The Woodlands Newcomers Club first president and founding member Ellen Sankowski listens as current club president explains the plans for the Newcomers Club's 30 Anniversary Gala to be held at The Woodlands Country Club Palmer Course clubhouse. The club started with 30 guests attending the monthly luncheons, now more than 100 guests attend the luncheons. Photo by David HopperThe Woodlands is home to a Newcomers Club like no other.
In this club, members don't have to leave when they're not "new" anymore.
In this club, members don't even have to be new to The Woodlands – they can simply be new to life circumstances.
It seems to be working, because The Newcomers Club of The Woodlands will celebrate its 30th anniversary March 27.
Club President Becky Feaster, an Indian Springs resident, said bringing together new residents with seasoned residents just makes sense.
"A lot of people can give you tips and hints on things like what doctor to go to, which contractor to hire, that kind of thing," Feaster said. "They know, because they've lived in The Woodlands for a long time."
Feaster is speaking geographically, but there are other reasons women join.
"Maybe they've lived here a while, but now they're retired, or divorced, or widowed," Feaster said. "Something has changed in their lives and they're looking for new friends."
Feaster first visited The Woodlands in March 2005 when her husband was in town for a job interview.
The timing was right, because while she was here, Feaster saw an article in the paper about the Newcomers Club. She cut it out, just in case, and it came in handy when her family indeed relocated to The Woodlands.
"Moving from Pennsylvania to Texas, I had culture shock," Feaster said. "And when I moved here, I had a junior in high school, so the normal way of making friends through your kids was pretty much gone."
Feaster's got a lot of friends now, as there are a few hundred women in the Newcomers Club.
The group will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a gala March 27 at The Woodlands Country Club.
Feaster said she's invited all 29 past presidents, including Ellen Sankowski, a Grogan's Mill resident who was co-founder of the club and served as its first president in 1980.
"We moved here when it was kind of wild and woolly," Sankowski said. "The Woodlands was still new. I tried to chase moving vans down the street to meet new people, but that didn't work very well."
Sankowski went to Rev. Don Gebert, whom had been hired by George Mitchell to oversee the spiritual needs of a new community.
Sankowski said "can you help me find like-minded mothers?"
Gebert granted Sankowski access to his 3x5 file box, and she began calling people, working her way from A through Z.
Within the year, some 40 women were members of the club.
Now, there are more than 350, approximately 80 of whom have moved to The Woodlands in the last few months.
Linda Heflin, 65, has been a member since January, after moving to Sterling Ridge last November.
"It's harder as you get older to meet and make new friends," Heflin said. "But now I've been to a couple of the Club lunches, and I did go to the movies last month. In the next couple of months I think I'll join a bridge group."
Several groups have formed within the club as women with similar interests meet each other.
There's the Day Trek group, in which the ladies take day trips once a month to check out the sights of the greater Houston metro area. There are book, canasta, Bunco, bridge, golf and tennis clubs; wine tasting, dining out, and walking excursions.
Patricia Conner, an 89-year-old Town Center resident, launched a Mahjong group after she joined Newcomers two years ago.
"It's quite a difficult game," said Conner, who moved to The Woodlands from Corpus Christi. "I've had a lot of people start, but then they fall by the wayside. It's not really a social group because there's not much chitchat. You have to concentrate very carefully. But we're a relaxed group. We don't play for money."
Feaster said if a club member has an interest in something there's not already a group for, she's encouraged to start one at any time.
As she thinks back on the club's 30 year history, Feaster said the future goal is quite simple.
"We're looking forward to 30 more."
Fast Facts: The Newcomers Club of The Woodlands
- founded in 1980
- created to introduce women to the social and civic life of the community
- more than 350 members
- dozens of groups have formed within the club, specific to members' interests
- age range is early 30's to late 80's
- membership fee is $30 a year
- for more information visit www.woodlandsnewcomers.com
