Wisconsin OODDDDDD FFELLOWFEELLLLOOWW THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GRAND LODGE OF WISCONSIN I. O. O. F. Due , 2019 January 31 REPORT OF LODGE NO Fiiguregure iitt ooutut FOR TERM ENDING RECEIVED Grand Secretary VOL. LXXXVIII JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020 NO. 1 2 THE WISCONSIN ODD FELLOW JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 TO BE READ IN ALL ODD FELLOW LODGES: GRAND MASTER’S LETTER D ear Brothers and Sisters, January already, where is the time going. Now with the holidays over, there is no excuse for not working on getting new members. All it takes is to talk about Odd Fellows and ask people. Now for more FISHING stories. Seeing as it is cold and with ice on the lakes, there are still a few ways to do things to get and keep Odd Fellow’s name out in the public eye. One idea is to sponsor or help sponsor an Ice Fishing Derby. Have an ice fishing clinic on the free fishing weekend. No need to worry about fishing license then. How about a bus trip open to the public to go see the ice sculpting in Lake Geneva. Another idea if your lodge is more of the indoor type, how about having a cribbage or Euchre tourna - ment at your lodge. What about having a Valentine’s dinner or dance in February open to the public. These are just a few ideas for FISHING for Odd fellows. Maybe this will give you a different one to try. Keep FISHING for new members and, remember, there will be an award for the lodge with the highest percentage of member increase given away at Grand Lodge sessions in June. I am always looking for ideas on how we can improve our FISHING methods for a lodge or the whole Jurisdiction. Let’s work together to make Odd Fellows bigger and better than it is today. Until next month when there will be other Odd Fellow FISHING stories. In Friendship, Love and Truth, Grand Master, Jeffery Jones GRAND CHAPLAIN’S LETTER Hope Despite a Changing World lives in us, guiding our path, comforting us in loss and sorrow, salm 46: “God is our refuge and strength, a very and promising an eternal future of heavenly bliss. P present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, This changing world can be a scary place – especially for peo - though the earth be removed and though the mountains ple who trust in themselves. However, those who trust in God be carried into the midst of the sea.” can have hope and confidence because even in a chaotic envi - Where do you place your hope and security? If it is in ronment, He is the one constant. His word is always true, His government, financial markets, or education, you will power is absolute, and His promises are certain. Human institu - be disappointed. Our world is always changing. tions fail but with the Lord ruling the earth, all will be made Trusted governments fail, great economies falter, and right. strong institutions prove to be unstable. When such With acknowledging the impact and influence of God in the happens, people struggle with fear and insecurity. lives of our Odd Fellow members, we should be comfortable in The world, however, will not become more trustworthy. confronting change and social issues. Ever since the time of the tower of Babel (Gen. 11), Let us pray: We pray that You would put godly counsel in our people have been promising a better civilization, but no paths. Give me the courage to seek mentorship and disciple - man-made advance has permanently enhanced our ship. Do not let us depend on our own wisdom but on Yours lives. Certainly some institutions go through periods in and those wiser than us. Thank you, Lord, for bringing people which humanity is greatly benefited but ultimately any into my life to encourage me to draw near to You. In Your part of society that challenges God will not last. It is name, amen. because the talented and knowledgeable people involved are also sinful people. Greed, pride, and lust have brought about the downfall of many civilizations. Submitted in Friendship, Love, and Truth. Heidi Londo, Grand Chaplain Brilliant, charismatic leaders may claim to offer a better tomorrow but no man or woman is the solution to the world’s problems. Only the Lord can deliver on His promise of hope to those of us who trust in Him. He JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 THE WISCONSIN ODD FELLOW 3 Member Published monthly (except bi-monthly January-February and July-August) by the Grand Lodge of WiscTonsinh, Indeepe nWdent Oridesr ocf Oodd Fnellosws,i 1n304 S . OWebsdter Adve., GFreene Baly, lWoI 54w 301-2502. Publication no. I S S N 0745-3728, USPS 688420. Periodical postage paid at Green Bay. