“Birthday clubs are a wonderful way for women to get together on a set day of the month. Everyone puts it on their calendar and tries to get there,” Martina Goscha said.
“It makes you have a set date with your girlfriends,” said the former flight attendant.
“Everyone is so technical these days with their cell phones, e-mails and texting. It’s a good way to sit down and keep in touch,” she added.
Started in 1988, the 12 women in Martina’s club, mostly Marietta High School graduates, meet each month at a different restaurant chosen by the birthday girl who is treated to lunch. To celebrate the birthday of the month, each member brings the birthday girl a scratch-off lottery ticket. The highest winning amount to date is $56.
“It’s just a great way to stay in touch with your friends,” Martina said.
Although the 15-member DayCampers Birthday Club didn’t officially form until 2002, most of its members are longtime friends who did not work outside the home while their children were young.
Finding things to do together during the daytime, the ladies golfed together, played tennis together and took beach trips together.
“It was like day camp with children,” said April Hipps. Initially, the ladies brought money and a card to the monthly meeting for the birthday girl. Now, the ladies collect money each month for a local charity.
“As the years progressed, we all decided that we didn’t have any needs that weren’t met and not many things that we couldn’t purchase for ourselves if we wanted it,” April said. “So, instead of continuing to give the birthday girl money, we chose to start a fund so that each year we could choose a charity to give our money to help their cause.”
The DayCampers have helped The Murphy House project, a home for special needs children, Good Samaritan, Marietta Junior High, Must Ministries and the Women’s Extension Center among others.
Our Birthday Club formed in 1992 by a group of 12 neighbors whose children were close in age and involved in many of the same activities.
“As we busy moms got to know each other, friendships evolved along with the idea of starting a Birthday Club that would give us a set social time together each month and celebrate our birthdays,” said Laurel Kovach.
Meeting each month at someone’s home for lunch, the conversation continues non-stop. The birthday girl receives $20 from each attendee for some guilt-free shopping.
Although the group has changed a little, most of the ladies are the same ones who came together 28 years ago. “What started out as just a social opportunity has become a meeting place each month for much more than that,” said Laurel.
“Together, we have experienced births, graduations, weddings, grandchildren, sickness, loss, a lot of life,” she said. “We are a longtime group of friends who care about and continue to support each other.
“It’s really not so much about the birthdays anymore, but more about the blessings of friendship and the fun of getting together.”
Betsy Kelley’s birthday club made up of college and high school friends is in their 10th year. The 12-member club meets monthly alternating between a home and restaurant. Members pick a month closest to each person’s birthday and celebrate one per month.
Like traditional clubs, they used to bring money and cards to the celebrant. “About three years ago, we stopped doing that because our lives got so busy and we kept forgetting to bring the cards and the money,” Betsy said.
It just got to be too hard,” the assistant to Mayor Thunder Tumlin explained. “Now we just go and have a night out.”
The mothers of children different ages found that birthday club is really a way for to enjoy friendships. “It’s a good time to reconnect with all our old friends,” Betsy commented.
“Everyone’s just made it a priority and it’s just a lot of fun,” Betsy said.
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