Are there any living members of the John Birch Society still around? I saw them 20 years ago in Chicago trying to sell books - the members looked to be in their late 80’s
Desert Rhino: The JBS underwent a major internal crisis during the 1990’s and its membership was reduced to approximately 14,000 dues-paying people.
However — as is the case with all ideological groups — there are always about 5 to 10 times as many “state-of-mind” members as actual dues-paying members.
In recent years, the JBS has been growing again - and is probably in the neighborhood of 25,000-30,000 members.
However, I would remind you that political extremist organizations do NOT require any huge number of people to be successful.
For example: Most of the successful terrorist attacks which have occurred over the past 10 years have been the result of the actions of small cells (often only 2 or 3 or 4 people).
In addition, radicalization (by left-wing or by right-wing) can be accomplished simply over internet websites or through emails and blogs that are created and maintained by a small number of people.
If you set up a yahoo or google alert on the Birch Society OR about any projects they currently promote — you will discover scores and scores of “hits”.
Furthermore, many JBS members or activists do not even acknowledge that they are JBS members. But they parrot JBS arguments and talking points.
Consequently, you can never know for certain who is a JBS member who is presenting information which they know originated with the JBS versus someone who is just repeating something they read—without even knowing it originated with the JBS.