The Kennett Square Area Newcomers Club has been enriching the lives of area women for 45 years. On Nov. 15 they marked that milestone with an anniversary luncheon at the Greenville Country Club in Wilmington.

The local Newcomers Club is a non-profit organization that meets monthly to share information, support and activities with its 150 members. It is organized and communicates online, but holds numerous in-person meetings including lectures, luncheons, outings, hobbies and trips.

The Newcomers have even evolved to the point where potential members need not be new to the community—just eager for interesting events to attract them.

There is also a strong element of community support in this group, and the women routinely bring goods and financial support for other non-profits like Tick Tock Early Learning Center, Kennett Area Senior Center, Kennett Area Community Service and Free-To-Be Dog Haven.

According to the group’s documented history, the women gathered at meetings of the national Welcome Wagon Club around 1975. They would hold socials, go to the Museum of Art and visit the Philadelphia Flower Show.

However, in 1978, according to the historical account, the restrictions of the national Welcome Wagon Club regarding speakers and activities led the club to form the new organization – an independent one -- known as the Kennett Square Area Newcomers Club.

According to 2023 President Diane Pazdalski, the roots and founding of the membership reflect the growth of industries in Wilmington like DuPont in the 1970s. Many employees were moved to the Wilmington headquarters, and they settled just over the line in the Kennett area for easy commuting to work.

These social and industrial conditions resulted in many wives settled in new homes without connections and friends in the new community. They were seeking professional resources, recreation and new friends, even as they had some financial backing, kids at school and time on their hands.

In the presence of this organization that welcomed new arrivals to the area, they made new friends and participated in activities like bingo, arts and crafts and couples’ socials.

Pazdalski said women found their way to the Kennett Newcomers by “good old word of mouth.”

“They would bump into neighbors or their husbands’ associates’ wives and strike up conversations with them,” Pazdalski said.

From those conversations and connections came the growth and increasing offerings of the Newcomers as well as social get-togethers.

By the 1979-80 season, the list of activities included a canoe trip, bridge, sketching, Mahjong, painting, sketching, tennis, antiques, book reviews, babysitting and other adventures. Luncheons were held at local restaurants.

Pazdalski said there is no specific region people come from when they move to the Kennett area. However, she said, the attractions like Longwood Gardens, the Memorial Day Parade, the good schools, Midnight on the Square, the retirement communities and the Mushroom Festival are well known nationwide and make this a popular destination.

Of the 150 members in the club, many of those who have joined recently are 50-and-overs, and some are recently retired in the past year or two.

The club has a board of directors numbering 24, and the leadership changes yearly. Pazdalski said that as the president, she is in the position of nominating next year’s president.

Potential members are welcome to apply any time of year, but the best time, Pazdalski said, is September because the program year runs from September 30 through May. Membership is $25 a year.

The list of activities is daunting, and the response by members is so large that many events must be held in venues as large as country clubs. The April luncheon is a fashion show that draws about 200 attendees. There are also raffles and vendors there with their crafts. Members pay for their own meals.

During the monthly luncheons at different restaurants in the area, they have speakers on interesting topics such as local history, internet scams, local performing groups and Medicare fraud. Members also often bring food contributions to be given to KACS.

“Munch and Mingle” is also a popular event held three times a year. The purpose is to introduce new members to the group and describe the other programs available.

In January, the Munch and Mingle event will be a “Calendar Party.” Pazdalski is especially fond of the event because she is running it. She said it involves setting up 12 tables – one for each month – and committees are assigned to each table to display and describe certain activities.

An abbreviated list of other offerings includes bridge, movies, book club, dinner club, home and garden, Ladies Night Out, needles and thread, and pinochle. One of the newest activities is jewelry making. Suggestions from members guide the planning, and the leadership is eager to hear requests for new activities.

During the dinner club events, they open the activity to spouses and significant others as well as single women in the group. They usually have between 20 and 24 attendees. Some of the restaurants whey have visited are The Stone Barn, Sovanna Bistro, Antica, Gables or anywhere they offer separate checks.

Ladies Night Out is the same as Dinner Club, but without the men.

Pazdalski said coming through the COVID-19 epidemic was hard on get-together activities, and she is happy that it has passed enough so people are free to see and be with each other.

To obtain more information on the Kennett Area Newcomers Club, go to www.KSANC.org.