Attenborough retraces his footsteps In this issue:
• News from the Philippines Order • Five generations of Oddfellows in one family • Acquisition - Schoolteachers Friendly Society votes to transfer to the Oddfellows
since 1810
Events newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership
| March 2011 | Edition 03
Events newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership
| March 2011 | Edition 03
Welcome to the latest edition of the monthly online magazine for Oddfellows’ Members. In this month’s magazine, Sir David Attenborough retraces his steps from more than 50 years ago for his latest wildlife adventure. The legendary broadcaster talks of his long and illustrious career and insists he’s not finished yet. Louie Sarmiento, from the Oddfellows in Dumaguete, Philippines, tells us of the Order’s achievements since 2009 and reveals plans for the future.
Acquisition Schoolteachers Friendly Society votes to transfer to the Oddfellows The Schoolteachers Friendly Society has announced that it is to transfer its business to the Oddfellows. The transfer agreement, going for Financial Services Authority approval on 31 March, will strengthen the financial position of the Schoolteachers Friendly Society and take Oddfellows’ membership to more than 200,000. The Society, which offers sickness benefit products and a Child Trust Fund, will operate as such from offices in Liverpool with its assets and liabilities ringfenced as the ‘Schoolteachers Fund’, and will remain open for business. Steve Code, Schoolteachers’ CEO, will join the Oddfellows main Board and Management Committee as Insurance Director and the Society’s members will become Oddfellows members. The move will see assets under management exceed £400m.
2
Plus, news on all things Oddfellows and a seasonal recipe for you to try.
We do hope you enjoy the magazine and, don’t forget, if you have a story get in touch at editorial@oddfellows.co.uk
Announcements Branch Profiling Every month we will be giving one District the opportunity to be profiled within the E-Zine. This will allow members to shout about all their District’s achievements. Whether it’s fundraising, helping in the community or celebrating a joyous occasion, we want to hear about it. Perhaps you have a success story, or there is something that you are particularly proud of, such as the history of your District or the architecture of an Oddfellows Hall? Let us know your initial thoughts by nominating your District at editorial@oddfellows.co.uk . We will then arrange a telephone interview and contact you for further information.
Big things are happening overseas! Louie Sarmiento, from the Oddfellows in Dumaguete, Philippines, tells us of the Order’s achievements since 2009 and reveals plans for the future. Dumaguete is called a 'university town' because it is the only city with many schools and colleges in the Phillipines. A large number of international students attend, especially the Silliman University where many are members of the Order. This is where Oddfellowship works, according to Louie: “Many of these students are not from the area and it is through the organisation that members can unite and help each other socially and, at times, academically.” The Oddfellows in Dumaguete city started with just 26 members having established Watchdog Lodge in 2009. It now has some 70 members, with a further 42 members in a second Lodge, called Mindanaon, situated 125 miles away in the city of Cagayan de Oro. It is working on forming a body within the Philippines [similar to Board of Directors at Manchester Unity] with its prime focus on national development Louie Sarmiento and expansion. Given it currently has only two Lodges, there is no Grand Master. However, the Order isn’t standing still. “We are registering the Order in the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Philippines to be legally recognised as a non-profit organization”, explains Louie. “We are focusing on strengthening our two existing Lodges and will hopefully be doing a fund-raiser for a Lodge hall in Dumaguete later in the year. “In addition, we will be helping to build houses for the homeless in Bantayan Island, together with our newly initiated members who are leaders of Gawad Kalinga Foundation,
Members working with the Gawad Kalinga Foundation to build houses for the homeless
a Philippine-based poverty alleviation and nation-building movement.” Interest in the Oddfellows among non-members is growing and it is initiatives and strategic partnerships of this kind which help with international promotions. Louie receives correspondence from people wanting to join the Society every day who are, unfortunately, living too far away from the existing Lodges to become active members. Usually the Order requires at least five to 10 people from another city to be able to form their own Lodge. Given the financial status of the organisation, it aims to develop one Lodge a year, an objective which, Louie says, ‘is on track achieve’. “We have someone from California that now lives in Manila, Philippines, who has been trying to form a Lodge for some time. It is still in progress and it is likely that it will be formed later this year.” Furthermore, the Order plans on having more than one Lodge in each of the two cities. In the near future, there will be separate Lodges for college student members, one for graduates, as well as separate Lodges for professionals and retirees. The Order is currently using restaurant premises for meetings and social activities and it hopes, someday, that it will own Lodge hall premises for hiring purposes and to boost income. Oddfellowship has ‘very big potential’ in the country, says Louie. With many people from other islands within the Philippines descending on the city, it is viewed that when members graduate and leave the area, they take with them the Society’s ethos and, hopefully, will establish new Lodges in their hometowns. The current Noble Grand of Watchdog is Brother Kahlil Reu Reyes, and the Noble Grand of Mindanaon Lodge is Brother Seth Vencent Ofngol, both of which are active users of Facebook. Link up with them online now!
