Dear Dedicated Members for Change,
For the past 15 years, I have published this DMC Newsletter for the benefit of Odd Fellows throughout the United States, Canada, and around the world. Our voluntary DMC Newsletter email list includes hundreds of brothers and sisters from many jurisdictions. The central message of these newsletters has always been to focus on the reasons for the decline of our membership over the past decades and to suggest ways that Lodges can change that sad paradigm and grow again.
The Lodge I know the best is, of course, my own Lodge: Davis Lodge #169 in Davis, California. I don't mean to toot my local horn, but to the extent this can be helpful or instructive to other, I will note that my Lodge has shown a net gain in membership, year after year without fail, for the past 20 years. Twenty years ago, my Lodge had less than 30 members; today our membership is close to 400. This year - 2024 - we will again show a net gain in our membership. How did we do it? Here is the secret sauce: We are a three-dimensional Lodge which focuses on (1) the codes, rules, and traditions which make us unique as Odd Fellows; (2) active outreach and involvement in our community; and (3) a diverse and wide-ranging social life for the members. The best example of all those things is our Lodge's electronic newsletter ("Odds and Ends") which is emailed to all members and applicants (we call them "pledges") every Saturday morning. Following is a recent example of our newsletter.
I send it along to Dedicated Members for Change because it may give you some food for thought - ideas that might work in your Lodge.
F - L - T
Dave Rosenberg
Past Grand Master
Jurisdiction of California
Odds and Ends
News from Odd Fellows Lodge #169 in Davis, California
October 12, 2024
Odds and Ends is published every Saturday. Items of interest should be sent to OddsandEnds@davislodge.org no later than Thursday at noon. If you would like a copy of our guidelines, please click this link: Odds and Ends Guidelines.
Teresa Maeread Jamison
We are saddened to report that long-time member Teresa passed away on Saturday, October 5, 2024. Her funeral is today at 2:00 at St. James Church on B Street in Davis. Details regarding her funeral and other information can be found here: https://www.smith-funerals.com/obituaries/teresa-jamison.
TODAY!
It’s the Second Saturday Breakfast and Lodge Meetings
Breakfast – Doors open at 8:45 am. Breakfast (FREE) begins at 9:00.
Odd Fellows Lodge Meeting – This social meeting (open to all) begins at 9:31.
Davis Encampment –The social meeting (open to all) begins about 11:00 am, or 10 minutes after the Lodge meeting ends.
BINGO!
The month of October brings BINGO with Team Davis as the beneficiary! There are special games throughout the afternoon with cash prizes up to $250!
Come and play with us.
Classic Film Festival
Did you mark your calendar for the fall Classic Film Festival? This year’s theme is Classic 1960’s Heist movies. Davis Enterprise Film Critic Derrick Bang will appear after each film with commentary and will answer questions from the audience. The doors open at 6:29 pm with the show beginning at 7:01 pm. Admission is free and so is the popcorn! You can purchase soda, wine, or beer to enjoy during the show.
- TOMORROW – The Thomas Crown Affair
- Sunday, October 20 – How to Steal a Million
Oddtoberfest was Wunderbar!
This annual event was very well attended! Those who came were treated to both meat-based and plant-based brats, sauerkraut, German potato salad, beer, and more! There was, of course, the beer stein-holding contest, won by Wendi Weitzel and Paul Ghiglieri (photos below), music by Richard and Rene, polka-ing, and a lot of camaraderie.
Paul Ghiglieri and Wendi Weitzel The Competition was fierce!
Love the Beatles? Know how to create a slide show? Volunteer here!
The Thursday Live! December show will be the Green Grass Snakes playing the entire Beatles Abbey Road album.
We’re looking for someone to put together a Beatles slide show that can run on a loop during the entire show. If you’re creative and know how to make an interesting slide show (without audio) please contact either Kurt Roggli (kurtroggli@gmail.com) or Juelie Roggli (juelrog@gmail.com).
Calling All Monsters!
