A BROTHERHOOD FOR LIFE DeMolay provides lasting relationships and professional skills for young men By Matt Larson DeMolay is one of the greatest youth organizations there is for young men, yet it is often functioning below the public radar. Perhaps you’ve heard of Masonic Temples? Masons? George Washington was a Mason back in the day. DeMolay is, in a sense, the youth version of being a Mason. Many DeMolay become Masons when they age out, and many of their advisors are Masons as well. Related organizations for the opposite sex include Eastern Star, Job’s Daughters and Rainbow Girls. In a rather large nutshell: DeMolay is a youth-led, adult-advised organization in which young men from ages 12-21 learn to conduct meetings, coordinate events and contribute to their local community, all while participating in a variety activities such as athletic competitions, public speaking tournaments, traveling to visit other chapters, and more. It is by far one of the most unique organizations one can find, and it can provide young men with some important skills that can lead to a successful professional life. I know this from experience. When people ask what I did in high school, I tell them “DeMolay!” I’m often met with confusion as relatively few people have heard of it. After aging out 10 years ago, DeMolay is still having an impact on me today. I graduated college with a double major: one in public speaking, the other in acting. My first experience in both those fields was via DeMolay, and they’re two things I still enjoy today. No matter where you live, chances are there’s an active DeMolay chapter somewhere near you. In West County we have El Cerrito-Albany Chapter, and nearby there are chapters in Martinez and Vallejo. It’s a worldwide organization with a brotherhood philosophy, spanning over four million members across the globe. Members call each other brothers, and they refer to their advisors as “dads”, whereas instead of saying “Mr. Smith” they’ll refer to him as “Dad Smith.” A way to
Contra Costa Marketplace - Nov 2016
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