What is DeMolay?
DeMolay is a community-based international organization for young men ages 12 to 21 which emphasized leadership skills and character-building within a program of social, sports, and community service activities.
What is the history of DeMolay?
DeMolay was founded in 1919 in Kansas City, Missouri, by Frank S. Land. Since its inception, DeMolay has spread to 14 countries and there are currently 650 chapters in North America. DeMolay currently has 7 chapters in the metropolitan Kansas City area.
What is the purpose of DeMolay?
DeMolay teaches young men to be better persons and better leaders. The DeMolay program is based on timeless principles, “hands on” experience. Members develop civic awareness through community service projects, personal responsibility by planning and executing their own activities, and gain self-confidence through leadership and public speaking training.
What activities are offered in the DeMolay program?
Community service projects, a comprehensive sports program, social functions, and fundraising events. Rather than focusing on any one type of activity. DeMolay members are encouraged to test their interests in a varied program of events.
Who can become a member of DeMolay?
DeMolay is open to any young man between the ages of 12 and 21 who professes a belief in a Supreme Being and strives to be of good chcaracter.
Is DeMolay a Religious Organization?
No. DeMolay teaches that one of the steps towards becoming a happy and successful person is developing a strong faith and being true to it. Just as important, DeMolay teaches respect and toleration for the beliefs of others. DeMolay does not teach a specific religion and does not require belonging to a church. Membership is open to young men from all religions.
Success stories?
Thousands of DeMolays have assumed leadership roles in business, politics, military service, sports, and the arts and entertainment industries. DeMolay Alumni include Walt Disney, Walter Cronkite, John Wayne, Tom Osborne, Mel Carnahan, John Steinbeck, Buddy Ebsen, Colonel Frank Borman, Harmon Killebrew, Bob Mathias, Fran Tarkenton, and Paul Harvey just to name a few.
What are the benefits of membership?
The main benefit of membership in DeMolay is growing up engaged. Studies show that people who are active in the community in their youth grow up to become involved and community-oriented adults. Members of DeMolay learn personal responsibility, management skills, public speaking skills, and civic responsibility, making them better employees, stronger leaders, and more responsible citizens.
What makes DeMolay different from other organizations for young men?
DeMolay is different from other organizations in several ways. First, it’s open to all kinds of guys with all kinds of interests. If a chapter decides they want to, they can devote their chapter’s entire attention to basketball. If they want to focus on soccer, chess, video games, drama, mountain cilmbing, volunteering, or stamp collecting, that’s O.K. too. Each chapter has its own personality and each member has a chance to make the chapter what he wants it to be. Rather than focusing on any one thing, most chapters do a variety of activities. DeMolay is infinitely adaptable to the interests of the chapter members!
Another difference is DeMolay’s emphasis on training you to be a leader. It doesn’t happen by accident. When you join DeMolay, you’re on the fast track to learn skills that will help you in school and through the rest of life.
What are the membership requirements?
In order to join DeMolay, you have to be at least 13 years old, be younger than 21, believe in God / a supreme being, and strive to be a good person.
Is DeMolay a religious organization?
One of the qualifications of membership is that you believe in God / a supreme being, so a lot of people ask whether DeMolay is a religious organization. The answer is no.
DeMolay teaches that one of the steps toward becoming a happy and successful person is developing strong faith in your beliefs and being true to them. But just as important, DeMolay teaches that you must have respect and toleration for the beliefs of others. DeMolay doesn’t teach a specific religion and doesn’t require that you belong to any church. Membership is open for young men from all religions.
Does it cost anything to join DeMolay?
Each DeMolay chapter has a life membership fee that is surprisingly affordable. This entitles you to take part in the meetings and events. Some of the chapter’s other activities are paid for by the chapter’s fund-raising activities. Other times, members must pay their own way. But don’t forget…you’re going to get a lot more out of each activity than you put in.
Who runs the show?
Officers for each chapter are elected from among the membership. Those officers are responsible for running the chapter meetings and coordinating the responsibilities of event planning. Every six months, the chapter elects new officers so that different guys will have the chance to lead. The decisions of the chapter are discussed at chapter meetings and voted on by all members. The adult advisors can give input, but they won’t interfere with the chapter’s decision unless it’s absolutely necessary. The overall direction and operation of the chapter is up to the members themselves.