A Family of Friends

Meet the Ladies that keep Lake Gaston lively.

Lake Gaston is a beautiful 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, 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 49

have no trouble finding a residence using reflective house numbers, visitor information cards and tips on what to tell 911 dispatchers during an emergency. “The Ladies Club is not only about entertainment but information and education too,” Richey commented. “That presentation was eye opening.” The group participates in numerous philanthropic activities throughout the year. “Being a member is a great opportunity for women to get together, socialize and do good work,” Richey said. “While the Lake Gaston Women’s Club is all about having fun, they also believe in helping others and regularly provide gifts for nursing home patients, donate thousands to charitable groups each year, donate to local food pantries and the John 3:16 Center and to local education through the Linda Fitts Scholarship. Former club president Teresa Freeman agreed with Richey and said that being a Lake Gaston Ladies Club member is one of the highlights of living at the lake. “If someone moves here and they don’t know anybody this is the best way to make friends,” she said. Freeman served on the Ladies Club board for nine years and commented that she particularly enjoyed when Donna Van was the president. “She made people wear funny hats or do weird things. The board has a good time, but the members do too. There’s something here for everybody.” She mentioned that the monthly membership meetings cover a variety of topics with mainstays like ice cream socials, giveaways and birthday celebrations that members look forward to every year. Freeman said that as far as the activity groups are concerned, she enjoys playing cards with the ladies and is part of the local “Hand & Foot” game taking place at Littleton Food and Spirits weekly. She said it’s a great help to members that there’s no obligation to be at every game c onsidering you never know what might come up. “There is a lot of laughter and camaraderie,” she said. “This organization is unique. If your question is ‘what to do?’ you can stay very busy.” Covering f ive counties and two states, the group is governed by a board of directors with its own newsletter, Shorelines, a membership directory and a web site at lakegastonlc.org Membership is open to any woman who resides in an established Lake Gaston subdivision that includes waterfront property or woman who owns an individual property on the lake.

To learn more email membership@lakegastonlc.org or call 540-220-2827.