The Initiatory Degree: A Love Story- By Michael Greenzeiger PGM (CA)

I decided that it was time to restore the Initiatory Degree to its rightful place as a shining jewel in the diadem of Odd Fellowship. In this, I enlisted the help of my other love, my wife Linnea who is my partner in Odd Fellowship as in my life… We searched far and wide and got our hands on every versions of the Initiatory Degree we could put our hands on.

1954-55 GL of OH Official Guide for DDGMs and School of Instruction

I recently picked up this little guide book on eBay. I love buying old IOOF pamphlets and booklets mostly because I can build my library of visual elements that might come in handy. Sometimes the content is the same information we already have access to, but sometimes I get lucky and the content is worth sharing.

This is one of those lucky finds. The explanations of duties are clearly written and very informative and there is a bonus detailed “Charter Draping Ceremony”.

Burying the Dead- by Kaitlyn L. Osman

In the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF), we have several mission statements. The one I am personally drawn to the most is “Bury the Dead.” In modern times, this mission has somewhat fallen wayside. However, I believe by using the international Odd Fellows platform to help spread awareness about the importance of burying the dead, as well as utilizing all the modern options available, we could completely revolutionize the death industry.

Rethinking Role of Chaplain -by Billy Sanderson and Eric Bramble

Brother Eric Bramble is perfectly positioned to use his special personality and FLT tuned mind in role of Chaplain…When he finishes his devotion to the principles of Friendship, Love and Truth is so strong, and crystal clear that there are moments when his own emotions strike him in the heart producing a flutter in his voice followed an “Amen” shouted by a brother in the room.

How to Run A Lodge Meeting – by Toby Hanson, PGM, PGP

We’ve all attended lodge meetings that were slow, boring, meandering, and pointless. Nothing kills the desire of members to participate in meetings faster than having to sit through terrible, formless meetings with seemingly no reason to be there. Having been through that very same experience too many times myself, I decided to gather some sources and put together a guide to how a lodge meeting should be run.

The Ante Room: Ep 5, The Odd Fellows’ Primer (extended cut from The Three Links Odd Cast)

On this episode: Extended Interview from the S2Ep4 of The Three Links Odd Cast. Brother Toby Hanson leads the discussion about the exciting book that Michael Greenzeiger and Ainslie Heilich created together.

Religion and Odd Fellowship -by Toby Hanson, PGM, PGP

The end result of all of this is that Odd Fellowship is left in a kind of middle ground. For some, the secrecy of our operations is reason enough to raise suspicions of our activities. For others, our religious inclusion makes us unsuitable. For still others, there’s already too much inclusion of religion within Odd Fellowship. We’re non-political and non-sectarian. You can support the political philosophy of your choice and worship in the way that suits your conscience and still be an Odd Fellow.

Ainslie talks Odd Fellows at the Masonic Symposium

Ainslie discusses bringing back Tuscola #316 after being closed since the early 1950’s and what younger generations are actually looking for as a fraternal experience versus what older members may falsely have assumed. Grab some tea, because Ainslie likes to talk. Filmed and edited by Bro. Greg Knott

Do We REALLY Want New Members? -by Toby Hanson, PGM, PGP

All of us would agree that we say we want members, but when those members do actually join, what kind of experience are we giving them? Are we treating them in a way that shows them that we appreciate them? We do a pretty good job of selling the ideal of Odd Fellowship: a universal brotherhood where we meet together regularly in active, interesting lodges with meaningful rituals and tasteful regalia…However, we need to be honest with ourselves about whether that’s actually the experience we’re offering potential members when they make the commitment to be Odd Fellows.

New Arrangements of the Odes- by Toby Hanson, Sovereign Grand Musician

I have prepared fresh arrangements of the opening and closing odes for the Odd Fellows, Rebekahs, and Encampment. They are written in a clear, accessible style that will be easy for pianists to read and singers to follow. There are introductions to each ode so that singers can find the key and know when to begin singing. Knowing that there is a greater diversity of musicians in Odd Fellowship than just pianists, I have also included a melody line with chords so that guitarists and players of other chordal instruments can easily read along and accompany singing.

NEW PODCAST! The Three Links Odd Cast!

Odd Fellowship is about to make a major stride into the Twenty-first Century with the launch of The Three Links Odd Cast, the first major podcast focused on the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Hosted by Sovereign Grand Musician Toby Hanson, SGL Communications Committee member Ainslie Heilich, and Brother Sergio Paredes, the podcast will feature discussion of various topics of interest to Odd Fellows including history, origins, traditions, current situations, and others. The format of the podcast is a guided discussion with each episode having a particular focus. For the first episode, the hosts discussed their experiences in joining the Odd Fellows and shared observations on the process.

Using Arts Events to Connect to Your Community – by Toby Hanson

There are many different kinds of arts events that lodges can participate in. They can host concerts, lectures, dance recitals, art shows, plays, and many others. If your town has an Art Walk near your lodge hall, you can become a host and bring artists into your lodge to display their work on Art Walk nights. This also gives an opportunity to have members on hand to answer questions about Odd Fellowship.