Are you interested in finding the best clubs for mature women? Last year, I joined a club. In fact, I joined five. Before then, the last time I joined a club, I was sixteen, auditioning for the dance club. Since then, I have lived an entire adult life, gotten married, and had children. Now, as a mature woman, I am surprised to be a proud member of several community and online clubs that fit my interests.
The decision to join these clubs was easy. I had a specific interest and wanted to chat about it with other like-minded individuals. I wanted to be part of a community specific to my interests instead of continuously boring my friends with mundane details about my hobbies. While I adore my friends, they don’t share all my interests and hobbies. This was just one of my many reasons to join a club. Let’s explore the benefits of joining a club and look at some of the most popular clubs for mature women.
Choosing the Right Clubs for Mature Women
If you are an empty-nester, newly divorced, widowed, or recently retired, you might find yourself with more time on your hands than before. Instead of aimlessly wandering around your house, put your time to good use and join a club. Clubs for mature women can provide countless benefits.
In order to choose the right club for you, first, consider your interests. Are you an avid bird watcher? Maybe you love to read. Whatever your interest, search for that topic online and in your community. During the COVID lockdown, I indulged my interest in houseplants. I bought several from a local store and set them up in my house. Did I know anything about houseplants? No, but I wanted to learn. Joining a club connected me with other people who also loved house plants. Now I don’t have to bore my friends by gushing over a new baby leaf on my Monstera plant.
Consider a Club with a Charitable Mission
My second reason for joining a club was to support local charities and organizations. Instead of randomly choosing organizations and donating to them, I wanted to make a more significant difference. By joining a club that has a partnership with a charitable organization, I experience the benefits of performing charitable acts while also contributing to my community. Regardless of the specific initiative, my donation snowballs when I join a club. It doesn’t hurt that these organizations tend to host fundraising events that are delightful and fun to attend.
Popular Clubs for Mature Women
If you are finally convinced to join a club, let me tell you about the four best clubs for mature women. I chose these clubs based on their exposure and opportunities for networking and philanthropy. If you are ready to get involved and make a difference in the world, choose any one of the clubs listed below and start exploring.
General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)
The GFWC is the easiest club to join. First, it is an international organization with new branches being formed every week. If there isn’t a group in your area, the GFWC is ready to help you form one. The club was founded in 1890 by a journalist named Jane Cunningham Croly. She was denied entrance to an all-male dinner honoring the novelist Charles Dickens. After being excluded, Jane went out and created her own club, Sorosis. That history of grit and tenacity is my favorite part about the GFWC. The club continues this innovative tradition today and is dedicated to “community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.” Their calendar is filled with initiatives focused on children, health, advocacy, self-improvement, and much more. If you are looking for a club that has both a national and international female footprint, then this club is for you.
Ladies’ Clubs
You’re probably wondering why I listed ladies’ clubs separately from the GFWC. There is a very good reason for this. While the GFWC is a large organization, I have found several ladies’ and woman’s clubs that are independent of the GFWC and have a limited local focus. One example is the Ladies League, to which I belong. They are in my town and only focus on local initiatives.
A simple Google search using the terms ladies’ clubs or women’s group and the name of your town or county will elicit a list of all the available groups right in your backyard. When I did my own search, I found women’s groups in four other towns close by. Even though each group is unique, they all try to support each other’s activities in some way. I researched them all and chose the ladies’ league because they had a focus on women and children, which is a cause that’s near and dear to my heart.
Through my association with the ladies’ league, I have had the opportunity to lead, support and attend monthly fundraisers to benefit homeless shelters for women, teenage girls, or local school districts. Last year we hosted a casino night, monthly Sunday brunches, wine-tasting events, and even an amazing race! To be transparent, we didn’t actually ‘race.’ Instead, we rode around town in luxurious limousines sipping Prosecco and Malbec in between ridiculous stations. Then we had a party to present our donations to the selected charities. We had fun and managed to raise awareness and support for our community. A win-win scenario!
Online Groups and Communities
During the COVID lockdown, I learned about the many online clubs for mature women on Facebook. There is literally a group for almost everything you could be interested in. I joined a cooking group, a plant group, a book club, and a hiking adventure group. While I may not attend their meet-ups, I love the information and resources shared between members. These groups really help make social media safer and more supportive. I have friends who are members of healthcare provider groups and support groups for people suffering from certain illnesses. You can even join a group to learn how to support a loved one who is going through sickness or just struggling with life. Help is really just a group away on Facebook.
Every group I have has orientation questions and rules of participation. These rules include staying positive, no judgment, no politics or religion, and no hate speech. Anyone who violates the rules is warned or quickly removed. You can choose to share your experience or remain silently supportive of the brave souls who speak up. This makes online groups perfect for people who do not wish to engage in real life but want the camaraderie of people who have mutual interests. Log on day or night, anywhere you are, and obtain useful information on your tablet or smartphone while maintaining your privacy.
Rotary International
My last and best suggestion to you is to join your local Rotary Club. Rotary International began with a Chicago attorney named Paul Harris in 1905. He wanted to form an organization “so professionals from diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.” The Rotary Club provides an opportunity for members to serve their community, have a global impact, and improve the lives of people all over the world. There are medical and aid missions to build wells, eradicate malaria and save mothers and babies. Rotarians believe in service above self.
I have been a member for a year now, and I still kick myself for not joining sooner. My club has a ton of groups that we call fellowships. We have a fellowship for books, wine, cruising, pickleball, dinner, etc. We have a national and international outreach and host a conference in a different part of the world every year.
Last year I volunteered to paint a teenage homeless shelter on Rotary Action Day. Months later, I volunteered again at a Roaring 1920’s Rotary dinner fundraiser and served as an usher in a fabulous dress. After a few hours, I took a break to chat with the other volunteers. Two of the volunteers were girls who had lived in the shelter and were talking about the painting that was done. They didn’t know that my friend and I were the ones who did the work. These young ladies were just chatting on their break. But through their innocent words, I heard that every penny we donated had helped to improve their lives. I was floored, touched, renewed, and sold on Rotary all over again.
If you want to be a part of a purposeful, fun, and international community that works to improve lives and healthcare all over the world, Rotary International is for you. You, too, can join me in saying the four ways test every week: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Joining a Club Can Change Your Life
Finally, choosing to join a club is a big decision. You are choosing to align yourself and identify with a group of people who are unfamiliar. My advice is to start slowly and gain momentum. Join a Facebook group. Look for women groups in your community. Attend one of their events and just chat with a group member. You might be surprised how much you have in common with them. They all want to build connections and friendships and help people. Take a chance and join them. This is how you change the world.
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