International Freemasons
Monthly MeetUp™ Day
History of an Exciting New Innovation
How many people know that the International Freemasons Monthly MeetUp™ Day was started in Mill Valley, CA by members of Mill Valley Lodge No. 356, F & AM?
The original impetus for the idea was the observation that at least one Presidential candidate was gaining tremendous publicity based on his successful use of the free internet service called MeetUp to create a successful grass roots organization of computer users.
Inspired by this example, members of Mill Valley Lodge No. 356, F & AM pioneered the fraternal use of the MeetUp internet service to facilitate casual fraternal meetings in public places. Mill Valley Masons suggested to the MeetUp service that it create an International Freemasons Monthly MeetUp Day, and it became operational on June 10, 2003.
Mill Valley Masons undertook publicizing the world-wide monthly activity through Masonic internet discussion groups and e-mail to fellow Masons. The fledgling event soon began to catch on with nearly 300 Masons signing up world wide in less than three months since activation of http://freemasons.meetup.com. This number only reflects those who actually sign up to vote on venues, etc.; it does not reflect actual attendance at the coffee clutches which includes those coming because of announcements in Lodge bulletins, word of mouth, etc. To say that Freemasons MeetUp™ is growing by leaps and bounds may be an exaggeration, but it does seem to be coming along nicely for a start-up.
What becomes of International Freemasons Monthly MeetUp™ Day will depend on the use Masons make of it and the participation of our brethren. (Go to, Freemasons MeetUp to sign up). We might consider too that given the world-wide membership of Freemasonry, we have the potential of being the largest group using MeetUp™. This could certainly contribute to the public's proper perception of the fraternity as an active, thriving organization. Public International Freemason's MeetUps may prove a useful way to communicate the advantages of Masonic membership to people who might not have considered Freemasonry without having seen us meeting together in public as friends and brothers.
Post Script - It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery: Marin Odd Fellows have followed the lead of the Mill Valley Masons and created a MeetUp of their own for Odd Fellows. It's almost ironic that after hundreds of years, fraternities are returning to some of their roots - in the early 1700's Modern Speculative Masons held their Lodges at Taverns like the Goose and Gridiron Ale-House, at St. Paul's Churchyard, London; nearly 100 years later, in the United States, the Odd Fellows had their start at the Seven Stars Tavern in Baltimore. Today, coffee houses have become an important meeting place in our communities. Such coffee houses are a good place for Masons to congregate with our friends and neighbors who do not yet appreciate the advantages of fraternal membership.
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