Have you seen any of the variety of reality “makeover” shows on TV? Where an “expert” is brought in and by then end of the hour everything is radially transformed? Anything from people, restaurants, hotels, bars, salons, houses, and vehicles have been given the makeover treatment. Even though this is just television magic, there are also the real life scenarios that are used by organizations when they need a “facelift”. There are different ways to go about it, wealthy companies will hire a fancy consulting firm and pay them to figure out what needs to be done. The rest of us have to just our close friends to solicit advice from, but it comes down to doing taking a good hard look at ourselves.
There has been the need for a makeover for the Odd Fellows for a good long while. Most haven’t heard of us. Those who have either think that we are long gone or just a few old guys that hang out once a month. Sadly, that is the reality in many places, punctuated by the random Lodge here and there that is having a revival.
Everyone can agree that something needs to change, but too many are either afraid or unwilling to do the work to make it happen. I plan on doing a series of posts about different ideas for rebranding/reviving the Order. I don’t claim to have any or all of the answers, but I think it is worth throwing any ideas out there to get a conversation started. My ultimate goal is to help get members inspired and motivated enough to step up and make the positive changes happen with real results. This holding pattern of wait and see or lamenting that we need more members doesn’t create any specific plan to obtaining the goal.
Look at our past. During our first 100 years, we had a rapid explosion of growth and held enourmous public influence. Then two World Wars, the Great Depression, the rise of private insurance as well as Government sponsored programs, and changing social attitudes have taken the wind from our sails for most of the last century and our numbers have been on the decline for 80 years. That being said, I am going to say something that no one wants to hear.
We will never be what we once were. We need to honor and respect our past but also accept that those days are gone. Unless we decide to bring back member sick benefits and focus on crowd funded group insurance like we used to…but something tells me that isn’t the kind of business we would be able to get into in this day and age.
We have the foundations of greatness and the potential for even more. But we need to adjust our vision to see a different path. There are many waiting for us, any number will be successful. But we need to admit we have exhausted the current one and back up a moment to take the road less taken that has the greatest reward.
In FL& T
Ainslie Heilich
Tuscola #316
Tuscola, IL
Heart in Hand 
I agree with you, however I don’t see any suggestions on how to achieve these changes1
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Those are coming in future posts Jasper!
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I live near san francisco buildibg 7th and market ive study u and tbe cemetary site
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I agree with you… one thing we in Texas have been working on is exposure. Most of our lodges have websites now. Getting the lodges to use the web has been a challenge but we are getting there. see link for an example http://iooftxgarland304.weebly.com/texas-lodges.html
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A good website at the GL level is a must. I am on the Web Committee for the GL of IL and built their new website from ground up last year. http://IOOF-IL.org
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Mądre słowa Bracie !
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Hi Ainslee
You are so right….
Looking forward to your future posts
Im sure that we here in Europe Can get inspired as well
Rgds i FLT
Zofia
Lodge Andalucia no.1, Spain
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Thank you!
In FL&T
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I look forward to your future posts. There is much that needs to be done, and dwindling resources with which to do it. I am not actually a member, simply a concerned party who is proud of what the Oddfellows of the past managed to do and what may come in the future. Best of luck!
S.A. McKay
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Thank you! Be sure to subscribe to the blog and like the Facebook page to keep in the loop for future posts. Maybe someday you could join and take part in the revival yourself!
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Thank you for caring. But then again that is something that Odd Fellows do. I am lucky to call myself an Odd Fellow even though I am a woman. San Francisco based California #1 has taken women as members for several years. I am very proud of the many organizations & causes they have supported through the years. In friendship, love & truth.
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As a 30-something year old who just successfully got our local lodge reinstated with help from the Oregon GL, we are already battling members from other lodges who want to “help” us and direct our actions. We are some of the top young leaders in our community but are quickly getting discouraged by members of other lodges who can’t support a new way of participating in this valuable community service club. If you would like to chat more about this common goal of keeping IOOF relevant and alive in local communities, reach out! I’m the Noble Grand at Occidental Lodge #30 in McMinnville, Oregon. IOOFOccidental30@gmail.com
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I would love to hear more! Your path sounds very similar to mine and I am sure we have a lot share with each other. Please feel free to write something for the blog too! We need submissions from people just like you.
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I really liked you post.l am a 20 year memberSome of the comments were enlightining
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Thanks Brother! I just want to get a dialogue going mostly. You Sycamore boys and many of the other Lodges in your region are definitely doing something right. I hope to start doing some research into what others can learn from y’all.
In FL&T!
Ainslie
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