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Be a Part of It!
By Susannah Kopecky
“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” - Andre Gild
You don't literally have to lose sight of the local shore in order to discover something new, but you certainly must reach out, and sometimes the best way to discover a (metaphorical) ocean is by reaching out!
What makes you passionate? What topic brings a glow to your face and a fire within your soul? What truly inspires you?
Whatever it may be, there is more than likely a group of similarly-minded people around the Conejo, Simi and San Fernando valleys who feel the same way!
The word "group" is a grouping of sorts, having German, Italian and French origins. Webster's New World Dictionary defines group as: "A number of persons or things gathered closely together and forming a recognizable united; cluster; aggregation; a number of persons or things classified together because of common characteristics, community of interests, etc. Group is the basic, general word expressing the simple idea of an assembly of persons, animal, or things without further connotation."
Throughout history and time, the idea of the group has been present. Many times, the cohesive group must come together to right a situation, and unite to better themselves and rally forward with a positive cause. The group has also been the source of inspiration and social nourishment, whether term "group" is applied to a large network of socially similar individuals, or a group of related family members.
Man was not meant to live alone. People are part of families, go to school and go to work everyday, but must also be nourished personally by social, religious and activity groups.
Like honeybees, people love to be around other people; being part of a group improves the individual and improves the community. Here is just a sprinkling of some of the fascinating groups in our community.
Conejo Valley Folk Dancers:
Looking to kick up those heels, but just don't know where? Look no further: the Conejo Valley Folk Dancers may be just the ticket. This group of folk dance lovers meets weekly, and it only costs $2 or $3 dollars to join in on the fun, depending on whether you are a member or not. This group consists of "really fun" folk dancers who enjoy a variety of dancing styles, including circle dancing and international line dancing. You can come with a partner or solo, as all are invited to enjoy a "friendly evening," no matter what your level of dancing expertise is.
The Conejo Valley Folk Dancers meet every Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts. To find out more, call (805) 497-1957 or email jill.ron@adelphia.net.
Let's Get Cooking:
Are you a cooking enthusiast or a novice looking to improve those skills? Let's Get Cooking is a culinary school in Westlake Village, California, which offers cooking classes, a chi-chi environment and a fun way to build on vital cooking skills. Let's Get Cooking is a part of the Westlake Culinary Institute, and boasts such big names as Martin Yan, Curtis Stone and Beverly Gannon. Past visitors have also included Wolfgang Puck (who also owns a nearby restaurant in Westlake Village), Julia Child and Emeril La Gasse. (Food Network fans, this is the place to be!) Be sure to sign up early for the classes offered, as they can fill up quickly! Some fun activities put on by the culinary hot spot include vendor and holiday demonstrations, raffles, book signings, cooking classes (for varying levels) and much more. Gift certificates are also available and make a great gift (hint, hint Mother's Day). Some featured Spring classes include courses on comfort foods ("Comfort Food Favorites"), pastries ("Pro Pastry"), classes hosted by celebrity chef Martin Yan ("Yan Can Still Cook!"), specialty ("Art of Sugar Flowers," "Grilled Cheese Workshop"), grilling classes, cake decorating ("Modern Cake Decorating"), teas ("Mother/Child
Tea" and "Teatime Celebrations") and so much more. Love American favorites, sushi, Greek food, Indian food, Caribbean food, fish and Mediterranean food, but just don't know where to start? Check out Let's Get Cooking, and have a blast!
Rancho Simi Trail Blazers:
Do you love to hike, but often find yourself going solo? Hikes, particularly strenuous ones, are best enjoyed in the company of others, and the Rancho Simi Trail Blazers are just around the corner to provide company! Who are the intrepid Rancho Simi Trail Blazers, you may ask? The Trail Blazers describe themselves as "a volunteer organization of outdoor enthusiasts consisting of bikers, equestrians, hikers, and naturalists." The Trail Blazers are also deeply invested in the environmental as well, through maintaining and improving local trails and make news trails, promoting cooperation between all those who frequent the trails, and learning about the environment and local trails through hands-on activities. Founded more than 15 years ago (1992), the group is going strong as a service group.