The Line Dance Committee requests dancers and wannabes to help perform “Monster Mash” at the Zombie Bike Parade (Sunday, October 27). Practice at the free classes on Thursdays (3:30 pm) and Sundays (2:00 pm) in the Upper Hall: October 17, and 24. Just show up or contact davislinedance@gmail.com for more info.
The Thomas Crowne Affair Remake Showing
Some of the movies being shown at the Lodge Classic Film Festival were remade in the recent past. Howie Spero plans to show another remake on Thursday in the upper hall after Club Night. The Thomas Crown Affair is a 1999 American romantic heist film directed by John McTiernan and written by Leslie Dixon and Kurt Wimmer. It is a remake of the 1968 film of the same name. Its story follows Thomas Crown, a billionaire who steals a painting from an art gallery and is pursued by an insurance investigator, with the two falling in love. It stars Pierce Brosnan, Rene Russo, and Denis Leary. See the Classic version tomorrow then, on Thursday, come see what’s changed.
New Davis Odd Fellows Polo Shirts
If any member wishes to have a Davis Odd Fellows logo Polo Shirt, now is the time to order. They will be produced by Jason Steenbergen at Ink Monkey here in Davis (Jason is an Odd Fellow). Please see the photo below. They will have the full-color IOOF logo. The prices vary a bit depending on the size of the Polo shirt, but they run about $35.
Send your orders to Dave Rosenberg at daverose@jps.net. Provide your preference for a man's shirt or a woman's shirt and the size and color you want. The most popular colors are navy blue, black, red, or white, but other colors are available, too.
Please place your order by October 25.
Club Night October 17
The BarBs will be in action when the doors open at 5:30 pm. Pianist Blake Temple will play the Baby Grand for us. Various jigsaw puzzles will be available for those who like a puzzle challenge.
Dinner will be served at about 6:00 pm when Chef Michael will present penne pasta with meatballs, penne with plant-based meatballs, grilled veggies, rolls, and a green salad with oil and vinegar or Dilly Ranch dressing. The cost of the dinner is $13 per plate.
At around 6:30 pm, veteran Trivia Master Dave Rosenberg will challenge our brains and reward the winners with delightfully sweet treats.
Our Annual Halloween Party
The party will be held on Friday, October 25 from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The cost is only $5 per person and we will provide beer, wine, and soft drinks.
Costumes are not required but are encouraged. Best female, male, and couples costumes will be selected by YOU! There will be music and dancing: This year Wealth of Nations will provide the music. Odd Fellow David Hafter is in the band.
We are seeking volunteers to bring snacks for the party. Please let Dave Reed know if you will bring a dish. RSVP: Please confirm if you plan to attend so we can make sure there are enough supplies for everyone to enjoy.
Want to help?
- Set up Friday afternoon at 4:00 pm. 2–3 helpers needed
- Serve beer and wine. 2–3 helpers needed
- Bring a snack to share.
- Door checkers. 2 helpers to collect the cover charge.
- Clean up. 2–3 helpers needed.
Members, family, and friends are welcome! Hope you can join us. For more information, contact Dave Reed at dreedng@gmail.com or by phone at 530-908-6800. BOO!
Odd Wine Club
The next Odd Wine Club will be held at Holly and Jim Moen's house on Friday, October 25, 6:00–8:00 pm. Their address is 2301 Bryce Lane in Davis. They request that you bring a favorite wine of your choice and a small appetizer to share. Holly and Jim are new pledges! Let's go and enjoy their company!
Annual Underhand Games
We are hosting the 2nd annual Underhand Games on November 2, 2024, in Market Park in the Cannery. Not only is this event a lot of fun, it is also a major fundraiser for Team Davis.
Underhand Games are those that do not require a lot of strength or stamina — anyone can play! This year we will be competing in short, modified versions of putting, disc toss, shuffleboard, cornhole, and bocce. We will offer up to four rounds of play throughout the day; each round is about 1–1/2 hours. Come play a round!
Teams of two will compete for prizes and glory. Sign your team up with a suggested donation of $20 at https://tinyurl.com/UnderhandGames2024. If you would like to be a sponsor of this event, please contact Sharon Hale at sharonhale62@gmail.com for details.
