Lerew, 38, joined clubs you\u2019ve probably heard of, like the Elks, the L.A. Historical Society and the Auto Club of California (AAA), and clubs you probably haven\u2019t, like the Cookie Cutter Collectors Club, the International Banana Club and the American Fancy Rat & Mouse Assn. He joined so many clubs, in fact, that he needed a second wallet to hold all his membership cards.<\/p>\n
Joining a club or society where you might meet like-minded people has a wide range of health benefits. It wards off loneliness, which is associated with increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke, and has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Above all else, it brings meaning to our lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany of us find that once we join a group we get more responsibility and we feel we are needed, and that gives us a sense of purpose,\u201d said Sam Pressler, a fellow at University of Virginia\u2019s Karsh Insitute of Democracy, where he studies community and social connection. \u201cThat\u2019s a critical piece.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joining a club can also increase your support networks, which might come in handy the next time you\u2019re looking for a job, experiencing a health crisis or need someone to watch your kid.<\/p>\n
\u201cThink of something you\u2019re into, a fan of, enjoy doing, or identify by and there\u2019s almost guaranteed a group already that\u2019s doing that,\u201d Lerew said. Maybe you love making kaleidoscopes, or feminist literature, or the history of the circus \u2014 in Los Angeles, there\u2019s a club for that.<\/p>\n
If you do decide to join one, Lerew suggests keeping a few things in mind: You may feel uncomfortable at first, or members may be wary of newcomers, but if you\u2019re genuinely interested in it, you should stick with it regardless.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just have to not stop,\u201d Lerew said.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet out there, and you\u2019ll find people,\u201d Lerew said. \u201cAnd if they\u2019re not your people, that\u2019s OK. Your people are somewhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n
Below are a few ideas to get you started:<\/p>\n
Joining a club can be a great way to meet new people, learn new skills, and find a sense of community. With so many options available in Los Angeles, there\u2019s sure to be something for everyone.<\/p>\n
Q: What are some benefits of joining a club?<\/strong> Q: How do I find a club that\u2019s right for me?<\/strong> Q: What if I feel uncomfortable at my first club meeting?<\/strong> Q: What if I don\u2019t find a club that I love?<\/strong> A Few Years Ago, Todd Lerew Began Collecting Club Memberships in Los Angeles Lerew, 38, joined clubs you\u2019ve probably heard of, like the Elks, the L.A. Historical Society and the Auto Club of California (AAA), and clubs you probably haven\u2019t, like the Cookie Cutter Collectors Club, the International Banana Club and the American Fancy Rat […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3164,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3163","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health-wellness"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/ca-times.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/5fbb010\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3500x1838+0+1269\/resize\/1200x630!\/quality\/75\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa0%2Fee%2Fab958cc44fd3b0367f990bf092c1%2Fla-unique-los-angeles-clubs-to-make-friends-web-lead.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3163"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3163"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3163\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3165,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3163\/revisions\/3165"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3163"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3163"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/los-angeles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3163"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nA: Joining a club can help you meet new people, learn new skills, and find a sense of community. It can also increase your sense of purpose and provide a support network.<\/p>\n
\nA: Think about what you\u2019re interested in and search for clubs that align with those interests. You can also ask friends, family, or coworkers for recommendations.<\/p>\n
\nA: It\u2019s normal to feel a little awkward at first, but try to stick with it. If you\u2019re genuinely interested in the club, you\u2019ll likely find that the discomfort fades away as you get to know the other members.<\/p>\n
\nA: That\u2019s okay! There are many clubs to choose from, and it may take some trial and error to find the one that\u2019s right for you. Don\u2019t be discouraged if you don\u2019t find a club that you love at first \u2013 keep looking, and you\u2019ll eventually find one that fits your interests and personality.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"