Would be normal to visit a lodge before you petition for membership? I visited our local lodge last month. I didn't know anybody there, nobody there knew me. I did like the age range they had in attendance as I seemed to be right in the middle of the group. Just how much will they learn about me in the investigation and interview? Enough to know me? I doubt it. I have heard people say that after just 1 or 2 visits everybody knows enough about each other to move on with the petition. I don't really believe that either. But I don't think I need to hang around for a year or better. I'm just wondering what the average length of time is enough to know that both sides are comfortable with each other. Just remember, I moved here 2 years ago for a job, didn't know a soul when I arrived, and don't know a lot of people still.

I visited the lodge and talk to the brothers several times over 6 months before I submitted my petition.

I think most petitions visit at least a couple of times, usually more.

I don't think the number of times is that important.  The goals of your visits should be to get to know the brothers well enough to know that you want to associate with them and them getting to know you well enough to feel comfortable signing  your petition.

I don't know a soul here. If I were to move back home, I could send a petition by mail, and be voted in before I could get my stuff packed up and make the move. Why? because 3 of the officers in the lodge are my family and most everyone there knows me through my grandfather and watched me grow up. Not bragging about it, just saying that I am well known in what would be my lodge. But here, I don't know many people, and nobody in the lodge. I understand that they need to make sure I am a good fit for them, but I also need to feel like they are a good fit for me. If not, I will not be active, and eventually lose interest and drop out. If I decide to join, I want to make this work out for both the lodge and myself. We all don't have to be on the same page, as long as we are in the same book.

 

I requested a petition on my third visit and submitted on my 4th (we meet monthly). But I also reached out to several of the brothers and spent some time with them individually and as a group before I filled out the form.