Hey, how would you like to have been in a service club with our Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin? Wouldn’t that have been great? He was a learned man, and you could learn much from him and his experience.

Benjamin Franklin founded “the Leather Apron Club,” more formally known as the Junto, in 1727, in Philadelphia. This was a forerunner of today’s types of service clubs such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, and Optimists clubs. It was intended to provide a place where friends could come to learn from each other and help others as well.

The original members were printers, of course, carpenters, surveyors, clerks, businessmen, and even bartenders. Twelve at first. It grew during Ben’s lifetime.

The purpose of the club was self-improvement, of which Ben was a master. Fellowshipping and networking were also important. The members wanted to develop relationships that would help each other’s trades or businesses.

The club motto was “do you think of anything at present in which the Junto may be serviceable to mankind or to themselves?” Franklin also prepared a list of questions to begin their business meetings. He asked things like have you read any books lately that you could recommend to others, or have you met or talked to anyone that has improved your knowledge?

The weekly meetings continued for some time, and, in fact several offshoots of this club apparently still exist. That was the way Ben conducted himself and helped others. Quite remarkable!