Ranch Community Activities introduces first Club Day

LAKEWOOD RANCH — When Lakewood Ranch resident Judith Heck moved to the area in 2004, friends weren’t particularly easy to come by.

As a way to meet people and build relationships within the community, Heck joined the Lakewood Ranch Women’s Club, first joining the group’s hospitality committee.

“It was my opportunity to make friends,” Heck said. “That’s the purpose of the club — to let you meet people and to do something you enjoy doing.”

To give Lakewood Ranch residents a similar opportunity, the Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Corporation is hosting Club Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oct. 9, at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

Nearly 30 Lakewood Ranch clubs will be on site to meet with residents and share about their organizations’ missions and offerings. Some of the groups to be represented include the creative arts and photography clubs, CERT, the Women’s Club, the Genealogy Club, the Angler’s Club and more.

“I came from a community where they used to do this,” said Heck, a member of the Community Activities’ board and event co-organizer. “I suggested that we plan something like this because some of the clubs need new members and some don’t. This is an opportunity for people to come in and meet the officers of the club, and find out (what they are about).”

Co-organizer Erich Weber, also a Community Activities board member, agreed.

“It’s tough to go to a brand new club where you don’t know anybody,” Weber said. “But if you can meet a few of those members (ahead of time, it’s easier to go).”

Lakewood Ranch has about 50 clubs in total. While some of the clubs, such as the Runner’s Club or the Garden Club, have straightforward names, others offer little insight into the club’s purpose. For example, Weber’s own Financial Forum provides guests a chance to hear business professionals discuss investments, financial planning and other financial issues at no cost.

The group has gotten large enough to attract high-quality speakers, but many residents still do not know about the group or the resources it offers.

“As I talked to some of these other clubs, they were saying the same thing,” Weber said. “There are some wonderful, wonderful clubs that are extremely active, but people just don’t know about them.”

Organizers hope Lakewood Ranch residents will turn out for Club Day to hear what opportunities are available. The Red Elephant Pizza & Grill and Chipotle Mexican Grill will be providing pizza, and salsa and burritos, respectively. Home Banc will be supplying drinks for the event.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

CLUB DAY
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Oct. 9
WHERE: Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.
COST: Free
DETAILS: Lakewood Ranch residents can meet representatives from various Lakewood Ranch clubs.

PARTICIPANTS
Women’s Club
Financial Forum
Civic Action Forum
Ladies Devotional Hour
Friday Mah Jong
Democratic Club
Bingo
ORT
SaBra Hadassah
Creative Arts
Photography Club
CERT
Jewish Community Club
Genealogy Club
Legacy Men’s Golf
Legacy Women’s Golf
Angler’s Club
Cruise Vacations
Handcrafts and More
Garden Club
Italian American Club
Adventure Travel Club
Scrabble Club
Tuesday Bridge
Lakewood Ranch Rotary Club
Kiwanis Club
Runners Club
Scuba Club