Volume 16, Issue 4 Independent Order of Odd Fellows News July—August 2013 Units of the Order Odd Fellows Lodge HAVE YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE TODAY? Rebekah Lodge Encampment SHARE ODD FELLOWSHIP WITH THOSE YOU COME Ladies IN CONTACT WITH. Encampment Auxiliary Patriarchs Militant You want to make a difference. I get it. We all do. Ladies Auxiliary Patriarchs Militant I know, I know, you don’t have the time. You don’t have the resources. Junior Odd You’re only one person. The excuses roll on and on. Fellows Lodge Here are some simple ways in which you can make a difference today; Theta Rho Girls’ certainly one of these ideas will fit your style. Club United Youth WARNING: Groups ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Upon finishing this article, your excuses on why you can’t make a The World difference will (may) disappear. Read at your own risk. of Odd Fellowship Start a Blog: We all have a message, and blogging is one of the most 1 Australia efficient ways to share it. Through the medium of blogging we can inspire 2 Belgium 3 Belize and educate hundreds, thousands, perhaps even millions of individuals all 4 Canada over the globe. My life has benefited tremendously from the hundreds of 5 Czech Republic blogs in which I have read. Share your story. Start blogging today. 6 Chile 7 Cuba Smile: Do I really need to explain this one? See how many times you can 8 Denmark 9 Dominican smile today. Republic 10 Estonia Hug: We all need hugs. Hugging instantly can change anyone’s day for the 11 Finland better. Try making it a habit to hug at least five people each day. Who 12 Germany knows, your hug could make someone’s day (assuming you’ve showered 13 Iceland 14 Mexico of course). 15 Netherlands, The 16 New Zealand 17 Nigeria (Continued on page 19) 18 Norway 19 Philippines 20 Poland Sovereign Grand Master’s Message 3 21 Spain 22 Sweden President - I.A.R.A. - Message 4 23 Switzerland General Commanding / President - I.A.L.A.P.M. - Messages 5 24 United Kingdom 25 USA Session Information 9-13 26 Uruguay Membership 20-24 Sympathy to: Celebrating the family of Joseph ‘Joe’ Larrison, husband of 180 years — Virginia Lodge PP-IARA Donna Larrison of Michigan—14 No. 1—West Virginia March 2013 175 years — Wildey Lodge the family of Gen. Robert R. Russell, GC-R 85- No. 5—Illinois 86, of Ohio—25 May 2013 160 years — Ansantawae the family of Wayne N. Reynolds, PSGM 95- Encampment No. 20 — 96, of Nevada—12 June 2013 Connecticut the family of Lady Evelyn D. Teft, PP 80-81, of Ontario—24 June 2013 100 years — Quinte Queen Rebekah Lodge No. 135— Suzy Robertson at The SGL office with the Ontario death of her mother. 100 years — Peaksville Lodge Needing Our Prayers No. 406—Virginia Betty Jane Elson, wife of PSGM Elson, NY Helen Wright, 100 years, North Carolina GR John Miller, CT Gen. John and Lady Agnes ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Sealey, GC-R & PP-IALAPM — 70th wedding anniversary Thank You: August 7, 2013 — South Dakota Lady Durea Russell for the many cards, calls and prayers at the time of Bob’s passing. George Glover for the may cards, calls and prayers during his recent surgery and rehab. I.O.O.F. News Harless Turner for the many cards, calls and prayers during my recent back surgery. Phone: 336-725-5955 Fax: 336-722-7317 E-Mail: [email protected] I.O.O.F. News is the official publication of the Inde- Notice: pendent Order of Odd Fellows. New Members are given a one year subscription to the I.O.O.F. News. Please Charles L. Renninger, Editor check the expiration on your paper and make The Sovereign Grand Lodge, I.O.O.F., Publisher. sure to continue your subscription by sending I.O.O.F. News is published bi-monthly at 422 Trade St. in the proper fee shown on the back of you NW, Winston-Salem, NC 27101-2830, U.S.A. paper. 2 - I.O.O.F. News — Vol. 16, Issue 4 Office of the Sovereign Grand Master Independent Order of Odd Fellows July 2013 Hello my Brothers and Sisters, In just a few weeks, the 187th Annual support the Brothers and Sisters of the District of Communication of The Sovereign Grand Lodge Columbia have given me over the past three years. will be held in Schaumburg, Illinois and my term as You have gone above and beyond the call of duty to Sovereign Grand Master will come to an end. make my year as Sovereign Grand Master Serving as Sovereign Grand Master has been an memorable. I thank you for that support and honor and privilege I will never forget. I could not cherish your friendship. I