eZine August 2011

OddfellowsInternationalMembership

since 1810

Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | August 2011 | Edition 08

Celebrity interview: Jim Carrey

In this issue:

• Celebrity interview: Jim Carrey

• Proving friendship is good for you

• Virtual Lodge launch

• District profile: North West Kent

• … and much more

e-zineAugust2011_E-zine 30/08/2011 14:27

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Welcome to the August edition of the monthly onlinemagazine for Oddfellows members.

And we have our usual selection of stories and features,including news of our efforts to prove something we’ve allknown for years – that friendship is good for you.

We hope you enjoy reading this as much as weenjoyed writing it. If you have a story to tell then whynot share it? Email [email protected]

The Oddfellows’ Virtual Lodge is set to hold its inaugural meeting onMonday 10 October at 7.30pm. To celebrate this, the Society isinviting members to take part in a number of informal taster sessionsover the coming months.

The Lodge will be part of the wider Virtual World created by UnityOffice’s IT Department and will be called the Abercrombie Lodge inhonour of the first Oddfellows Branch.

The informal sessions will take place at 7.30pm on these dates:

• Tuesday 30 August

• Monday 19 September

• Tuesday 3 October

You can visit the Virtual World at any time, but these meetings havebeen arranged so that there will be someone available to talk to.

The Virtual Lodge is intended to compliment local Lodge meetingsrather than replace them. It will also provide an additional point ofcontact for any members unable to attend Lodge meetings in personwhile allowing them to meet other members from around the world.

Using an avatar – or online character – members can chat to eachother and visit different areas, such as the Conference centre orLodge room. Members can also explore online links to the Society’shistory and charity work.

Anyone interested in taking part can download the Virtual Worldsoftware from the Oddfellows World link in the members’ section ofthe Oddfellows website.

Members Invited to Virtual Lodge



This month Hollywood star Jim Carrey joins us totalk about his hit new film, in which he shares starbilling with six unruly penguins.

We travel to South Africa to hear about the eventful pastand promising future of some of our most far-flungLodges.

Closer to home, we profile the award-winning NorthWest Kent District, which scooped two national prizesat this year’s AMC.


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Academic studies have suggested having good friendscan help us live longer – and the Oddfellows has beenout to prove it.

Branches across the country are staging a series ofspecial ‘friendship events’ in September as part of anational campaign.

Friendship Month is inspired by a growing volume ofresearch that claims people who can count on theirfriends are generally healthier and less stressed.

One study even goes so far as to conclude we are lesslikely to catch a cold if we can rely on the benefits ofgood companionship. Another, carried out bySweden’s prestigious Karolinska Institute, identifieslack of friends as second only to smoking as apotential cause of heart disease.

Lincoln Branch’s Diane Anderson said: “Knowingit’s good for your health is just another great reasonto get involved with the Society. I’ve alwaysappreciated how much fun I’ve had making newfriends here, but to hear it’s benefiting my wellbeingfor good measure makes it even better.”

Another Lincoln Branch member, Fred Tennant,added: “The Oddfellows doesn’t just help you meetlike-minded folk – it helps you meet lifelong friends.“Anyone whowants to getmore out of life –not justfriendship butassistance,guidance,support, careand advice – canget it here.”

Proving that friendship is good for you


Pirates partyon the promenade

Members from Ipswich District pulled on their eye patches and steadied their sea legs for a pirate-themed party bythe seaside. The group met at Felixstowe promenade on 21 June for an evening of fun, festivities and a fish andchip supper. As you can see, all the guests got into the spirit of the occasion – so no-one was forced to walk theplank!


This month we travel to South Africa to find out how Oddfellowsmembers there are looking towards a brighter future. Home to 50million people, South Africa is a country that is steeped in historyand culture. From the prehistoric skeletons of our ancestors to itscontroversial 20th-century politics, its colourful past is now helpingto shape its future.

Today the country is also one of the world’s most diverse, with astaggering 11 officially recognised languages. Philip Anders,District Secretary of the Alfred Lodge in Cape Town, tells us moreabout Oddfellows life in Africa’s most prosperous nation. “OurLodge was registered in 1863, and we had a growing membershipthat met regularly here in Cape Town.

Meetings were held in the same building until 1950, when TheGroup Areas Act – an apartheid law designed to segregate peopleby race – forced us to move to Retreat, a township in the south ofthe city. Our new building, known as The Jolly Carp, sat on thebanks of Princess Vlei, a lake and popular fishing spot.

In 1956, the South African Government passed legislation knownas the Friendly Societies Act, which limited the benefits andservices we could offer. Our medical aid had to stop, and thoughwe tried to offer different schemes, we struggled to compete withthe big companies and the vast number of schemes available. Asa result, only the Alfred and Victoria Lodges remain open in CapeTown today.

But the future looks bright for the South African Oddfellows, with astrong core of members already making plans for our 150thbirthday in 2013. We’re working hard with the local press topromote our Branch, including advertising our upcoming eventsand open nights.

We meet at least once a month – every third Tuesday at 8pm – andwe get together frequently for dances, karaoke and other events.We are also well respected in the community and by the charitiesthat we support. South Africa is also home to the Natal District, andwe often invite each other to special events.

Members from the UK often come and visit too, which lifts thespirits of all our members here and is something we always lookforward to.”

Overseas Oddfellows

Events newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | March 2011 | Edition 03

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Victoria Lodge Secretary Dawie Marais

Members enjoying a breakfast

Other members from theSouth African Oddfellows


Jim Carrey is back doing what he does best in new filmcaper Mr Popper’s Penguins. The actor opens up to KateWhiting about his need to make the world smile.

For a man who arguably owes his film career to animals,it’s fitting that Jim Carrey’s return to comedy sees himteaming up with a troupe of six dancing penguins. His firstlead role in 1994 film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective made himan overnight success and follow-up hits The Mask andDumb And Dumber cemented his name as one ofHollywood’s hottest comedic talents.

In recent years he’s flexed his serious acting muscles withthe likes of thriller The Number 23 and I Love you PhilipMorris, the true story of a convict. But the appeal of “funnyroles” hasn’t faded.

“I just go all over the place. I’m a creative, so I like to do itall,” says the Canadian-born actor, flashing his world-famous manic grin. Mr Popper’s Penguins is based on achildren’s book published in 1938. While the original MrPopper is a painter who lives in small-town America, thefilm version features Carrey as a divorced businessman inNew York, who’s more interested in sealing the deal thanseeing his two kids until his explorer dad bequeaths himsix penguins.

“Some people resist working with children and animals forfear of being upstaged,” says the 49-year-old. “But I lovecapturing the spark of innocence. And what’s better thanpenguins, in our case, and children to bring that out in us?”

He admits identifying strongly with his feathered friends,played by Gentoo penguins. “There's no mistaking theirinnocent purity and there's this quality about them that'sodd. They're not quite at home in the water, they're notquite at home on land. “Are they fish? Are they fowl? Whatare they? I think everybody who looks at them has thatsame feeling about themselves – I know I do. Where do I fitin? That's what we love about them. They're awkward!”

Carrey beat off competition from five “major comedians” forthe role, according to producer John Davis, who says:“Some of them showed up at my office with penguinstatues and said: ‘I have to do this movie because I lovepenguins.’” But the actor’s ability to bring more than justcomedy to the role won him the part.

“He has a rare kind of emotional accessibility,” says MeanGirls director Mark Waters. Carrey is certainly in touch withhis emotions. Having openly battled with depression, he’slong been on a mission to make people laugh. “My majorquest in life is freedom from concern – that’s my MO [modeof operating]. It's what I've done since I was a kid.

“People always ask me where the comedy comes from.Well, my mother was a sweet, sweet lady, but she wasstruggling with so much I felt like it was my responsibility tolift her out of it and free her from concern. I spent my lifedoing that.

5Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | August 2011 | Edition 08

Carrey p-p-p-picks up a penguin



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ir

Jim Carrey with one of the featheredco-stars of Mr Popper’s Penguins

Then it was for my family when money was tight, and formy friends. I realised I could fit in like a glove if I madepeople laugh, and now it's become this worldwideobnoxious pilgrimage.”

The film will certainly put smiles on the faces of itsaudience, as Mr Popper struggles to accommodate theneeds of his new, messy housemates – named Captain,Lovey, Bitey, Nimrod, Stinky and Loudy after their traits.

In one scene, Mr Popper sits the penguins down for a‘civilised’ meal that turns into mayhem as the birds leap onto the table and gobble down their sardines. “That was ahighlight for me,” admits Carrey. “The penguins weremaniacs – all they wanted to do was attack the dinnerplates. I liked working with them because it was alwaysspontaneous; you never knew what was going to happen.All they want is fish, so I carried fish around with me - in mypockets, shoes, everywhere.”

Besides the smelly pockets, the actor suffered for his art inanother way. “It was freezing on set all the time, just 30degrees [Fahrenheit] – I was dying, but the penguins werevery happy. Then we’d go outside and do a scene on theroof where it was 80 degrees and I had to be in a Parkaand five layers of clothing. I literally almost fainted at onepoint. I was like; ‘Get it off’ and they had to tear the coat offme.

Last year was an emotional rollercoaster for the twice-divorced actor: he split from long-term girlfriend JennyMcCarthy and also became a grandfather for the first timewhen his only daughter gave birth to a son.Just as Mr Popper learns what’s important inlife and comes to appreciate the value offamily, Carrey has also learned a fewlessons from the film.

“When things you don't necessarilywant interrupt your life, they're therefor a reason – to open you up tosomething you're missing. I'vegone through periods where Iwas selfish or wasn't necessarilythere as much as I should havebeen. I guess that's why I wascalled to do this part – becauseI could be that guy. We can allget caught up in our little questfor greatness, discovery andthings that fascinate us. Andthere's something so muchmore fascinating sitting rightthere.”

EXTRA TIMEEXTRA TIME - POPULAR PENGUINS

:: Happy Feet (2006)This animation told the story of young penguin Mumble, who discovers he has a talent for tap dancing, which doesn’t go down well with the leader of the Emperor penguins. The sequel, Happy Feet 2, about Mumble’s son, is out in December 2011.

:: March of the Penguins (2005)Morgan Freeman narrated the American version of this Oscar-winning French documentary following the annual journey of the Emperor penguins as they walk 100km in single file to their ancestral breeding ground in Antarctica.

:: Batman Returns (1992)Danny DeVito plays twisted baddie The Penguin, who plots to kill all of Gotham City’s first-born sonsas revenge for being abandoned by his own parents. A pack of rocket-powered penguins play his sidekicks.

:: Mr Popper’s Penguins is out now.


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Our spotlight stops in the South east this month as wetell you everything you need to know about Kent. Westart with a visit to one of the Society’s youngestDistricts – North West Kent – to find out how they gotstarted.

North West Kent District didn’t even exist until two-and-a-half years ago. Before that it was part of Woolwich Districtand had been for over 100 years.

But a group of members in Kent decided that it wanted tobranch out on their own. So they went through a three-step process to set up their own financial District. Theprocess required Branch, Board of Directors and FraternalBoard approval.

This achieved, the District of North West Kent was born on 1 January 2009. It covers the towns of Dartford,Wilmington, Greenhithe and the picturesque Darent Valley.Chris Bellis, current Trustee and Past District Chairman,said: “We still have close links with Woolwich, but it’s greatto be able to run things ourselves and push thingsforward.”

A successful recruitment drive undertaken last year istestament to this, with their first Branch, the Hope ofDartford, quickly followed by a second, Newtown, in July2010. The recruitment efforts of North West Kent’smembers were recognised at this year’s Annual MoveableConference (AMC) and Southern Group Conference. Theywon national awards for the highest net and percentageincrease in membership during 2010. Chris and his wifeTracey and her husband Chris were at the AMC to collectthe awards.

Member Barbara Huntley also received a Certificate ofSpecial Mention for recruiting over 10 new members inone year. They now have 250 members in their District, soto meet the demands of this growing membership thebranch is spending £150,000 on their Lodge over the nextsix months.

Chris said: “We’re investing in the long term by extendingthe meeting room, building a new office and improvingdisabled access. It’ll be a much brighter, nicer place to visitonce it’s all finished.”

And members will have no shortage of events tohost in their new Lodge. North West Kent alwayskeeps the social calendar full thanks to its twoSocial Secretaries, Barbara Huntley and SarahRobinson.

Upcoming events include cheese and wineevenings, quiz nights and guest speakers.

Branch profile: North West Kent

Chris Bellis pictured collecting their award


Members on a trip to Biddenden Vineyard



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To mark this month’s Branch profile – North West Kent –we take a trip to the home counties to find out what lifethere is really like.

From Canterbury Cathedral to the Turner Contemporary inMargate, Kent is firmly established as one of the country’smost popular tourist resorts.

It’s also a key link to Greater London. The Dartford Crossingand the Channel Tunnel terminal are both in the county, withthe latter meaning that France is only a 30 minute train rideaway. On a clear day you can even see the continent from theWhite Cliffs of Dover.

Kent’s reputation as the Garden of England is well founded.As one of the warmest corners of the UK, it’s home toorchards, seaside resorts and, with sales of Kent-made winecontinuing to grow, even vineyards.

Kent is a popular holiday destination and well worthconsidering if you and your family are planning a cost-savingstaycation.

• Kent takes its name from the old Celtic term ‘cantus’, meaning ‘border.’

• The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 began in Kent, with Wat Tyler leading a group of 50,000 into London.

• During the 17th and 18th centuries, the county was a key strategic coastline for the Royal Navy as it fought wars against France and the Netherlands.

• The county played a pivotal role in World War Two, especially in the summer of 1940 when the Battle of Britain was fought in the skies above.

• Today it is home to over 1.5 million people.

Focus on: Kent

Images courtesy of Visit Kent

Canterbury Cathedral

Leeds Castle

The White Cliffs of Dover


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An interestingly named egg savoury snack from Kent. Similar to modern fishcakes, this was oncea way of using up leftover fish. The recipe has been kindly supplied by Kent County Council, which ispromoting Kentish Food Week from 26 to 30 September 2011.

Click here for other recipes

Ingredients• 300g white fish• 300ml milk• 350g mashed potatoes• 2 eggs, hard-boiled

Preparation1) Poach the fish in milk. When the fish is cooked, use a slotted spoon to remove it from the pan (reserve the milk

for later). Carefully remove and discard any bones or skin from the white fish fillets.

2) In a bowl flake the fish and mix in the mashed potatoes. Add a little of the reserved milk to the mixture to help itbind together.

3) Shell the hard-boiled eggs and chop. Gently stir into fish mixture.

4) Add pepper to taste and divide the mixture into 8 balls.

5) Dip into the beaten egg, roll in breadcrumbs and oven-bake until crisp and golden.

Local recipe


Kent Twice Laid

• 1 egg for dipping• 100g fresh wholemeal breadcrumbs• pinch of ground black pepper


http://www.kent.gov.uk/education_and_learning/school_education/school_meals/kentish_food_week.aspx

George in the gardenTop tips from our new resident gardener

By now we’re all thinking that autumn is just aroundthe corner. The season of mist and mellowfruitfulness: it’s the time when your garden becomesawash with colour as trees and shrubs begin to turn.

You’ll probably be working hard to get everythinglooking tidy before the rain and frost come along, butlet’s hope that they both come a little later this year.

My favourite plant right nowHydrangeas are wonderful plants – and now’s thetime to take cuttings. Cut off three inches of the softwood just below the leaf, dip it in rooting compostand plant in a four-inch clay pot. After six weeks itshould be ready to pot again – this time into a three-inch pot. Keep it in a cool greenhouse away fromfrost and you’ll have some lovely plants next spring.

Flower gardenNow’s the time to plant your daffodil, crocus and tulipbulbs. Good daffodil varieties include Carlton,Pheasant’s Eye and Red Devon, a lovely yellowflower with a red cup.

Red Riding Hood is a lovely bright red tulip withmottled foliage. It grows between 8 and 11 inches talland can be planted in exposed places like tubswithout getting damaged by the weather.Roses are having a second flush right now and avariety of other seed heads can be left alone todevelop pods – like lilies and poppies.

Fruit gardenRight now, some early fruits – such as crab-apples –are ready for picking. But I like to leave the cookingapples on the trees for another month or two. Thenpick them on a dry day and store them in a frost-freebuilding on trays not touching each other – that way ifsome go rotten they won’t rot the others aroundthem.

VegetablesNow you can really startcutting off extra foliage onyour tomatoes. Thisallows more light and airin to help them ripen.Ease off on the wateringas well, even if the plantsstarts to droop, becausethey’ve finished growing now and it’s important to helpthem ripen.

You can now plant out the spring cabbage that yousowed in July. Be sure to leave 18 inches between eachrow and 15 inches between each plant. Water them andtread them in well, because a good firm soil helps tomake a good solid head of cabbage next spring.It’s also the time to plant your Japanese onions. Theseare less susceptible to disease, and I grow quite a lotmyself. Try and buy bulb sets from Holland andremember to leave 15 inches between each row and 12inches between each set when planting. These should be ready next June.

And remember to keep your leeks well watered if we dohave a dry autumn.

Secrets to improve your patch

• Use clay pots for your hydrangea cuttings. They hold in the moisture and stops them drying out.

If your hydrangeas fail, leave on the deadheads. This protects the young buds until the spring.

• Give your shrubs and plants some compost now and they’ll hold in moisture come the autumn.

• If your tomatoes don’t ripen, use them in a chutney. Green tomato chutney goes very well with roast beef.

10 Newsletter for the Oddfellows International Membership | August 2011 | Edition 08



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