WESTFIELD - About a dozen employees of the local Moose, who haven't worked since the lodge was suddenly closed Sunday, Aug. 26, are among those awaiting a "reorganization" meeting scheduled at the lodge this Sunday at 1 p.m.
State Regional Director of The Moose Tom Woods hung up when reached by phone to clarify and comment about the issue.
Meanwhile a Facebook group called "Westfield Moose Lodge Concerned Members" has urged members to, "stop the madness that Moose International is letting happen to our lodge."
The Facebook page also gives contact information for various Moose executives and urges local members to communicate their unhappiness about the present situation.
The same page also asks members to contact Western New York media, but so far no one contacted consented to speak on the record.
Some members met Sunday, Sept. 2, at the Westfield Firemens' Exempt hall, but that meeting was announced as a private members only session.
All six local Moose officers were allegedly removed by the regional organization at the same time it locked the doors at the Clinton Street building. The regional office also allegedly removed local officers last November.
Information gathered indicates a local decision on a personnel matter is at least partly responsible for the present situation.
Local members, who spoke off the record, used the term "hostile take-over" to describe the actions of the regional Moose.
A recently removed officer noted that the Westfield lodge "is one of the wealthiest" in upstate New York. He noted the regional Moose has disagreed with some expenditures such as the remodeling of the lodge's kitchen. However, according to the same source, the remodeling was approved by a vote of the members.