Y’s Women: Lively, Enjoyable, And Underneath The Radar

Everyone is aware of the Y’s Men.

The 550-member group of retirees (and semi-retirees) enjoys audio system, social occasions, dozens of actions, and volunteer efforts.

Less well-known are the Y’s Women.

They’ve been round for 33 years. They too are an energetic, enjoyable group.

They aren’t affiliated with the Y’s Men (though many Y’s Women are wives or widows of members).

And though they (and their male counterparts) had been based on the Westport Weston Family YMCA, neither group is linked with the Y right now.

Merle Spiegel is the group’s longtime communications chair. A 1965 Staples excessive School graduate whose mom was a Y’s Woman (and co-chair of their journeys committee), Merle went on one to Kykuit, the Rockefeller property close to the Hudson River. She was hooked.

The different day, she talked concerning the group. Members vary from those that, like her, have deep roots in Westport, to ladies who moved right here not too long ago (typically to be close to grandchildren), and look to make buddies and discover group.

The Y’s Women meet twice a month, 11 a.m. on Mondays at Green’s Farms Congregational Church.

The Y’s Women’s spring luncheon.

Like the Y’s Men, the ladies boast an energetic audio system sequence. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, Dr. Robert Altbaum and novelist Fiona Davis are current visitors. Soon to return: State Representative Jonathan Steinberg.

Sub-groups — books, films, tai chi, mahjong, trivia, Scrabble, one devoted to the New Yorker journal — meet on their very own. A “Solos” group, for ladies with out companions, may be very energetic too, together with weekly summer season potluck dinners on the seashore.

Potluck dinner, on the seashore.

One of the latest teams is “Jewels of Westport.” Led by Jilda Manikas, they’ve taken a backstage tour of the Westport Country Playhouse, and visited sculptures at city parks.

Y’s Women get out typically, to artwork galleries, botanical gardens and extra, as much as 45 minutes away. Some members drive; their riders kick in for fuel.

“This is an amazing group of women,” Spiegel says. “It’s a great way to learn, do interesting things and make friends.”

The Y’s Women welcome members from surrounding cities. For more information, click here.