REPRESENT

Are you representing the Order?

I heard a podcast about IOOF the other night where someone estimated that we have fewer than 50,000 members left in the United States. I believe I read information from the Dedicated Members for Change where they estimated we have even fewer members left in the US. I know my jurisdiction has fewer than 300 members and that’s not increasing much.

I am unsure if this past August, SGL put a plan in place with clear benchmarks to encourage recruitment. A couple of months back Heart In Hand posted a list of 21 jurisdictions that do not have websites. I am unsure if SGL has put a plan in place to remedy this situation. We remain hopeful.

I’m no statistician. But it looks like we need to clear a minimum of 5000 people nationwide above our losses each year. 10,000 would be better of course. Does anyone see this happening in the future? If so, how? If not, why not? Our Masonic friends are around a million (http://bessel.org/masstats.htm)–are we content to allow ourselves to fall by the wayside this way?

You as a member of the Order can have an amazing effect upon other people’s knowledge of Odd Fellowship. Do you ever talk about the Order to others and tell them about the things we do? Below is a list of 60 questions that will lead you to see how many people in your personal life you can mention the Order to (possibly a couple of hundred). Make a list of these people. And make it A POINT to mention Odd Fellowship to each of them. You don’t have to recruit them, necessarily. But just mention Odd Fellows. You can say “I was at the lodge the other night and…” or “I’m headed over to an ‘Oddie’s’ house later…” or “I know an Odd Fellow that…” All you do is just mention it in conversation so that others know we’re an option if they want to join.

Following is a list of questions that can identify people you can mention Odd Fellowship to. I challenge you to present this list of questions to members at the next lodge meeting. Then follow up with members at the next meeting to see who they’ve spoken with about the Order. (Feel free to copy and paste)

Here are the questions:

1. What are the names of the members of your family?
2. What are the names of your spouse’s family?
3. What are the names of your “extended” family?
4. What is the name of your best friend?
5. What is the name of your spouse’s best friend?
6. What are the names of your very close friends?
7. What are the names of your spouse’s very close friends?
8. What are the names of your children’s friends’ parents?
9. What are your children’s teachers’ names?
10. What are your children’s coaches’ names?
11. What are your children’s principals’ names?
12. What are your children’s dentists’ names?
13. What are your children’s doctors’ names?
14. What are your children’s optometrists’ names?
15. Who cuts your children’s hair?
16. Who sells you your children’s clothes?
17. Who is on the PTA Board at your children’s school?
18. Who is your children’s Sunday school teacher?
19. Who cuts your hair?
20. Who does your dry cleaning?
21. Who does your pedicures, manicures, facials?
22. Who do you purchase gasoline from?
23. Who services your car(s)?
24. Who do you buy tires from?
25. Who sold you your current car(s)?
26. Who have you purchased cars from in the past?
27. Who cleans your car(s)?
28. Who is your mailman?
29. Who do you know at your church?
30. Who do you see at the convenience store you most often go to?

Next, add every customer you’ve ever had.  Add the neighbors. Add old business colleagues.

31. Who is your pharmacist?
32. Who is your doctor?
33. Who is your spouses doctor?
34. Who is your pastor, minister, priest, rabbi?
35. Who is your stock broker?
36. Who prepares your taxes?
37. Who is your veterinarian?
38. Who owns your favorite restaurant?
39. Who waits on you at your favorite restaurant?
40. Who do you play golf with?
41. Who do you talk to at your health club?
42. Who do you go to the movies with?
43. Who do you go to breakfast with?
44. Who is your attorney?
45. Who would you call if you have air conditioning problems?
46. Who is your pest control person?
47. Who is your electrician?
48. Who mows your lawn?
49. Who is your insurance agent?
50. Who did you get your tattoo from?
51. Who changes your oil?
52. Who do you see at your office building?
53. Who do you buy hardware from?
54. Who are your local politicians?
55. Who are your old teachers?
56. Are your old college buddies till around?
57. Who are your neighbors?
58. What are the names of your parent’s best friends?
59. What are the names of your spouse’s co-workers?
60. Who are the vendors and suppliers who visit your workplace?

Also, feel free to recommend our blog to them, if you think it will encourage them to join up.

Scott, your Conductor

Scott Moye is an award winning history educator and collector of Arkansas folklore. He grew up on a cotton farm and is currently a  museum worker. Hobbies include: old house restoration, writing, amateur radio, Irish traditional music, archery, craft beer, old spooky movies, and street performance.  He is a member of Marshall Lodge #1, in Marshall, Arkansas.