especially thank Past have reached this high office or performed my Sovereign Grand Master Harry Lohman for your duties as Sovereign Grand Master without the help advice and for the many trips you made to shuttle of many Brothers and Sisters to whom I will always me to and from airports. be grateful. I also thank Sister Brenda Read for serving First I wish to thank the heads of the other as my escort over the past three years and for being branches of the Order, Sister Laura Argue, a sounding board when times got tough. President of the International Association of Over the past three years, I have had the Rebekah Assemblies, General Jerald T. Sarnes, opportunity to visit many jurisdictions and meet General Commanding of the General Military many Brothers and Sisters throughout the world. Council, and Lady Linda Fogelsonger, President of To those I have met along the way, thank you for the International Association for their support, help, making me welcome and for the work you do in counsel, friendship, and love. I could not have had your jurisdictions. Your continued support and better partners over the last three years to help grow commitment to the Order is essential to the future the Order and Make a Difference. I will also of the Order. cherish the bond we have formed. Each of you will I look forward to seeing many of you in also hold a special place in my heart. Schaumberg. Until then, I again urge you to ‘MAKE I also thank my officers for agreeing to A DIFFERENCE, TO CHERISH YESTERDAY, LIVE serve this year. I will always have fond memories TODAY AND DREAM TOMORROW, TO BRIDGE THE of our time together and will be forever grateful for GAP, AND TO COMMUNICATE’. the personal sacrifices each of you made to take time out of your life to serve as an officer of the Yours in F. L. T., Sovereign Grand Lodge. I commend you for your commitment and dedication to the Order. I especially thank Deputy Sovereign Grand Master Charles L. Renninger Bob Smith, Sovereign Grand Warden Jimmy Sovereign Grand Master Humphrey, Sovereign Grand Secretary Terry Independent Order of Odd Fellows Barrett, and Sovereign Grand Treasurer Harless Turner for your advice and assistance during the year. I am also thankful for the overwhelming MAKE A DIFFERENCE “WE SEEK TO IMPROVE AND ELEVATE THE CHARACTER OF MAN” Vol. 16, Issue 4 — I.O.O.F. News - 3 Office of the President International Association of Rebekah Assemblies I.O.O.F. July 2013 Dear Sisters and Brothers, If we take the words of one of my favourite It is hard to believe how quickly these past songs “Have Faith, Hope and Charity, that’s three years have flown by, I know everyone the way to live successfully” to heart, we will says that as you grow older the times goes by be able to “Make a Difference” not only to quicker, but someone should install speed those around us, but to ourselves as well. The bumps or least of all speed limits to allow us following verse speaks volumes about making to do everything we have on our wish list. a difference. It seems like only yesterday I was installed as If you want to be happy, then start right away Warden, then Vice-President, then President Doing one kindness for someone today. and in a few short days I will relinquish my Scatter some sunshine, forget about self position as President to my successor. It has And put all your worries away on the shelf been a wonderful journey. I have met so many If you want to be happy, just begin to be glad Keep thinking of others and never be sad. wonderful Odd Fellows and Rebekahs along Don’t wait till tomorrow but start right away this road and picked up so many beautiful Just doing one kindness for someone today! remembrances to paste in my ‘book of memories’. Hugs to all until we meet along the way - remember - For fear of missing someone or some jurisdiction I will say to everyone “Thank You, ♪♪♪ “Always keep a song in your Heart” ♪♪♪ Thank You, you are the greatest”. Fraternally, August is just around the corner and the time th for the 97 Annual Sessions of the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies in Schaumberg, Illinois will be Laura Argue here. Chuck, Gerald, Linda and I invite you to President come “Celebrate what’s Right with our Order as we Cherish Yesterday, Live Today, Dream Tomorrow and Bridge the Gap with Communication”. Have you made plans to join us? The local committee is working hard to prepare for this event so we hope you will be able to attend. Cherish Yesterday, Live Today, Dream Tomorrow! 4 - I.O.O.F.