Ian Love-Jones is an educator, and a leader at both Golden Rule #28 and Peninsula #128 in Oregon. He is a published poet and the author of Three Links Hijinks: An Odd Fellow’s Joke Book.
Lodges are impressive miniature societies that have to do many things to stay successful.
We navigate the business of the building’s repair, finances, and utilities.
We create an atmosphere of trust through caring and kind behavior, so that real friendships can form and flourish.
We offer consistent support and encouragement to members in need.
We drive efforts to recruit, interview, initiate and develop new members for posterity.
We motivate members to maintain lodge hospitality, so a comfortable stage is set for fellowship beyond the business.
And lastly, we establish and preserve positive relationships with the community through consistent events, and outreach. That’s a lot of ingredients to measure!
Depending on the particular talents, interests, work-life schedules, and financial means of the membership, your lodge may excel in some of those areas more than others. There’s nothing wrong with a lodge that overwhelmingly shines in a few specific areas, but equilibrium is critical.
We needn’t be everything all at once, but it pays to be the right things at the right times.
A lodge that is strong internally but that does no outreach, also creates no new interest and risks passing away with its core membership.
A lodge that is a recruitment factory will not keep members unless internal discord is absent, and there is consistent creativity to hold member interest. Creative engagement makes lodge meetings feel less like a second shift, and more like a sanctuary.
So how best to create equilibrium?
Start with a foundation of safety and trust: People yearn for the bonds of friendship, and for spaces that offer respite from the darts and snares of daily life. It is your noble duty to treat one another with care. If your lodge can consistently offer that, you’ve built a solid foundation that members will happily and patiently build from.
Value difference: Different generations, trades, and lived experiences offer varied eyes to see the bigger picture, and varied skills to build the future.
Be observant: Our Order has many lodges that do many different things very well. Be curious, and look for inspiring examples of balance from your Odd kin.
Celebrate what’s working, and humbly acknowledge what isn’t: Celebrate your hard work, especially when it’s paying off! At the same time acknowledge (without judgement) when something is not working to your lodge’s benefit, and be willing to pivot.
Take heart: Seasons will change. Though your lodge may experience seasons of imbalance there is always the potential for positive restoration. Let your hope for the very best of the Order drive you to keep on contributing. Even when you don’t realize it, your dedication is someone else’s inspiration!
