So their families could go. While there was a public pool in the town, the Elks pool was less crowded. And that town had no commercial bowling alley so if you wanted to bowl, you had to be an Elk or a friend of an Elk.

My father never joined, but a friend's step father was an Elk.A few times each summer she would take some of us with her on an Elk outing.

we were members of the Sons of Hermann lodge. We got low cost life insurance. I think just a small amount that would cover a funeral if any of us kids died. We also got to go to summer camp for a week for something like $20 and dance lessons for very cheap. And there was a Christmas party, an Easter Egg hunt and they had dances for the adult members.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_Hermann

never knew him to attend any function. at all.

I am not sure what he did there (party and drink? he and my Grandmother did dance as well) but sometimes they took us grandkids to fish Friday and the food was a good reason to me!