The Trailblazers are an active group which ventures into the wild of Simi and surrounding areas, on hikes and overnight camping adventures. There are plenty of opportunities to join the Trail Blazers every week, for the weekly scheduled activities, which include trail maintenance activities and hikes four days a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday). Those interested in being Trail Blazers should call (805) 584-4440. Some special hikes are open to members only, so if you are an outdoor enthusiast, come join others of a similar stripe!
Red Hat Society:
The Red Hat Society is a social group for women who love to celebrate life! If you haven't already seen the ladies in red, you may run into them the next you are out to tea; how can you recognize them? By their red hats and their joie de vivre! The Red Hat Society celebrates "fun, friendship, freedom, and fulfillment!" This is the largest, most expansive grouping of women 50 and over… in the world. An organization for women to enjoy life, meet other women with similar interests and to network, the Red Hat Society also sponsors worthy causes, including the American Heart Association's campaign to fight heart disease. The Red Hat Society's purpose is to engender camaraderie and to allow women to cut loose and have fun, often with elaborate and flashy hats. Women under the age of 50 who would like to become a part of the Red Hat Society are welcomed as well; those over 50 are "Red Hatters" while the junior members are "Pink Hatters." There are many chapters throughout Ventura and Los Angeles counties, including in Simi, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks, Oak Park, Agoura Hills, Moorpark, Northridge, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Tarzana, West Hills and in many more cities. Basic membership is $20 annually. See also the Ventura County Over the Hill Gang, an organization with members ages 50 and older, who meet to have rugged adventures around California, in addition to social activities.
Red Line Corvettes:
Calling all Corvette enthusiasts! The Red Line Corvettes group is the ideal group for Corvette enthusiasts, and is open to anyone enamored by the sleek American sports car. The group invites "anyone interested in activities centered around America's #1 Sports Car," noting that "a Corvette is more than a car, It's a lifestyle."
The nearly-20-year-old nonprofit organization boasts around 150 active members, with nearly as many Corvettes. Some of the activities members enjoy include parades, car enthusiast getaways, car shows, picnics, social functions, parties and the national Corvette caravans, in addition to "just about anything we can have fun doing." Red Line Corvettes meets once a month. For those in Simi, the Simi Valley Corvette Club is another fun option to meet up with fellow local car enthusiasts. Another Corvette enthusiast group nearby is the Conejo Valley Corvette Club, and a related group is Ventura County Chevys, which meets in Simi on the second Friday of the month, at 7:30 p.m. at Simi's East Valley Sheriff's Station. Join other Chevy enthusiasts for Chevy-related activities, including meetings and special auto shows. Full membership is $30 per year.
San Fernando Valley Art Club:
Who said that painting needed to be a solitary activity? The San Fernando Valley Art Club has been a non-profit group in existence since 1943. The mission of the SFVAC is to "advance and promote the fine and allied arts in the San Fernando Valley (SFV) and surrounding areas." This group seeks to promote the arts and "encourage the production of art promote a friendly social atmosphere and mutual understanding between artists, art patrons and the public at large." The SFVAC encourages camaraderie and art appreciation, and also supports the community at large, through scholarship programs and art promotion drives, and by donating to other worthy causes and institutions such as the San Fernando Veteran's Tuberculosis Hospital and to Free Arts for Abused Children. Anyone can apply to become a member of the San Fernando Valley Art Club, and can be accepted as Non-Professional and Professional members ("patron members," or those who are not artists but "have an active interest in art" are also welcomed).
San Fernando Valley Bruins Club:
Welcome, Bruins of all ages! The San Fernando Valley Bruins Club is the official "UCLA Regional Support Group" of the San Fernando Valley, existing to keep fellow Bruins of the San Fernando Valley, Conejo Valley and Simi Valley in touch with one another, for the common goal of supporting the UCLA Bruins. The official purpose of this group is to "foster support for UCLA through social interaction with alumni and others having bonds to UCLA." This particular group has origins dating from 1972 (back when it was known as the West Valley Bruins) and continues to have an exciting mission. The San Fernando Valley Bruins get together to watch UCLA sports, and go on other group ventures. Anyone with an interest in Bruins sports is encouraged to join. To find out more, email UCLAlumni@sfvbruins.org or go to http://sfvbruins.org/ to sign up for the SFVB email. Go Bruins!
