Why has US membership in civic organizations like Masons, Lion's Club, Civitan, etc, declined so much?

Question

I have a theory of my own, but I'd like to hear some of your opinions, and I'll give you mine after I get some answers. Thanks!

Answer 1

I think after Vietnam, the Generation X, Y, and Z became the Me Generations.That was part of it. So there was not the idealistic urge to make the world better. What did we see? Recruitment all right but for gangs on one side and military on the other.

Drugs played a big part, too. The cooperative if a little laid back marijuana seems to have given over to meth and oxyconden. Folks doing that do not seem to want to cooperate with others.

TV is a drug, so are things like computer games. How many hours do people, especially young men, waste every week in front of them?

However the biggest thing probably is the lack of free time. Many hard working folks are working two or more jobs. Families are often just a mom and the kids. No dad in residence. Mom hardly has a moment to spend outside the home to make anything but her family. Bless moms everywhere for at least that!

Personally, I see quite a resurgence in growth in service in American Co-Masonry. The number of our Lodges and the number of people in Lodge seems staggering. In my Lodge in Los Angeles, I have been at 6 Initiations this year so far and I think we will probably have another three before year's end. We also seem to be keeping our EAs. I think that is healthy. Last Raising I was at in a local Lodge we had 18 Masters. I was the second oldest person there at 59. And it is a long process to become a Master in Co-M. It takes at least a year.

I hear from others that Elks seem to be growing here in California, too. So, all is not lost. People need to satisfy their need for making the world better place. I see you are doing so.

Master Mason
American Co-Masonry
Hiram Lodge (Santa Cruz, CA)
Amon Ra Lodge (Los Angeles, CA)
Sapientia Lodge of Research (Larkspur, CO)

Answer 2

Well there was a time when many of those groups was "the thing" to do. I think with Masonry it is somewhat good to avoid high number low conent if you will. I remember hearing a master of a lodge tell me how so many people were ring joiners. They would join getthe ring and all they wanted was that status. I guess the ranks they want they would never achieve by doing things in such a way. However giving recent circumstance I have heard with many Masonic lodges having a much larger petition rate.

Maybe in your travels* we shall meet one day. Best of luck on your EA.

Answer 3

A lot of those clubs were formed by verteran groups after WWII. As those guys get older and pass on, it seems the younger generations don't have much desire to carry the torch. It's a pity, really.

Answer 4

because of Republicans good jobs went overseas and most here are working minimum wage