The mission of the Augusta Area Newcomers Club is easily discerned from its name. But per that hospitable charge, the social organization opens its doors not only to new residents of the CSRA, but to anyone experiencing a major life transition.
“New retirees, newly divorced, new empty nesters, we take them all,” said current president Susan Murray.
While those who join may be recent transplants, or those going through some kind of personal renewal, the Newcomers Club isn’t so new: on May 19 it will be celebrating 50 years of welcoming people to Augusta.
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The group launched in 1971 “to provide new residents or residents who have made a life change with the opportunity to make new friends and contribute to local charities through fundraising and volunteer opportunities,” according to its website.
It adapted its original “Augusta Newcomers Club” moniker in 1980, and strove through decades of bylaw amendments and form changes, eventually changing to “Augusta Area Newcomers Club” in 2004 to honor its embracing of residents surrounding Augusta.
“I moved to Augusta six years ago and was just not connecting with people,” said Murray, an assistant professor at Augusta University’s James M. Hull College of Business since she relocated from Texas. “Got involved five years ago, and I’ve been having a good time with them ever since.”
Members meet regularly, mostly at monthly luncheons at places like the Sacred Heart Cultural Center or Savannah Rapids Pavilion, which will be the site of the club’s 50th anniversary celebration. Within the club are more than 30 activity groups ranging from gardening and sewing to canasta or mah-jongg. There are five different book groups, including one for nonfiction and one for Southern literature.
“We’ve got groups that just go out for coffee and chatting,” Murray said. “We have a group that goes out to movies together; we’ve got a group that goes out and does easy hiking on trails.”
Alongside its coordinated fellowshipping, the society raises money for a different charity each year. It raised $12,000 last year for the Augusta Training Shop, and $15,000 for Child Enrichment, Inc.
The organization continues to do what it did in the beginning, acting as a literal “social network,” connecting people who are adapting to novel circumstances in their lives, building friendships and support systems, and encouraging generosity.
“People, when their kids go off to school, or they retire, they’re kind of in a whole new part of their life,” said Murray. “And sometimes their mom friends are doing mom activities and don’t have time for them. And so it gives a great opportunity for folks that are either lonely or want to get out and try some new things to have some like-minded members.”
For more information about the Augusta Area Newcomers Club and its groups, events and charities, visit its website at www.augustanewcomers.net.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering education in Columbia County and business-related topics for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
