SPOTLIGHTING CAUSES
A Family of Friends
MEET THE LADIES THAT KEEP LAKE GASTON LIVELY
a ke G ast o n is a b eaut if ul jewel nestled in the Roanoke Valley, famous for the water sports and relaxation that draws people to its pristine shores. Many have made it their home over the years but what happens when the novelty wears off and winter arrives? The Lake Gaston Ladies Club offers a wide range of activity filled with camaraderie for those colder winter months. Current President Janet Lenahan, Member Elizabeth Groeger helps at the club's 2019 annual plant sale at Lassiter's Plant Farm in Littleton NC. herself a transplant to Lake Gaston, said she feels that moving to a remote area noting that many of the ladies enjoy the can be a culture shock, especially for women who performance arts, for example. Groups like come from larger metropolitan areas. She noted The Gastonettes and others went on to spin off that the slower pace brings more opportunities from those interest groups. “Like ‘Acting Up’, the for women to invest more time into building theater arts group,” she said. “They are working stronger friendships and the Ladies Club provides with John DuVall (at Lakeland Cultural Arts a means for members to take full advantage of Center)on a production for the spring.” those relationships. “We encourage members to be While the activity groups focus on specific welcoming in our meetings and events, encourage interests, it’s the monthly meetings that draw them to be more involved with committees and to crowds and give members the opportunity to invite new members,” she said. “We want members interact with everyone. The group isn’t just about to be more open, to sit with people they don’t know. having a good time since they believe equally We have a new members table at our meetings in educating and empowering their members. where a board member sits with them and greeters “Our monthly luncheon meetings, besides being to guide new members to resources.” Club a wonderful place to renew old friendships and Publicity Chair, Ruth Richey said the group had make new ones,are both informative and humble beginnings but over the past 40 years the entertaining,” she said mentioning a recent Ladies organization has grown to nearly five hundred Club meeting where Brunswick County Sheriff members with numerous activity groups ranging Brian Roberts and 911 Community Task force's from Mahjong and needlework to gourmet Sherry Herzing spoke. With the advent of cell cooking, paper crafting, acting and performing. phones, many have one away with home landlines Richey said that in the beginning a handful which has become problematic in areas like Lake of ladies gathered in each other's homes to Gaston where five counties and two states share a dish for lunch but as the lake population converge. At the meeting, Sherry shared her increased, so to did the number of participants. personal experience in which the call to 911 cost They found they had so much in common as her husband’s life because it was inadvertently members shared their interests that they began directed to the wrong county. According to Richey, to gather in smaller activity groups. “You can do Herzing shared that she is working to inform as much or as little as you want to,” Richey said, people on how to ensure that emergency crews
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49 Summer 2020 Hearth & Vine
