| When you first move to a new city or town, you are | | | | great way to meet other people who share your |
| consumed with the necessary tasks of creating a | | | | interests and worldview. Examples of civic |
| new life: hooking up the utilities, unpacking and finding | | | | organizations include the Chamber of Commerce, |
| new places to put all of your things, starting a new job, | | | | Rotary Club, Lion's Club, YWCA, YMCA, |
| and so on. Once you are settled in, the less defined | | | | Toastmasters, Neighborhood Watch and United Way. |
| business of settling into your new locale presents itself. | | | | Special interest groups include the Sierra Club, the |
| How do you become connected with your new | | | | Humane Society and Habitat for Humanity. |
| community? How do you meet people with similar | | | | Volunteer your time In addition to volunteering with a |
| interests? | | | | not-for-profit organization, there are an abundance of |
| Here are five tips to help make a strange new place | | | | volunteer opportunities with a variety of groups in your |
| into a home: | | | | community. Among the choices are hospitals, nursing |
| Tap into your interests, hobbies and sports Whether it's | | | | homes, retirement homes, libraries, museums, local |
| a sport, a hobby or a special interest, chances are that | | | | attractions, police stations, firehouses, schools, and |
| there is a group or groups that are formed around it. | | | | colleges. |
| So, if you cross-stitch, scrapbook or quilt, check in at | | | | Locate a Newcomer's Group Many cities offer a |
| the specialty craft stores in your new town. They | | | | Newcomer's Group to welcome recent additions to |
| probably have groups that meet up or can tell you | | | | their new home. Check out the meetings and events |
| about them. This is true of many crafts as well as | | | | calendar in your newspaper or ask at the local library |
| specialty collecting such as stamps, coins, memorabilia, | | | | to find out when they meet. It's a great way to meet |
| comic books or sports cards. Along the same lines, if | | | | people who may know a lot about the city, who can |
| your love is sports or dancing, joining up at a gym or | | | | perhaps point you towards other resources and |
| dance hall can allow you to meet others who share | | | | groups and who want to welcome strangers. |
| your passion. Finally, if you are a pet lover, local pet | | | | Take a class Enrolling yourself in a local community |
| stores and humane societies can connect you with | | | | college to brush up on skills or take on a new interest |
| dog walking groups, charities and events. | | | | is a great way to meet people. If the classroom |
| Investigate civic organizations and special interest | | | | environment isn't a match for you, try signing up for a |
| groups Most people enroll their kids in a new school | | | | class at a hobby store or home improvement center |
| system and join a new church soon after they move | | | | where the instruction is more hands-on. You can also |
| to a new town. But what if you don't have school age | | | | tackle personal development or a new activity or sport |
| children or what if you don't belong to or can't find a | | | | at a sports club or wellness center. And, in the |
| church? There are many community and social | | | | process, meet others of like mind. |
| organizations that may appeal to you and provide a | | | | |