7.26.2005

SOS Children's Villages - A Waste?

I was looking at the SOS Children's Vilage website the other day, andI did find the village that is supposed to be the Odd Fellows Village.I can't remember the name, just that it is near the Thailand border in Cambodia.

I couldn't find any mention of it being supported by the IOOF on the website. I don't know much about the organization or how much funding we are donating to it? I do have the hunch that most of the IOOF's funding sent to the project comes from our European Members.

It does seem to me that we should get some credit for our part in
this. I know that the all-seeing eye of God sees everything we do,
but shouldn't we toot our own horn?

In my opinion, if our assistance to the SOS organization is so small
that we aren't appreciated, why should we waste funds on a few kids in a country that most Americans have never heard of?

Couldn't we better use this money to promote our order? If I was in
control of the money, the first thing I would do is hire some book
authors, motivational speakers, webmasters-tech guys, and public
relation experts.

If we could find the right people to do these things, this Order could get some attention. They wouldn't even have to be experts, just out-of-work folks. There are probably thousands of authors, who can't get their own books published, but would love to get paid to write a book that further developed the principles of Odd Fellowship for the 21st Century. Every Sunday in America there are thousands of Pastors who have a different sermon for their churches. Any great ones coming out about Odd Fellowship? You can hire an Indian or Pakistani to design an exciting website for cheap. How about a computerized centralized management system that could do away with the need for Grand Lodges and their Secretary's salaries?

We clearly aren't getting much from SGL now. What are they doing? Do they care? Do the members care?

7.13.2005

Odd Fellows hall: a Lompoc mystery

On the way to work or school every day, you might see the large building at the southwest corner of South H Street and West Ocean Avenue. A street level antique store occupies the bottom floor, but what's on the upper floors?

On Friday, the answer to that mystery will be available to the community.

Odd Fellows hall: a Lompoc mystery

7.12.2005


If anyone happens to be interested, I have a few of these ball caps left. They aren't too shabby. They are also a lower profile, something that is actually worn by people that aren't older, rural farmers. (If you don't count the current fad for trucker hats) If you want one they are $20.00, shipping included, to "anywhere" in the US and Canada. Just email me about payment options. The ones I have are all black, but similar to the photo. I will try to post another photo here soon. If you have any style suggestions, let me know.

7.08.2005

Saving A Home--for our Noble Grand

Not much has caught my interest in the last few days. In my small town of West Plains, it doesn't take too much to make the news. Here is an article from our local paper, about our Noble Grand's new house:

Hint: I can't wait till he gets moved in. He will be much closer to the lodge, and we can really put him to work.



SAVING A HOME – This house at 417 Broadway will be moved soon, according to its new owner, John Cochran of West Plains. He told The Quill the building was given to him by the property owners, West Plains Savings and Loan, and he is paying all costs to have it moved to property he owns on Eighth Street. Cochran, who owns Red Apple Grill, has a home out-of-town and is looking forward to having this home closer to work. In December 2004, West Plains Savings and Loan Managing Officer Jack Doss reported the bank would be moving from its current location at 10 Court Square to the Broadway property, purchased from Pete and Melinda Harris. “It would have been a tragedy if this home was torn down,” Cochran said. “It is amazing.” Many large trees in the yard have been cut. Cochran said two cranes will remove the roof, and the bottom floor of the house will be moved to Eighth Street first, followed by the second and third stories. The second story will receive the most damage in the move, he added, and he plans to remodel that section. (Quill/Wilson)

7.05.2005

Odd Fellow News, Tuesday, 7.05

Net phones hit the wall

Australian IT - Australia

IOOF Investment Management has spent $500,000 on internet protocol telephony over the past two years, expecting to save $100,000 annually in call costs. ...

Aust Unity eyes listing


July 6, 2005

Diversified health insurer Australian Unity will consider demutualising and listing in the wake of advances from Macquarie Bank and others, in a potential initial public offering that could mirror the investor fervour surrounding 2003's lucrative float of former mutual IOOF.

Stories, laughter highlight last reunion

The faces were familiar but inevitably changed. Even after the passage of 60 years, old friends recognized Hazel Takacs at the 100th reunion of the IOOF orphans.

7.04.2005

Odd Fellows News

Area students receive awards; Odd Fellows place wreath on tomb
Gainesville Times

- Gainesville,GA,USA
... Heads of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for the State of Georgia participated in a national ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington ...


Odd Fellows Give Grants To LaChance, Whipple

Mystic The Odd Fellows Lodge No. ,

TheDay.com
7/4/2005


Lions complete first phase of park renovation

... the capital improvement fund was a $5,000 donation from Odd Fellows Lodge 169, which was used to install a new sidewalk ...

Observer-Reporter
7/3/2005

7.02.2005

Downsizing

The Odd Fellows

I haven't posted for a while now. Recently Don Lang of the California Jurisdiction enlightened the Odd Fellows IOOF Yahoo Group on the current membership numbers.

In North America, we have aproximately 50,000 Members. There are now less than 2,000 Lodges. First of all, we should remember that many of these members, a high percentage, are very old and feeble. Secondly, many of these lodges exist in name and charter only. I am wouldn't be surprised if over a third of our lodges don't meet regularly and are only attempting to keep their property from falling into Grand Lodges hands.

The reason I make this point is that I believe we have too many Offices to fill. I don't even want to count the number of positions in our degree rituals. But look at our regular meetings. The Officers: Noble Grand, NG Left Supporter, NG Right Supporter, Vice Grand, VG LS, VG RS, Past Grand, Chaplain, Conductor, Musician, Warden, Colour Bearer, Outside Guardian, Inside Guardian, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Secretary. How many is that? 17. OK, let's be fair and lose a few. Musician, and Colour Bearer. Down to 15. I don't know of many lodges that actually have them. Now let's lose the Right and Left Supporters to the Noble Grand and Vice Grand. Now were down to 13. OK, Do we really need an Inside and Outside Guardian? Down to 12. Financial Secretary? 11.

We have positions for 19 in our lodges. The average lodge has 25 members. From what I have been told, in most organizations, 10% of your membership will show up for meetings. (My Elks gets about 7% and my church gets about 4%) These numbers simply don't add up.

In the Odd Fellows, the people that pay their dues and stick around like the waythings are. The rest, well they aren't around. That is why we have small lodges that have as high as 50% turn outs at meetings.

If this were a business, and it is-sort-of; the first thing I would do as Chairman, is purge the rolls of so many offices.

There is very little reason that I can see to have Supporters for the Noble and Vice Grand. What do they do? Are they really that honored to sit beside out Grand Poobah? Now let's lose the Guardians. Most lodges can't beg people to come to a meeting, why are we trying to guard the door? I really don't think we need a Colour Bearer and the Musician is optional. Cut out the Financial Secretary, my lodge did. Most lodge's have pretty simple bookwork, there isn't much to record.

My version of the Officers would be only 5, plus the Treasurer and Secretary. I am not sure if we really need them either. As most lodge rooms are square with four walls, it does make sense to have an Officer on each side. I don't think we should have a Past Grand, let's change the title.

It just makes sense. Almost every corporation has downsized. The Odd Fellows has only a small fraction of the membership it once had. Why do we have to have such a large roll of Officers? With only 25 members in the average lodge it takes 70% of the membership to fill the offices. If we only used 7 Officers, it would still take 30%. If only more Odd Fellows could comprehend numbers...