Table of Contents
About the Author - Dr. Angela Caveney
Introduction
From my perspective as a Clinical Psychologist and the founder of The Trybe Women’s Social Club, in the below article, I outline the what, why and how of women’s social clubs.
I hope this information is useful to you in your efforts to find and understand clubs for women, whether you are researching the importance of community, curious about joining a women's club yourself, or even thinking of starting one of your own.
If you’re interested in learning more, joining The Trybe Women's Social Club (whether digitally or locally) or collaborating in one way or another (we are always open to partnerships!)...please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at angela@the-trybe.com.
Let’s get started…
What Is a Women’s Social Club?
Reviewing Wikipedia and The Cambridge Dictionary’s definitions of social clubs is useful for more generic purposes, but what truly is the definition...the essence...of a modern women’s social club?
The Trybe Women's Social Club defines itself as a community, bonded around a shared set of core values, in which every member feels seen, that they belong and that they have a chance to both grow as well as to contribute meaningfully to our efforts.
To break the key components of community down further, a healthy women's club must include:
Shared core values
In order to be successful, women's social clubs must be structured around a shared set of foundational beliefs, which create a sense of unity and purpose among members. Overtly stating, living and breathing the club's core values not only brings members together, but also helps "outsiders" know whether or not the club would be a good fit for them.
By way of example, The Trybe's core values are connection, continued personal growth and having a positive impact.
Belonging
Making friends in midlife can be hard. Women's social clubs to the rescue!
A sense of belonging is an absolutely critical component that all clubs need to keep top of mind at all times. When conceptualizing The Trybe, I followed the model Charles Vogl outlines in his fantastic book The Art of Community. Seven Principles of Belonging.
Direct member to member communication
To be a REAL community, club members must have the opportunity to communicate directly with each other to share thoughts and ideas. Without this, you have a leader > follower scenario, not a community.
The Trybe uses a private community app for this purpose. Many other women's clubs use Facebook.
Opportunities for meaningful contribution
Within The Trybe, we prioritize the importance of offering members opportunities to contribute in ways that are significant and impactful. We create an inclusive environment in which each member is encouraged not only to attend, but also to actively participate in our range of events, workshops, and classes. We also provide opportunities for members to share their expertise and passions by leading classes, writing for our blog, or even heading special interest clubs such as a movie, wine or cooking clubs.
If you take a peek at the Clubs Page of our website, you can see our current clubs, all of which are passion projects for our members. These clubs are all examples of women enjoying sharing what they love with new friends. Some of these women are taking their first stabs at leadership roles in their 50s and 60s!
Types of Women’s Social Groups
There is almost no limit to the possible types of women’s groups and clubs for women that you could join or start. They come in all forms, catering to a multitude of different interests and demographics.
HOWEVER! Whereas a ladies’ social club can be about just about anything…it absolutely MUST be about SOMETHING.
There must be a common tie that bonds the group - or the group will lose steam and fizzle out.
Some of the most common types of clubs for women are around activities of interest including sports clubs, hobby clubs, professional clubs, and cultural clubs.
Other ladies’ clubs bring people together based on a belief in something they deem important (e.g., political clubs), a common goal (e.g., business networking clubs) or a common struggle or phase of life.
The Trybe Women’s Social Club’s binding theme is that we are all women in midlife (most of us are empty nesters) who have a desire to have strong relationships with other women, to continue to grow personally and to have fun throughout midlife and beyond. All of the social club events that we participate in are the vehicle by which we accomplish these primary goals.
Benefits of Joining a Ladies’ Club
As I outline in great detail in my article, 19 Reasons You Should Join a Social Club, joining a women's social group can dramatically enrich your life through both personal and professional benefits. This article is not specifically about ladies’ social clubs, but it was written based on my experience as the leader of The Trybe, therefore every benefit is relevant to clubs for women.
Importantly, social clubs can open doors to personal growth through engaging new experiences, new passions, new hobbies and, of course, offer significant opportunities to expand your social circle. With regular participation, social clubs also provide a sense of support, community, and belonging. As you are no doubt aware, all of these things will positively impact your mental, emotional and physical well being.
How Do I Find Women’s Clubs Near Me?
If what I’m describing about The Trybe Women’s Social Club sounds interesting to you, I encourage you to join us! If you live in or near The Woodlands, Texas, you can join us in person. If you live anywhere else in the World, you can join our Digital Membership.
If you’re looking for something different from what The Trybe offers, here are my top 6 tips for finding clubs in your area.
Word of Mouth. Often, the best way to find a women's social club is to ask friends, family, or colleagues if they know of any local groups or organizations.
Google. As simple as it sounds, do a search for terms such as “women’s clubs near me”, “ladies club”, “find friends near me” and even “women’s networking groups”.
MeetUp. Use Meetup.com to find ladies' social groups in your local area that share your goals and interests. This platform offers a wide range of activities planned by local groups, making it an excellent way to connect with like-minded women.
Facebook Groups. Search for women's clubs on Facebook. Many clubs for women have active, public, Facebook groups where members can join discussions, share experiences, and learn about upcoming events
Local Community Centers and Bulletin Boards. Now we're going "old school", but this does still work... Check out your local community centers, libraries and local businesses for bulletin boards that advertise women's social clubs and gatherings in your area.
Local Newspapers and Magazines. Keep an eye on local publications for advertisements or articles about ladies’ social clubs and related events in your community.
Benefits of Starting a Women’s Club
Creating a women’s social club is one of the best decisions I have ever made. In cultivating community for others, I have created it for myself.
As I mention in my article, 17 Compelling Reasons To Start a Social Club, all of the benefits of joining a social club are realized by and amplified for the person who starts the club. As with the above mentioned article on reasons to join, all of the reasons to start a social club listed in this article are relevant to specifically starting clubs for women because they come from my personal experience.
Because I structured my ladies’ social club to align with my own core personal values and interests, every single day, I KNOW that I am living in alignment with my true purpose…and that feels absolutely amazing.
How To Start a Women’s Group
I’m currently working an article outlining how to start your own social club, but in the meantime, for more information, I encourage you to check out my more detailed article on what a social club is and (I really mean this!) reach out to me to chat.
I have dedicated the last 2.5 years of my life on creating community and I’d love to share what I have learned with you. Though my experience is specific to a ladies’ club, the basic principles of all, solid social clubs are the same.
Final Thoughts
The most important aspect of a women's social club is the connections it fosters among its members. Whether it's through shared interests, hobbies, or simply the desire for companionship, these clubs have the power to create lasting bonds and meaningful memories.
Starting a women’s social club can be a rewarding endeavor that not only enriches your life, but also the lives of those in your community. It's an opportunity to meet new people, share experiences, and grow together in a supportive environment.
Don't wait for the perfect moment. Take the initiative to join an already existing ladies' group or start your own club today. You'll be so glad you did.
If you need guidance or wish to share your experiences, please feel free to reach out.
About the Author
Angela Caveney, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist, Neuropsychologist and Founder of The Trybe Women's Social Club. Her absolute favorite things to do are to help women find their people, rediscover themselves and thrive throughout midlife. She can be reached directly at angela@the-trybe.com.
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