Grand Master Program 2011-2012
I would like to thank my Brothers and Sisters for the confidence they have shown in elevating me to this, the rank of Grand Master, the ultimate and most prestigious Station in the Georgia Jurisdiction of Odd Fellowship. I will work as hard as I can to live up to your expectations.
When I first asked Past Grand Master, David M. Whatley Sr for a perition to join Rose Hill Lodge #480, he told me that he would give me a petition to join if I would try to live up to the principals of Odd Fellowship. Not just to join and quit coming to Lodge. I told him that I would. This organization has been what I was looking for, for a long time in my life.
As most of you would guess, my program is Membership. We must spread this thing called "Odd Fellowship" back in Georgia. It seems like we have written off the Southern Part of this Jurisdiction. South of a line from columbus to Savannah is void of our Order. We must find a way to put in place, Lodges in the Southern Part of the State. We must also strengthen our Lodges that are just hanging on.
In the Membership Program, we need to organize a state wide Degree team to give the Lodes a hand when they need Degree Work. As we start on the way to build up our Lodges, I charge each lodge to show a two percent gain in membership. For the Lodge that gains the most members over the two percent, that Lodge will receive the "Gold Award" Plaque. The Lodge with the second most gain over the two percent will receive the "Silver Award" Plaque. The Lodge with the third most gain over the two percetn will receive the "Bronze Award" Plaque. I hope that we can show a five percent gain in Membership State wide.
The District that has the best District Meeting will receive a plaque.
I have written each Lodge asking for two dates for me to make my Official Visits this year. Please send me the dates ASSP if you have not done so already.
I am asking each Lodge to send me the name of a member who has practiced the teachings of Odd Fellowship, along with a list of their qualifications. The Executive Committee will decide the winner and they will receive the "Odd Fellow of the Year" award. The qualifications are listed in the first sentence of this paragraph.
Thank You
Larry Thomas Grand Master of Georgia, I.O.O.F
