Do you belong to any community organizations?

[Trish]

I'm not sure if that is the correct wording, so I'll explain a little more ;) I've been thinking that I'd like to make some new friends and I was thinking about joining something like the Junior League, etc., so I was just wondering what you all belong to and if you like it or not?

I've just starting thinking about starting up an alumni association of my college sorority, but that might be too much for me to handle?

[Jayne]

I am only involved in church organized organizations if that makes sence.

We have a January Circle - basically a group of women, Mainly mothers who get together 1-2 times a month

[MrsPeacefrog]

No I am not, but have thought about it too. I was actually waiting until the kids were at the age where they can play organised sports etc and was hoping to get more involved that way! We are in a new area and don't know many people and I think it's a great way to meet people :nod:

[Silke]

I don't know, if you can call it a community organization, but I am still involved with a small private German school. I have met a bunch of people, particularly Germans in the US. We do some community stuff :Oktoberfest, Children's Museum activities.

[Trish]

Yes, that makes sense, Jayne. I do belong to a church and have been taking Aden and going more, but just don't feel like they are women of my age who I'd like to socialize with? That my sounds snobbish, but that's how I feel :dunno:

Deb - I should probably wait until the boys get older, but I just feel like I need some IRL friends. I mean, I have some, but I'd like a group where I do just girls nights, etc. with and that group seems to have dwindled.

[Karri]

I'm in the PTA.

I always thought Junior League sounded cool. If you have time for that stuff, go for it!

[Jayne]

Yes, that makes sense, Jayne. I do belong to a church and have been taking Aden and going more, but just don't feel like they are women of my age who I'd like to socialize with? That my sounds snobbish, but that's how I feel :dunno:

Deb - I should probably wait until the boys get older, but I just feel like I need some IRL friends. I mean, I have some, but I'd like a group where I do just girls nights, etc. with and that group seems to have dwindled.

I understand. I have to say though that I didn't think I would like a few in our group either and have found some really nice people.

The main groups I have are my life long friends. We try and get together once a week. I have also met a lot of people through Tylor. I know that sounds like I use him but honestly your kids are a great source for some great people. Maybe it is some Daycare mom's looking for the same thing your looking for. You never know unless you try and you could start up your own thing if you wanted.

Tylor is involved in Soccer so there are a few mom's there that I socialize with. He did boyscouts (I wouldn't do that again) and I met a few mom's there that I still talk with.

I hope you can find a good outlet! Nothing like a good girls night out!

[Karri]

Trish - do you want this to revolve around you? Or somewhat of you & your kids? LIke are you looking to meet other young working moms? Or do you not care? (cause I can give you some ideas)

[Cami]

My SIL was in her area's Junior League and it was a bit :snob: but hopefully that varies by area.

An alumni group is a great idea! I'd think they'd have something structured for starting a group and would give you support.

Is your neighborhood at all a possibility for friends? We used to have a bunco group among the women in our subdivision but it just as easily could have been a dinner group or cooking club or whatever. You only need a few women to get it going and then everyone knows other people to include.

We also had a "dinner club" which was some MOMS Club members and their husbands and we went out for dinner once a month.

I think community teams and classes are good ways to make friends too but require some commitment. :)

[Trish]

Karri - I don't really care at this point :lol:

I have thought about contacting our neighborhood association and seeing if I could get involved in that, because last year we had a cool Wine and Cheese party, a Christmas potluck and a summer potluck, but this year nothing :dunno: Unfotunately, we live in an older, established neighborhood and while there are some younger families moving in, there are still alot of older couples.

I did meet a couple of nice moms through Aden playing soccer, but didn't get much past a "hi, how are you?" at every game. He'll probably play again in the spring, though.

I probably don't have the time for most of this stuff, but that doesn't usually stop me :lol:

[Trish]

A friend of mine actually invited me to join her Bunco group, but she hasn't actually invited me, yet.

[Darcy]

There are some neighborhood women that play Bunco once a month. I've gone a few times. But I don't belong to any type of community organization. I still feel like I'm getting my feet wet with this whole SAHM thing, even though I've been doing it for 7 months now. :shuffle: I've tried a few Moms groups, but nothing has really kept my interest.

[Kimberly]

I play bunco once a month ( I started a new group when we moved here), I belong to a Stampin' Up club that meets once a month and I am involved in the alumni association from my sorority.

[AmyP]

I was in my community association but it disbanded. We were also the youngest by far in the association and the people there were really weird. Long story.

I was in my coed fraternity's local alumni association but that disbanded as well. Too many people were joining but then could never attend events. So we disbanded right before I had Sarah.

Right now I'm in a local playgroup, which is really fun. I'm actually in two playgroups, but the one never seems to schedule anything anymore. I relate better to the moms in the playgroup that meets regularly anyway. We have a message board similar to OUAL, but only a small fraction as active to schedule playgroups and that really helps.

Our alumni association was a very loose organization. It was pretty active for a couple years, but everybody got too busy. Basically, we'd meet 4 times a year (I think) to plan events. We had First Friday socials, meaning one member got to pick something for everyone to do the first Friday of every month. Usually it was dinner at someone's favorite restaurant, but we all went to a local drive-in once when the weather was nice. I know we did other stuff as well, but my mind's blanking. We also did some community service stuff, like collecting clothes to give to Goodwill.

You might want to see if your sorority's website has alumni associations. Even if they're not in your area, you might be able to get ideas from another association of how to get people together and what kinds of things to plan.

[Melissa]

Not right now, as soon as Katie is school age I'm definitely getting into Girl Scouts again.

[Lynn]

Have you tried you university's alumni site? I don't know if you are interested in something like that.

My old boyfriend's sister was active in the Boys and Girls Club and had a ton of friends through there. I always thought it would be neat to do that.

[schwanda]

What about a book club? I've always thought that would be fun.

Amanda

[Cami]

That's a good idea, Amanda. Our old library had several book clubs for people with different interests (mystery readers, chick lit, retired men).

[Nichole]

I was going to suggest a book club, too. :nod: I just recently joined one, and it has been fun.

I'll probably do the more formal organizations when the boys are older. Things like PTA and stuff.

[Lora]

I'm in the PTO (Parent Teacher's Orgzanization) at school. I wouldn't mind getting involved in a book club but right now I just don't have the time.

Lora

[Karri]

Oh yeah...I am in a book club, too. And I am in our neighborhood ass'n, but I don't get involved w/ many of their activities that don't revolve around the kids b/c I don't like the people that go to them :heee: (though I do like the neighbors I know...does that make sense?) And then there's my mom group, as well. But I am just thinking about how I got involved and aside from being a SAHM, a lot of it is through school...like we have a group that does Coffee & Chaos 1-2 a month and poker once a month, as well. And all I needed was an 'in' with one mom and I got invited b/c I fit.
And then some of it is informal...like my close mom friends and I all have husbands who travel, so we like to take turns hosting get-togethers when they're gone and having wine and chocolate in the evenings once the kids are in bed. But it took time to get to that point, KWIM?