Newcomers Club helps ease transition of moving

The Newcomers Club of Cape Girardeau, Jackson and the surrounding area is solely designed to welcome new people into the area and help ease the transition of moving into a new environment.

There are no working committees or duties. People just get together to make friends, have fun and become acquainted with their community, according to member Helen Hunt of Cape Girardeau.

"People don't neighbor like they used to. So many people work these days, it's hard to get out and meet your neighbor," Hunt said. "So you almost need some kind of contact to make friends."

The Newcomers Club holds a general meeting at 11:30 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month at Port Cape Cafe in downtown Cape Girardeau. The group has about 30 members on its roster, but the Wednesday luncheon crew is down from 15 to 20 participants to 12 or so, Hunt said.

Presentations at these meetings have included a representative from the English as a Second Language program, the director of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, an interior and landscape designer, the director of the Safe House for Women, a representative from the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, a speaker from the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, and a Princess Diana fan.

The club started in the early 1990s, evolving from the Newcomer's Welcome Wagon organization. Dues cost $12 per year, which pays for production of a monthly newsletter. The newsletter contains information on upcoming events, new members and those who have moved, meeting news and recipes.

"We've lived in 14 different cities, and newcomers groups have helped me just find things," Hunt said. "Groups like this help people find preschools, day cares, doctors, people are always looking for a doctor when they come to town."

All ages, backgrounds

Hunt and her husband, Duane, have lived in Idaho; Indiana; Memphis; Paris, Texas; and Pensacola, Fla. Duane is from Indiana, Helen is from Kansas City, Mo. They have moved around so much due to Duane's work and just trying to figure out where they want to live, Hunt said.

"Sometimes you don't want to hang out just with your husband's co-workers, though. Sometimes you want to get away from the job," Hunt said. "With a newcomers group, I like the fact that you meet all ages of people, and people with such varied backgrounds. It really helps to acquaint yourself with the activities of the area.

"It eases you into a new situation when you've lost everything that is familiar to you."

The local Newcomers Club is made up of special interest groups that meet outside of the general meeting. These groups, which are formed simply by common interests, are listed above.

The Hunts have lived in Cape Girardeau for five years. The Newcomers Group is set up to welcome people who have moved to the area within the past two years; however once you join, you are a member for life. And Hunt said they could also use some area veterans to help introduce newcomers to their new community.

The club is informal and friendly, with casual dress. For more information on the Newcomers Club, call Hunt at 651-8701 or Susan Casleton at 334-0217.

jgosche@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133

Special interest groups of the Newcomers Club include the:

Lunch Bunch: meets once a month and tries out area restaurants

Coffee group: usually meets at someone's home or sometimes out

Stitch group: gets together to do needlework

Ladies Night Out group: goes to movies, concerts or other types of entertainment

Couples Night Out group: meets at someone's home or goes out to eat

Book Club: discusses designated books

Tour group: travels out of town shopping, to a bed and breakfast, or other destination

Play group: mothers and their children meet at a park or somewhere to play

Helping Hands group: reaches out to members in times of crisis or need