Need Suggestions for Tamarind Grove Social Club
 

We're a new village and have started a social club (Lakeside Grovers.) We'd love to hear comments from residents of other villages about what worked and didn't work for you. Comments about the events you've run, how you structured your steering committee, dues, best ways to communicate with everyone, or anything else you learned would be greatly appreciated.

In August we had our first meeting and had so many people attend that we broke into 3 smaller groups since the room we had booked could barely hold us and our village is only half built.

If anyone is willing to talk with me, just send me a private message and I'll call you. Thanks so much.

Let us know if you get some good ideas, CharTalk....we're in the Poolside Grovers.

Please keep us informed on any progress. We will be Lakeside Grovers. Moving in Dec 5th. Thanks.

I think the social clubs are listed on the club lists or appear in the weekly Recreation News. You could contact officers of other clubs for their advice.
If you don't find the clubs listed give the recreation department a call.

Ditto
 

There next July!:thumbup:

Hello CharTalk - We're in the golf course side of TGSC and we were at last Monday's Pizza/Bingo party, which was a lot of fun. They mentioned the upcoming Christmas party and that it would be limited to about 180 folks.

Our golf side had about 85 last Monday and if the pool side and lake side each were to turn out about 85 each, that's a total of 250. That means you'll be turning away about 70 for the Christmas party if it's held at Sea Breeze. Have you considered Colony Cottage?

We went to Colony Cottage for the Doo Whop club in July as a guests and they have 265 members plus many guests and the room held everybody plus had plenty of space for the dance floor. Just a thought I've been meaning to bring up.

I was president of our social club in a former neighborhood; plus in creating activities in business events, I think that people like to come away from these events feeling that they have made connections with other people (ie, not just come and sit and listen to entertainment or a speaker, for example); and for that to happen, they need to feel that the other people learned something about them, ie, their background, interests, family, etc. - and vice versa. It helps if you can find ways to 'orchestrate' this, so as to avoid anyone feeling unincluded, reduce the 'shyness' and loneliness that some people feel, particularly if they are new to neighborhood with an 'established' social group, etc. This means finding some type of 'mixer' event to have, at least at some of the meetings.

So, one of the most successful things we have done, especially when there are a number of new people who don't know each other at all, and this takes a little preparation, but before the event, we had each person who was planning to attend send an email to the person in charge of the event, telling around 3 or 4 things about themselves that they would like others to know about them that they don't think others in the group would know (examples: 'I love to ride my Harley' or 'I am a gourmet cook' or 'I played guitar in a rock band' or 'I lived in Japan for 5 years' etc). Then, the person in charge of the event would create a list of all of these things and leave a space for a name at the end of each 'clue'. When the people arrive, they each get a copy and then the idea is to walk around introducing yourself to others and ask them if a clue is about them. For example, you walk up to someone and say, 'hi, John, I'm Tom - did you live in Japan for 5 years?' You can only ask that person one question, and then you have to move on to another person, and ask them a question about one of the 'clues'. A given amount of time is allotted and then everyone sits down and the event leader reads off the list and gives the answer of who each 'clue' pertains to - and that person waves their arm, or stands up, etc, as their name is read, so that people can start to associate a face with a name and also with something they know about that person. This is a great 'ice-breaker' and gets people moving around and chit-chatting with lots of people for short conversations; and leads to discovery of people with common interests, backgrounds, etc. It helps avoid the problem of people getting caught up in long conversations with just a few people, or with people whom they already know, and gets everyone mingling and talking, and making new people feel included. It's fun to have a little 'prize' for the person who gets the most clues solved. This activity is fun to repeat periodically, even as people get to know each other, as there are always new things we can learn about each other, and that can be the basis for more conversation.

Another thing we've done was having our own 'Idol' contest - people in the group perform, and the 'winner' became the neighborhood 'Idol' (such as, in my neighborhood, it would be the 'Largo Idol') until the next time (ie, next year, or whatever) there is an Idol contest. Sometimes this was silly, but some amazing talent was also revealed, but it was always of a lot fun for everyone; combine this with a potluck dinner, for example. Have a glitzy '____ Idol' banner (ie, 'Miss America' around-the-shoulder style) ready, take a photo to send to the Daily Sun, etc

Another fun mixer game is 'Dead or Alive' - where different famous persons' names were put on sheets of paper, and each person at the event had one of these names taped or pinned to their back, without having seen the name. Then everyone walks around asking other people questions about who his/her 'person' is, and it can only be a 'yes or no' question; such as 'Am I alive?' 'Am I a singer?' etc. And finally, they narrow it down until they correctly guess the name, ie, 'Am I Elvis Presley'? If they guess correctly, their 'name' is taken off and their own name is written on the sheet. The 'end' of the game can be just that everyone who solves the mystery of who their 'person' is has their 'person' sheet put in a drawing for a prize. (How the game ends isn't so important as just the fun of getting people moving around and talking to lots of other people).

At each meeting, it can be nice to have someone (ask for offers of those in the group who want to do this) give a little more in depth 'profile' (that they have prepared in advance) about themself - limit it to 3-5 minutes (and have a timer!!). This way, commonalities or interests that might not have ever been learned can come out.

