Adventures & Museums
(various Wednesday)
We have some exciting and fabulous activities and you can participate in some or all of the festivities. Plan to be part of this adventurous group as we continue to explore, discover and have great fun at sports events, museums, theaters, house and garden tours, and much more. [top of page]
Book Club
(4th Tuesday)
Book Club meets at 9:30 a.m. on the 4th Tuesday of each month in members’ homes. The reading list includes both fiction and nonfiction. At each monthly meeting one member serves as hostess, while another member reviews the book and leads the discussion. It is not necessary to have read or finished the book to attend (as long as you don’t mind having the ending revealed) as the books are often springboards to lively and spirited discussions about how literature relates to our own life experiences.
At the May book club meeting, prospective titles for the following year are suggested, and then voted on, by book club members. This link will show you the entire book list for 2011-2012.
We are a very relaxed and friendly group, and new members are always welcome at any time during the year.
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Bowling
(1st Friday mornings in season)
Get out that old ball and shoes or come try something new! Anyone interested in having a fun morning of bowling at Devon Lanes? We will bowl 2 games. Each participant is responsible for shoe rental (if needed) and lane fee. Lunch out afterwards is optional.
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Bridge Groups
We have groups for everyone. Giggle bridge, Ladies Afternoon bridge for the intermediate players and Ladies Duplicate for the more advanced players. We also have Couples Bridge in a very relaxed atmosphere and welcome new members to all of our groups.
Couples Bridge
(1st Saturday)
This is a friendly bridge group, with skills at all levels. Whether a beginner or very experienced, we have a lot of fun, and new members are welcome at any time. Beverages as well as hors d’oeuvres and/or dessert are served at 7:00 p.m. and play begins at approximately 7:30 p.m. Tallies are used, honors are counted, and scoring is in accordance with either Rubber Bridge or Party Bridge - whichever the hosts choose.
Ladies Afternoon Bridge
(2nd Thursday)
This group is for the intermediate player. We all love to play bridge and have fun! Social begins at 12:45 p.m. Play begins at 1:00. Please plan to play until 4:00 p.m. We encourage new members to join us. The hostess provides: beverages and light snacks. Play is Rubber Bridge with four hands being dealt. Each person shall contribute $1 to the "pot", to be divided at the end of the session based on scores. Each member shall hostess once during the year. Frequent subs may be asked to hostess, if needed.
Ladies Duplicate Bridge
(4th Thursday)
This group is for the intermediate to advanced player. Arrive at 9:15 a.m. for coffee; play begins at 9:30 a.m. Play usually concludes by 1:00 p.m. The hostess provides coffee and morning snacks. Each person shall contribute $1 to the "pot" to be divided at the end of the session based on scores. Each member shall hostess once during the year. Frequent subs may be asked to hostess, if necessary.
Giggle Bridge
(3rd Tuesday)
This group meets on the third Tuesday of the month from 1pm to 4pm. We are a low-key group who wants to have fun while we work on our bridge skills, so table talk and cheat sheets are allowed. However, a basic knowledge of bridge is necessary (point counting, bidding and card play). A rotating hostess will provide snacks and beverages.
Bunco
(3rd Wednesday)
Do you feel lucky? Bunco is a dice game of pure luck and a great reason to gather with friends to socialize. Bunco meets the third Wednesday of the month from September through May at 7:00 p.m. At present the 12 regular slots are full, but subs are always needed. If you are interested, please sign up for the sub list because at least two times per year a “blow out” is held, in which all interested parties, regulars and subs are invited to play.
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Canasta
(1st Monday)
This is a group for beginners and those who have played Canasta before and would like to refresh their memories. We will teach you what you need to know! Hostess provides cards, simple snacks and beverages. We meet on the 1st Monday of each month from 1:00 p.m to 4:00p.m. It is important that you RSVP if you plan to attend so the hostess knows how many tables there will be.
