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Ebell Sections

The Ebell Society of the Santa Ana Valley, Ebell, has sixteen sections, or study groups, that cover a wide variety of interests. The sections meet from mid-September through mid-June—the club year. All sections charge dues, either $5 or $10. The dues cover any incidental expenses incurred by the section, and at the end of the club year are turned over to the club.

The sections have three or four officers. They all have a Leader, Assistant Leader, Secretary, and Treasurer. In some sections, the offices of Secretary and Treasurer are combined. At the end of the club year, members sign up to be hostesses, or co-hostesses, depending on the size of the section, for the coming year. These ladies call the members to remind them of the coming meeting, and if appropriate, tell them what the program will be, and they furnish the refreshments for that day. In the bridge sections, the hostesses also furnish tallies for the players.

All section have a short meeting when they convene—normally announcing coming club events. This can be dates of the general meeting and the type of program that follows the meeting, the annual boutique, the annual rummage sale, and monthly luncheons that are followed by some sort of program or card playing.

All sections, usually in pairs, are assigned dates when they will be co-hostesses at the club’s tea that follows the general meetings and programs. These meetings take place at 1:30 on the second Monday. These members make and bring finger sandwiches and cookies, as well as nuts and mints.

If members are interested in subjects not covered by this list—talking with the club’s Curator is the first step in creating a new section. Below are the current sections.

Two sections have disbanded--Art Appreciation and Guys and Dolls. A new one is being organized--The Magic Word.

ANTIQUES/OUR HERITAGE

This section is the result of a merger between the Antiques Section and Our Heritage. The Antiques Section was established in 1935, and reorganized in 1947. Our Heritage was established in 1971.

Antiques features programs, following a short meeting, and displays of various types of antiques from all cultures. Members are asked to bring in something from home that relates to the topic of the meeting. The items discussed and shared cover the widest range possible—anything of interest to members, from silver, old jewelry, fans, photographs, old hats, holiday ornaments, orange crate labels, you name it, we are interested.

Our Heritage was created to allow members to study, and learn about, people and places that have contributed to our heritage. The programs include outside speakers knowledgeable in the history of Southern California, and Orange County in particular. We also share parts of our own heritage—where we came from, when our families arrived in the area, our school days, our careers, and anything pertaining to our own heritage.

The section meets on the first Thursday of the month in the Peacock Room, at 1:30 p.m. We have a short meeting, the program followed by show and tell, then dessert and socializing.

BID ‘N’ BYE

This group was organized in 1959 to enjoy party bridge. They recently merged with another bridge group—Thursday Morning Contract, which was organized in 1956. They meet on the first Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Fireside Lounge. They have a short meeting, then play bridge. They enjoy a lunch furnished by that month’s hostesses. As with all bridge groups, they play four rounds of six hands.

BRIDGE AND BRUNCH

This section was organized in 1955 to play duplicate bridge. After bridge, they have lunch—furnished by the hostesses. They meet on the first Monday at 10 a.m. in the Fireside Lounge.

BRUSH-UP BRIDGE

This group was organized in 1999 to allow members who may be a bit rusty improve their bridge skills and have fun. There are some excellent players in the section who can answer the questions members may have and offer encouragement.

They meet in the Fireside Lounge at 12:30 p.m., on the third Tuesdays. They do not serve lunch—only coffee and snacks, again furnished by the hostesses.

CURRENT EVENTS

This section was organized in 1920, and has a fascinating history. In 1920, a group of members approached the Executive Board asking to establish a section to play bridge. They were told that it wasn’t proper for ladies to play bridge, and were turned down. To get around this, this group decided to form a Current Events section, and when roll call was taken, each lady gave a one or two sentence item of interest found in the local newspaper that day—hence the name.

The group meets on the fourth Tuesday at 11:30, in the Fireside Lounge. They bring a "brown bag" lunch, and play party bridge.

FANCY POTPOURRI

This is another merger of two sections: Facts ‘N’ Fancies, organized in 1946, and Potpourri, organized in 1954. The goals and interests of these sections were quite similar, and cover a wide variety of topics—from films, book reviews, to card games. They have a short meeting, a light lunch, then enjoy the program chosen by that month’s hostesses. They meet in the Fireside Lounge on the first Tuesday, at 12 noon.

FAMILY TREE

Established in 2003, this is our newest section. It was created by members who share an interest in finding their family roots. The leader of this group is a member who has been studying genealogy for about 20 years, and is fully able to help the neophytes learn how to use resources available to trace their families.

They meet on the fourth Wednesday in either the dinette or Fireside Lounge, at 10 a.m. They have coffee and light refreshments, followed by a short meeting. At meetings held in the clubhouse, they share the information they have discovered since the previous meeting. They are always amazed at the information they find. Occasionally they make trips to various genealogy record sites and learn how to use their resources.

FIRST CONTRACT

This section was organized in 1937 to play contract bridge. They meet on the second Friday in the Fireside Lounge, at 12 noon. Coffee and snacks are served.

HOME AND GARDENS

This section was organized in 1960 to share, and learn about, topics relating to members homes and gardens. Some of the programs are given by members—sometimes outside speakers. They meet on the third Thursday at 1:30 p.m., in the Dinette or member’s homes. After dessert, they have a short meeting, then the program.

THE MAGIC WORD

The first meeting of this new section was on Friday, September 23, at 10 a.m., in the Fireside Lounge, and will meet every fourth Friday. Magic Word will be all about creative writing, including: speeches, poetry, short stories, short plays, and official letter writing. The subject matter will be chosen by the section members.

Members will read their original works at the section meetings, and learn to become stronger writers and public speakers.

QUILTING

This is another new section—established in 2002 by a group of ladies interested in learning more about making quilts and working on common quilting projects. They meet on the fourth Friday in the Fireside Lounge at 1 p.m. One of their recent projects was making throw pillows to sell at the club’s Boutique.

SECOND BOOK REVIEW

This section was organized in 1944 by and for women who loved to read. Their programs are book reviews by guest speakers or section members. Members are not required to give reviews, or even to read the books that are reviewed. They meet in either the Dinette or Fireside Lounge at 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday. After dessert, they have a short meeting, then their program.

SECOND CANASTA

Organized in 1964, this group gathers on the third Wednesday in the Dinette at 11:30 a.m. to play canasta, after a light lunch.

SECOND TRAVEL

Organized in 1908, this is the oldest section still in existence. It is also the largest section. This is armchair travel at its best. They meet in the Peacock Room at 12:30 p.m. on the third Monday. After lunch, they are treated to travelogues given either by guest speakers or members. Sometimes the programs include slide presentations. A short meeting follows their program.

SOCIAL BRIDGE

This is a party bridge section formed in 1960. They meet in the Fireside Lounge on the third Friday at 12 noon. After a short meeting, they play four rounds of six hands of party bridge. Snacks and coffee are available.

WEDNESDAY MORNING DUPLICATE

This group was organized in 1974 for playing duplicate bridge. They meet at 10 a.m. in the Fireside Lounge on the fourth Wednesday. After a short meeting, they play duplicate bridge, which is followed by a salad lunch.