We’re having a School of Instruction in Hayward, at Sycamore Lodge 129 on Saturday, April 12 from 10am to 3pm. Topics will include training for new members, making motions or changing by-laws, a reference on how to read the code and where to find pertinent information, duties of officers and trustees, and how Grand Lodge works. And we’ll leave time for discussion about how to have a fun and successful lodge.
Past Grand Master Peter Sellars will be leading this instruction, covering topics he’s reviewed in other lodges many, many times over. As this will be a combined school of instruction for districts 36 and 107, you’ll get a chance to meet lots of new faces you’ve probably never encountered. These sorts of inter-district events are great opportunities to network and be inspired by what’s happening in the wider world of Odd Fellowship.
Who is this training for? It is geared mostly toward anyone who’s recently joined, recently taken on a new role in their lodge, or is interested in taking on leadership roles in their lodge or in the Order. But everyone is welcome, and if your primary goal is just to meet other people excited about Odd Fellowship and exchange ideas, you’ll find yourself in the right place for that too.
To cover the cost of lunch and training materials, attendees are asked to provide $10. As this will benefit the participants’ lodges, my suggestion is that lodges arrange to cover the cost of their members wishing to attend, and preferably help arrange carpools.
Also, if you’ve never visited the Hayward Odd Fellows lodge, you really owe it to yourself to check it out. It is larger than any lodge in District 107, includes a museum wing, a huge costume closet, a pool room lounge area, a large meeting room, and more features they’ll be happy to show off. Sycamore 129 is primarily known as a lodge for musicians, which makes it no surprise that it’s the home lodge of Brother Ted Seitz, this year’s Grand Musician. I know we have lots of musicians in our own district, so it’s only natural that our two districts should get to know each other a little better.
Brother Jon Hart, who happens to be the newest member of Barnes Encampment 77, is the DDGM of District 36, and I’m so excited to be working with him on this event.
I hope to see you there!
–By Mason Wolf