Friendly occasions make you feel ‘welcome’ to the club
By Denise Stewart
Hardly a day goes by that our media does not remind us that a healthy diet, exercise and friendly relationships are the necessary ingredients for a longer, happier life. Scripps Ranch Welcome Club has perfected the recipe and has shared it with its circle of friends for more than 40 years.
The month of May’s Welcome Club calendar has 13 opportunities for enjoyment for club members to select from. They can meet with friends to enjoy a movie and lunch together, share a morning coffee gathering, relish a potluck supper before a play at the local theater, discuss a book, make a craft, roll some dice, play some cards, take a walk or just have a chat.
Early this month, the Gadabouts group went to see the movie “The Devil Wears Prada 2” and shared lunch at a nearby restaurant. Pam Savelsberg plans these regular outings. She has recently begun a new adventure to a weekend contemporary music program being held locally.
A few days later in the week after the movie, a morning Coffee at Lynn Owens’ home treated the ladies to warm brunch dishes and a lavish French pastry platter. The gourmet delights were given by Gigi Cramer as a thank you for the friendship the club has shown her over the years.
Coming up soon on a summer evening, a backyard festivity known as a TGI will take place. Members will bring a dish to share with the gathering of friends and guests. Lynnell Hallock has been organizing these events for several seasons. These TGIs are casual and relaxed, and members are looking forward to them as the evenings grow warmer.
The evening event of this month started at Alan Binks’ home with a potluck that preceded the laughter that was enjoyed just down the road at Scripps Ranch Theatre’s performance of “Lend Me a Soprano.” Alan hosts these pre-play galas during the Theatre’s performance season.
Four different book clubs are part of the Welcome Club’s monthly schedule. The gatherings provide opportunities for lively discussions among smaller groups with members that treasure their time with a good book almost as much as with friends.
The club’s newer walking group took its first venture recently along the scenic trail just east of La Jolla Cove. Mostly level and walkable paths are the priority as these ladies plan to take in the beauty of our city while benefiting their bodies. A tour of Balboa Park is coming up in June. The walkers will wear their sneakers to lunch afterwards.
Welcome Club has a monthly meeting at the Community Recreation Center on the second Monday at 7 in the evening. At a short business session this month, the slate of new officers for the 2026-27 year was announced. The founder of the Welcome Club, Becky McDonald, was honored with a cake to celebrate her incredibly special birthday. Also, to celebrate the occasion, a table full of delectable desserts was devoured by the healthy eaters attending the meeting.
The club has a website available to those who would like to learn more about this circle of friends who are always eager to make new ones. Check it out: scrippsranchwelcomeclub.com.