3
Events newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership
| March 2011 | Edition 03
ATTENBOROUGH’S JOURNEY BACK IN TIME Sir David Attenborough retraces his steps from more than 50 years ago for his latest wildlife adventure. The legendary broadcaster talks of his long and illustrious career - and insists he’s not finished yet. There are few voices as iconic as that of Sir David Attenborough. His gentle, yet informative intonation has delighted millions of people over the decades in his role as presenter and narrator of numerous landmark natural history films. And now, even at the ripe age of 84, there’s no stopping the man from doing what he loves best. Far from sitting at home with his slippers on, he’s continuing to make films that excite and enthral. The latest charts his return to Madagascar, an island he first filmed for the nature series Zoo Quest in 1960. Entitled Attenborough And The Giant Egg, this one-off film retraces his steps and wonderfully interweaves black and white footage of the young Attenborough on that first visit. “You’ll find, when you get to almost 85, you think you look like 25 - and then there’s photographic evidence to the contrary,” says Attenborough in that warm, familiar tone. Yes, his knees may be playing him up these days, but don’t think for a minute that was going to deter him from setting out on foot to re-explore the island. “It’s not particularly difficult in Madagascar today,” he says. “It was much harder 50 years ago but today it’s 4
“What I didn’t know was that they were quite scarce in the exact spot where I found them but if I’d gone a couple of miles in either direction I would have found huge quantities, as of course people later did.” perfectly all right. You’ve got a car and even includes air conditioning these days, so it wasn’t in the least bit arduous.” The ‘Giant Egg’ in the title refers to pieces of egg he discovered during his first exploration.
“But there is hope - we understand more about ecology and eco-systems, more about what needs to be done to protect the natural world, and I hope that certainly we take those lessons to heart in Madagascar to save its wonderful wildlife, for it is indeed an island of marvels.”
It belonged to the largest bird to have ever lived - the extinct ‘elephant bird,’ which is thought to have weighed half a ton.
There is one particularly magical moment in the film when Attenborough manages to get close to the island’s native Indri lemur.
“I had done sufficient research to know there was a giant bird that lived there and that its eggs were known even in medieval times,” he recalls.
Fifty years earlier, the elusive animal had proved nigh on impossible to film and the look of sheer glee on Attenborough’s face when he finally gets to feed the Indri by hand is heart-warming.
He adds with a chuckle: “What I didn’t know was that they were quite scarce in the exact spot where I found them but if I’d gone a couple of miles in either direction I would have found huge quantities, as of course people later did.” What is remarkable is that the shards he found fitted perfectly together and the enormous egg has since been expertly restored. It’s now one of his most treasured possessions and boasts pride of place at his home in Richmond, south west London.
“Yes I was very touched by the fact that the animal, which had been running for its life 50 years ago, and -
EXTRA TIME SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH :: He was born on May 8, 1926 in London. :: He was knighted in 1985.