Simi Quilt Guild and Conejo Valley Quilters Guild:
It's tough to trace the exact origin of quilting, though quilting, in various forms, has been around for many hundreds of years (if not more than a thousand years). The Simi Quilt Guild is an excellent place for quilting enthusiasts to get together and enjoy the art of quilting. The Simi Quilt Guild meets once every month on the second Wednesday of the month at the Simi Valley Senior Center (3900 Avenida Simi) at 7:30 p.m. (with the preceding "Social Hour" starting at 7:00 p.m.). "Mini Groups" are also available for those seeking to make their own mini quilt-interest groups. For residents of the Conejo Valley, the Conejo Valley Quilters Guild (in Thousand Oaks) is also an excellent non-profit group, which has block patterns of the month, organizes quilt show trips, holds workshops and donates member-created quilts to charities. Membership to the Conejo Valley Quilters Guild is $30 per year; those who do not want to enjoy full membership benefits but are interested in attending meetings need only pay a $5 visitor fee. For those interested in becoming members of the Conejo Valley Quilters Guild or finding out more information, call (805) 375-1327 or email Mary McAdara for more information, at mary@mcadara.com.
Thousand Oaks Wine Group:
Who says you have to go to Santa Barbara or Napa to enjoy fine wines? The Thousand Oaks Wine Group is rather new, having been founded last Halloween! The Thousand Oaks Wine Group welcomes any and all wine enthusiasts to join in on the fun, learn about wines and viticulture and taste the cream of the Conejo wine crop. Some recent outings included visits to Sheila's Place, Bellavino and Wades Wines. See also the Simi Valley Wine Lovers Association.
Ventura Surf Club:
Surf's up! The Ventura Surf Club is an excellent group to consider when looking for a fun, exciting and interesting adventure. Join other surf enthusiasts (or become one!) Whether or not you are an experienced surfer, the Ventura Surf Club is worth checking out. The Ventura Surf Club "provides a community of surfers that welcome surfers of all skill levels… Everyone is welcome!"
The Ventura Surf Club welcomes members from all over, and hosts contests, barbecues and various other fun functions throughout the year… in addition to the fun aim of the club: to surf, and have great fun while doing so! Surfers in the club can represent the VSC at competitions, in addition to noncompetitive surfing activities. One of the best perks about joining the Ventura Surf Club is that it is a group that encourages family memberships, as well as individual memberships. Individual memberships are $40, while family memberships are $60 (with under-18 memberships costing $20). To download and submit an application, visit http://www.venturasurfclub.org.
Westlake Yacht Club:
Headquartered in picturesque Westlake Village, California, the Westlake Yacht Club is a fun and exciting club to be a part of in the Conejo Valley (though the club does also welcome fellow members from different yachting interest clubs). The Westlake Yacht Club is frequently involved in and sponsoring community events, which makes it an excellent choice to consider when looking for a group to join around the Conejo and San Fernando valleys. The Westlake Yacht Club owns and operates a members-only clubhouse and offers a variety of sailing and boating classes to member families. Members do not need to own boats or be experienced sailors. Some of the myriad of social activities sponsored by the club include parties at the Clubhouse and use of the open bar during the weekends; weekly barbecues each Friday night in the summer; the Installation Dinner Dance; the Commodore's Ball; special dances, parties and activities including games and dancing lessons; a Junior Yacht Club; "Fleet Activities"; Scotch tasting; themed parties; casino nights; the Electric Fleet Party; July 4 adventures, and various other fun-filled opportunities. To learn more about membership, email membership@westlakeyc.org or call (818) 700-5257.
No matter what drives you, there is a near-endless supply of fun and educational opportunities to get involved throughout the tri-valley area (Conejo, Simi, San Fernando). Every person has a different set of interests, passions and talents; and there are many individuals who share some of the very same interests. Whether you are looking to learn a new sport, connect with others to learn new tips, to join a group of individuals of a certain age, to connect spiritually, to find fellow outdoor enthusiasts, to join an established country club, to become more proficient in a certain area, to reconnect with former classmates or to simply enjoy something new and exciting, there are many options to consider. Residents of the tri-valley area are in a particularly fortunate locale, close enough to enjoy the myriad of institutions of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, yet close enough to enjoy the naturescapes, hideaways and various gems offered by the Conejo and Simi valleys. Have fun, nurture yourself, become a part of your community, and love the many adventures life has to offer, aroundevery corner!
More Clubs:
Here are some other of the great groups, aka treasures, to check out around the Conejo Valley, San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley: