The Three Links Odd Cast

Odd Fellowship is non-political and non-sectarian.  But why, then, do we recite the Lord's Prayer as part of the opening of the lodge?  Ainslie and Toby dig into some of the history around this observance and discuss whether it makes us truly non-sectarian or if that was just a thin veneer applied to the top of Odd Fellowship to make it appeal to more people.  Hint: there are no right answers and a lot of different opinions.  The Shoutout goes to Nampa Lodge #40 of Idaho for their efforts to bring in a new, young member.  In the Odd Podge, Ainslie tells us that spring in Illinois means his lodge is picking up trash along the highway and Toby shares his recent trip to the Northwest Odd Fellow and Rebekah Association Meeting in Idaho.

Like many lodges, True Fellowship No. 52 in San Jose, CA had seen better days.  As members got older, the focus of the lodge became more insular and they were less interested in connecting to the outside community.  That all began to change when a new member with an interest in building community joined.  Since that time, the lodge has become a dynamo in San Jose and has not only become a thriving place itself, it is beginning to share its success with other lodges in the area.  They share their recipe of social events, food events, and volunteerism that has made them successful.  The Shoutout goes to Atlantic Lodge No. 107 of the Atlantic Provinces of Canada for their new charter.  In the Odd Podge, Andrew promotes the Foundation for Ontological Education, Debbie W shares her experience of working with Braver Angels to bridge the partisan divide in their community, Mason gives breaking news about the Cave in Yreka and the rededication ceremony on July 7th, Ainslie recounts his experience installing his original home lodge as District Deputy, Toby lauds his home lodge in Seattle for their excellent Degree work, and Debbie S encourages all Third Degree members listening to take the Encampment Degrees.

A remarkable convergence of events led to the revival of Friendship Lodge No. 50 in Northfield, Minnesota.  A Mason in Red Wing, Minnesota started an educational program for his Masonic lodge and then reached out to the Odd Fellows to request them give a presentation about Odd Fellowship.  Four of the Masons present decided to check out Odd Fellowship.  One person turned to Reddit and podcasts (like ours and Modern Goat Rider) to do some research before joining a group.  The lodge in Northfield dropped down to the remaining five members.  When all of that came together, the new members were excited to join the lodge which needed them and now the lodge is thriving.  Through the efforts of an active, engaged Grand Lodge and PGM David "Ace" Adams, all of the energy was channeled into reviving a historic lodge.  This episode's Shoutout goes to another revived Encampment, this time Green Mountain Encampment #3 of Burlington, Vermont.  In the Odd Podge, Mike announces that he has been asked to serve as Sovereign Grand Chaplain for Gerry Workman, Ainslie shares the news about his new van which he used to drive a group to a recent Degree Day in Illinois, Nick lets us know that he's included Odd Fellowship on his blog, Ace gives us a preview of his efforts to use online registration for his Degree Weekend, Sunny expresses gratitude for the older, long-time members who have kept Odd Fellowship alive, Gary offers his respect for the traditions and heritage of Odd Fellowship, and Toby talks about the upcoming Northwest Odd Fellow and Rebekah Association Meeting in Idaho in April.

Billy and Tara from Modern Goat Rider joined us for a thorough and in-depth discussion about leadership in the Odd Fellows.  The first half of the episode is available on their feed on your favorite podcatcher or directly from their podcast host.  In this episode we discuss the leadership at the Grand Lodge and Sovereign Grand Lodge levels and specifically ponder the question of whether we need to have an organizational structure with a stronger central executive and what the possible ramifications of that would be.  The Shoutout goes to another new lodge, this time Bluegrass #416 in Kentucky.  In the Odd Podge, Toby talks about his preparations for the upcoming NW IOOF Meeting in Idaho, Billy commends those who have helped organize the historical collection in his lodge hall in Victoria, BC, Tara shares her ideas about improving the web presence of Odd Fellowship, and Ainslie shares his latest Odd Fellows book find.

A recent email from a listener prompted this episode's discussion about what happens when a lodge sells its building.  A lot can happen, but only a very few things should happen.  We dig into the question and examine the process and what knowledge members should have when dealing with major lodge property.  The Shoutout goes to Prestonsburg Lodge #293 in Kentucky for their impressive growth and revival in the past couple of years.  For the Odd Podge, Toby talks about his first time in twenty years not being part of an Installing Team, Ainslie shares his experience getting a milestone tattoo, and Mike doesn't have an Odd Podge—except that he does once we coax it out of him.

This year, for our Christmas episode, we present this adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."  Listen along as an all-star cast of Odd Fellows presents this unique Odd Fellows take on the classic story.Ebeneezer Scrooge: Gil T. RodelloThomas Wildey: Steven CrossBob Cratchitt: Joseph BentonTim Cratchitt: Ainslie HeilichGhost of Odd Fellowship Past: Michael GreenzeigerGhost of Odd Fellowship Present: Mason WolfGhost of Odd Fellowship Future: Mike DuminiakWritten, directed, recorded, and edited by Toby Hanson.  Music by Toby Hanson.

Our Sovereign Grand Master, John Cupp, is a very busy man.  We were very fortunate when he made some time at the West Virginia Grand Sessions to sit down and talk with co-host Mike Duminiak about his time as Sovereign Grand Master and some of his experiences in Odd Fellowship.  He was joined partway through the interview by his wife Emilie who also shared some experiences and observations.  Both are very intelligent and articulate leaders in our Order and we feel very fortunate that they made the time to speak with Mike.  The Shoutout goes to the newly-revived Reno Encampment #5 of Reno, Nevada.  In the Odd Podge Toby recounts his trip to Lake Tahoe for an Odd Fellows Thanksgiving, Mike previews the upcoming 175th Anniversary Dinner of Kanawha Lodge #25, and Ainslie shares the success of his lodge's open house and potato bar.

Pueblo Lodge #8 was down to just four members after the passing of one of the five who was maintaining the quorum that kept their charter.  John Jones had recently moved to Colorado from another state and was looking to join a lodge.  One day, a man with a letter from the Grand Secretary showed up on his doorstep to meet him and possibly bring him into the lodge.  That man was Vernon Wolf, Past Grand Master of Colorado.  Brother Vernon did show up on John's doorstep and brought him into Pueblo #8.  John, in turn, helped the revival of the lodge which has continued to this day.  Unfortunately, Brother Vernon is not around to see the fruits of his labors in full bloom as he passed away.  However, his spirit lives on in the thriving lodge he left behind.  Brothers John Jones and JT Wessel join us to share memories of Vernon Wolf and talk about the many ways in which Odd Fellowship is thriving in Pueblo today and how that all stands as a testament to the dedication and hard work of Brother Vernon Wolf.  The Shoutout goes to Rushmore Lodge #39 of Rapid City, South Dakota for their efforts to welcome Ukrainians into their community with a picnic.  In the Odd Podge, Toby celebrates 25,000 downloads of the podcast, Ainslie recaps the Odd Market and Masquerade, John talks about having held his wedding reception in the old Pueblo Odd Fellows Hall,  and JT previews the next Scribes' Meeting at the Colorado Grand Sessions.

We always like to do an episode about cemeteries around Halloween and this year is no exception.  Given our command to "Bury The Dead" as Odd Fellows, and how many lodges have administered cemeteries throughout our history, it's no surprise to find a lodge engaged in activities related to a final resting place.  For this episode we are joined with Past Grand Master Carol Woltjer and Brother Matt Rock of Sioux Falls Lodge #9 in South Dakota to talk about their "Remember Me" project.  Their lodge is raising funds and placing markers on the graves of indigent burials in Minnehaha County, South Dakota.  Carol tells the touching story of how she learned about the burials and got the program started.  Matt tells about how his family has become involved with the program and the lodge.  The Shoutout goes to another lodge in South Dakota, Gregory #189 for the wonderful involvement of younger people in their lodge.  For the Odd Podge, Toby tells about his visit to the Idaho Grand Sessions, Mike talks about his experience at the West Virginia Grand Sessions, and Ainslie previews the upcoming (at the time of the recording) Odd Market hosted by his lodge in Tuscola, Illinois.

A life of academic wandering and creation has brought Dr. Heather Calloway to her present position as Executive Director of University Collections  and Director of the Center for Fraternal Collections and Research at Indiana University.  Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and having grown up in a fraternal family, Dr. Calloway was destined from an early age to make her way to the hallowed halls of academia and bring her fraternal knowledge and experience with her.  She was kind enough to share some of her time with us to talk about the collection, how it came to be, what they are doing to preserve it, why such a collection is important, and how they are making it available to the public.  The Center for Fraternal Collections and Research has a great Instagram feed available at @fraternalcollections.  The Shoutout goes to Four Creeks Lodge #94 of Visalia, California for their recent regeneration.  In the Odd Podge, Mike talks about the time-consuming work of preparing for the West Virginia Grand Sessions, Ainslie tells about his budding Odd Fellows tattoo empire at the Illinois Grand Sessions, and Toby talks about planning the District Meeting for his district in Washington.

In a secluded corner of the wilderness around Mount Shasta in Northern California, a secret rite has been taking place for generations.  No, it's not something from the latest thriller novel, it's the Cave Degree!  In a natural cave that faces east toward Mount Shasta, Odd Fellows (and before them, Knights of Pythias) have been performing degree work.  The Odd Fellows of Yreka Lodge No. 19 bought the cave from the Pythians in 1962 for $10 but had been using the cave for the Second Degree since 1940.  The Cave Degree has become one of the most cherished traditions of Odd Fellowship in California and Oregon, with generations of members having made the trek out to the cave for the ceremony.  For this episode we are joined by PGP Brian Riehl, RA VP Debra LaVergne, and NG of True Fellowship Lodge #52, Mason Wolf as they discuss the history and tradition of the Cave Degree, and one of its greatest champions and caretakers, Richard Brouse.  The story of the Cave Degree has many twists, turns, and stories.  We also discuss the current state of the cave and the efforts underway to rehabilitate the facility so it can again be used for the Second Degree of Odd Fellowship.  The Lodge Shoutout goes to Friendship Lodge #50 in Northfield, Minnesota which was recently revived by a group of Masons who discovered Odd Fellowship and joined.  In the Odd Podge there was definitely a theme of Odd Fellows helping one another out.  Toby told about his lodge brother Matt in rehab and all the Odd Fellows of his lodge who had visited him.  Debra shared the exciting news about a new baby born to members of Mountain View #244 in California.  Mike gave the dates for Gerald Workman's Testimonial in Charleston, West Virginia in 2024.  Ainslie mentioned the new article for the Heart In Hand Blog about the Hahn Farm Degrees written by Brother Mason Wolf.  Brian also shared a story of visiting members in sickness and distress and also mentioned the Oktoberfest hosted by St. Helena Lodge which sent Toby into a near frenzy of desire to get one of their beer steins.  To close the Odd Podge, Mason talked about his experiences going to Portland to render aid to a brother in need.

Tucked away in a secluded corner of Oregon's rolling farmland northwest of Portland sits the Hahn Farm. Owned by Gary Hahn, a third-generation Odd Fellow and fourth-generation owner of the farm, it has become a beacon for Odd Fellowship in the jurisdiction of Oregon.  Every year since the early 1990s, on the third weekend of September, the farm hosts a Degree Weekend unlike most others in Odd Fellowship.  Candidates take the Initiatory and Three Degrees on Saturday and then the Encampment and Canton Degrees on Sunday.  The setting for the Degrees could not be more amazing.  The Degrees are performed next to a pond in a grove of trees planted especially for the occasion.  The dramatic elements of the Degrees becomes immediate and tangible to the candidates as they literally live through the experiences of the Degrees rather than watching them acted out in a stuffy lodge hall, watching the video of the Degrees, or having the lecture form read to them.  Gary Hahn sits down with Toby to tell the story of the Degrees on the Farm.  We're also joined by Brother Mason Wolf of San Jose, California who traveled to Oregon to experience the perils of the Rough Road as he took the Encampment Degrees.  He shares a compelling account of why live Degrees are so crucial to Odd Fellowship.  The Shoutout goes to Bay View Lodge #109 of Redwood City, California for their efforts to remodel their hall and become a popular music venue.  In the Odd Podge, Toby talks about a new member in Arkansas who posted about joining on Reddit, Ainslie shares his recent trip to Montana and his Odd Fellows discovery, Mike introduces us to his new car (after his old one died with 400,000 miles on it), and Mason recounts his visit to a Portland brewpub for some good music and a very successful event at his home lodge in San Jose.

