Sandpipers
Like the small groups of shorebirds we see at the water’s edge, dashing about and grabbing tasty tidbits, many island residents enjoy gathering with others to wind down a day or grab a bite with friends. For new island residents, many people find friends and attend activities through the Island Newcomers Club, but if you’re not a newcomer, more organized social events may be difficult to find. This was the inspiration for the Sandpipers social club. As Sandpipers president Joanne DeVincenzo describes the group, “Our club is open to anyone on St. Simons Island who would like to socialize on a little more organized basis.”
Sandpipers was first formed in 2010, when a group of former Island Newcomers decided that a new social organization was needed for St. Simons Island residents. One that was not based on how long a member has lived on the island or any prior club membership. Sandpipers is designed to offer as little or as much activity as a member chooses throughout the year. The Club hosts three major annual events during their September-May season. They open the year with a Welcome Back party, wind down the winter holidays with a Tapering Off celebration, and close out the year with a See You in September gathering. The meetings are typically parties with no agenda other than good food and fun with friends.
While membership in Sandpipers is not capped, they are small enough to host group meetings in a variety of different venues, often with fun themes coordinated with the time of year. Their well-attended monthly Happy Hours held at different venues around the island provide an easy way for members to see each other with little fuss involved. Sandpipers also host excursions and activities such as bowling parties, bocce in the park, sunset sailings (including one from Golden Isles Marina, currently in the planning stage), and trivia nights. Their Mahjong group that meets monthly at Vitality is quite popular.
This year’s Welcome Back event is scheduled to take place at 5:00 p.m. September 21 at Ziggy’s, so become a member of this sensational social club and join them! For more information about Sandpipers and membership application, visit sandpipersclubssi.org. You’re also welcome to reach out to Joanne at jodehome@yahoo.com or 912.268.4773. If you’re looking for lots of fun, food and friendship, you’ll find it with the Sandpipers!
