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.

Why I Joined -by Sergio Paredes

With the rise of Wi-Fi and mobile smart phones came the decline of in-person friendships and authentic human contact. I didn’t know what had happened until I found myself wondering what was missing. At one point I thought it was my career. Then 2008 came and I lost the job I saw providing something I thought I wanted but didn’t need. Then life took my attention as family and work took over my schedule. So I continued to go about still wondering why I just couldn’t find that sense of fulfillment. No matter how many friends or followers I had on social media, every time I looked back there was no one there. As my schedule slowly opened up I was able to use my biggest distraction to my advantage: I Googled fraternities.

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.

Members Have Needs Too – by Billy Sanderson

Prior to joining Odd Fellows, I realized that I was unhappy with certain parts of my life, and at the time I found hard to articulate what these parts were. When I look at the hierarchy today, I estimate that I was not having my “Belongingness” and “Esteem” needs fulfilled by everyday and work life until I joined. As leaders in our lodges, we can easily be aware of Members who are striving for more. They are saying or act like they are “all-in”, or they “can’t get enough”. We can see it in their enthusiastic participation in meetings or events. These members can get our attention for “moving up” to become officers and mentors for new members.

Second New Podcast! Modern Goat Rider

The landscape for Odd Fellows podcasts has been baren for too long! If you have been searching for information about Odd Fellows or how to live a life full of Oddfellowship, then this podcast is ready for your discovery. Brother Billy Sanderson and Brother Josh Miller discuss life inside and outside of Odd Fellows. When joined by guests their view of Odd Fellows around the world expands. Subscribe and listen to join them on the journey.

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.

First Ever GUOOF International Online Meeting

With the blessings of the Committee of Management IN America and Jurisdiction; as well as the District Grand Lodge of Georgia with St James 1455 hosting… This is uncut. This is the first online meeting of its kind… EVER with members from around the world. 05/17/2020. This has involvement from members of the USA, Ghana, and Bahamas. Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Nigeria will be on the next call along with the sisters of House Hold Of Ruth. This is truly a historic event.

The Ante Room: Ep 4, Tour of Tuscola Odd Fellows Lodge #316 with Ainslie Heilich

On this episode: Brother Ainslie Heilich shows off his unusual living arrangement of sharing living quarters with an active Lodge. Take a tour of the apartment and Tuscola Lodge #316. Lots of antiques and oddities to see.

A Remembrance of Mutual Relief – by Michael Greenzeiger, GW CA

Our forebearers in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows knew that the acts of love and compassion we performed were at the center of our collective identity and were the secret to our growth and success. Somehow, though, we have become increasingly distant from these noble ends and our Order has paid the price, becoming a mere shadow of its former self in terms of size and vibrancy. It didn’t happen all at once, but rather bit by bit until we have found ourselves in a place where many members don’t even know what our aims and principles are, let alone work to carry them out in their communities.

The Ante Room: Ep 2. Lodge Education with Darin Lahners

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.

Have You Started Your Inner Journey? -anonymous

One 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.

COMING SOON: “The Ante Room” Video Series

Heart 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 […]