Secret Clubs, Societies, Masons, etc - whos in one? Offline networks

Hav3n

Hav3n

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Mar 19, 2010
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So here is the deal... and stick with me here because I kinda have to out to left field before making my point.


Religious institutions in 'the west' are on the decline.

While I'm perfectly happy to see this (as an non-church going agnostic myself) it does present some problems for me as well.

Religious institutions are, for all you haters out there was/is, at least really good for networking. I've seen this first hand on a weekly basis.

Down here in the south there is what we call the "Good Ole Boy Network" and it is largely based around what church you go to.

These are people that 'have your back' that look out for you. Who you call on for favors. Who you'd do favors for.

Basically what I'm talking about is people who are genuinely interested in your success and vice versa. An understood agreement to help someone out in a bind simply because of their membership to the particular group in which you also belong.

This particular network is easy to get into if 1) you're hypocritical enough to still go to church only for the networking or 2) you're still going to church because you believe the church's message.


I don't fall into either of those categories.




So I started looking for other 'groups' or 'fraternities' to network with.


The first one that comes to mind is the Freemasons - but not so fast. They still are (based on my reading) a vaguely religious society. Especially down here in the south.

Also anyone who I know in the masons is easily 60+ years old.

Other than the masons I have found anything that looks like it would be a 'good fit'


The people who I do network with are mid-twenties to mid-fifties and are still working... but none of this is a formal association.

Also nearly every group I belong to is internet based. Which doesn't exactly get me out of that DUI or get me a deal on that part I need for my A/C.

I'm frustrated because we have a TRADE but no TRADE ASSOCIATION that works for us 'in the real world'.


What do 'we' do? Where is our association for:

Intelligent
Non-religious
Limited membership (referral based?)
Business minded people


Suggestions WF? EDIT: you can also PM me if you want if you want to keep something private but I hope that you'll answer my follow up questions

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Hav3n said:
Religious institutions are, for all you haters out there was/is, at least really good for networking. I've seen this first hand on a weekly basis.
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Hav3n said:
Down here in the south there is what we call the "Good Ole Boy Network" and it is largely based around what church you go to.
Click to expand...
Hav3n said:
What do 'we' do? Where is our association for:

Intelligent
Non-religious
Limited membership (referral based?)
Business minded people
Click to expand...

this is really only an issue that applies to people that live in the southern USA, the rest of the world doesn't have this problem

the best solution is to relocate yourself from the cesspool of ignorance known as the southern states
 
I know two masons. Neither are religious, but I have no idea what they actually do/talk about in the meetings.

Both guys are in their mid-late 20's.

One of them (a big alcoholic) flipped his truck drunk. Tried to walk away from the scene, was found by the cops like 20 feet away sleeping under a tree. The incident was never reported.

The other has told me he's been pulled over several times and that every time a cop approaches him he gives them the "secret" handshake and they let him go on his way. From my very limited experience, it seems that cops/local authorities tend to be masons and it's a "good ol' boys" club that can get you on their good side. I have no plans on trying to join but I can definitely see the upside.
 
Chamber of Commerce.
Libertarian Clubs. etc.

I actually can't find anything that's worth it to be honest.

One of my friends did the Mason route and he doesn't look like he's having all that fun. Say it's mostly old men, in good professions like accountants and doctors, but no hardcore CEO ballers or whatever.
 
Adevictus said:
this is really only an issue that applies to people that live in the southern USA, the rest of the world doesn't have this problem

the best solution is to relocate yourself from the cesspool of ignorance known as the southern states
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I'll play along.

Do you have examples of these clubs/groups/etc that exist outside of the South?
 
scottspfd82 said:
I know two masons. Neither are religious, but I have no idea what they actually do/talk about in the meetings.

Both guys are in their mid-late 20's.

One of them (a big alcoholic) flipped his truck drunk. Tried to walk away from the scene, was found by the cops like 20 feet away sleeping under a tree. The incident was never reported.

The other has told me he's been pulled over several times and that every time a cop approaches him he gives them the "secret" handshake and they let him go on his way. From my very limited experience, it seems that cops/local authorities tend to be masons and it's a "good ol' boys" club that can get you on their good side. I have no plans on trying to join but I can definitely see the upside.
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BluAffiliate said:
Chamber of Commerce.
Libertarian Clubs. etc.

