6 months ago, in the August 2025 issue of the Triple Links, we had the sad duty to report that Volcano 25 had made the decision to wind down, as the energy and effort needed to sustain operations as a lodge had come to exceed the capacity of the members. They would no longer hold meetings, and it was up to the Grand Lodge to decide what to do with their charter (Volcano 25, being in the California code as an historical lodge, couldn’t simply surrender its charter the same way another lodge could). It was a sad conclusion to a long tradition, but they thought there was no other option.
Six months later however, things are looking very different.
On December 16th, 2025 Jim Reyner, then believing himself to be the last secretary of Volcano 25, and in the unenviable position of helping to wind down whatever was left, received an unexpected email from Jeannette Wright. She was a former Theta Rho president and current member of Clara Rebekah 34, and she was looking for an Odd Fellows lodge she might join. She had heard through Adam Potolsky, Grand Warden (and also a member of Clara 34), that Volcano 25 was in desperate straits. In her email, she asked if she, Adam, and her sister Robin Vasquez might be able to meet with him. Jim agreed, and on Tuesday, January 6th, Adam, Jeannette, and Robin, joined by Jeannette and Robin’s aunt and uncle Debbie and Ben Shuler, all put in applications for membership. Robert Middleton, the son of Volcano 25’s own June Middleton, also applied.
All at once, a dwindling lodge of 11 members who rarely made quorum had 6 new and enthusiastic members! Volcano 25 changed their meeting times from 2pm back to 7pm, in order to accommodate people who work being able to attend. The new initiates to Odd Fellowship (Jeannette, Robin, and Robert) were initiated with the DVD’s (they’d missed the latest live initiation at Cupertino 70, and needed to be added quickly in order to be eligible to take officer roles). Adam was elected Noble Grand. Jeannette was elected Vice Grand, and Jim is staying on as Secretary. By quirk of California IOOF code, the Treasurer and Financial Secretary of Volcano 25 have to be the Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary, respectively. Meanwhile, Robin was appointed Warden, and Robert was made Inside Guardian. Ben Shuler is color bearer, and Debbie Shuler is Jeannette’s right supporter. Taken together with the former members, and suddenly, Volcano 25 was looking like a real lodge again!
And those 6 new members aren’t the last ones waiting to join. True Fellowship’s own Jane Beckman and Andrew Crockett have turned in their applications as well.
Through Adam, I was vaguely aware that this effort was happening, though I didn’t know whether or not they had enough people for it until they let me know that Volcano 25 would, once again, need a page for the 2026 directory. Actually, part of the delay in getting the directories completed this year was to let them figure out who their officers would be. But I’d say that the short delay was worthwhile, as District 107 once again is back to six fully functional Odd Fellows lodges.
When reached out for a statement, their secretary Jim Reyner had this to say:
“The promised revival of our lodge is underway! Local lodges have come to our rescue! Our membership has been increased from 11 to 17 with more on the way! We will be electing our 2026 officers at our next meeting, and will be planning how V-25 can make a difference in our community.”
Congratulations, Volcano 25. We can’t wait to see what’s next for you all!
— by Mason Wolf