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Wisconsin Odd Fellow, 1304 S. Webster Ave., Green Bay, WI 54301-2502. WE DO NOT HOLD OURSELVES RESPONSIBLE for any views or opinions expressed in the communication of our correspondents. Joyce Proulx, Editor G r a n d L o d g e O f f i c e H o u r s : e-mail: [email protected] "Devoted to the 8 : 3 0 A . M . t o 3 : 0 0 P . M . Phone: (920) 406-9860 Interest of If you call before or after hours, ODD FELLOWSHIP" plea s e l e a v e a m e s s a g e s o w e c a n Single Subscription $14.00 per year “Promoting Odd Fellowship return your phone call. through positive communication.” GRAND SECRETARY'S LETTER Dear Brothers and Sisters, Happy New Year! It is hard to believe we are starting another year. I hope that all of you have a very happy and healthy New Year. I would like to remind the lodge secretaries that your Term Report is due January 31st. Please remember that the report is for the 2019 year. If you have a member who dies in January 2020, you still must pay the 2019 dues for them. Remember to put your non-contributing members on the pages where you list your members. You do not pay dues on them, but they are counted in your total membership. We have one young man from Columbus going on the Pilgrimage for Youth tour this year. His tour begins on June 30 and ends on July 13, 2020. All his paperwork and final fee must be in the Grand Lodge office by March 10, 2020. Remember to watch the Rose Parade and look for our float. A picture was on the cover of last month’s issue along with an article in the paper on page 11. In January we celebrate Thomas Wildey’s birthday on the 15th. Why not have a party for him? It would be a great way to introduce someone to Odd Fellowship. A reminder to all lodge secretaries that they should send in the new member form to the Grand Lodge office so that we can record your new members and they can start receiving The Wisconsin Odd Fellow and we can send the information into Sovereign Grand Lodge so that we get credit for all new members for the year. Sending the information with your term report does not allow for us to get credit from Sovereign Grand Lodge for the new members as they close the membership records in early January. Remember that this is your paper so send us news about your lodge, Odd Fellow or Rebekah, or Encampment or Canton. We would love to have more articles about what our lodges, encampments and cantons are doing. Until next time, In Friendship, Love and Truth, Joyce M. Proulx, Grand Secretary ODD FELLOW REBEKAH HOME OFRHA Personnel Present: Charlene Everett; Dan-a Kohn. ASSOCIATION INC Others present: Sharon Cunningham; Jody Tews; Tom Heins; REPORT FOR THE BOARD OF Doris Potratz President Loren Cunningham called the meeting to order at 8:05 DIRECTORS MEETING, a.m. The opening prayer was given by Mary Curtis. FOURTH QUARTER @ 8:05 A.M., Dick Proulx moved to approve the minutes of the August 10, OCTOBER 19, 2019 2019, meeting. Seconded by Pat Mott. Motion carried. CORPORATE OFFICE – CONFERENCE Human Resources Review ROOM Char pointed out that OFH has the benefit of having many Roll call of the Board of Directors: employees with longevity of service to the organization result - Board of Directors Present: Loren Cunningham, ing in knowledgeable and experienced staff providing care to President; Patricia Mott, Vice President; Denise Olsen, our residents. Secretary; Tom Reed; Jeffery Jones, Grand Master; We have been fortunate to be well-staffed in terms of our full- Richard Proulx; Ellen Tews; Mary Curtis. time staff. There has been difficulty finding employees to cover Associate Members: Present: Chuck Londo. Absent: the less desirable employment periods such as weekend night Dale Stevenson. Cont. on pg. 4, Col. 1 4 THE WISCONSIN ODD FELLOW JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 COMING EVENTS JANUARY MARCH - – Arthritis Month 1 Happy New Year! Watch for our float in the Rose 1 Deadline for articles for April The Wisconsin Odd Parade Fellow 11 Manor Board Meeting 8 Daylight savings time begins 15 Anniversary of the Birth of Thomas Wildey, 17 St. Patrick’s Day Founder of our Order 20 Spring Begins 20 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 23 Anniversary of the birthday of Schuyler Colfax, 21 Grand Trustees Meeting, 11:00 A.M., Madison author of the Rebekah Degree 24 Executive Committee Meeting, 5:30 P.M., Green APRIL - Living Legacy Month Bay 1 Deadline for articles for May The Wisconsin Odd 25 Home Association Meeting, 8:00 A.M., Green Fellow Bay 1 Deadline for Grand Lodge Scholarships 31 Last day for the Calendar Raffle 10 Good Friday 11 Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday FEBRUARY 12 Easter 1 Deadline for articles for March The Wisconsin 17 Passover Begins Odd Fellow 21 Grand Trustees Meeting, Madison, 11 A.M.