by Irene Hoff

Try something fun, try something new, the Newcomers Club may be for you!

The members of the Bismarck-Mandan Newcomers Club extend their greetings and hope we have an opportunity to meet you personally at our monthly meetings. The clubs’ goal is to nurture fellowship and friendship, and membership is open to all women in the Bismarck-Mandan area.

Are you new to the area, experiencing a new life situation (empty nester, divorced, widowed, single, married), a new job, job relocation or just need a night out? The Newcomers Club could be what you are looking for.

Our purpose is to help women get acquainted with the city, meet new people and provide avenues for expression of your interests. You do not need to be new to the area to be a member. New people bring new ideas, enthusiasm and new personalities to our club – consider sharing them with us! Currently we have 106 members and are always looking for more.

Our club dates back to the 1950’s, starting out as the “Welcome Wagon” visiting new residents of Bismarck in their homes and giving them information. We became a non-profit organization in 1966, and changed our name to Bismarck-Mandan Newcomers Club in March 1993.

We meet at 7:00 pm the first Tuesday of each month, September thru May. Our schedule changes in November and December. Our meeting location is the Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 1143 N 26th Street, Bismarck ND (north entrance).

We have covered various subjects during our meetings, including women’s health issues, vacations outside the United States, women-owned businesses, gardening, birding, Dakota Stage productions, self defense, home decorating ideas and becoming an outdoor woman.

Our club also hosts events, such as a Bunko Bash, game night, flower planting, food drives, Christmas gift bags for residents of a local nursing home and donations to needy charities.

Bismarck-Mandan Newcomers Club holds a Charity Bucket Raffle in March. The event was started in 1954 to help various charities within the Bismarck-Mandan area. The raffle is our main fund raiser of the year, and we have helped some truly worthy causes and had a good time in the process. We receive donations from area businesses and club members, raise money by selling tickets and draw the lucky numbers! The event is open to the public and is located in the Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 1143 North 26th Street Bismarck ND. The date for next year is March , 2012.

Some of the charities that have benefitted from the Bismarck-Mandan Newcomers Club include: Parks and Rec, Red Cross, School of Hope, Girl Scouts, Dakota Zoo, YMCA, Charles Hall, Abused Women Resource Center, Central Dakota Humane Society, Ruth Meier’s Hospitality Home, Veterans Memorial Library, Welcome House, Bismarck-Mandan Food Pantry, Carrie’s Kids, The YES House, Tracy’s Sanctuary House, Sporting Chance, Manchester House, Christmas in April, Ronald McDonald House, Amber’s Dream and Cystic Fibrosis of ND.

We invite area ladies to join and have some fun. For information on the Bismarck-Mandan Newcomers Club and its activities please contact Irene Hoff (701-255-6693) or Irene Rankin (701-224-6755).

“Special Interest Groups” meet once a month September thru May, and some meet all year long. They include: Blizzards (ice cream anyone), Book Club, Bunko I, II and III (dice game), Creative Crafters, Couples Marathon Bridge, Get It Done (sewing group), Evening Social (meals, attend plays etc), Game Gals (board games and cards), Ladies Daytime Bridge, Ladies Marathon Bridge, Out & About (attend social functions around the area), Out to Lunch Bunch, Pinochle I and II, Sew N Sew, Show Biz (movie anyone), String Beads (learn to make bead jewelry), Texas Hold’Em, Winers (wine tasting), Winers II and Yakity Yaks (coffee group).

Irene Hoff is President of the Bismarck-Mandan Newcomers Club.