BLUE GOOSE INTERNATIONAL

BAY STATE POND  -  Massachusetts

THE STORY OF BLUE GOOSE

By Lloyd Wallace

At the 1949 Grand Nest Convention, Seattle, Washington

“Loyal Grand Gander Trambath, and Chairman Harnam, of the Arizona Pond, it is needless for me to say that I am most happy to be here and am proud of the fact that, while I have lited away from the State of several years, our Home Nest selected me to be a Delegate to the Annual Meeting of the Blue Goose International to be held in Seattle, Washington.  I am also happy to meet my old friends here from the Home Nest — Dick Kensel, Al Larson, and Hub Wolf. 

The year 1906 was outstanding.  In one way a disaster and another way an event.  The disaster was the San Francisco earthquake.  The event was the birth of the Blue Goose.

I have been deeply impressed with the outstanding work done by the Women’s Auxiliary and the Seattle Pond has done heroic work to make this Convention the success that it is.  The Montana, Oregon, and Washington Ponds certainly have contributed much for the pleasures and comfort of all the Ganders.  I also want to compliment the team that put on the Model Initiation work.  It was nothing short of dramatic.  There was no sign of script and I think every Pond should patter after this method.

Well gang, that’s that!  I am told that you wanted to get the low down on the Blue Goose and the dope as to why and how this order came into being.  You asked for it, and your’re going to get it with no punches pulled.

It was the custom of the Wisconsin Trueman’s Club to hold its Annual Meeting the third week of June, and this year of 1906 was true to form.  The first night, as you know at a convention, is usually a pretty stormy one.  Someone's always there to rock the boat and then the morning after was just one of those days.  It was cold and rainy and we were assembled on the porch of the Oakwood Hotel at Green Lake, Wisconsin.  It was the morning of June 21st.  To be frank, all the boys had one of their proverbial hangovers and I think you Ganders know just what I am talking about. 

We were cussing each other and the weather.  When, like a bolt from the blue, Walter Atwater jumped up, says, “Fellows, I have just had a brain storm.”  He says, “I think it would be a good idea to organize a fake lodge for tonight for the benefit and please of all the insurance men here and put on an initiation and take in the newest member of the True Club as a candidate.”  So someone spoke up and said, “Well, we ought to have a name for this lodge,” and Carl Halbrick says, “Well, I’ve got a name, but I’d probably be thrown out of the place for suggesting it.”  So we says, “Well, let it come on.  It’s only for a joke anyhow — what’s in a name?” Well it seemed that there was plenty in this name.  Carl said, “You all remember that famous roadhouse or saloon, if you please, located just outside of Madison and frequented by the male student body of the University?  It’s known as the Blue Goose.”  Well, then the riot was on.  But, we had concluded what’s the difference.  It’s only for fun and the funnier it sounds to everybody, the more please they’ll all get out it.  So it was agreed, we would call it the Blue Goose Lodge and set the meeting for eight o’clock that night in the hall adjacent to the main hotel building. 

Walter Atwater said, “Well, you’ve got to have some kind of ritual.” So, I was appointed with one of the other boys to work out a ritual and, Ganders, today there are some of the same thoughts expressed word for word that was in that original ritual forty-years ago last June.  Those boys on the porch were Walter Atwater, Carl Halbrick, George Heller, Jr., Billy Golden, George Roberts and yours truly. 

The meeting was announced at the luncheon and at the evening dinner that there’d be a surprise meeting held in the hall at eight o’clock that night with all women barred.  Naturally, the women put up a howl.  But they were told they would be invited for refreshments after the meeting.  The hall was all setup in due form.  The same as it is today, with the American Flag on the right hand of the presiding officer, and incidentally, we appointed Walter Atwater to be the first Chairman of that memorable meeting.

At eight o’clock, Atwater called the meeting to order and he said, “Men of the insurance fraternity, we’ve decided to have a fake lodge meeting tonight so we might all enjoy what we think will be a surprise,” and he said, “I’m going to name the men to act as officers.”  He named Carl Halbrick as Junior Guide, George Heller as Senior guide, Billy Golden as Inner Guide, George Roberts as Outer Guard and referring to me, he said, “Lloyd Wallace, you take the usual place at the piano.”  And before he proceeded, he says, “I want to tell you men present that I declare you now, one and all charter members.”

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