Tip No. 1 on becoming a member of the Slumbering Groundhog Lodge of Quarryville, home to the area's premier (and stuffed) prognosticator, Octoraro Orphie: Don't utter a word about that other whistlepig.

"We don't even want to talk about that," lodge Hibernating Gov. Richard M. Rankin said, his tone serious. "Something about Phil or something?"

Yes, Punxsutawney Phil.

The Marmota monax whose record of predicting every Feb. 2 whether we're in for six more weeks of winter or an early spring pales in comparison to Orphie's.

But Orphie's record will be on the line again in just 13 days, Groundhog Day. What better time for a chat with his home lodge's hibernating governor?

Rankin, 52, was elected to the post in April 2009 by the lodge's 11-member board of directors. He's been a member of the lodge since 1995.

"My father was a member. My father-in-law was a member. Really it was that tradition, plus being down to other events. They're good people, and it was something I wanted to do," said Rankin, who lives in New Providence.

There are some 250 members of the lodge.

Rankin, who is president and chief executive officer of Murray Insurance Associates, took over as hibernating governor from Dr. James Pennington, who held the position for 28 years.

1. What sort of responsibilities does the hibernating governor of the Slumbering Groundhog Lodge have?

The responsibilities I have would be presiding over board meetings throughout the year. We have a board meeting every other month, and we have membership meetings every Sunday in January, which would culminate with our celebration and meeting on Groundhog Day.

What goes on at board meetings the rest of the year?

We deal with facility-types of issues. We do have a pretty large building down there. There's always maintenance we need to do. So that would be discussed.

2. How do you get to be a member of the Slumbering Lodge? What qualifies you? What disqualifies you?

First of all, you have to be over 35 years old, because you have to be at least 35 to be president of the United States. We feel that's important. You have to fill out a membership application, and you need two current members to sponsor that application. Then you appear before the board for an interview.

Initiation and indoctrination takes place at the lodge every Sunday in January.

3. Initiation and indoctrination. What are prospective lodge members subjected to as part of initiation and indoctrination?

That's very secret, but the initiation is designed to further determine whether these men are fit for membership in the groundhog lodge and educate them in the wisdom of the groundhog. That's secret info. There's certain research they have to do, certain history they have to learn, certain activities they have to perform.

4. What's with the white robes and black top hats?

That's a good question. That's tradition. The white robe and top hat has been in existence since 1908, when the lodge was founded.

So there's no story behind the weird getup?

Not that I'm aware of.

5. What do you really think of Punxsutawney Phil? Why is Octoraro Orphie better than that scoundrel?

Octoraro Orphie has a record of 100 percent absolute accuracy in weather forecasting since 1908. The other groundhog is an impostor and cannot say that they've had the same record.

tmurse@lnpnews.com