Civic life in America has been in decline for decades.  A prescient few, including noted author Robert Putnam, have chronicled that decline.  In his book "Bowling Alone," Putnam explored the link between civic engagement and the function of government and described the nature of the decline in participation in clubs, churches, and other groups.  Pete and Rebecca Davis, a brother and sister team, made a film based on Putnam's book: "Join Or Die!"  Their film opens with a visit to one of our superstar lodges, Waxahachie #80 in Texas.  Throughout the course of the film we get to learn the story of how Putnam did his research, how he's shared his findings, and how he's put those findings into action.  The film ends up as a kind of "love letter" to Odd Fellowship as it opens and closes with brilliant scenes of fellowship at Waxa #80.  Brother Tom Wright from that lodge joined us along with Pete and Rebecca to talk about the film and their experiences.  Our Shoutout this episode goes to a new lodge of the Grand United Order—New Northwest #2554 in Portland, Oregon.  In the Odd Podge, Toby talks about his "souvenir" from Sovereign Grand Lodge, Mike shares his joy at Charleston being awarded the 2025 SGL Session, and Ainslie recounts his random meeting with members from his jurisdiction on his way home from the Session.

Odd Fellowship has found many spaces in which to adapt its Degree work.  Our beginnings were in pubs and taverns so Degrees were originally performed there.  Eventually we built lodge halls but we still looked for more interesting and unusual places to perform Degrees.  Caves became a popular choice in the 20th Century.  California's Cave Degree near Yreka is the most well-known, but other locations have done outdoor and underground Degrees, including Dead Horse Cave in Idaho.  Located near the town of Gooding, Dead Horse Cave first hosted the Second Degree in 1947, a tradition which continued until 2004.  Brother Donnie Marvin, PGM, PGP, and PDC of Idaho gives his recollections of the Dead Horse Cave Degree as well as some great stories from his musical career and some other historical tidbits from Idaho Odd Fellowship.  The Shoutout goes to the newly-rechartered Brazos Valley Lodge #76 of Texas.  For the Odd Podge, Toby tells about his enjoyment of the Sand Drags at Mountain Home, Idaho and Ainslie prepares for his trip to Sovereign Grand Lodge.

Hard to believe, but it's been three years since the launch of the Three Links Odd Cast.  Way back when, Sergio, Ainslie, and Toby could hardly imagine the cultural touchstone this podcast would become.  Here we are at the beginning of Season Four and we're just as excited to make new episodes as we were when we started in 2020.  We take a look back at the episodes that made Season 3 special, including talking with the Historian from the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library, the "kitchen table" episode, the episodes about new lodges that were chartered, and some of the other highlights.  The hosts welcome a new sponsor, the Heart In Hand Institute, and look ahead to some of their projected topics for the upcoming season.  The Shoutout goes to another new Encampment, Allen #5 of Quincy, Illinois.  In the Odd Podge, Toby thanks everyone for their support during his recent challenges, Ainslie shares his special award (another new one for him), and Mike talks about the benefits of Odd Fellowship for his family.

Insurance can be a touchy subject that's all too easy to avoid.  There are multiple different reasons to avoid it including cost, complication, and just a general desire to not think about bad things that might happen.  Those bad things are a fact of life, however, and lodges need to be prepared for whatever kind of bad things may occur.  Fortunately, Sister Malia Murchison of Morning Star Lodge #20 in Placerville, California is a Past Grand and a professional insurance agent.  She joined us to go through all the various problems that may arise and how to make sure your lodge can recover from them with the assistance of insurance.  Not only is insurance prudent for your lodge, it's also mandated in the Sovereign Grand Lodge Code, Chapter V, Section 19, Subsection E.  (No, really... look it up!)  With Sister Malia's wise guidance no lodge should feel apprehensive about insurance.  She makes the whole process approachable and informative.  There's no lodge Shoutout in this episode but we do recognize one of our listeners who just joined a lodge in Oklahoma.  For the Odd Podge, Toby shares his experience talking Odd Fellowship at the Rose City Accordion Camp, Ainslie anticipates becoming a Samaritan, and Malia tells about the fire fundraiser her lodge is holding with Sacramento Lodge #2.

