Nearly 13 years and one pandemic after the series’ debut, the Davis Odd Fellows is gearing up to host their 100th Thursday Live event on Dec. 1.
The anniversary will be marked with a holiday concert featuring local musicians According to Bazooka, Biscuits & Honey, Me & Him, The Muddy Waders, and Keith Adolfo Campos—all donating their time to raise money for the many community works programs the Odd Fellows contribute to throughout the year.
It’s a tremendous personal milestone for Grand Noble Kurt Roggli and lodge secretary Juelie Roggli, the husband-and-wife team largely responsible for bringing the program to fruition. “It was just Kurt and I in 2009,” recalls Juelie, “hauling equipment on loan from Watermelon Music when it used to be downtown. Sound equipment that we didn’t have at the time.”
“It was a slow start, but what I’m most proud of,” adds Kurt, “is that it’s all done for the love of music and the love of the community.” While the December holiday concert will fundraise for Odd Fellows’ service works, the majority of the Thursday Live concerts raise money directly for the artists—many of whom come from the Bay Area or surrounding foothills to play in the hall. “We want to help support the musicians, but also give people the chance to come in and hear really quality music,” he says.
No entrance fee is required, but donations are encouraged, with all proceeds (with the exception of the holiday concert) going to the performers. “The musicians have no idea what they’re going to make. They love the idea of an audience that loves music and who want to hear them play.” And both Kurt and Juelie emphasize that attendees tend to be really generous. “The people who work here are volunteers. We tell [the artists] in advance, ‘We’re not making money. It’s all going to you.’”
Juelie smiles as she notes, “Typical odd fellows.”
The Davis lodge—now the largest order of Odd Fellows in the country, with members ranging in age from 16 to 88—was established as a service organization in 1870, when “Davisville” was a new stop on the Southern Pacific Railroad. To put that in perspective, imagine that Ulysses S. Grant had just been elected the 18th President, only five years after serving in the Civil War. The University would not welcome students to Davis for another 38 years. Through it all, the Odd Fellows have been here.
But Kurt credits its growth and success largely to one man. “Dave Rosenberg worked hard to develop an ethos of camaraderie. ‘You can have fun while doing good work.’ And that brings people together.”
Every year, the Odd Fellows organize several charitable projects and activities to benefit the community—for example, October’s Zombie Bike Ride which, with The Bike Campaign, helped NorCal Trykers provide custom, adaptive tricycles to children with special needs.
Over 50 members of the lodge will volunteer for this month’s annual Breakfast with Santa (Dec. 10), which will collect proceeds for groups that work with foster youth and emancipated foster youth.
And on the second Sunday of each month, a Bingo tournament benefits a local organization that needs assistance. This month’s beneficiary will be Unleashing the Possibilities, whose mission is to build a better future for Yolo County shelter animals and those who care for them. “Davis Odd Fellows Bingo! is just another way that the Davis Odd Fellows give back to our community,” says Juelie. “The vast majority of money raised stays in Yolo County for those in need.”
The two agree that membership offers a nice blend of service to the community—where you can feel like you’re contributing in a meaningful way—and social events. “Once a week, we have a lodge night,” says Kurt, “with drinks and dinner you can buy. Maybe trivia. It feels like a clubhouse downtown into which you can walk anytime and just hang out.”
All are welcome to the lodge’s monthly second-Saturday morning breakfast meetings. “Lots of people show up, and it’s very inclusive,” says Juelie, noting that people sit down “where there is an empty seat.”
“When we’re all here, everybody is kind of on an equal footing,” adds Kurt. We have superior court judges and school teachers and physicians, and I don’t have an idea about what half the people do because it’s about being yourself. About having a good time and being part of a community and doing good for that community.”
The Davis Odd Fellows Hall is located at 415 Second St. in Davis.
The 100th Thursday Live holiday show is donation only. Doors open at 7p and the music starts at 7:30p. Sponsored by the Davis Odd Fellows Music and Concert Committee with the support of KDRT radio and Jim Buchanan.
This month, the Odd Fellows Hall will also host Hillstomp with The Sam Chase & The Untraditional, presented by Davis Live Music Collective, on Dec. 2; and a ticketed New Year’s Eve party, featuring Mumbo Gumbo, on the 31. See the calendar for more details.
