Newsletter no 1- 2023
The Executive Committée met on the 2nd of February and could welcome the Sovereign Grand Master Michelle Heckart and the Sovereign Grand Secretary Terry L. Barrett to Copenhagen and the Odd Fellow Palae. They joined for lunch and talks whereafter there was a guided tour all around the Palae during a couple of hours.
The next day, Friday the 3rd of February, the Board of Grand Sires ( BGS) and the Executive Committée met together with our guests.
The main topics were:
- The GLE meeting in Wroclaw 12th-14th of May 2023
Information and programme has been sent to each jurisdiction from the Polish steering committée. The Executive Committée has sent out applications for the degree of Wisdom to the jurisdictions and 115 has applied for the Degree of Wisdom this far. Each participant – applicants, spouces and other grand officers have to register by the Polish steering comm. according to information sent out.
- European Youth Tour- 2023
The tour will be conducted July 21st - July 29th in Iceland and New York with about 34 participants of whom one is from Canada.
- Report from Ukraine
OF4UKR is the official name of the aid distributed via the Polish Grand Lodge.
There is a dynamic support group in Poland which is in constant contact with the Ukranian brothers. The support consists of material assistance, financial support and care for refugees in Poland. This far around 700.000 Euros have reached OF4UKR.
They pay great attention to see that the help comes into right hands. For example they have rented a warehouse in Lviv where they store for long term food, medical aid etc.
They have a number of transport cars, ambulance and spareparts. There is also electronic devices and material for tele comunication. This year they have pulled up 30 Aid Tents in different parts of Ukraine where it is warm and electronic devices as mobiles can be loaded. The OF Club in Lviv has today 46 brothers and a lodge under Poland will be inaugurated in June 2023.
- Orientation about the situation in the SGL
There was a discussion about similarities and differences between the SGL and the GLE. We all agreed upon the importance that we work together for the best of the Odd Fellow Order worldwide. We planned together the meeting in the International Advisory Board where we will discuss matters of interest for the development of the Odd Fellow Order.
- Meeting plan
2023 Extra Grand Lodge Meeting with the Degree of Wisdom in Wroclaw
May 12th –14 th
SGL meeting and meeting in International Advisory Board in Des Moines, Iowa
BGS meeting November 9th-10th
2024 BGS meeting February 2nd- 3rd
12 th Annual Meeting in Berlin May 24th-26th
SGL meeting in Pittsburg
2026 Annual meeting in Sweden
2028 Annual meeting in Finland
2030 Annual meeting in Norway
2032 Annual meeting in the Netherlands
2034 Annual meeting in Denmark
With sisterly and fraternal greetings in
Friendship Love and Truth
Morten Buan Christina Jönsson Rydman
European Grand Sire European Grand Secretary