The Modern Odd Fellow's Guide
On this episode: Brother Darin Lahners gave our Lodge a educational segment during “The Good of the Order” to show how easily it can be incorporated into the meetings to make them a little more interesting and give the members the much needed education we need. No unwritten work is discussed in this video.
Read More The Ante Room: Ep 2. Lodge Education with Darin LahnersWe, and I mean everyone, has to be open to accept a disagreement about a tradition we hold dear. (We should not see this an attack on our person, well… unless it is clearly attack on you, but that would be unbecoming of an Odd Fellow for the attacker to do, right?) We should see the disagreement as a challenge to the value the tradition brings, and possibly only some refinement is needed.
Read More What’s so Important About Tradition? -by Billy SandersonThe best and most complete answer to this situation is found within the walls of our lodges. Odd Fellowship has its roots in the need of for self-preservation for the most vulnerable in society. The only means by
which early working families had of blunting the cruel torrents of life was by contributing to mutual aid groups like the Odd Fellows. In our lodges, they found stability in an unfeeling, unstable world. We provided a measure of comfort when difficult times arrived.
Toby Hanson Junior Past Grand Master Grand Lodge of Washington, IOOF Sovereign Grand Musician Independent Order of Odd Fellows Everything you’ve been reading up to this point has been preparing you for this moment when I reveal the deepest, most special, most closely-guarded secret of Odd Fellowship: how to save failing lodges. This is the […]
Read More How to Save Failing Lodges: Secrets Revealed – by Toby Hanson PGMHow to be an Odd Fellow – Protecting the Rights of Our Neighbors By Vanessa O’Connor Mountain View Lodge #244 The Odd Fellows empower members to support those most in need, providing a source of strength within the community. We have always welcomed and comforted those under duress, as it is part of our oath […]
Read More How to be an Odd Fellow – Protecting the Rights of Our Neighbors -by Vanessa O’ConnorOne is often given a solemn warning that he has joined an organization that is far more serious than the Candidate realizes and that their involvement in the Lodge and the Order will unravel the mystery of our beloved Order…Far too often though, this excitement which has been building up in the Candidate both before and after entering our Lodge all but fades after realizing that there is seldom any further discussion of the Ritual that they have participated in.
Read More Have You Started Your Inner Journey? -anonymousOn this episode: Ainslie Heilich interviews Lucas Hess, who is in the process of joining the Odd Fellows. He discusses his first impressions of the Odd Fellows, his reasons for wanting to join, and what he hopes to get out of the experience as a member of the LGBT community.
Read More The Ante Room: Ep. 1 Odd Fellow Interview with Lucas HessHeart in Hand: The Modern Odd Fellow’s Guide is proud to announce “The Ante Room”. A video series where we discuss all things “Odd” and interview members from all over the globe. If you have a topic idea you would like to see covered or want to be featured on the show, just send an […]
Read More COMING SOON: “The Ante Room” Video SeriesAnd then one day, the shared Odd Fellowship took hold of them. How can we make this a way to give back to our community? Brother Drew jumped right into the topic, “I’m thinking we should get serious about a Boxing Day swim and a pledge drive… When the topic hit the Facebook group, each one of these “sticks” jumped up to form a unified “bundle” to bring life to the idea.
Read More “Oddball” Polar Plunge in Victoria, BC – by Billy SandersonAll of us who have had any level of professional experience have sat
through meetings. At best, they can be productive and informative. At
worst, they can be mind-numbing. Since we all have to endure meetings
of various effectiveness in our professional lives, why would we ever
allow our lodges to hold sloppy, disorganized meetings? Such meetings
represent a disregard for members’ time and a disincentive for their
continued participation in the lodge.
Unlike other types of organizations, which may find it desirable to have a set of officers or leaders that varies little from year to year, in Odd Fellowship we see value in giving as many brothers and sisters as possible the chance to participate in leadership. While, the “desk officer” positions of Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary, and Treasurer do often remain with the same individuals from year to year, there also exist the “line offices” which comprise a series of steps leading up through Noble Grand which are designed to be switched every year as the members advance.
Read More Odd Fellowship is Progressive Part II by Michael Greenzeiger, GW CAMatisyahu, Tim McGraw, Drake, Michael Franti, singers from the musical Rent, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Rage Against the Machine, Queen, Luminaries, Black Eyed Peas, Craig Morgan, White Stripes, Aretha Franklin, Bo Diddley, Swedish House Mafia, Bob Dylan. OK folks, these are music videos that can get you thinking about being an Odd Fellow. Some are […]
Read More 17 Songs That Make You Think About Odd Fellowship