I'm attempting to organize a real local discussion forum. I've decided that my team should be composed of 8-12 educated, innovative, and morally virtuous men with diverse occupations. Where should I begin?

Here.
Simple.

The local universities.

I would look on yahoo groups and see if a group doesn’t already exist. Don’t try to limit it by gender, number or “morally virtuous” or you will fail in your attempt out the get-go, especially being new to the area.

@AlfredaPrufrock good call with the not limiting it. Had a read the question a bit more thoroughly I think I would have come to the same answer. :).

Let’s see… Why would I want to join a group run by a stranger new to the area? What is my incentive? 10 men, educated, self defined as moral… Sounds like the bunch that flew the 747s into the towers. What is the end goal of the group? That might help you decide where to advertise.

The goal would be to improve ourselves and community. Basically I’m working to mimic somewhat what Benjamin Franklin did so many hundreds of years ago when he developed “Junto”, or the “Leather Apron Club”. There were no women (I feel that men can focus better when a potential mate isn’t around, call me sexist if you wish), each of them had a passion to improve their business, lives, and community. The basis of Americanism I suppose. It’s funny that Jesus and Benjamin used the same set-up which resulted in extraordinary results.

Yes, especially since Benjamin Franklin was an atheist. Also, in Ben Franklin’s time women were not educated, and were, for the most part, expected to be decorative and good homemakers, and to be seen and not heard.

My experience with conversation clubs is that people who come to them do not come looking for a potential mate. New friends, maybe. Since you’re looking to create something so specific, perhaps your best starting place would be to join a men’s club in the area, and form the group from within there. Are you by chance a member of the Sons of the American Revolution? That, too, could be another venue to use as a springboard. Or better yet, the Masons, which actually were the most influential group in the spread of democracy in the post-revolutionary westward expansion.

@fobarus: I am going to call you sexist. As for your theory that concentration is more apt when potential mates aren’t around, that’s bunk. Work is work, pleasure is pleasure. The two cross lines, but that shouldn’t preclude you from seeking out the most qualified individuals, with no regard for gender. I doubt it will turn your club into a speed dating occasion.

As a woman, I have just as much interest and passion in improving my community as any man. I belong to a conversation club/think tank that focuses on bettering our community. It’s a wonderfully productive environment; with 5 men and 5 women.

@AlfredaPrufrock made some very good suggestions in her post (as always). I would encourage you to be more open minded as to the best applicants. I wish you much luck in your endeavor.

Would you be willing to join an existing group, or does it have to be your own, with you at the helm? If you want to organize, you have to go out and beat the hustings. Get to know people. Find out what they want. Develop a plan that will get them together to get what they want. Or you could find a men’s group. Sounds like it would do you good.

Also, why did you call it a team? Are you competing against anyone?

Are you determiner if someone is sufficiently moral and virtuous to join your group? Perhaps they will self-select.

I know after reading a description like that I would run, not walk, in the other direction.

Only men?

Yes, @ubersiren: You need not apply!

Drat.

@ubersiren: Don’t fret, I can’t apply either.

@bythebay : We’ll just have to form our own non-testosterone group.

If you exclude women based solely on the premise that it will be distracting or drawing away the focus, do you intend to ask your prospective members if they are homosexual? I can see where you might be hoping that there would be no homosexuals within that “morally virtuous” grouping, but how could you be sure? I think you are excluding many prospective, highly desirable educated and innovative people based solely on whether they were born with a penis or not.
To more directly answer your question, I have no idea where you might find a dozen or so men with the qualifications you seek. I would suggest some local all-male clubs, but I think they were outlawed a few years ago…

I’m only joking, by the way. I think it’s perfectly fine to want to have a men’s discussion group. Just as I would think it was fair to make a women’s discussion group. I don’t see it as discrimination.

Wow, I didn’t realize that I would start a hate column. My mistake ladies. Some of my best friends who are very educated, hard working, etc. are women. I should have thought out more carefully what I were to say first.
Anyways, maybe just men so our wives or girlfriends would not be jealous of any other women who attend. I would be a more uncomfortable if my wife was involved in a group of men and women, than just women. But this is probably a silly excuse as well.

No! Don’t be sorry! Grow some balls! If you want to have a men’s night out, is that discrimination? No! Whip your nuts out, dude!

ummm. Thank you, and hell yeah?

@fobarus: I hope you find a group of well balanced people who can see your idea through to fruition; and it’s your idea…it can be whatever your vision dictates. Good luck to you!

@fobarus It wasn’t the men thing for me. It was the virture/moral thing. I keep imagining a test. What would one have to do to get thrown out? Would a lie get you tossed? Adultery?

Anyway, in all seriousness, what about starting with churches. Put a notice in their bulletins.

I don’t know what would get someone tossed. It would be a very small private group. If we had a ridiculously strict code I believe we would all be tossed and that wouldn’t be very productive or fun. It would be a team of men who considerably respected any opinion, regardless of age, religion, occupation, etc. That’s why I’m not excited about seeking people in the church.

I almost think that you will have to let something like this grow organically; that it can’t be cultivated as a planned outcome. The question is, how do you meet the type of people you want to attract? Through the university? My thought would be to look at the civic leaders on charitable events and see if you can piece together a common link between them.

You might try the local divinity college.

Thank you all for your responses, I will use this forum for future needs I’m sure.

Were you in a group like this before, or is this just something you are interested in doing? Another possibility is the SAR or the local historical society and set it up as a re-enactment type of venture.

I would begin by figuring out what is “morally virtuous”.