What is DeMolay?

DeMolay International is the premier youth organization dedicated to teaching young men to be better persons and leaders. DeMolay opens doors for young men aged 12 to 21 by developing the civic awareness, personal responsibility and leadership skills so vitally needed in society today. No other youth organization teaches leadership in the hands-on way that DeMolay does. This real life experience teaches them how to make decisions, work with all types of people, and handle responsibility. DeMolay also teaches values that make these young men better citizens and better prepared for tomorrow's leadership challenges.

SELYNMA Chapter, located at 5516 Mayfield Road
in Lyndhurst, Ohio, is one of six Chapters currently in northeast Ohio. Our membership is drawn from (but not limited to) South Euclid, Lyndhurst and Mayfield. We offer a comprehensive calendar covering a wide range of activities. We have two business meetings a month, on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, and a planning meeting with the Advisory Council. The young men govern and direct their own activities under the good council of adults. Our activities include sports (softball, basketball, and bowling among others), socials (movie nights, dances, parties and trips), service projects (working with the community, church groups and Masonic groups), and fund raisers (spaghetti dinners, fruit sales, car washes, candy sales).

The young men we look for must have a belief in God, though there is no requirement for a particular belief. He must also be a decent, upstanding person, willing to learn new ways to be a productive leader. We do ask that new members learn and adhere to certain obligations, but otherwise there are few restrictions placed on what can be planned for the benefit of all the Chapter.

DeMolay's alumni are distinguished leaders including several U.S. senators, state governors, U.S. astronauts, professional athletes, and major U.S. corporation presidents. DeMolay alumni include Walt Disney, John Wayne, Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, Willard Scott, Burl Ives, football Hall-of-Famer Fran Tarkenton, legendary Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne, news anchor David Goodnow and many others. Each has spoken eloquently of the life-changing benefit gained from their involvement in DeMolay.