This is the same home he shared with his wife, Jane, who passed away from a brain haemorrhage in 1997, and their children, Susan, who regularly visits, and Robert, a successful anthropologist who lives and works in Australia.
:: His first boss at the BBC reportedly derided him as an interviewer because she thought his teeth were too big for television.
In searching for more clues about the ‘elephant bird’, Attenborough investigates whether the story of its extinction can throw light on what is happening on the island today.
:: He says there are plenty of animals he hasn’t filmed yet although not “a particular one I’m thinking, ‘I must film that’.”
“For me, this egg is a reminder of how easy it is for species to disappear and be exterminated as human beings take over more and more of the natural world,” he says.
:: The David Attenborough Studio was recently opened as part of the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum.
5
Events newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership
| March 2011 | Edition 03
was extremely nervous and difficult to film, had recovered its faith in some human beings and actually came down and took the stuff from my hand,” he says. One of three brothers (younger brother John and elder brother Richard - the revered actor and director), Attenborough says he has many happy childhood memories and “can’t remember a time that I wasn’t interested in the natural world”. He says: “As a boy I had grass snakes and salamander, and tropical fish and so on.” After graduating from Cambridge with a degree in Natural Science, he did two years’ service in the Royal Navy before getting his first job at a London publishing house. Then in 1952 he joined the BBC as a trainee producer. “I produced all kinds of programmes - about knitting and the Prime Minister and political debate and archaeology,” he says. Zoo Quest, produced in conjunction with London Zoo from 1954 to 1964, gave him his first opportunity to undertake expeditions to remote parts of the world. He remembers turning to the cameraman at the end of the first trip to Sierra Leone and saying that if the programmes were any good they might be able to stretch the idea out for another series.
6
Through subsequent ground-breaking series he’s established himself as the world’s leading natural history programme-maker and, some say, possibly the most travelled man on earth.
Sixty years later and the ‘idea’ has stretched further than he could ever have imagined.
He’s reluctant to pick a highlight from his distinguished career, and keen to stress that he’s not done yet.
When Zoo Quest finished, he was made Controller of BBC2 and introduced colour television to Britain. Four years later he was made Director of Programmes for the BBC.
“I’m doing a series about the polar regions called Frozen Planet, which comes out in a few months’ time, and one or two other things that are still unformed,” he says.
But the call of the wild was too strong to resist and in 1973 he abandoned the office-bound job to embark on more wildlife adventures.
“If people are happy for me to do these programmes then I’m delighted I can go on doing it.”
Try this dish... We're slowly coming out of Winter, and with Spring on its way, there are a few highlights in terms of seasonal cooking produce. Rhubarb should be in abundance and purple sprouting broccoli is good to eat now. Also remember that shellfish is well worth buying at the moment. The below recipe is something a little different to ring the change in seasons. Purple sprouting broccoli, chicken and noodle salad Ingredients • 150g purple sprouting broccoli • 50g ramen noodles • 100g edamame (soy beans), fresh or frozen • 1 tbsp tamari or soy sauce • 2 tbsp mirin • 2 tsp toasted sesame oil • ½ tsp grated ginger • 2 spring onions, finely chopped • 2 small cooked chicken breasts, shredded
Method 1. Boil the broccoli stems until tender, then rinse and drain in very cold water. If the stems are large, cut them in half lengthways. 2. Cook the noodles following packet instructions, adding the edamame for the last minute and a half of cooking. Rinse well in cold water and drain thoroughly. 3. Make a dressing by mixing the tamari, mirin, sesame oil, ginger and spring onion. Put the broccoli, noodles, edamame and chicken in a bowl. Pour over the dressing and toss together, adding some extra seasoning if you like. Nutritional information per serving 403 kcalories, protein 42.4g, carbohydrate 36.9g, fat 10.6g, saturated fat 2.3g, fibre 5.6g, salt 2.12g
7
Events newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership
| March 2011 | Edition 03