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Chick Flicks
(3rd Monday)
Can’t persuade your husband or significant other to take you to see that just released romance? No problem! See it with your fellow “chickflickettes”! The term “chick flick” is slang for a film designed to appeal to the female audience with emotional and relationship-based themes: tearjerkers, romantic comedies, tales of feminine bonding, frothy romances, Cinderella-like fairy tales of finding love. Some of the movies we see are true “chick flicks” (also known at various times throughout film history as “melodramas”, “women’s pictures”, “weepies”, or “soapers”), but our choices are diverse and have included musicals, comedies, classics and action pictures - a little something for everyone no matter what your favorite film genre may be! Due to the changing nature of movie schedules, participants will be notified each month by phone or email with specific details. The venue is UA King of Prussia Stadium 16 Theater Complex on Mall Boulevard.
Be sure to join us for lunch each month before the movie at Champps, located next to the movie theater with ample parking for your convenience. Lunch costs are evenly shared by those attending each month.
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Giggle Golf
(Wednesday mornings, during the season)
The golfers swing into action in May. Players meet on Wednesdays at The Club at Shannondell. Join this fun group for nine holes, followed by a Dutch treat luncheon in a nearby restaurant. For the golfer with a sense of humor and an inconsistent score, giggle golf is a great way to improve your game and make new friends. No handicap is necessary.
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Today's Gourmet
(1st Thursday)
On the first Thursday of each month (October through May, except January), groups of eight women gather at 11:30 a.m. at the homes of
hostesses to enjoy intimate luncheons. Each attendee receives a complete menu and set of recipes and is assigned a dish to prepare, bring and serve at that month’s luncheon. The cost of all dishes and beverages is shared equally per house. Members agree to be a hostess during the year by opening their homes for a luncheon. Hostesses prepare the entrée and provide coffee and tea. When you sign up for this activity, you will receive a complete set of these guidelines for your reference.
This is such a great group! We hope you will join us for fantastic food, fun and friendship in Today’s Gourmet.
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Luncheons
(3rd Thursday)
Formal luncheons are held September through May, in various venues around the area. Usually included are minimal club business, a guest speaker or program and a three-course meal. These luncheons are a popular way to meet new friends and catch up with old ones. The cost of the meal is about $30.
Prospective members are welcome to attend, but should contact the Membership Chairs to find out the forthcoming luncheon details.
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Mah Jongg
(2nd & 4th Mondays)
Mah Jongg is an ancient Chinese game played with tiles. We play according
to the National Mah Jongg League rules with a few variations.
This group meets on the second and fourth Mondays of the month from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Location depends on hostess sign-up. The number of tables playing depends on the number of people who RSVP. You must RSVP by Saturday before the play date! E-mail reminders are sent to members. Light refreshments may be served.
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Reel Classics
(1st Monday Evening)
Revisit the romance, mystery, comedy and drama of classic film. We meet the first Monday of each month in the evening from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Films are selected from a member's inventory, and meetings are held at members’ homes. Participation is open to all members at all times. Email reminders are sent each month. Light concessions are served, and there is no cost to participate.
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Solo Travelers
(1st Wednesday) The Solo Travelers Group was formed for members who enjoy traveling but don't
want to go it alone. This group includes members who are single, widowed, divorced or have significant others
who do not share their passion for travel.
Songbirds
(2nd Tuesday)
Yes, you CAN sing!! If you can talk, you can sing!!
Come join this happy activity dedicated to the sheer joy of singing! We require no auditions, no prior experience, no formal training (no talent!!!) – just an enthusiastic desire to raise your voice in song with friends. Musical selections are determined by the group (we sing anything and everything and usually laugh while doing it). We meet the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. and all are welcome. Just check the Welcomer each month for details. And, while we occasionally share a program with the Club, all public performances are strictly optional…you need never perform unless you so choose. So don’t be shy. Come share the fun as we vocalize and harmonize. And, most importantly, “…don’t worry that it’s not good enough for anyone else to hear, just sing, sing a song.”
