I belong to a book club (meet monthly), service/social sorority (meeting once/month; cultural and/or social programs twice/month; monthly service projects), go to the gym 3-5 days/week, and play golf as weather allows and friends are available. Wish I could list moderating a punk music message board as a hobby so the cool kids would like me...

Too funny, Robo! Love your unanswered replies, even if they are true! And the bags are great.

I belonged to a book club, sort of a loose group, but I had to give it up due to lack of time to actually finish a lot of the books in time to discuss them. We still go on occasion to socialize with our friends, and when I retire I'll pick it back up.

We also belong to a choir but drop out during the summer months and resume after Labor Day. Again, too much commitment right now. DH belongs to our County Sheriff's Dept Reserve unit and is very active with that, plus volunteers on occasion at our Botanical Garden. He is retired so he is 'free'. When I do retire, my list will be longer.

I've been a book club since before my third child was born...he just turned 12. Only three of us remain in the original group and we've had many members come and go over the years. I'm on a bit of a hiatus this school year as the night we meet does not work with my kids' sports/activity schedule. I've only made it a few times but I still read all the books just in case I can make it.

I'm part of a running group as well but I seem to be the only one who makes it regularly. We used to have a larger group but several have moved. Currently, my mainstay partner who I could always count on to run has been suffering an injury since September and has made no progress recovering despite seeking a variety of treatment - she hasn't run at all. She just got put in a cast last week (she's already been in a boot). Anyway, I digress. I miss her as I'm used to seeing her several times a week.

No other clubs at this time as my four kids activities and my taxi cab responsibilities make it difficult to do anything in the evenings. I've been considering volunteering with Meals on Wheels but haven't made the phone call yet.

Yoga group that meets every Monday night. Knitting group Happy Hookers that meets monthly. This same group belongs to church choir but I'm in the same predicament as blfenton in that I would love to sing but can't carry a tune!

Classic Auto Collectors
Bluebird Society
PDCA

I belong to a local women's civic/political group and the local Mustang Club (the car, not the wild horse). Last year was the 50th anniversary of the Mustang and there was a huge national event here, so it was a great opportunity to renew my involvement and participate.

Board director on two non-profit arts organization boards / chair of one group's upcoming tenth anniversary year of events

Book club

Singer in local choral society

Parent Council / university

I also have a passion for the arts and listen to new music, new recordings of old music, etc. I also love movies and see as many as I can, and we have season tickets to several professional theaters in a nearby city, as well as the symphony.

As with most of us here, my house and garden is a very time consuming hobby, and I also count Christmas---in all its many facets and entirety---as a hobby!

adding, I am a sustainer member now, but for many years was a devoted member of the Junior League, which I still consider one of the finest volunteer training and opportunity experiences for women in the U.S.

I belong to a fitness club where I take different classes: Body Combat, Hip Hop Dancing, Yoga, and Pilates. I'm also a heavy weight lifter with a group along with personal training. I'm also a judge at the yearly "Fit Games."

I belong to a Boxer rescue group where I contribute financially and also help at adoption days and other events.

I serve on the HOA board for my neighborhood. I've held different positions over the years along with being the newsletter and website editor/designer. Currently, that's all I'm doing.

I'm a volunteer for Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAMM). It's mission is to provide access to affordable
health care for Austin’s low income, uninsured working musicians.

Rose societies. I am a Master Consulting Rosarian and Rose Show Judge. I have given talks on rose care at garden clubs, at the county park with a large rose garden, and at the NJ Flower and Garden Show. The garden clubs all meet during the day, I might join them once I retire. I will also become a Master Gardener when I retire, and become a docent at the local park system.

I volunteer at events for Black Girls Code.

I am an instructor for and member of a non-profit organization that promotes creating and presenting customized ceremonies (weddings, funerals, baby welcomings, etc.).

Hmm, there is a junior league in my community! Thanks to all for your interesting and varied contributions!

Unfortunately the local music messageboard folded so I guess that comes off the CV now ;)

love your bags!! great idea! I love book clubs and need to find one in our new location. also a walking group- I love to walk, but esp love to walk with other people! we belong to a tennis/golf club--- love tennis- need to get better at golf! belong to a puppy raising club. am also getting one of my dogs 'therapy' certified- want to get involved with the reading in schools program esp, along with hosp visits. I think i will get involved with another service organization here, but haven't investigated need yet....

Robo, the Junior League is dedicated to serving women and children in their communities and provides volunteer training of the highest caliber. You can take training courses that specifically teach you how to be an effective member of a board of directors. You can be trained in legislative lobbying for non-profit causes, in after school program design for at risk middle schoolers, and a host of other options offered by the national organization and by your local one as well.

Our League in Florida adopted a shelter that offered apartments to homeless families who paid on a sliding scale for a six month term, renewable once. Each time an apartment turned over we got the specifics of the family (number and sex of kids, etc) and decorated it specifically for them. We sent out appeals to our members and other leagues for certain color curtains, furniture items, etc. Some things were purchased new, some were donated in great condition----we told people if they were donating used items thAt our standard of acceptance was "would we use it ourselves." We steamed clean the units, including some very filthy fridges and ovens (and had a good laugh at the irony of that, since not many of us cleaned our own homes), bought paint for the crew that repainted (not us) and in some cases subsidized new flooring when the housing authority would not pay for it. The families came out of emergency housing to clean, nicely decorated, kid friendly apartments and I treasure the memories of the letters we received as a result. As individual volunteers we were anonymous, but we were part of a larger organization that improves lives of families across North America. I am very proud of the work the JL does.

Kswl I agree completely with you about the JL. I think the impact the JL has on a community can't be overstated. The signature project of our league through most of my active years was to raise $22 million dollars and build our city's children's museum. It's amazing to me what a group of smart, driven, and determined women can accomplish.

I have never really known what the Junior League does. Those are wonderful projects! Kswl, getting the apartments ready for specific families sounds so fun. I would love to do that. I can only imagine how excited and happy those children were!

A friend and I started a monthly book club with several people two years ago, and I have really enjoyed it. We are not very serious, but really enjoy going out to dinner and discussing the book and what's going on in our lives. It started as quite a random group, but we have all become good friends.

At some point when I have more time, I would like to get involved with historical preservation. The area I live in wasn't settled until the late 1800's, and there isn't much effort or support to save historical structures. I think it's such a shame.

Every League chooses a focus for their efforts each year and project ideas are submitted by members (or sponsored by members who have been approached by a member of the community) that fulfill both that year's focus and the overall goals of the JL. Every separate League has its own unique set of projects, but the wonderful thing (one of them) is that that knowledge and experience is shared among Leagues all across the membership. Each League also raises money for other non-profit groups' projects and often gives small grants to people with modest proposals (for instance, a teacher might write a request for $300 for a special piece of equipment for his or her classroom). The fundraising is done through things like cookbook sales, gala parties, auctions, etc.

Jackson, I'm glad to hear your experience has been so positive as well. I am used to hearing a lot of negativity and misinformation about the League from people who don't really know anything about it. I have been a member in several states and cities and in each chapter met outstanding women whose reason for joining was to give back to their communities.

I am part of a dinner club that's been getting together for 14 years now. There are 7 couples -- at the beginning, our kids were all small (or not even born yet) and we got together every 2 months religiously. As the kids got older, it became harder to schedule around sports, etc...but we still get together 4-5 times a year (also, the women get together for random dinners or movies or coffees in between, and the guys get together for a long weekend every May). We take turns hosting; the host makes the entree and the guests make appetizers, sides, and dessert. We always have a theme and some of our dinners have been hilarious (many costumes have been involved).

Also in a knitting group that started when my DD was leaving elementary school for middle school, and some of us moms were lamenting that we wouldn't see each other at school dropoff and pickup any more. This has been going on for about 2.5 years, once a month. There are about 6-8 of us each time, and not everyone knits. But we all drink wine :)

I also attend a monthly support group for mothers of children with special needs, even though my "child" is now almost 23. I have been part of this group since he was in 1st grade so it's hard to give it up. I did leave for about 6 months when he was in college...then went back when he dropped out.

Funny, how you never realize there are/were some JL'ers here! I'm a sustainer of course, and my DD has gone on that status now too, mostly due to work and schedule demands, but she is almost old enough anyway. Thanks for giving such a good summary of the good works, Kswl. Our chapter basically started a Children's Advocacy center, which is now pretty much self-sustaining, but the good works and fund-raising go on with new projects.

I am on the board of our county's historical society. This requires quite a bit of time with events and programs. We have a small museum and a genealogy library. We are all volunteers. I work in the genealogy library a couple afternoons a week. I volunteer at the Red Cross bloodmobiles, help in the cafeteria of a private school, work in our church library, am chairman of our town's revitalization committee, and do whatever else comes along!

My friends and I have been walking 4 miles most days of the week. We have done so for 25 years. I go to Zumba twice a week, too. I like to be busy.

Plus ,6 months ago we had our first grandchildren ...16 days apart.

"There are about 6-8 of us each time, and not everyone knits. But we all drink wine :)"

Sueb20 - That's funny! It occurs to me one could start any sort of club with that as the underlying theme. Thinking, thinking...

BTW - When does your license for "Sueb20" expire? Didn't you just celebrate a special b-day?

"There are about 6-8 of us each time, and not everyone knits. But we all drink wine :)"

Sometimes we do decide to make it a "cooking demo" instead of knitting if one of us voices a desire to learn to prepare a dish I.e. We had ravioli making back In October complete w/Italian tunes on the Bose.

Java, do you think I've been a member here since the age of 20? LOL. I turned 50...on the 20th, so the 20 is appropriate no matter how old I am. ;)

Irish reminded me, I was in a cooking club for a while, too. People would bring a dish according to some theme, as well as the recipe. Naturally, that club also involved wine. Hm. Most of my clubs involve wine...

I would love to start a gourmet dinner club with 4-5 couples at each dinner... have thought about that for awhile... maybe once we get more involved here. a few neighborhoods ago we belonged to a progressive dinner club where you would travel to 3 houses throughout the evening- apps, maincourse and dessert, but to be honest, I much prefer staying one place for the evening!