For more details, and an easy way to invited friends and family, check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/1596211237959591/?ref=newsfeed.
Odd Fellows Art Show
On the evening of Saturday, November 2, in the lower hall, we will present our fall art show. The theme is “Harvest”. As always, the theme is a prompt to help members create their own piece of art. Our interpretation of Harvest is generous. Any medium is welcome: drawings, paintings, photography, sculpture, or even food. We ask that the art is displayable and we love a short artist statement to explain your vision. We encourage you to step out of your comfort zone, create a piece of art, and see just how fun and satisfying it can be to show your work.
An outside judge will award ribbons to pieces they think deserve special recognition. All are welcome to the reception — a fun time to mingle and enjoy the fellowship of other Lodge members. Questions? Contact Findlay McIntosh at fmcintosh@cbhs-sacramento.org or 530-902-8520
Give blood, save a life.
Our next Blood Drive is on Tuesday, November 12 from Noon until 5 pm. Use this link to sign up and help us reach our goal. If you can donate a “power red” we will get credit for two donations! Use the link below to sign up.
Things to Know About Donating Blood
- Every pint donated can help up to THREE people who need it.
- Bring your friends and neighbors – all are welcome!
- Donors are encouraged to review Blood Donor Qualifications. Donor Eligibility
- 16-year-olds need a signed parental consent form. bs_319rs.pdf (vitalant.org) (rev 11 only)
- Donors should arrive well-nourished and hydrated.
- Donors need photo identification with first and last names.
- The donation process takes approximately one hour (add an additional 20 minutes for a double red cell donation). The time includes both intake and recovery time.
- Power Red Cell Donation – Power up your donation with an automated Power Red cell donation. A Power Red donation allows you to donate two units of red blood cells in one session. It's similar to a whole blood donation, but a special machine separates your red blood cells from the other components of your blood and returns your plasma and platelets to you.
- Fast Track – Donors can complete the health questionnaire online prior to arriving to the drive. The questionnaire must be completed the same day as the donation and the barcode/QR code needs to be presented at the drive. This can also be completed at the drive. Fast Track Link
The Blood Drive is also looking for some volunteers. We need two pairs of strong arms to take about 15 minutes to help us get the tables down from their tall stacks before the drive and again to put them back up! You can elect to do one or the other or both! Please contact Nan Klein (nskdesk@comcast.net) if you can help with this or if you would like to help us in the future
Committee News
The Zombie Ball Committee is looking for volunteers to set up, take down, and help with security for this event, which will take place on October 26. If you are interested or need more details, please send an email to Adrienne Fortini through Marcus Marino at marcusm1215@gmail.com. Please make Zombie Ball the subject of your email.
The Self-Defense Committee is meeting at 11:00 am on the 3rd Sunday of the month (instead of 5:00 pm), going forward.
The Coffee and Conversation Committee will meet Friday, October 18 at 10:00 at the Co-op grocery store on G Street. There’s no set topic, just a nice social gathering. Bring your own beverage and pastry, if you want one. To get on the email list, contact Elizabeth Lasensky (elasensky@gmail.com).
The Adopt-a-Highway Committee has scheduled a trash pick-up day for Saturday, October 19 at 8:00 am. Anyone who would like to join the committee, please contact John Steele at jcsteele53@gmail.com.
Want to join the Odd Wine Club? You don’t have to be a Committee member or know anything about wine to attend; we are social and welcoming. We are also looking for people to host the club. There’s not much to do, because everyone brings their own wine and a snack to share. Please email Robin Dewey (at robindd49@gmail.com) if you are interested in hosting the Odd Wine Club..
The FLT (Fine Liquor Tasting) Committee is getting ready to meet again. On November 15 at 7:00 pm, the FLT will be tasting fine Italian Wines in the Lower Hall. Mark your calendar and stand by for more information.
Breakfast with Santa is gearing up for our annual event. Look for an email from Dave Rosenberg asking for volunteers for the December 14 event. Volunteer spaces will fill up fast, so be sure you respond quickly if you want to help. For questions about volunteering, please contact Dave at daverose@jps.net.
