Club is about fun gatherings, making friends
By Denise Stewart
Last year’s calendar ended with holiday celebrations adding sparkle to Welcome Club’s monthly meetings of special interest groups. The year 2026 will continue the tradition of bringing Scripps Ranch residents together for events, fostering friendships and sharing good times.
This year’s calendar
The first entertaining event of the new year was a Gadabout to a local movie theater on Jan. 6 for a viewing of the critically acclaimed “Song Sung Blue.” After the show, the ladies enjoyed lunch together at a nearby restaurant. The Gadabout, the first of the new year, set the standard for the upcoming outings.
A new Game Day group has been formed under the leadership of Stephanie Bates. On Jan. 13, the group debuted with an opportunity to select a card game to play that afternoon. As months go by, it is planned that the games and locations will vary to meet the desires of the players.
Literature is a popular enjoyment among Welcome Club members. It is so popular that four different book talks occur each month where reactions to a variety of books’ themes and styles are shared among members. Each group meets at a different time of the day.
A weekend evening potluck and theater performance will draw members together on Feb. 7. It will be one of the regular theater season events that Welcome Club has organized to support our local theater company. The potluck, hosted by Alan Binks, will precede the enjoyment of Scripps Ranch Theatre’s current production “Donna Orbits the Moon.” The delicious dishes created by the diners and the comedy’s laughter created by the actress will make the evening particularly enjoyable.
Regular monthly meeting
While social events are the focus of Welcome Club, on Feb. 9 at the monthly club meeting, information on being a good neighbor and caring for ourselves and one another will be the topic, according to Susan Dunigan, program chair.
Carrie McClellan, director of Outreach and Community Engagement at ElderHelp, a local nonprofit that has been serving San Diego’s senior community for more than 50 years, will share how ElderHelp empowers older adults to live independently with dignity through a wide range of supportive programs. From friendly check-in calls and grocery shopping assistance to mail sorting, minor home repairs, and HomeShare, a roommate matching program – Carrie will share how these services make a lasting impact on the lives of seniors.
If you are looking to get more involved in your community, this presentation will also include volunteer opportunities that are available.
The Welcome Club meets at the Community Center on Cypress Canyon Road at 7 p.m. A social time with refreshments follows the meeting’s presentation on the second Monday of the month.
Gatherings for monthly coffees, craft creating, hiking, Bunco and Bridge games, and Gadabouts will vitalize the club’s calendar for 2026. Members will select from many opportunities for entertainment and interaction with other club members.
New members are more than ‘Welcome’
Welcome Club has been building friendships and a better community here for more than 40 years. To learn more about Welcome Club’s history and current happenings, check the website: scrippsranchwelcomeclub.com. Should the information spark your interest in joining the club, you can use the contact information found there.