Our Moose Lodge, though small (less than 250 members), is very active in fulfilling our mission of helping others.  Through our contributions to our national organization's charities - dedicated to caring for both the youth and elderly, to our commitment to our community, we have been successful in increasing our financial support for those in need.  To accomplish this, we depend greatly on the revenue we earn through legal gaming.  We operate as frugally as possible, even trying to run our social quarters and kitchen with a fully volunteer staff, but that has proven to be untenable.  Since deciding to pay employees for these services, our revenue has increased. The old adage is true; "to make money, you must spend money."  Since our social quarters, and particularly our kitchen has been manned with paid employees, our financial ability to support our charitable activities has been greatly enhanced. Our membership has increased as well - making our involvement with our community even more significant.  It will be impossible to continue our growth, and its pursuant positive impact on our charitable donations of both time and money, if we are forced to surrender more than 30% of our gaming income to the state.  IF we are no longer able to pay for our employees through gaming revenues, we would not have the funds needed to employ them, limiting our ability to fulfill our charitable goals even more.  Simply put, the new regulations could destroy our lodge, and many others like us.  Please consider the negative impact of the proposals as they now stand would have on charitable groups like ours.