Cape Newcomer's Club offers variety of activities

The Cape Girardeau Newcomer's Club can be defined in two words: at ease.

Living in a new community, which for many is only a temporary residence, is the common thread shared by all.

"There are no cliques here," said Carla Harold, originally from Kansas City, Kan.

Harold, who was first invited to the group by member Joan Jones, calls the group of people "really neat."

The group meets for lunch around 11 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at Port Cape Girardeau downtown.

Other opportunities for those with varying interests present themselves throughout the month. The group will meet for coffee at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Louis Bread Co. in Westfield Shoppingtown West Park. The Lunch Bunch will meet at 11:30 a.m. June 17, at Applebee's.

For those interested in literature, the Book Club plans to meet at 7 p.m. June 18, at Barnes and Noble. The book up for discussion is "Lovely Bones," by Alice Sebold. Stitch Club does not actively stitch but was formed by a quilter who has since moved; the name remained the same. Helping Hands are the rays of "sunshine" providing asistance of any kind when members and their families need it.

A new group, Just For Fun Bridge Group, is just forming, and it's for those who want to learn bridge or help others to learn the game.

Helen Hunt, a representative of Stitch Club, said, "There's never any cliques going on. We're really eager for new people to join. We're not a money-making organization. There are no fundraisers. We're strictly a get-acquainted group."

At Christmas time the event of the season is "Make, Bake or Take," doing just that. It's a food auction and the profits are donated to charity.

Visitors are welcome to attend a general meeting or several club functions before making a decision about joining. Dues are paid annually in May, covering the mailing and printing costs of the newsletter.

The conversation easily flows from topics such as forgettable vacations, weather, horses, husbands and their idiosyncrasies to children, food and when the next meeting takes place.

Beulah Sharp moved here in 2000 when her husband, Ivon Sharp, superintendent of maintenance on the Bill Emerson bridge, found employment here. Originally from Scheiver, La., Sharp found it a big adventure to move.

This was the first move in over 40 years for her and although she does not regret the move, now and again she finds herself homesick. She said, however, that she likes Cape Girardeau and that people were friendly.

To address the issue of meeting new people and getting out of the house, she joined the Newcomer's Club and also found employment as a substitute lunch aide in the Cape Girardeau school district.

Ann Hall has been a member of the group for 15 years. Originally from Sikeston, Mo., and now a Jackson resident, she shared her personal tornado experience with the group.

Hunt, a member for five years now, said the membership is down right now. "Usually there are 10 to 25 people here. When I first joined there were lots" of Procter & Gamble people, Hunt said. "Since then that crowd has already moved away."