A social notice about the Cascades 50 Plus Club caught the attention of Lee Jette.
The Cascades resident and his wife Toni Jette agreed they should get involved in something, so they joined the seniors club more than two years ago and have stayed since.
“It provides a social outlet. It gets people out of the house once a month or more,” said Lee Jette, an engineering trainer for a Reston company who says he is too young in age and attitude to retire. “Instead of staying at home, you’re getting together on a scheduled basis.”
About 40 members show up every month at the Stephen Frazier (Stone House) Community Center, the neighborhood’s clubhouse where the club holds potluck dinner meetings. Though there are no set rules about who brings what dish, the meals end up complete with all of the courses.
“It’s a strange thing,” Jette said. “I’ve been there two-and-a-half years, and I’m amazed every time … nobody brings the same thing.”
The club has about 75 members, all from Cascades and at least 50 years old, as the club’s name implies. The club had its beginnings about six years ago when a group of five to six neighbors and friends started getting together informally. The group expanded through word of mouth and newspaper club announcements and as the members brought other friends.
“It was a slow-growing thing. It didn’t take off immediately,” Jette said.
AFTER AWHILE, the friends decided to give their group a name, choosing the Cascades Seniors or something similar to that. When Jette joined, he suggested the club’s current name. “It’s a revelation kind of thing. We’re all 50 plus, so why don’t we say the 50 Plus Club,” he said.
Most of the members are retired.
“The majority of people in Cascades are younger than us,” said Al Kirchner, a club member since its founding. “This is a way to meet people of a similar age, of similar interests that we otherwise would never have met.”
Club members participate in several groups associated with the main club, including a book discussion group of eight to 10 members that meets at a member’s house and bowling, golf, tennis and bridge groups. Another group, the Bear Brigade, volunteers at the Loudoun Hospital to stuff pre-made bears for children who visit the hospital.
Club member Bill Sawyer participates in the golf and bowling groups, while his wife Eleanor Sawyer takes part in the Bear Brigade.
“I enjoy playing with those folks, and we have a good time,” said Bill Sawyer, vice-president and member for the past two years. As for the club, “It provides a good group setting for camaraderie. … It helps people in the community come together to talk about their activities and issues.”
THE GROUPS have two to three minutes to report on their individual activities and members can talk about their personal trips during the 20-minute meeting following the potluck dinner.
“It’s just an informal group getting together and sharing experiences,” Jette said.
The club lacks a charter, a credo, a motto or even a slogan, nor is it registered anywhere. “There’s nothing official about it,” Jette said. “As a group, we’re not very politically active. It’s just a socially active club.”
The club meets for camaraderie, friendship and occasionally to travel together. One of the members is a travel agent and helps the club plan trips. Members take international and national trips, along with day excursions, but do not plan a certain number of outings each year nor pick any particular destinations.
In the past, some of the members have traveled to Italy, Greece and Ireland, trips that are mentioned in the club’s newsletter. CLASS Action, Cascades Lively Active Senior Society, provides information on club members’ names and phone numbers and summaries group and club activities. The Cascades Homeowners Association newsletter mentions the club as one of the groups using the Stone House.
“A lot of the seniors say how important the club is to their lives. It’s a big thing in the lives of a lot of us,” Kirchner said.
Jette said the club offers “a good mix of individuals.” “With every group you have, there are cliques. Overall, the cliques are not inclusive,” he said. “Even though there are smaller interest groups, they still relate together very well.”