputy Grand Regent for California/Nevada in 2001-02, and as Deputy Regional Manager for that Association in 2005-07.