Method returns null in main

Question

i have a class and a main inside the main
i call the method getProperties.
but why is this still null???
System.out.println(odprops);
can someone suggest what i am doing wrong?
thanks in advance
annie
public class Launcher
     private static Properties odprops;
     public static void main(String args[])throws IOException, FileNotFoundException, Exception
          getProperties(odprops);
          System.out.println(odprops); //how come this is null
     public static Properties getProperties(Properties props) throws IOException
          FileInputStream fi = new FileInputStream("Loader.properties");
          Properties odprops = new Properties();
          odprops.load(fi);
          System.out.println(odprops);     //this is not null - it shows me my properties     
          return odprops;
}

Answer 1

public static void main(String args[])throws
s IOException, FileNotFoundException, Exception
          getProperties(odprops);change to
odprops = getProperties(null);