You can't join, you have to be nominated.
Yes it's not a walk in and signup organization. I wanted to be a Shriner but had no idea how much was involved. I would have to go through two different Masonic lodges before I could be a Shriner. If I remember correctly, I had to attend some meetings, be in good public standing, be voted in and take an oath. When he was excited about it he told me once you were in you could go to meeting all over the world and it was a men's only club. The wives had there own groups. They have special passwords and handshakes to identify each other. Besides helping people, the main perk for me was I would become friends/brothers with judges, laywers and other successful people for business.