I've been invited to join the Kiwanis. Should I?

So I've been asked to join the Kiwanis and I know nothing about what they do, or even who is in, but they have a meeting tomorrow and they want me to come by for lunch.
I did a profile on a guy who is like the chapter president but my article was wholly unrelated to Kiwanis or anything like that.
Any advice?
The best line from the guy was:
"Well, since you're a reporter, don't worry about the dues, we'll cover that."
And at first I thought "thanks for reminding me I'm poor." But then I thought "maybe they just want me to get some free publicity for their various activities, whatever they might be."
But then, is that ethical and all that? And should I Facebook him?[/crossthread]

 

Are you 90?

 

Hold out for an invite from the Shiners.

 

Or Shriners even.

 

I belong to the Elks and Rotary. Two very different organizations, but they each do a lot of good work.
It can be very good for community relations. More newsroom people should do it.
I joined the Elks when I still worked ina newsroom, and I think it helped ease some negative perceptions of the paper.

 

Rejected by the Masons, eh?

I'd shoot to be an Elk or an Optimist or even a Son of Norway.

 

Funny. I always pictured you as more of Sons of the Desert than Son of Norway

 

Elks and Moose are more fraternal.
Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, etc. are strictly service clubs.

 

Join the Stonecutters. Steve Guttenberg still needs the help.

 

I joined the Elks when I was still with a newspaper. I never got pressured.
I got asked: 'How come there's never anything in the paper about our events?'
I said: 'Does anybody send it in or call the newsroom? I was assistant city editor for two years before moving back to sports, and I can't recall a single calendar item, press release or phone call from the Elks Lodge about an upcoming event.'
They completely understood, and I reviewed good submission practices with them.