IMPORTANT NEWS PLEASE READ AND VOTE
Hello-
We have an opportunity to help the Odd Fellows’ & Rebekahs’ Home financially, without a whole lot of work. Bangor Savings Bank is giving away $100,000 to 68 non profit organizations who apply – those 68 who get the most votes will receive a donation from the bank.
“Bangor Savings Bank is pleased to announce that the 2012 Community Matters More voting begins January 23rd and runs for six weeks, ending March 5th. “Again this year, a total of 68 grants will be awarded to the organizations listed on the ballot and to the top 20 write-in recipients. The organizations in each of the eight regions (including write-ins) that get the most votes will receive $5,000 each. The remaining 60 organizations will each receive $1,000. “To vote for your favorite nonprofits, visit Community Matters More or stop by any of our 56 branches statewide. “A complete list of voting guidelines and eligibility requirements for write-in nominations is available at www.bangor.com/cmm”
In order to be eligible for this money, we have to cast a vote for Odd Fellows’ & Rebekahs’ Home. It will have to be a write-in vote and the voter must be a Maine resident. Each ballot allows the voter to cast a vote for up to three (3) different organizations.
Here are the steps to vote online for the Odd Fellows’ & Rebekahs’ Home:
Here are the steps to vote online for Camp NEOFA: ON THE SAME BALLOT
I am emailing this information to you in hopes that we can all rally around and help! If you have friends in Maine who are not members, they can still vote. PLEASE ask them to help!
For your “non-internet” friends, they can help by going to the nearest Bangor Savings Bank, asking for a ballot, and following the bulleted steps above.
All of us involved with the Northeast and with Camp NEOFA thank you! The deadline is March 5, 2012- at 11:59 pm!!
Fraternally, Jane McCollister |
ABOUT US
What is Odd Fellowship?
Simply stated, Odd Fellowship is the collaboration between the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs, fraternal organizations based on the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of Man and the Sisterhood of Woman. They perform charitable work on various projects within the communities where lodges are located. Through their teachings they seek to elevate the character of mankind and thereby make the world a better place in which to live. Odd Fellowship is not a religion; however, it requires its members to believe in a supreme being and be loyal to their country.
History
In 17th century England, where Odd Fellowship began, it was “odd” to find a group of members organized for the sole purpose of giving to those in need and of pursuing projects for the benefit of all mankind. Those who belonged to such an organization were called “odd fellows”.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows as we know it today began in Baltimore, Maryland, where five members of the Order from England founded Washington Lodge No. 1 on April 26, 1819. The first Noble Grand was one of these Brothers, Thomas Wildey, considered the founder of the Odd Fellowship in North America. A charter was received from Duke of York Lodge in Preston, England, in 1820, a year and a half after its self-institution.
The Addition of the Rebekahs
In 1851, a revered Odd Fellow Brother, Schuyler Colfax, who had long been an advocate of admitting the mothers, wives, sisters and daughters of Odd Fellows to a branch of the Order, succeeded in having the Rebekahs branch established.