I definitely don't doubt that you're likeable. I'm a pretty likeable guy too, I also tend to always look for the best in people. On the other hand, I'm not going to vouch for someone I don't know and say that I think he'd make a great Mason and that I feel confident that he would uphold the tenets of our fraternity.

It's like any good club (IMHO). You show up and make your intention to join known, a good club should ask you to come out to events and hang around so they can get to know you better. After they have gotten to know you and realize, "ok this guy is legit, he'd be a good fit, and we all know him well enough to know that he's the real deal," then you start the process of becoming a member.

Also keep in mind, like I said, all lodges are different. I know people who after I was raised found out I was a Mason and said they had started the process but dropped out because they hated the lodge, or nobody would help them with their degree work, if they didn't feel a sense of brotherhood in the lodge. I've never felt any of this and everyone I've met from my lodge has been more than willing to help anyone in any way that they can. If this lodge is being standoffish, maybe it's just this lodge, you can look at others in your area to see what they offer. You did say that you have a family connection in a different lodge, is that lodge local to you as well? If so, I'd probably recommend joining that one. If you look in a lot of lodges you will see family lines in them and I know if any of my relatives joined my lodge it would be my pleasure and bring me great pride in helping them through the stages and seeing them raised. They might think I was doing them a favor by being there and helping them every step of the way, but the opposite would be true, they would actually be doing me the biggest favor I would ever have the pleasure of receiving.