‘Five generations’ of Oddfellowship in one family As part of our bicentennial celebrations last year, we spoke with many of you about Oddfellows over the years. We’ve heard some endearing stories how membership of the Society has remained throughout families and how you are encouraging younger members to be involved. There was significant interest among the media in Paul Eyre’s case, after he told us about the four generations of Oddfellowship in his family. Here, Dorothy Varley tells us her story. When seventy-two year old Dorothy, from the Halifax District, came across photos of her grandfather Arthur Waxstaff dressed in regalia, she was under the impression that he was the town’s Lord Mayor. To her amazement, more than 50 years ago, he was actually a Provincial Grand Master (Prov. GM/Chairman of the District) and it was only then that Dorothy realised that she was a part of a fraternal organisation, the Oddfellows. Signed up at birth by her mother and father, she was made aware at 16 that the juvenile trips around the country weren’t actually funded by them but by the Society itself. It was at this point that Dorothy was asked
whether she would continue with membership of an organisation that she knew nothing about. Sadly, Dorothy made the decision not to continue despite her mother and father being active Oddfellows and her grandfather being Prov GM in 1938. At this time there were many Richard and Dorothy on their Lodges within the wedding day District, right up until 1990 when the decision was made to amalgamate the Lodges under one District. Her father, John Bullcock, was also a Provincial Grand Master in 1970 and her mother acted as Secretary of juvenile Lodges in the area. Dorothy rejoined the Oddfellows at 39 along with her husband, Richard. Then, in 1983, she was made Prov GM. And the generations of Oddfellows doesn’t stop there, as her daughter, Helen Huggett, also became Prov GM in 1994. Furthermore, Dorothy’s grand-daughter is next in line to become Prov GM in the District. She is currently undergoing her degrees and it is likely that, according to Dorothy, ‘membership of the Oddfellows will remain in the family for generations to come.’
Richard and Dorothy enjoying a day out in the park
8
WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS! It has been almost a year since the launch of Oddfellows’ Ezine and we’re keen to hear your thoughts on how we can improve content. Some of you experienced difficulties when accessing the survey, so we’re running it again to canvas your thoughts. We’d be grateful if you could take two minutes to answer the following questions online: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MYRVJGS
We pay our respects… The position of Grand Master is the highest role that an individual member can attain in the Oddfellows. It means that a member has usually served their local Branch for some considerable time holding various officer posts along the way. They will also have been elected at the annual conference and served on the Board of Directors finally taking up the post of Grand Master (Chairman of the Society).
Announcements Never miss an important date or event again, thanks to the Oddfellows With more and more of you telling us that there is so much going on within the Oddfellows, we’re doing our best ensure that you are always kept in the loop. We’re rolling out the delivery of SMS feeds, where we are able to send text messages direct to your mobile. This enables us to remind you of important dates and the events taking place, as well as notifying you of information about the other services we offer. However, to take advantage of this service we need your mobile numbers for us to send you this information. We will also hope to be adding an email service so it’s important that we have your email addresses. Now is the time to ensure that we’ve got all your contact details captured so we can keep you informed of changes and updated on news and developments. If you are unsure whether we’ve the correct contact details for you, then get in touch at membershipservices@oddfellows.co.uk or call 0800 028 1810.
It is a very well respected role and we would like to take a moment to acknowledge the passing of two distinguished Past Grand Masters. Tom Nicholson PGM Preston and Mersey Districts, 26 March 1919 – 10 September 2010 And Harold F Buckingham PGM, South London District, 18 September 1925 – 30 August 2010
They will both be sadly missed and our thoughts are with their family and friends. A fuller obituary can be found in the next edition of the Oddfellow magazine.
Branches issued with digital cameras Continuing to embrace new ways to promote what we do, we have made flip cameras available to Districts. This allows them to capture footage of activities at Branch level, as well as the pertinent moments for the rest of us to see. Soon, you will see more video footage on the website and Facebook page thanks to this advancement!
9 7