Haven’t joined a committee yet? Or maybe you joined a committee a while ago but haven’t participated recently? Remember, one requirement to be a “Member in Good Standing” is to participate in at least one committee. We have committees that are strictly social, committees where you can learn something new, and committees that can help improve your life in many ways. We also have committees that hold events that raise money for our many causes – scholarships, foster children care, school supplies, and so forth. All of them are an opportunity for fun and fellowship. Remember, many hands make light work and the more committees you join, the more fun you (and your fellow committee members) will have.
Our committees always have something fun and interesting going on. To see a list of the more than 70 committees in our Lodge and explore which might be right for you, visit https://www.davislodge.org/lodge-committees/.
If you can’t find a committee that meets your interests, you can start one of your own. Some of our newest committees were started by people who were still pledges. Contact the Noble Grand (in 2024 it’s Charlene Sailer) at DavisNobleGrand@gmail.com for directions on how to start a committee.
Pledge News
Congratulations to the following pledges on reaching the next step. The individuals listed here were accepted into membership and are pending initiation. The next initiation will be held on October 22. The ritual will begin at 7:00 pm. All previously initiated members may attend.
Barbara Boczar (sponsor Char Sailer)
Jill Bonner (sponsor Bonnie Walther)
Betty Elasowich (sponsor Kathy Ruiz)
Mylon Marshall (sponsor Nan Klein)
Reeda Palmer (sponsor Nan Klein)
Becky Parales (sponsor Claire Daughtry)
Juan Parales (sponsor Claire Daughtry)
Sebastian Niles (sponsor Nan Klein)
Michael Reynolds (sponsor Holly Bishop)
Marilyn Schiffman (sponsor Elizabeth Lasensky)
Jessica Smith (sponsor Jim Smith)
William Widner (sponsor Howie Spero)
James Wright (sponsor Carl Treseder)
Please continue to help our additional 22 pledges (listed below) meet their pledge requirements by encouraging attendance at our events, committee and social meetings, granting interviews, and responding to information requests and other questions in the spirit of Friendship, Love, and Truth.
* Denotes new pledges since the last formal report to the Lodge.
Carlos Alvarez (sponsor Kelli O’Day)
Kim Brennan (sponsor Nan Klein)
Phyllis Coffey (sponsor Michele Kellogg)
John Evans (sponsor Nan Klein)
Mara Gervais (sponsor Matthew Elliott)
Susan Hodgson (sponsor Nan Klein)*
Jonathan Kohler (sponsor Nan Klein)
Nina Lorenzi (sponsor Nan Klein)
Holly Moen (sponsor Robin Dewey)
Jim Moen (sponsor Robin Dewey)
Stacy Morgan (sponsor Nan Klein)
Chris Moskal (sponsor Dave Rosenberg)
Ellen Moskal (sponsor Dave Rosenberg)
Rebekah Page (sponsor Nan Klein)
Reggie Powell (sponsor Chris Stamm)*
Kate Raymond (sponsor Karen Russell)
Mabel Reynolds (sponsor Holly Bishop)
Sydney Salley (sponsor Kelli O’Day)
Rebecca Schreiber (sponsor Kelli O’Day)
Veronica Stanton (sponsor Sheryl Cambron)
Conchita Zaragoza (sponsor Nan Klein)
Fred Zaragoza (sponsor Nan Klein)
Raise your Odd Fellows IQ
Another note about the upcoming election. While we never speak of politics or other divisive topics within the Lodge, it is important that everyone who is eligible to vote take advantage of that right (or, as some think of it, obligation). You can register, check your registration, update your address and more here: https://vote.gov/register. Do it today!
Some Odd Fellows who are running for local offices come to Odd Fellows events to meet potential voters. All members are welcome to come of course, but shouldn’t wear political gear. If members want to share their views on issues with other Odd Fellows, please do so outside of the Hall.
