How many of you are Service Club members?

[unclebilly]

I’m a Lions club member. A nearby club is struggling and asked to become a branch chapter of our club.

If you do belong to a service club, is your club thriving, declining, or steady state?

Our club is steady state for now but most of our members are 60-80 years old.

If you are not a member of a service club, what would it take for you to join?

[jhynesrockmtn]

I was in Rotary for a few years. A previous boss "recommended strongly" that I join and the company paid my annual dues. I'm not the personality type for it. The folks who seemed to stay long term are ultra outgoing social types and I'd say 80% were in a sales role of some kind. Wealth management, real estate, etc. Ugh. That's not me. Not to send this to PARF, but after the 2016 election, there was a lot of finger pointing and arguing about what was appropriate and what wasn't. It made a mostly boring situation uncomfortable. They were constantly talking about recruiting new members and seemed to tread water for the time I was there. Not as bad as my Mom's catholic parish, but I would not say thriving. When my job changed, I was happy to use that as an excuse to exit.

[Chocaholic]

Don’t even know what a service club is.

[Racerbvd]

I'm a life member of the Moose, an Elk, a Master Mason, Scottish Rite and a Shriner.

[RNajarian]

MOWW for me (Military Order of The World Wars) Also a Life Member

https://moww.org/

[911 Rod]

I barely have time to tidy up the garage. I think I'd help seniors first.

[rcooled]

My folks belonged to the ELKS Club way back when. From what I remember, the agenda revolved mostly around drinking and partying. Don't know if that's changed any since then...but maybe it mostly depends on the individual chapter.

Clubs aren't my thing, but I can see the appeal of hanging out with people who generally share some common interests.

[LWJ]

I lived next door to Animal House in my college fraternity. Does that count?

[p911dad]

I have been in the Lions and Rotary clubs over the years, back in upstate NY.. Good groups that did a lot of good in those small communities. A bunch of reasonably successful guys that contributed to the club's chosen causes, like child blindness, amblyopia, or community service. But that was long ago for me and i am not sure if those clubs can have the same impact as in years past. The government now floods those issues with money and programs, so who knows? Back in the 70's and 80's most of the guys were either college professor types, local professionals, small businessmen or local lights, as we aged out so did the clubs. We had a lot of fun and fellowship in those clubs. It was in my experience a small town thing, and often an important part of small towns. Now I am not so sure it is as relevant anymore as it was with all the government aid.

As far as joining a service club I myself just don't have the energy anymore to do a good job as a member.