If you have an Odd Fellows Instruction Manual, you will know that a Grand Master visit (or any formal visit) is a meeting variation which adds content to a regular meeting. That Tuesday night (6/24/25), our meeting was called to order by Mike Bever, NG at the Saratoga IOOF Lodge #428 at 7:30 PM following a sumptuous dinner catered by Buca di Beppo.
This meeting contained an Official visit by Rita Cooper, Grand Master. It was attended by 31 members which included 21 members of Saratoga Lodge and 10 guests who were all Odd Fellow members.
Rita’s Entourage included: Brian Schlesinger (Grand Conductor), Zoe Timmerman (Grand Instructor), and Lawrence “Stark” Degesse (Grand Body Guard), and other notable attendees who came to support her were: Michael Greenzieger (past GM), Debra LaVergne (Past president, CA Rebekah Assembly), Annie Cronin (Member Cupertino Lodge 70, and past CA Grand Marshall), Mason Wolf (True Fellowship Lodge 52 and past DDGM District 107), Debbie Wolf and Kat Powell, members of True Fellowship Lodge, 52, and Pam Johnson, Member from Cupertino Lodge, 70
During the formal visit portion of the meeting, Rita Cooper, GM, her entourage, members with more than 45 years in odd-fellowship, and members with less than a year, were introduced and then seated.
During the: Good of the Order portion of the meeting, Rita read from a very interesting historical reference regarding the founding of Saratoga IOOF Lodge #428 in April of 1912, and who our lodge’s founding members were and their occupations. She then promoted outreach in our Lodges and recommended the formation of a “Membership Committee” and an “Events Committee” to promote membership growth in them. She referred to her letter containing 100 examples of activities that lodges can have. She also announced that her Grand Master’s Projects will include donations to Three Links Camp, Odd Fellows Rose Parade float and an RCS program for children under 5 years old.
The meeting was closed (in the normal way) after Rita’s encouraging comments.
— By Paul Milleson