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TGIF Happy Hour
(2nd Friday)
TGIF was started to give members and their spouses a chance to shake off the stresses of the workweek and relax with friends. TGIF is held the second Friday of most months, September through June. The evening runs from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., and friends are always welcome. We stress this is a very casual get together. The hostess provides her home, while members attending bring either heavy appetizers or a couple bottles of wine.
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Walkers
Walk with a friend, exercising on the Radnor Trail weekday mornings at about 9:00 a.m. Come as you are, as many days as you can. Time will vary seasonally. Distance and pace will depend on who is walking, and sometimes the topic of conversation. Details will be updated via email on a regular basis.
Walnut Street Theatre
Sign up for Walnut Street Theatre takes place in early spring. A season subscription is for five shows - both dramas and musicals - produced by a professional regional theatre. The cost is around $180, a considerable savings over the cost of individual show tickets. Newcomer subscriptions are all for Thursday matinees, scheduled from October through early June.
Subscribers meet at the Radnor train station, take the train to Market Street Station, have lunch, attend the performance, and return home by bout 6 p.m.
Tickets are easily exchangeable for another performance or can be sold to a Newcomer on our sub list.
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Service Activities
Friendship -- the state of being attached to others by affection and esteem (Webster)
A caring word is always welcome when someone is experiencing difficult times. This support is particularly important when one is new in a community. The club extends care and sympathy through notes and cards to members in need. All members are encouraged to contact the Friendship Chair whenever they hear of a member needing support, care or encouragement.
Community Service
As part of the socialization we all face as newcomers, opportunities to give back to the community through non-profit organizations are important to many of our members. The role of the Community Service Chairpersons is to provide resources for those who choose to participate. We have a number of charities to which Newcomers have given their time and energy.
If interested joining our work with any of the organizations listed, we can provide the information needed to volunteer.
Baker Industries is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with mental and physical disabilities, the homeless and others who
find it hard to secure the skills and work habits they need to succeed in the mainstream of life. For more than 20 years, Baker Industries has followed a unique approach in work rehabilitation, giving disadvantaged people real jobs for real compensation and teaching work ethics that enable them to move on to outside employment in the regular workplace.
Volunteer opportunities include working beside an employee, showing them how to work efficiently, or helping a supervisor check quality control when several jobs are in progress. You can volunteer once a week, once a month or when needed at the Baker Industries facility in Malvern. NCUML's Baker Industries holiday party, held in December, has for many years been greatly appreciated by staff and workers. Club members provide food and service at a festive luncheon (held at the organization's Malvern plant). Help is always needed!
Main Line Meals on Wheels, a charitable organization serving those in need, delivers two nutritious meals a day (Monday through Friday) to convalescent, homebound, aged and disabled persons who are unable to shop or cook for themselves. Volunteers deliver meals, working in pairs, using prearranged routes which the office provides. Many club members have long standing commitments, volunteering for approximately two hours once a month or filling in as substitutes. Close friendships often develop while sharing these morning experiences. Moreover, a volunteer may be the only visitor the individual being served may see in the course of a day. Additional substitutes are always needed.
ALS Association (Lou Gehrig's Disease) has as its mission to discover the cause of and find the cure for ALS through dedicated research while providing patient and family support, education for health care professionals and the general public, and advocacy for ALS research and health care concerns. The Greater Philadelphia Chapter funds over $1million in services to patients and families in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Tragically, the cause, cure or means of control of ALS are still unknown.
There are opportunities for volunteers to assist as companions to patients (to give caregivers a respite for brief periods of time), to assist with the van transportation program, to count money from fundraisers and with mailings at the local office. ALS also has a busy calendar of fund raising events where volunteers are needed to assist on the day or evening of an event. The dates and information are posted in the monthly Newcomers' newsletter.
The Kelly Anne Dolan Fund gives year round help to families with seriously ill children. During the holiday season NCUML adopts one of the families and provides holiday gifts. NCUML members buy and wrap the gifts and bring them to the December luncheon, where they are gathered and taken to the needy family.
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