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Are most people you know married? With everyone leading such frenetic lifestyles these days, singles are finding it more difficult than ever to meet and connect with like-minded individuals--or find romance.
Bar-hopping is long passe, often unsuccessful and perhaps even dangerous, and not everyone has the nerve to strut up to someone in the meat department of the local grocery store and introduce himself or herself cold turkey--so to speak! But there is a way to combat those feelings of isolation and start bridging a walkway between you and other singles: you can start your own singles group!
Yes, you! It isn't very difficult to get one started, and it affords you the opportunity to meet various types of individuals, increasing your odds of meeting that someone special. At the very least, you will likely forge several long-lasting friendships in the process.
The first item to consider is how to get the word out and advertise your group. This can be accomplished by creating your own simple flyer and then posting it about your town. Keep it simple. It could read: New Local Singles Group Forming! Let's get together and share conversation and our interests! Idea's and suggestions welcome! Then list the meeting place, the time and your e-mail address (and perhaps a cell number) should people have any questions and wish to contact you.
You could also phone your local paper and inquire about the possibility of placing a free or reduced rate ad. Small town papers are probably more likely to do this as a free service, but it certainly doesn't hurt to ask the larger ones, also.
In addition, you can put the word out via family and friends and stick a notice on the bulletin board (electronic or peg-type) at work, as well. The local fitness center, the library and grocery store likely have many singles as patrons and would be a good place to leave your flyer, too.
Use your imagination and then follow its course! You could surprise yourself with what you can come up with. The fact is, that by spreading the word about your new singles group in the places you already frequent--such as the gym, for example--you are more likely to locate those people who are "running" on the same track as yourself.
When you list your ad you will need to mention where the first meeting will be. For safety precautions, this initial meeting should, without a doubt, take place in a public forum only. Restaurants, malls, arcades, a park shelter, pizza parlors, or bowling alley's are all possibilities. Think of what your particular city or town has to offer in that respect and select the best option.
You will often be able to readily pinpoint, via the e-mails (and/or phone calls) that you receive, where many of the potential member's interests lie. Some might be avid card players, others might enjoy Rollerblading or swimming, while still others particularly relish attending football or baseball games or perhaps spiking the volleyball themselves. Of course there are those less active types who are much more interested in discussing the latest books they've read.
You should consider whether or not you would like your group to have a particular age span for members (such as 35 years and up), and whether to appoint a treasurer, secretary and president.
You also might consider having everybody chip in a buck or two at each meeting to cover the cost of advertisements, newsletter, nametags, etc. Yes, name tags! Donning identification gives everyone a heads up when addressing each other without having to uncomfortably inquire "what's your name again?" And makes new members to an established group more quickly feel at home. And query your group to see who has the flair for writing--and see if they would be interested in creating a newsletter.
What do you do if you arrive at the initial meeting place only to discover that merely a couple of people showed up; or that only one gender is represented? Do not dismay! Relax. Meet and discover new friends and have some fun. And above all, keep advertising your group. As word spreads and folks see you out together in public, curious men (and/or ladies) will no doubt start trickling in.
At the groups first meeting, you can discuss how often per month your group should meet (twice a month often works well) and define your individual interests and what you each hope to gain from the experience. This will help steer your group into a more common direction.
It is likely that some will join the group specifically looking for a potential mate, while others will desire to simply make friends that share the same hobby's and interests as themselves--much more so than discovering their own "Romeo" or "Juliet".
Attending movies together with dessert following, are very popular singles group activities--especially if your group is just starting out. The movie will give everyone something tangible and non-threatening to discuss and allow you to slowly get to know each other better.
After the group has met several times and reached a more comfortable personal level, you might want to consider holding card parties or pot luck dinners, as well. Whether or not alcohol and/or smoking will be allowed at these get-togethers should be discussed and agreed upon at the outset to avoid controversy and conflict later on.
These and other concerns and/or rules should be written down and everyone should sign a statement that they agree to abide by the rules. Everyone should also receive a copy of these rules for their own records.
For example, no "stalking" types of behavior will be tolerated. Should one member date another member and then for one reason or another call it off, the other party cannot harass them or belittle their former beau to the singles group. And what if a member gets married? Well, this is a singles group, after all.
By forming your own singles group you will have a strong voice about how the group evolves, thereby increasing your own enjoyment right from the get-go. And you will quite likely make several dear friends and many nice acquaintances in the process. And who knows? You might even meet Mr. or Ms. Right!
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