Julie Machado, Sycamore Lodge #129, and one of the real spark plugs to the resurgence and progress of that Lodge, recently wrote to me and challenged me to write an article on “what makes a good Odd Fellow”. I accept the challenge!
Here is my list of 25 (gotta be an “odd” number) qualities that, at least from my perspective, make a good Odd Fellow. If you have suggestions, please feel free to send ’em in!
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you feel that the initiation ceremony and your receipt of the Initiatory Degree was a meaningful and memorable experience.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you look forward to attending meetings and events at your Lodge, and attend on a regular basis.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you try to bring in at least one new member each year and don’t rely on other members to work on membership development.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you have earned your three degrees so that you could hold an office some day and advance in your Lodge and in the Order.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you take the time to ask your Lodge brothers and sisters how they are doing and what’s new in their lives.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you volunteer to help on a committee of your Lodge.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you helped clean up the Lodge after a meeting even though no one asked you to do so.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you spoke during Good of the Order and said something really nice about one of your Lodge mates.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you visited a member who was sick or took the time to talk to a member who was in distress.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you proposed a new idea or event for your Lodge and then volunteered to work on it.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you introduced yourself to a prospective new member of your Lodge and spent some time chatting with that applicant.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you had a good, friendly word for a member of your Lodge.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you found a way to diffuse a disagreement among members in the spirit of F-L-T.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you memorized the Odd Fellows Valediction.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you paid your annual dues timely, without waiting for a reminder.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you carried your dues card in your wallet or purse.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you keep an IOOF bumper sticker on your car or wear an IOOF shirt around town.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you have visited a neighboring Lodge.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you urged your Lodge to work on a community project to benefit your town.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you urged your Lodge to contribute funds to benefit an Odd Fellows charity.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you worked to bring women and people of color into membership in your Lodge.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you didn’t immediately say “no” to a new member’s idea for a Lodge project.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you helped a brother or sister who was in distress.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you never disparage or say a negative word about another Odd Fellow.
You might be a good Odd Fellow if you didn’t just talk about “friendship, love and truth”, but actually lived your life in accordance with those principles.