Miss Pegi in the clubhouse. Reposted from our Feb 2014 article. Blogfinger photo. Painting by an elephant.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
Pegi Costantino founded the Ocean Grove Woman’s Club this past March. She was inspired by the fact that she now owns the actual former OGWC building. The club was defunct when she decided to resuscitate the historic group which has a back story of a rise and a fall, like the Roman Empire. We don’t know why it lost its footing in the past, but Pegi is working on a history of the group as she breathes life back into the old organization.
In the house she found fascinating things including a stage where they put on shows–perhaps about temperance back in the ’20’s. Hopefully further research will reveal that some of their shows were X-rated.
She also found some written material that proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the actual name is Woman’s Club and not Women’s Club. She’s not sure if Ocean Grove is in front of the Woman’s Club or after it, but she has made an executive decision to call it the Ocean Grove Woman’s Club.
Pegi has embarked on a quirky and varied program for her group which has no actual members, no officers, no dues, no rules, and no game plan other than to amuse Pegi and her female colleagues who have signed up for her mailing list to the tune of 100 ladies, germs, girls and women. Sometimes they invite men in the spirit of harmony between the sexes.
Pegi’s group is constructed very much like the Chavurah, the Jewish fellowship in town, which features intellectual discussions and lunch instead of women’s issues and lunch. Ocean Grove needs more maverick groups like those (as opposed to the sclerotic older organizations,) so we will adopt the OGWC and promote their activities on Blogfinger because we are also a peculiarly funky journalistic endeavor.
Pegi’s modus operandi is to come up with ideas such as a field trip to thrift shops, or container gardening in the spring, or dinner/movie nights, and then she goes ahead and leads the event, sort of like a female scout mistress with her minions following on.
Pegi is “optimistic” about her flexible organization. She says, “It’s going very well and we will take one day at a time.” She says that she is “very excited” about the group’s future, although she’s not sure about what that future is. It seems that she enjoys the unpredictability of it all, but she also bemoans events where people sign up and then don’t show.
Most of the events are in her club house, but this past summer, even though the place was rented, the group didn’t miss a beat having events such as an art tour and yoga at other’s homes or even at Grove Hall.
She tries to keep the costs affordable for various events.
You can reach Pegi at 609 575 5585 or by email at pegi@comcast.net, or on Facebook. By all means, sign up for her emails because it is free and maybe you (ie you girls) will be inspired to do something outrageous over at the clubhouse.
See our article in February on this subject : BF article on the OGWC
Here’s a musical selection for the group’s first theatrical production which we are hoping for over here at the male dominated Blogfinger headquarters:
What is Pegi’s e mail address to sin up?
Editor’s note: If you are looking to “sin up” then try “sin city” on the other side of the lake. However, if you are looking for a good time, join the Ocean Grove Woman’s Club.. Pegi’s email is pegi@comcast.net
Miss Pegi: I certainly did not mean that lacking rules,etc. was a negative. On the contrary, I admire your free-form style of functioning. It feels modern and new-age, with a greater spirit of democracy, spontaneity, warmth and innovation. I would say “You go girl” but I hate that expression–ya know what I’m sayin’?”
–Paul
Thank you, Paul, for the entertaining article in support of the OGWC. Even I had a bit of an eye-opening experience realizing that, in fact, we have no rules, no members, no officers, and no dues. At first glance, it seems we do not exist. However, what we are developing is a wonderful sense of community.
While I admit to being the catalyst, it only works because of the enthusiasm of the participants. They bring their own talents, skills and sense of adventure to the table. Suzanne leads the meditation, Felicia and Linda coordinate the Book Club, Linda arranged the Art Walk and Vicki arranged the upcoming Doll House event. We welcome input, whether you want to lead or learn or just enjoy.
To Helen: I was never a “Women’s Club type” either. But without question I get great joy from my friends. Hence the very “open” structure of the new OGWC. In the most simple of terms, the club is about making friends. Would love to chat with you about your memories from that early time. Perhaps an afternoon cup of tea? Pegi@comcast.net
As a child in the fifties, I was in a skit about radiation, at the Women’s Club house. My line, after the question was asked about finding water in the house was: “in the ice cube trays.” Remember too, asking my dear, sweet mother why she wasn’t a member of the Women’s Club. The question was never answered. I later matured into realizing that she wasn’t a women’s club type.