Calendar
Here is the link to the online calendar Events. Because things are constantly changing, and not every event is listed on the public calendar, if you wish to reserve the hall for any meeting or event, you must first check with Beth Dovi (bdovi@yahoo.com). LH = Lower Hall, UH = Upper Hall, CR = Committee Room, OS = Off Site
October Events
Saturday, October 12, 8:45 am, Odd Fellows Breakfast & Social Meeting (LH)
Saturday, October 12, 11:15 am, Davis Encampment Meeting (LH)
Sunday, October 13, 10:00 am, Bingo Committee (CR)
Sunday, October 13,12:00 pm, Odd Fellows Bingo (UH)
Sunday, October 13, 6:30 pm, Classic Film Festival The Thomas Crown Affair (UH)
Monday, October 14, 7:00 pm, Odd NeedleCrafters (CR)
Tuesday, October 15, 6:30 pm, New OF Member Initiation (UH)
Wednesday, October 16, 6:00 pm, Pack 132 Meeting (UH)
Wednesday, October 16, 6:00 pm, Gaming Committee Meeting (CR)
Thursday, October 17, 3:30 pm (Novices) and 4:30 pm (Beginners), Line Dance Committee (UH)
Thursday, October 17, 5:30 pm, Club Night at the Lodge (LH)
Thursday, October 17, 8:00 pm, The Thomas Crowne Affair (UH)
Friday, October 18, 10:00 am, Coffee & Conversation (LH)
Friday, October 18, 6:00 pm, Team Davis Dinner/Dance (UH & LH)
Saturday, October 19, 8:00 am, Odd Tabling Committee @ Davis Farmers Market (OS)
Saturday, October 19, 5:30 pm, Robin's Nest Concert-I See Hawks in LA (UH & CR)
Sunday, October 20, 11:00 am, Self Defense Committee Meeting (LH)
Sunday, October 20, 2:00 pm, Odd Line Dancing (UH)
Sunday, October 20, 6:30 pm, Classic Film Festival How to Steal a Million (UH)
Tuesday, October 22, 5:00 pm, Hall Board Meeting (CR)
Tuesday, October 22, 7:00 pm, New Member Initiation (UH & CR)
Wednesday, October 23, 5:30 pm, Canton Davis Meeting (LH)
Wednesday, October 23, 6:15 pm, Odd Fellows Social Hour (LH) & Formal Meeting (UH)
Thursday, October 24, 3:30 pm (Novices) and 4:30 pm (Beginners), Line Dance Committee (UH)
Thursday, October 24, 5:30 pm, Club Night at the Lodge (LH)
Friday, October 25, 5:00 pm, Zombie Bike Ride Committee Meeting (CR)
Friday, October 25, 6:00 pm Odd Wine Club (OS)
Friday, October 25, 7:00 pm, Odd Halloween Party (LH)
Saturday, October 26, 8:00 am, Odd Tabling Committee @ Davis Farmers Market (OS)
Saturday, October 26, 7:00 pm, Zombie Ball
Sunday, October 27, 8:00 am, Zombie Bike Ride Committee Use (LH)
Sunday, October 27, 2:00 pm, Team Davis Juniors "Play Day" (LH & UH)
Monday, October 28, 6:30 pm, Rebekah Meeting (Informal) (LH)
Thursday, October 31, 3:30 pm (Novices) and 4:30 pm (Beginners), Line Dance Committee (UH)
Thursday, October 31, 5:30 pm, Club Night at the Lodge (LH)
Have You Moved? Has your email address changed? Do we have your current phone number? Please be sure we have your current telephone number, address, and email in our records. Contact Beth Dovi with address and email updates at bdovi@yahoo.com.
Not getting Odds and Ends?
- Add oddsandends@davislodge.orgto your address book or “Safe Senders” list.
- Check your spam folder and the spam folder at your ISP.
- If it’s not in either location, email us at oddsandends@davislodge.organd let us know – we may have an old or incorrect email address. Include your first and last name and your current email address.
[Odds and Ends is put together by Nan Klein, Ann Filmer, and Sharon Hale. Many thanks to everyone who contributes content and ideas.]
