Joining a club or social organization offers several opportunities from making new friends to learning a new skill or craft. As the weather starts to warm up, get outside and see what the groups in your area are up to.

 

The Michigan Chess Association (MCA) is your source for all things chess. The group offers membership levels for individuals, families and seniors, and some come with a subscription to Michigan Chess magazine. The MCA website offers information about local clubs in your area like the Portofino Chess Club (Ann Arbor) and East Lansing Chess Club. Benton Harbor’s Solid Grounds Cafe Chess Club offers players of all ages and skill levels a chance to compete, and the Garden Market Cafe Chess Club in Ann Arbor meets weekly on Wednesdays, as well as on Mondays for the Kid’s Club. Visit www.michess.org for more information.

 

With a name like Garden City, no wonder the community has formed a popular club dedicated to the beauty of nature and the art of landscaping. The Garden City Garden Club (Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc.) is part of National Garden Clubs, Inc., and meets on the third Tuesday of each month. Meetings feature gardening experts and speakers, as well as tips on “green” living like recycling and composting. Fieldtrips include places like the Heavenly Scent Herb Farm in Fenton, and the Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor. A Perennial Plant Exchange is held every May, and the annual summer Garden Walk is the club’s largest fundraising event of the year. Check out photos from the 2011 Garden Walk and learn more at www.gcgc.weebly.com.

 

The Historical Society of Michigan (HSM)has been committed to the state and its stories since 1828. In addition to exploring Michigan’s past with other history buffs, members receive a subscription to the quarterly Chronicle magazine, discounts on publications like the Michigan History Directory and exclusive access to workshops, conferences, training sessions, networking opportunities and more. The group is involved with events and exhibits all over the state including the Upper Peninsula. Meet up at the Michigan State University Museum for the exhibit The Wanamaker Collection: A Tribute to Susan Applegate Krouse, 1955-2010 (until April 22, 2012), or enjoy “Victorian Day” in Grand Ledge on May 5, 2012. View the full list of HSM events and download a membership brochure at www.hsmichigan.org.

 

No matter where you are in Michigan, you’ll find enthusiastic groups and organizations; from gardening clubs to historical societies, you’ll never be bored this season.