Community Screening: “Join or Die”
August 6, 2024
| By La Crosse Community Foundation |
La Crosse Area Community Foundation and DB Reinhart Center for Ethics in Leadership Present Free Movie & Pizza Night
La Crosse Area Community Foundation, in partnership with the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University, will host a special screening for the award-winning documentary “Join or Die.” The critically acclaimed film, which debuted at SXSW Film & TV Festival last year, is about why you should join a club — and why the fate of America depends on it.
The screening is scheduled for August 21, 2024, at 5 p.m. at the Rivoli Theatre in La Crosse. Admission and pizza are free, but preregistration is requested at bit.ly/JoinOrDieLAX.
“We’re hosting the screening to spark conversation and inspire action within our community,” said La Crosse Area Community Foundation CEO Jamie Schloegel. “Joining a club is more than just a social activity. It’s about building social capital — contributing to a sense of belonging, mutual support, and collaborative problem-solving. That kind of capital is a significant determinant of our community’s strength and resilience.”
Lauded by movie critics as a vital, relevant wake-up call with a touch of humor, the feature-length documentary follows the half-century story of America’s civic unraveling. It’s told through the journey of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking “Bowling Alone” research into America’s decades-long decline in community connections could hold the answers to creating a healthier society.
Shocking Social Science Data Spotlighted in “Join or Die”
Public Meeting Attendance: 40% DECLINE … from the 1970s to the 1990s in the number of Americans who attended even one public meeting on town or school affairs in the previous year
Active Organization Involvement: 50% DECLINE … from the 1970s to the 1990s in the number of Americans who took any leadership role in any local organization.
Club Meeting Attendance: 50% DECLINE … from the 1970s to the 1990s in the number of times Americans attended a club meeting the previous year.
PLUS:
60% DECLINE … from the 1970s to the 1990s in the amount of picnics Americans attended annually
35% DECLINE … from the 1960s to the 2020s in religious congregation membership
66% DECLINE … from the 1960s to the 2010s in union membership
Reviews
“The seeming irreparable divisions in our country have been a hot topic of this year’s SXSW entries, but one documentary is preoccupied with finding solutions.” -Austin Monthly, The Films We Loved Most at SXSW
“The film, like Putnam’s work, is engrossing and, ultimately, convincing. It’s hard to watch without feeling the personal impact of Putnam’s ideas in your own life – the social disconnection, the apathy, the cynicism – and as the credits roll you might just find yourself wanting to join a bowling league.” Archer
Parquette, Milwaukee Magazine
“Join or Die, a documentary, did justice to the incredulity of its premise, treating the concept of social capital and the power of joining groups with a necessary seriousness, but keeping the tone approachable.” -Culture Map Austin, Our 12 favorite films, parties, and moments from SXSW 2023
“Join or Die made me feel more motivated to do something than perhaps any movie I’ve ever seen.” – Ryan Scott, Slash Film
“Most inspiring movie I’ve seen so far at SXSW…I want to join all the clubs now” -Dan Gentile, SFGATE
“Striking Visual Bombshell About Decline of Membership Clubs Delivers Wake-Up Call” -David McDonald, FilmBook
Past Festivals
SXSW | CIFF | Capital City | MKE | IFFBoston | SF DocFest | deadCenter | Bentonville | History Film Festival | Prescott Film Festival | Hells Half Mile Film Festival | MONIFF | Tallgrass | Chagrin Documentary Film Festival | WFF | HIFF | New Hampshire Film Festival | SLIFF | Fort Lauderdale Film Festival | Denver | New Filmmakers LA | New Jersey Film Festival | Victoria Film Festival
Awards
Jury Prize for Best Feature — SFDocFest | Best Documentary Feature — Capital City Film Festival | Audience Award — History Film Festival | Jonathan Daniels Award — MONIFF | Emerging Filmmaker Award — Chagrin Documentary Film Festival | Audience Award For Best Documentary Feature — Lake County Film Festival
Notable Screenings
Clinton Presidential Center with Hillary Clinton | DC Premiere at Georgetown’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life | The Aspen Institute’s Initiative on Philosophy and Society | Civic Cinema with Boston Mayor’s Office | Stanford’s Century Summit | Harvard’s Building Connected Communities Conference | Baylor’s Institute for Studies of Religion | Tallahassee’s Village Square Series