The Jefferson Lodge is heading into 2019 with a bang!
Our Emergency Food Stash is off to a rousing start, thanks to your generous donations. We got a call from a reporter with one of the local papers today. The reporter, Vicki Randolph, said when her editor gave her the assignment, she was proud to inform him that she was an Odd Fellow! 
We have helped about a dozen families with food, heating fuel and electric bill assistance so far this winter.. even facilitated the gift of a pickup truck to a family without transportation! (Thanks Angela and Rusty Prince! ) We also helped get a lady moved to A Safe Home for Everyone!
This week we initiated three new members. Carol Dickson, Carol Dodson and Aliene Young. These are some completely amazing women who are going to bring so many gifts to our Lodge.
We have a stack of about 10 more applications in process! In brainstorming ways to alleviate the growing pains, one of our members brought up a fantastic idea.. a mentoring program. It’s so simple and yet so valuable. Each member is paired with a new member.. so hopefully no one suffers the confusion and uncertainty that comes along with being new. As we grow, the mentees become mentors and the cycle repeats. Paired with our Odd Fellowship Workshops on the degrees, this should help new members become comfortable in our Odd family more quickly. Just the discussion time will be invaluable in facilitating folks getting to know each other! Karen Day is going to lead these groups, I can’t wait to get started. No matter how long one has been an Odd Fellow, the degrees have so much to teach us!
We approached several churches about using their fellowship halls for Pancake Breakfast Fundraisers. This accomplishes several things… A more visible, more accessible location. It gets our name and what we do out into the community. Maybe one day we won’t be the best kept secret that’s not a secret in Ashe County! We are hoping to have a pancake breakfast every month this year, each at a different church.
Our first one will be a Sweethearts Breakfast at Mt Paddy Church. Our Chaplain, Sharon Eller, spoke to them and they graciously gave their permission for us to use their facilities. Mt Paddy is a wonderful church, and home of Agape Christian School. We are so thankful for their support.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 16th and come join us for all you can eat pancakes (regular and gluten free!) bacon, sausage, locally produced maple syrup, coffee, juice and lots of smiles.. all for any donation you care to give.
In Friendship Love and Truth,
Nancy Weaver
Jefferson Lodge #38
Ancient Links 