Bend Newcomers Club offers networking, friendships

A social club in Bend welcomes new residents and those looking for something new to the area and introduces them to activities in the community.

Mercedes Nibler moved from the Portland area to Bend in 2014. When she moved to Bend she was looking for a change.

“I decided to move everything and sold my house and bought this house in about three weeks,” Nibler said last week. “It was just time for me to move on.”

Through a connection, Nibler was introduced to the Newcomers Club of Bend. The group started in 2002, based off a club in Redmond. The club only had nine members at the time.

Newcomers Club of Bend now has more than 400 members. Their motto is, “New friendships, new adventures, and new paths.”

“We provide an environment – a social environment – for women to connect with other women in their community,” said Joyce Antoine, past president of the club. “I think that’s important.”

Activities for members include book clubs, wine nights, outings and luncheons, among others.

“You meet so many new people and you’ll have new friends and new things to participate in right away,” President Michele Bahr said.

The Newcomers Club of Bend aims to meet the interests of all its members. The organization doesn’t limit itself to fresh faces in Central Oregon.

“Anyone that’s looking for something new in their lives, and a lot of people are,” Bahr said. “Newcomers doesn’t just mean new people coming to Bend. It’s for anyone looking for something new.”

You can find more information here: http://www.newcomersclubofbend.com/