With Members from 48 states and a host of countries, the Membership at Reynolds is a diverse and eclectic group. And with over 40 (and counting) Member-led clubs, a sense of community has been fostered through the breadth of activities offered along with shared interests and backgrounds.
One of the newest clubs is a group of people with one common denominator: the city of St. Louis. The St. Louis Dinner Club began at the home of Reynolds Members Melinda and Joel Duncan on June 21, 2018. Roughly 20 people attended, all who had lived in St. Louis at some point.
What began informally – just a group of people with a common geographical tie – has now grown to a club of 72, all Reynolds Members aside from two.
Two of the Members are Drew and Jenny Santee, having moved to Reynolds from St. Louis in March 2018.
“Following the initial dinner at the Duncan's, we realized there were many more Reynolds Members with a St. Louis background,” Drew says. “As our numbers increased, we realized we were outgrowing hosting at a home. Going forward, our plan was to find unique dinner locations where most had not yet visited.”
Last October, the club went to Southern Cross Ranch in nearby Madison, Georgia. A working ranch with over 150 horses, the Ranch hosted a family-style dinner followed by a tour of the stables and an oral history of their facility.
Local favorite Oconee Brewing Company hosted their next event in January. Food was catered from The Ripe Thing Market while Master Brewer Taylor Lamm provided samples of beer, and a Corn Hole Tournament was held.
The most recent event was this summer at The Landing recreation complex. Members ate a delicious pot luck dinner and competed in a Bocce Ball tournament.
More than the events themselves, the group offers connection and friendship to those moving to a new place.
“A very important reason we chose to move to Reynolds was the warm welcoming by those who lived here,” Drew explains. “Everyone we met and continue to meet are genuinely interested in getting to know us and helping us feel a sense of belonging. Having a St. Louis connection to some of those people just reinforces to us that Reynolds is our home.”
Looking forward, future plans include a dinner and trivia night on October 17th at Bonners Triple B Restaurant in Buckhead, GA.
