Ideas for Neighborhood Ladies' Group

How about something like pictionary or group mad libs. Have something new every week like card games one week and the next a scavenger hunt with teams. Craft nights are always popular especially making ornaments around the holidays.

I was going to say Bunko until I saw that it didn't work for you. My goodness, it's easier than mahjongg... my Bunco group talked all the way through Bunko, including lots of wine, and we could do it all. It's a shame your group didn't stay with it. (Not enough wine? LOL!) Did you all play for money? When I won Bunko I'd usually win at least $60...well worth coming!

Wish I had another idea for you. Hope some other people come up with some.

The things that have worked for the neighborhood mom groups I've been a part of were Cookie Exchange (great during the holidays, and plenty of opportunity to chat), Craft Night (either bring your own to work on, or a set craft for everyone to do), Mom's Only Sunday Afternoon at the Pool (at our neighborhood pool) and then some nights just labeled 'After Bedtime Drinks and Discussion' for exactly that.

I'm wondering if there are some volunteering opportunities in your HOA neighborhood. Elderly neighbors whose lawns/gardens need a little attention, or who need some company? That might be regular project on a weekend.

I like the idea of a book group or a movie night, something loose so that if you didn't have time to read the book, no biggie, spend some time talking about the book but make it fun to socialize. Do it potluck style so no one is ever stuck with the full expense of hosting and then, let go a bit. If some people want to talk, great, if some want to focus more on the book or movie, great. Those are just ideas to facilitate the socializing and shouldn't be THE only agenda....

We tried doing "activities" in our neighborhood association group. It turned out all anyone really wanted to do was socialize and talk with each other. So now we simply have "cocktail parties" or "garden parties" with someone hosting and the association covering the cost of the event. We tried movie nights, dessert nights, garden lectures, among other things and nothing really went over well.

But a flat out "cocktail party" was very popular. No pressure to "DO" something, just a fun social event with the neighbors.

Do a bookclub. Dedicate the first half hour (or whatever you want time wise) to the book discussion. then have just chitchat

call it a chit chat group and know that it is just to visit.

do a recipe exchange. each month do a different type / style of cooking.
say one week its mexican the next its italian etc at the holidays do a cookie exchange

Luncheon once a month or a gourmet dinner club.
For dinner pick a country n menu. Anyone who wants to come has to make something from the menu. Whoever hosts this dinner does not cook. Everyone puts in the cost then it is divided by number of couples. BYOB
Everyone gets a babysitter. Great night out with hubby n inexpensive. Did it for years and years. Lived it and got to try many new foods. It was a sit down dinner. Not "formal", but not paper plates lol. Try it. May be what you are looking for.

Why have an activity? Why not have a refreshment hour? Or do some sort of charity where the hands can be active but the mind and mouth can ramble...we do leprosy bandages at home then pack them up at church to send to the leprosy colonies. We also gather items for hygiene packages to go to low income areas in the USA. Another one we did was send school bags (home made bags) with tooth paste, toothbrush, paper, pencils and pens, scissors, and other school supplies.

Certain times of the year are better for things. Like September, all the left over school supplies are marked way down. I got a whole crate of crayons for less than $5. We knew that we were going to make the bags and sort the stuff into them in January so when we got the list of supplies in August we gathered all the things we needed.

When we did the Leprosy bandages we all got together to take a knitting or crocheting class, I can't remember for sure but I think they are knitted. We learned how to do the simple stitch. The bandages were something like 30 stitches wide by 5' or 7' long. They had to be made with the white cotton thread so they could be boiled when cleaning them.

We also did a Toys For Tots party. Everyone brought at least one $15 (Ish) gift for a boy or girl and for a certain age. Then we wrapped them up at the party. We all brought our favorite Christmas sweet to share. It was so awesomely wonderful! I ate so much chocolate stuff that night! The wrapped packages had labeled tags that said things like "Boy, age 3-5" "Girl, Toddler" "Infant, girl"...etc...

charity bakes, assuming you can pair with organizations-

cake balls for the senior center.
dog biscuits for the animal shelter.
cookies for the daycare/ pool club.
muffins for the hospital nursing staff.
bread for the homeless shelter.
donuts for the police/ sherriff's office.
take some angelfood cake to the skatepark.
take some to the cubscouts.

involve the ladies in the prep, baking, packaging, labeling and then one or several can do the drop off and take pics.

best,
F. B.

-Book club (you can socialize when you get together to talk abt the book.
-Wine tasting (can be at someone's house or clubhouse if you have one).
-Appetizer social
-Fast walking group through the neighborhood. You talk & get some
exercise in.
-cookie exchange but make it a social event.
-costume jewelry swap. Everyone brings 5-10 pcs of costume jewelry
they no longer want. You put them out on a cute display, swap, have
some apptizers.
-Themed nights. Mexican (serve chips & salsa, nachos, margaritas etc.).

If the true point is to get to know each other then why does there have to be an activity? I have a group that I call "Chatty Chicks" that meets at my house every Wednesday morning. I make coffee and we all sit around and chat. We also randomly have people over for a game night but you can't really get to know each other well when you are busy playing a game. So maybe do both? One meeting for the gamers and one for the chatters. Good luck.

How about just a Ladies Dinner Group? My book club's format is that whoever hosts at their home makes dinner for the group (and chooses the book). It means we only have to clean and cook for a large group about once a year. It's so fun to eat, drink and talk on a Sunday evening! You could follow the same format, but ditch the book. Or even just do appetizers and drinks.

How about a Bible Study. Christian Women's Club has all types of in-home interesting studies of the bible.

How about BYOB nights? Bring whatever you are working on. A friend of mine's church does this. Some bring scrap booking, knitting, bills to pay, quilting, Christmas cards during December, etc. They always have food and drinks. It's a great time for everyone to visit and still get things done. She even took up knitting because one of the ladies who always knitted offered to teach her how.

Check out the website Craft Hope. They have different craft projects that you can do. You send finished items to them and the distribute them. Recently they collect super hero capes to give to kids with cancer. That could be fun to do as a group.