Rebekahs/Odd Fellows- Problems in New York
Nov. 8th, 2006 03:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
collwenI've got to get a hold of the letter that is apparently waiting for us at my lodge meeting tomorrow.
Apparently, somehow, the state level of Odd Fellows in NY was able to get the next level up to remove the state officers on the Rebekahs side of the equation. I need to get the official list of reasons, but part of it is probably this- with several decisions that were made at the Assembly Session that I was at a few months ago, we announced our intent to break the stranglehold that the men's organization has on us.
The two biggest things are these- We had a batch of years where the men slowly gained more and more control over us. It got to the point where we had to have our Assembly Session at the same time/place as theirs. Secondly, they had imposed a per capita tax on our Assembly (amounting to x per member of each Lodge) during a financial emergency over a decade ago, and were able to keep it going to the point where they now depend on it as a source of income.
We said "No More."
We said that we wanted to have our own, separate, Assembly Session. When and where we want it, as we have had in the past. Where we can make our own deals and make the Session more affordable for more of our Sisters to come to it.
We also said that we would not pay this tax to the men's group because they had no right to charge it, and that we get nothing from them for it. And we have no say in the process that creates it. (Taxation without Representation anyone?) We were willing to work out an agreement with them to cut it back over time, so they wouldn't get into another financial crisis because of us.
And now, they have removed our officers. I need to find out the official reasons why.
Apparently, somehow, the state level of Odd Fellows in NY was able to get the next level up to remove the state officers on the Rebekahs side of the equation. I need to get the official list of reasons, but part of it is probably this- with several decisions that were made at the Assembly Session that I was at a few months ago, we announced our intent to break the stranglehold that the men's organization has on us.
The two biggest things are these- We had a batch of years where the men slowly gained more and more control over us. It got to the point where we had to have our Assembly Session at the same time/place as theirs. Secondly, they had imposed a per capita tax on our Assembly (amounting to x per member of each Lodge) during a financial emergency over a decade ago, and were able to keep it going to the point where they now depend on it as a source of income.
We said "No More."
We said that we wanted to have our own, separate, Assembly Session. When and where we want it, as we have had in the past. Where we can make our own deals and make the Session more affordable for more of our Sisters to come to it.
We also said that we would not pay this tax to the men's group because they had no right to charge it, and that we get nothing from them for it. And we have no say in the process that creates it. (Taxation without Representation anyone?) We were willing to work out an agreement with them to cut it back over time, so they wouldn't get into another financial crisis because of us.
And now, they have removed our officers. I need to find out the official reasons why.
