HOW WE “BURIED THE DEAD” IN 1880

Our fraternal order has traditionally buried the dead. Even though we don’t do this to the extent we used to, we still conduct funeral ceremonies for our recently departed. I’ve also heard of a lodge somewhere that used to supply pall bearers simply out of respect for a deceased person who may have died alone […]

IOOF Ciphers designed by Ainslie Heilich

For a long time I have been a fan of Turbayne’s “Monograms and Ciphers” book so I was inspired to make some IOOF related ones. These are free for any Odd Fellow or Lodge to use for the Good of the Order so long as it is not for personal profit. If you are using these for a shirt I would love it if one was sent my way.

Odd Fellows of Today: Our first VLOG!

Check out our first VLOG! If this goes well we would like to do more videos and vlogs to supplement our written content. Let us know what you think and subscribe to the channel for more!

Ainslie Heilich and Jenn Sereno sit down and chat about their experiences as active members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The conversation spans a big span of topics from getting new members, putting on events, community outreach, the value of learning from long time members, and the future of the IOOF.

How to Promote Your Lodge – by Toby Hanson, GM

The easiest way to share the story of Odd Fellowship is person-to-person. When the grocery checker asks if you have any plans tonight, you can answer her by saying that you’re going to your lodge meeting. That’s a great opener for talking Odd Fellowship because it always leads to a question about the lodge. Wearing an identifying piece of clothing like a hat or shirt is another great way to prompt questions about Odd Fellowship. Make sure that you’re able to give a concise, accurate answer when the question comes up…

How AMC Installed a Lodge in Every TV in America, & We Missed It -by Ryan Sumner

I didn’t even realize the show existed, until we were several episodes into the season. I was shocked,”How did we not hear about this? How were Lodges not involved in the marketing? How did our Grand Lodge not notify us of it? Every great movement in history always has echoes in art, fashion, media and lifestyle. The West is in the midst of a revival in Fraternal Orders and we must capitalize on the awareness and exposure!” I had to check it out.

Ainslie Heilich talks ODD on Local News

“We found all this great, old regalia that was hidden up in the crawlspace … Almost like National Treasure, it’s like you start down a path of little bread crumbs and it just kinda ropes you in further and further … and here we are,” says Heilich.

Odd Fellows’ Code of Ethics -By Louie Blake Sarmiento

Odd Fellows’ Code of Ethics By Louie Blake Sarmiento, M.A. Odd Fellows believe in a Supreme Being. They base their thoughts and actions on healthy philosophical principles. They know that life on earth is temporary. They are aware of the vanity of earthly things, the frailty and inevitable decay of human life and the fact […]

Reflections on Being an LGBT+ Odd Fellow.

I would like to think that part of my personal growth through that transition could be attributed to the philosophical lessons our Order teaches and how they can be used as a member of the LGBT+ community. At the end of this piece you will find my interpretation of the Degrees through the lens of the LGBT+ experience.

Excerpts from DDGM Instruction Manual – by Michael Greenzeiger

Beyond our core principles, there are infinite possibilities for how a lodge can be. One may think of it as a platform for holding whatever social, fraternal, or service activities fit the desires and interests of its members – so long as those activities are in harmony with our principles. Lodges have been successful in many different ways: through shared meals and parties, through putting on activities, through sharing in hobbies, through serving the local community in whatever capacity, through raising money to give to good causes, through practicing and performing the Ritual of the Order, through studying the deeper meanings of Odd Fellowship and its rituals, or through engaging with our history.

I.O.O.F. YOUTH: IS THERE HOPE FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUTH BRANCHES? By Louie Blake S. Sarmiento

Many of the dedicated leaders in the Odd Fellows and Rebekah Lodges today began as members of these youth branches. Regretfully, the youth groups under the I.O.O.F. failed to grow and develop into an international youth organization. There are many reasons. One is presumably because the I.O.O.F. in the continents of Europe, North America and Australia failed to coordinate with each other to form one cohesive international youth organization.

Communication Breakdown – by Seth Anthony

Let’s face it, with the average age of our membership, the most effective method to reach all of the Odd Fellows in Sovereign Grand Lodge is through a paper publication. It’s the single best way our leadership has to communicate to all of members. Yet, I’m willing to bet the vast majority of our Brothers and Sisters opt out of this communications device by choosing to not re-subscribe. By doing so, they are choosing to turn off communications with our national leadership, which in turn disconnects them from the fraternity.

Where is Your Lodge’s Focus – by Toby Hanson DGM

Since I joined the Executive Committee of the Grand Lodge of Washington upon my election as Grand Warden, I’ve had the opportunity to do a lot of traveling and visiting lodges in my jurisdiction. The experience has taught me a lot about the workings of various different lodges. One of the most important things I’ve picked up in my travels is that some lodges tend to have more of an internal focus and some have more of an external focus.