# Fraternal/Service Organizations. Sell me on yours. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 25, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraternal-service-organizations-sell-me-on-yours/533766 "2010-03-25T16:58:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraternal-service-organizations-sell-me-on-yours/533766/1 "2010-03-25T16:58:08Z")
I am looking for some sort of social/fraternal/service organization to join. I am a 40 year old married female. I am mostly agnostic, with pagan tendencies. However, I was raised (nominally) Christian/Protestant. I’ve always wanted to be a Mason - ever since I learned about them - but they don’t let girls in the boy’s club, and Eastern Star doesn’t quite appeal (although I’m eligible as my grandfather was apparently a Mason). I’ve looked into some of the Co-Freemasonry groups, but none of them are close enough for me to attend regularly and I’m not sure I’m interested in being in an “underground” sort of organization anyway. My interest is in finding something where I can meet new people, have a place to hang out, have some activites to participate in; I’d like something with some ritual to it but it’s not an overarching requirement. I’m looking for something where potentially my husband could join along with me, and that may have family-type activities and/or a youth organization for my 16 year old daughter. I’ve researched a number of groups, including Elks, Moose, Rotary, Sertoma, Lions, Eagles. However, the most information I know about them is what I’ve learned in the [Ask the Elk](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=556466) thread. So, if you belong to any of the listed organizations, or any others of similar type, please let me know what makes YOUR organization the one I should investigate joining. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraternal-service-organizations-sell-me-on-yours/533766/2 "2010-03-25T17:14:22Z")
Where do you live? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraternal-service-organizations-sell-me-on-yours/533766/3 "2010-03-25T17:35:33Z")
I’m in the VFW, which has been nice for me. Their membership requirements are pretty specific, though, and most people can’t join. The Moose have a reputation for being very family-oriented - you might want to check them out. ---
**Author:** ![Arglefraster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@Arglefraster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arglefraster)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraternal-service-organizations-sell-me-on-yours/533766/4 "2010-03-25T17:48:07Z")
My dad is involved with both the [Lions Club](http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/index.php) and [Optimist International](http://www.optimist.org/). I don’t know very much about them, but I know he enjoys them. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraternal-service-organizations-sell-me-on-yours/533766/5 "2010-03-25T18:55:43Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > Where do you live? Sorry, I should’ve said. I’m in Indianpolis, IN. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraternal-service-organizations-sell-me-on-yours/533766/6 "2010-03-27T14:09:37Z")
Bumping for the weekend crowd. Any takers? Bueller? Bueller? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraternal-service-organizations-sell-me-on-yours/533766/7 "2010-03-27T19:12:30Z")
You might be a member already but [http://www.meetup.com/](http://www.meetup.com/) is a very good way to meet people to do stuff with. In your area you can probably find 500+ groups for all kinds of various interests. There is no cost to join and many events are free. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fraternal-service-organizations-sell-me-on-yours/533766/8 "2010-03-30T15:13:26Z")
Check out the [Junior League of Indianapolis](http://www.jlindy.org/scriptcontent/index.cfm). My wife is a member of the JL in our hometown. It is a very active organization that is useful for meeting other service minded women and does a lot for the community.