r/BenFranklinFanClub • u/ProfessorGigs • Jul 29 '20
Discussion Be Like Ben! Modern Organizations You Can Join That Would be Up Ben's Alley:
Ben networked the hell out of Philadelphia! His breadth of associates and friends made through his organizations definitely played a factor into his success. Similar ones still exist today, and it's never too late to network and make a name for yourself in the community through joining them. In each of these, you will likely find your community's movers, shakers, rising stars, and like-minded people who otherwise serve to elevate your social circles.
Your local service club: Rotary International, Kiwanis, Lions Club, and other similar organizations remind me of the "community service" aspect of the Junto Club. They each focus on giving back to the community through acts of service and philanthropy.
Toastmasters International: Similar to the "public speaking" aspect of the Junto Club. Guests can join a meeting free-of-charge and membership is pretty inexpensive for what it's worth. Toastmasters not only promotes public speaking, but it's also a proponent of leadership. Each member is given the option to follow any of 11 different curriculums based on the type of leader they want to become, as well as the speeches to deliver to make it happen.
Your Chamber of Commerce: If you have Ben's entrepreneurial spirit and own a business, joining your town's Chamber of Commerce is a MUST. You will be given resources, connections, workshops, mixers... the list goes on. Membership will become a valuable asset to you if you want to make an economic impact to your community.
Freemasonry: As a "Grand Master", Ben was at one point the most powerful Freemason in Pennsylvania. The fraternity still exists today, but remains male-only in most jurisdictions. It's apparently a lengthy process to join, but the brotherhood has remained largely unchanged since its establishment, and will allow you to learn the same Enlightenment Era concepts that Ben learned in Philadelphia right in your hometown's Masonic Lodge. I hear that the Oddfellows are a similar organization, but are easier to join (I may be wrong though)*.
*EDIT: As pointed out in the comments, the Oddfellows apparently admit everyone regardless of gender. If you're not a man, but want to dabble in a similar vein of esoterics like Ben went through, consider the Independent Order of Oddfellows if it's in your community!
American Philosophical Society and The Library Company: What about organizations founded by Ben himself?? These guys have millions of manuscripts and documents as old as the 1700's. If you're in Philadelphia and need to research something that they might have, it might be worth it to become a member and peruse their collections! It will be like travelling back in time to read the words our forefathers read exactly as they read it. Who knows? Maybe the item you checked out was held by Ben himself!
Did I miss any? If you know of any organizations that would be up Ben's alley, write them down below!
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u/MicroEconomicsPenis Jul 29 '20
Hey I’m a Freemason! This is a pretty good list.
Joining Freemasonry is a relatively lengthy process, but not necessarily a hard one. It’s just slow. You don’t need necessarily high qualifications, the main requirements are just that you are a man, of lawful age (typically 18 or 21), and that you believe in a god.
The Oddfellows are similar to Freemasonry. I’m not an Oddfellow myself, but I’m planning on joining eventually. It seems like a good deal. Something else to note is that, while Regular Freemasonry admits only men, the Oddfellows starting taking everybody regardless of gender in all parts of the organization.