In the years I worked as a newspaper editor, I’d have my reporters cover the civic groups when they did something cool, was often asked to speak at their meetings, and also was courted by many of them. I liked the Elks the best: they tended to be down-to-earth and rowdier than the others. Their clubhouses had pool tables and beer. Some genuinely nice and fun folks, but that pledge was centered on a belief in a deity and I just couldn’t go there.

Hate to point it out on here, but of course, in the US especially, many of these clubs are in direct competition for the same space in the community social life as the churches.

We have the Lions Club here on island and when I first moved here they wanted me to join. When the pledge was said I knew I was out.

Funny thing, one member wanted me to go to work for Paul Allen (he has an estate here and hires locals). I asked what I would be doing and was told I would start as a night watchman. Are you kidding, I asked and was told I would be sitting a room watching cameras. I was to start with the night shift. I then asked who would be watching me and was told there was a camera in the room. At that point my late partner laughed so hard she nearly fell out of her chair. She knew my habit of falling asleep even during short talks. I told the guy I would do him a favor and not accept so he wouldn't have to be embarrassed at having a person he recommended fired after the first night!

What can save them is a low price night out and safe environment. They just need to be discovered by the younger people and update their social programs. They actually could be a nice alternative to regular bars, and they do have good family programs if taken advantage of.

'You do not have to change ... survival is not compulsory' - William Edwards Deming

Our modern society is constantly changing. Adapt or fade into obscurity.

People think everyone needs to be busy on a project or have "something to do." My step-dad retired and had to find other work to be busy. For me, I have to quit what I am doing in oder to go to work. I like the things i do even if they would bore others to tears.

When I retired and moved to my lake house in a very rural area, I was looking for ways to occupy my now free time. I attended the local VFW to see what they offered and it was nothing but a room full of cigarette smoke and old drunks.

That's what happens when the upper middle class loses its free time, or gets it's numbers reduced.

Years ago, when I was with my first husband, he was asked to join one of these lodges. I don't even recall which one. He is ten years older than me, and I was only in my mid twenties at the time. It was a bunch of people who seemed to be mostly in their sixties, plus. Maybe some were in their fifties. That isn't what bothered me, though. What I didn't like was how the women were viewed...as secondary--there to build up the men. I have no problem with supporting a spouse, but it needs to go both ways--equally. And, I just saw that the women were seen as "less" than the more important men. We never went back.

I was once a member of the lions club and even the president, to satisfy my dad! By being president when I did I was then the nephew of a founding member of the club in our area. Didn't last long as most of the members wanted to play poker and nothing else. These groups do good work but nothing to hold a young person.