Take one seventy-year Odd Fellow, his great grandson, a twenty-year Odd Fellow from Indiana, a guy from the neighborhood looking for a "thirty-year project" and a few other new folks and put them together and you have the recipe for reviving a lodge that had become profoundly inactive as they retreated from the community and membership had shrunk.  They had become a "kitchen-table lodge," content to meet casually around the kitchen table.  With the involvement of the new members and the guidance of the older ones, the lodge has successfully moved from being complacent to vibrant.  Now a hive of activity, Queen City Lodge #1 of Burlington, Vermont is the place to be for all kinds of activities, from collecting food for the food bank to tabletop gaming.  We talk with Ryon, Alex, Everett, Brandin, and Dylan about how they remade the lodge culture and took what was otherwise a nondescript lodge and made it a hub for community participation.  Along the way they brought back the ritual and regalia (and are still looking for Third-Degree collars for all their new members) and are now functioning as a traditional Odd Fellows lodge.  There's no Shoutout for this episode but we did want to share the fundraiser by Osage Lodge #712 in Pennsylvania.  They are selling bicentennial pins for the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.  They can be ordered be emailing osagelodge712@gmail.com.  This episode's Odd Podge has Alex telling a classic fraternal joke, Ryon complimenting Alex on being appointed District Deputy Grand Master, Toby talking about presenting a scholarship on behalf of the Grand Lodge and Rebekah Assembly of Washington, Ainslie previewing his lodge's garbage pickup and movie night, and Mike talking about an upcoming wedding with a lot of Odd Fellows involvement.  PS—in case anyone has collars to donate to Queen City Lodge #1, email Alex at alexanderkensington@icloud.com.  

Like many western jurisdictions, Nevada is small.  The bigger cities—Las Vegas, Reno, Carson City—have lodges and there are a few scattered around the rest of the state as well.  Recently, though, activity and interest has been building in the Silver State as younger members have joined and been appointed to various jobs to help build Odd Fellowship.  Our guest, Brother Jonathan Wettig, is an enthusiastic young Odd Fellow who just took the job of promoting Odd Fellowship on social media for the Grand Lodge of Nevada.  One of the exciting things he's promoting is a new lodge being formed at Lake Tahoe.  The Shoutout goes to Jefferson Lodge #38 in North Carolina for their great community engagement and charitable work.  We are also helping to spread the word about a big fundraiser headed by Cedar Valley Lodge #233 in Iowa for a community member with a rare, incurable disease.  Those wishing to donate may do so at www.cedarvalleyoddfellows.com.  In the Odd Podge Ainslie talks about his latest eBay find, Toby previews his trip to Oregon for the retirement celebration for their Grand Secretary, and Mike tells about his milestone birthday.

Odd Fellowship, like many fraternal groups, is predominantly full of older members.  For retirees and others in the later stages of life, our traditional focus on things like death benefits makes sense.  However, for younger members, it's a lot harder to see the value of a benefit they may not take advantage of for decades.  In this episode, Mike and Toby are joined by Brother Brandon Clark as they discuss the concept of implementing benefits for younger members.  Brandon shares his invaluable insight as a young member raising a family and talks about what has been the most meaningful and helpful to him in his first year of membership.  The Shoutout goes to Queen City Lodge #1 of Burlington, Vermont for their excellent efforts to interact with the community and the general revitalization of their lodge.  In the Odd Podge, Brother Brandon shares his excitement for the upcoming lodge night at the baseball game, Brother Mike talks about his new database and order tracking system for the Grand Lodge of West Virginia, and Brother Toby takes us into the mysterious world of accordion camps.

For the past couple of years, despite the challenges of the pandemic, something has been brewing in Upstate New York.  Two Masons and and Odd Fellow, all beekeepers, found themselves together on a mission to charter a new Odd Fellows Lodge.  Brother Kevin, a member of Wawayanda Lodge #34, was ready to fulfill his destiny as "lodge curmudgeon" with nearly thirty years of membership.  Brothers Todd and Kris journeyed to the recently re-chartered Washington Irving Lodge #20 in Saugerties, NY to join the Odd Fellows and get their Degrees.  Together, they have chartered Leatherstocking Lodge #945 in Schoharie County.  Along the way they shared the usual challenges of joining the Order, such as finding the right people to contact.  They persisted, however, and have created a dynamic, growing lodge that is working on all kinds of exciting things, from local fundraisers for the community to the possibility of chartering a new Encampment.  Each member has a unique story of their journey into Odd Fellowship and shares some valuable advice gained in the process.  This episode's Shoutout goes to a new Encampment, Hippolito Roman #118 of New Jersey.  In the Odd Podge, Mike talks about his efforts to bring Odd Fellowship to the upcoming Scout Jamboree in West Virginia, Kris talks about joining with the local Masons to tend the grave of Isaac Mann, a historic local Odd Fellow and Mason, Todd shares a story of brotherhood and bravery, Toby talks about his application to the local Speakers' Bureau to talk about Odd Fellowship, and Kevin talks about the strength of the bonds of Odd Fellowship.