I actually can't find anything that's worth it to be honest.

One of my friends did the Mason route and he doesn't look like he's having all that fun. Say it's mostly old men, in good professions like accountants and doctors, but no hardcore CEO ballers or whatever.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the answers!

I'll have to look into this a bit more but it seems like the quality of the Masons is going to LARGELY depend on the local lodge and I am not terribly hopeful about my local lodge.

So still looking for more examples
 
Hav3n said:
I'll have to look into this a bit more but it seems like the quality of the Masons is going to LARGELY depend on the local lodge and I am not terribly hopeful about that.
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to become a mason you have to believe in a god so you are just going to be around a concentration of hardcore christian nutjobs that probably inherited wealth from their cotton plantations a few generations back
 
Adevictus said:
to become a mason you have to believe in a god so you are just going to be around a concentration of hardcore christian nutjobs that probably inherited wealth from their cotton plantations a few generations back
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Sorta....

From what i've read:

"Freemasonry in fact requires of its members no specific view of a supreme being, as Deism would do, but rather a simple belief in a supreme being."

EDIT: Another reference

"It is religious in that a belief in a Supreme Being and in the immortality of the soul are the two prime requirements for membership, but it is nonsectarian in that no religious test is used."

Of course I'm no member...
 
Funny you bring this up I have just started a dialogue with my local lodge trying to figure out if it may be a good fit. The age thing is a real concern but from what I can find it looks like there are some guys in their 30s in my area so I'm looking to set up a coffee meeting to check it out a bit more. I am deff interested inthe networking opportunities it provides as well as the potential doors it could open
 
Yeah, in the UK there are shitloads:

-Ancient Order of Foresters ( I think that's worldwide)
-Rotary (also worldwide)
-Livery companies (worshipful company of farriers etc) - London based, some going back as far as the 1200s
-there are load of Members's clubs in London (NOT strip clubs) - Soho house, the Arts Club, the Hospital Club
-the Masons is popular with police:
Freemasons in the police leading the attack on David Cameron's riot response - Telegraph
-professional organisations like the Institute of Directors

I've said it before, but if you want to network with ballers, learn to sail racing yachts and crew for people who own/skipper them. You'll get shouted at a lot (that's kind of par for the course with sailing racing boats), but it's a much better way to get to know people than standing around in a room full of old men.
 
I keep telling my real life friends that we should start a guild and help each other with our unique skills and connections and help position ourselves into powerful positions. They look at me like I'm a conspiracy nut. But this type of shit has been going down since the dawn of civilization.
 
Mile high club member here, let me know if you guys need any peanuts I've got the hookup.
 
thehobbster said:
I keep telling my real life friends that we should start a guild and help each other with our unique skills and connections and help position ourselves into powerful positions. They look at me like I'm a conspiracy nut. But this type of shit has been going down since the dawn of civilization.
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I've thought about this, to be honest getting people to take you seriously is the hardest part. It's like telling people you're planning your own mission to mars.
 
Philip P said:
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Damn! Foiled again! I could never get my required Skype chat hours up enough to pass the infamous "12 inches of Grindstone " initiation rite.

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Good/sad to see that I'm in the similar boat as a lot of you guys.
 
This is a great question as I've recently moved and have been looking for more networking opportunities myself. I'm having decent success meeting people at the YMCA of all places. I swim there and usually hit the hot tub after, and I've met some interesting people this way. I have received a couple introductions through this and feel like the key is just to make yourself approachable.

Also be interested in people - not just for what they can do for you, but because meeting people is interesting. If it happens to develop into something that can benefit your business - great, if not, well, nothing wrong with meeting people and making friends. But I wouldn't be surprised if this stuff turns into a referral or something down the road, that is just how the world works.

But yeah, I'd certainly enjoy a slightly more structured setting. Maybe start a mastermind group of some sort? I've always been curious about those. Also another option is just getting involved in the community through volunteering and charity work. Joining the chamber of commerce is another idea.
 
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