At the beginning of each get together always introduce 'new' members to the group, and let them take a moment to tell a bit about themselves. We also recognized birthdays and anniversaries at the beginning of each meeting.

Driveway parties, karaoke, day trips by bus, bocce ball, a holiday dinner or dinner/dance, even just fun group dice games like 'left right center', are some other ideas.

(A plug for the hula club I'm in - we perform at alot of club meetings for luaus, pool parties, etc., and our group does audience participation for some of the songs; and it's always alot of fun).

We had a standing monthly date so that everyone knew what night to hold for the neighborhood club - ie, second Tuesday, for example; and all events were at the same time, same rec center in the neighborhood unless a special event was planned. We skipped a month or two (or more) in the summer, especially August, when so many people are gone. We charged $10 annual dues to cover miscellaneous costs, and a new board was elected each year. We sent out monthly notices of the meeting and any other communication via email.

Another suggestion is to always wear name tags, including last names; saves embarrassment in forgetting names.

Char...I sent you a pm with my contact info...I will prob. be out of town for another week....I have all kinds of contact info for entertainers. We charge a yearly dues of $5 per person, and then according to the entertainment we have booked charge for the tickets each month to pay. We also sell 50/50 at each social. We have had some great socials this year. (Oh, by the way I am in Buttonwood...which grew to be one of the largest villages...our group is beginning to split, but anyone who is a member is still welcome to our socials)
As I am sure you have found out, the rec. centers are set up to accommodate around 150 people without a dance floor, or the large centers 250 without dance floor. We meet at SeaBreeze....Lake Miona is very accommodating also when it comes to setting up your seating charts. I found out that we are allowed to use Savannah 2 times per year...which we did once for The Godfather comedy show and we are doing again in Dec. for Scooter the DJ and a catered event. (There you can seat close to 500 before the dance floor if you open all four rooms.
We have done a Mardi-Gras, Buffalo Races, Music Trivia, catered luau w/ hula group, ice-cream social, casino night, comedy night, halloween party and dance. I send out e-mails to everyone each month concerning the event & ticket sales, plus we have a website which is beginning to shape up nicely. It takes a bit of planning and work, but we always seem to have a great time.
Get in touch with me anytime and I will be glad to help with anything at all.

Our group has a number of events each year and we have a couple of meetings during the year to go over plans. Different folks volunteer to run/plan events. In order to communicate with our group we use an email list, web site and bi-monthly newsletter. Our latest newsletter shows our events for the rest of 2011 and all of 2012. I am not the best one to talk about how our events but if you would like contact info and/or a copy of the latest newsletter send me a PM with an email contact.

A few random thoughts:

Early on, you'll have the whole neighborhood coming to whatever event you plan! As time goes by, folks will become so busy doing their own thing that attendance will drop off.

As an example, the Social Club of my village began with nearly 150 showing up for its organizational meeting. Almost monthly events became so popular that they had to be moved to a Regional Rec Center - the theater room holds so many more people! Sign ups for each event were "mandatory" if you weren't to be denied entry!

Now, we're back to a Village Rec Center, and attendance is much lower!

Your program must, of course, be enticing! Do NOT stick religiously to the "y'all bring something to share" pot-luck event. Do NOT always have music for dancing; all too often the decibels are far too high. If at all possible, establish some sort of theme for each event. But, don't make it "mandatory." Horse races are fun. Gambling nights are fun. Costume nights are fun. Christmas parties are fun - but should usually be more special than ordinary events and ought always to be "dressy!"

One club I belong to voted long ago to always have the event always catered. That's been a challenge in itself, of course, but attendees are happy paying $5-$15 a head rather than who knows how much to provide something "to share with 8-10 others."

Remember that many folks would just as soon socialize as they would at a cocktail party! Entertainment, games, etc., are not necessarily necessary!

Do NOT try to do it all yourself. You'll need an enthusiastic and willing bunch of volunteers for each event. The best clubs I belong to have had a former "professional party planner" as organizer for a number of years! See if you can find someone like that!

The clubs I belong to usually charge as much as $10 a person annually for "dues!" Some are even $5. A couple get along solely on their portion of the 50/50 sales.

Keep it simple! Keep it fun!

I know that y'all y'all (that's plural, you understand) will have Great Fun!

SWR
:beer3:

Good random thoughts swrinfla! Keep it simple and fun!

I was unable to attend the first social meeting as I had hurt my ankle. I live in the Southwood Courtyard Villas at TG which are not golfside, poolside nor lakeside. What meeting would I be attending?

Anybody east of St. Charles is golf side and the only villas there are Southern Star, I know that because that is where I live. West of St. Charles it's divided by Tamarind Grove Blvd. If you're south you are pool side as in Montbrook Villas, and if you're north you are lake side. I believe Southwood is north of Tamarind Grove blvd very near Buttonwood, so that would make you lake side.

Thanks for the info :)

My dear Swineflu.

As always...right there with the wisdom!!

Returned from our first meeting with the new Laurel Valley group last night and read this...and sent it on to all.

Simple is better. People love to just get together and chat...and the attendance will fall as time goes on and people get involved in other stuff.

Thank you dear SCHWINN Florida......:)