Clubs and Organizations – New Canaan Answer Book

I want to do some volunteer service. Where do I found out what’s available? 

There are many opportunities to volunteer in New Canaan. At the Volunteer Center of Southwestern Fairfield County (ucanhelp.org), people can find meaningful volunteer opportunities at community agencies. Interviews help match skills and interests to ensure a rewarding volunteer experience.  For more information, call Suzanne Conron at 966-5359. 

Many clubs and organizations in town welcome volunteers or contributions. Among them are:

The New Canaan Library (594-5000)

Town Players of New Canaan (966-7084)

Meals on Wheels (594-5318)

Lapham Community Center (594-3620)

Peer Counseling Program of Nursing and Home Care (966-9591)

Retired Senior Volunteer Program (854-1880)

Waveny Care Center (594-5200)

New Canaan Historical Society (966-1776)

New Canaan CARES (972-7862)

New Canaan Inn (966-1272 x18)

New Canaan Mounted Troop (966-0634)

New Canaan Nature Center (966-9577 x20)

New Canaan YMCA (966-4528)

New Canaan Society for the Arts (972-1895)

Outback Teen Center (594-3074)

Schoolhouse Apartments (972-0020)

Strays & Others (966-6556),

South Avenue Cottage (972-3915)

New Canaan Red Cross (966-1663)

Arts for Healing (972-2982)

Department of Human Services (594-3076)

Department of Youth Services (594-3081)

Getabout (972-7433)

Horizons (972-7005)

New Canaan Volunteer Ambulance Corps (966-7840)

New Canaan Fire department (594-3140)

New Canaan Village Association (972-3618)

How can I get involved in the Republican or Democratic party here? 

Call the party chairmen. John Ponterotto is the Republican Town Chairman (972-8611) and Elizabeth Jones is the Democratic Town Chairman (966-7591; e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). David Bedell is secretary of the Connecticut Green Party. Call him at 594-9013 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For the local chapter, visit online at ctgreens.org/fairfield. 

What is the League of Women Voters?

The League of Women Voters (lwvnewcanaan.org) is a non-partisan organization that encourages informed and active participation of citizens in government. It studies, acts on and keeps people informed of local issues, and publishes a booklet called Know Your Town. At election time, the LWV sponsors a Meet the Candidates forum, and conducts voter registration drives. For information, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Are there any service clubs in town? 

The New Canaan Lions Club (966-2401/newcanaanct.lionwap.org) meets Tuesdays at 12:30 at the Roger Sherman Inn. For information, call Ralph Lazzaro at 933-1313.

The Kiwanis Club meets Wednesdays at noon at the Roger Sherman Inn. For information, call Eloise Killeffer at 966-3792 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

The Exchange Club is a philanthropic organization that meets for camaraderie and friendship and raises money for local organizations, particularly those that work to prevent child abuse and improve parenting skills. The group meets for dinner the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Roger Sherman Inn. For information, call 966-1171, or email secretary Bill Pierson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Rotary Club of New Canaan embraces the slogan “Service Above All.” The organization supports local community projects and charities, and participates in Rotary International’s campaign to eradicate polio worldwide. The club meets each Thursday at 12:15 at the Roger Sherman Inn. For information, call Amy Wilkinson at 966-4447 or visit online at newcanaanrotary.org. 

Is there a Newcomers Club in town? 

Residents who have moved to town during the past year are eligible to join the Newcomers Club of New Canaan (newcanaannewcomers.com). There are many opportunities to socialize, including adults-only Saturday evening special events, special interest programs, the biennial Holiday House Tour, and other fund-raisers and athletic activities. New member coffees are held several times throughout the year. For information, e-mail the club's president, Anne Schimmeck at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Newcomers also has groups for children. Children's Activities (formerly "Little Newcomers') information may be obtained by emailing Carolyn Hudkins at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Are there women’s organizations in town? 

Encore is a club for women that offers a variety of daytime and evening social and recreational activities throughout the year. Membership is open to residents of New Canaan and surrounding towns. For information, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

The American Association of University Women is the largest and oldest national organization working for education and economic equity for women. It provides money for study and research to American and international women, seeks to remove economic and cultural barriers faced by women, and broadens the horizons of women and the community. Locally, there are programs to promote education, for members and the community. For membership information, call Barbara Davies at 966-2923.

The Junior League of Stamford/Norwalk is a nonprofit organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The group’s purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. Call 655-4662 for more information or visit online at jlsn.org. 

The Daughters of the American Revolution is dedicated to historic preservation, education and patriotic endeavors. It is non-political and has no religious affiliation. The Hannah Benedict Carter Chapter welcomes new members. Membership is open to any woman 18 or older who can prove descent from a man or woman who served the cause of American Independence as a solider and/or patriot. For information, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Now in its 35th year, members of The Young Women’s League volunteer their time and talents to such organization as New Canaan CARES, the New Canaan Nature Center, Person-to-Person, Norwalk Emergency Shelter and the New Canaan Library. Meetings feature social activities and a speaker. There is an annual fashion show. New members are welcome in January and September. For membership information, e-mail  Claire Tiscornia at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The Web site is ywlnewcanaan.org. 

The New Canaan Jewish Group marks its 40th anniversary this year. Members get together for educational, social and community events, as well as volunteer work. Call Erica Siegel at 972-7840. 

Are there any gardening clubs? 

The Garden Center of New Canaan is open to all New Canaan residents. Monthly programs, held from October through June, feature gardening lectures, slide presentations and floral demonstrations. Its members maintain the many roadway triangles around town; plant and maintain the floral tubs downtown; decorate Town Hall, the police station, and the train station for the Christmas season; and pay for many town wide landscaping projects. The group also owns and maintains the Olive and George Lee Memorial Garden on Chichester Road, which is open to the public. The Garden Center is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. For membership information, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit online at gardencenterofnewcanaan.org. 

New Canaan Garden Club, now in its 100th year of service to the town, has members gather for civic projects, promote conservation, and encourage planting in town. The club maintains the post office planter, the Lambert Road triangle, and the herb gardens at the Historical Society among other projects. It also holds a tree sale each spring, gives flowers to the library, and contributes gardening books. Membership is by invitation only. Call Trisha Albus at 966-7848. Visit online at ncgardenclub.org. 

What craft or artistic groups are in town? 

The New Canaan Sewing Group encompasses six groups that meet weekly to sew, knit, and create gifts for sale. Profits are given to local service organizations. Special orders may be placed. The group has a spring sale in April and Christmas sale in November. For information, call Ruth Witt at 966-2892. 

The Dorcas Sewing Group meets once a month at the First Presbyterian Church for sewing and hand crafts. Novices and those with experience are welcome. Call 966-0002. 

The Prayer Shawl Ministry at The Congregational Church invites knitters of all levels to knit shawls for women who have had a baby and for men and women who are ill or bereaved. The group meets the second and fourth Monday at 10 in the church parlor. Call 966-2651. 

What is the National Charity League?

Through the National Charity League mothers and daughters (in seventh through 12th grade) work on community service projects together. For information on the New Canaan chapter, e-mail NCL president Sally Lambdin at 972-0391.

What is SLOBs?

SLOBS - the New Canaan Service League of Boys - is an organization working to foster the parent-son relationship in a philanthropic organization committed to community service, leadership development and education. For more information, contact New Canaan High school at 594-4600.

Are there any men’s clubs?

The Senior Men’s Club offers a variety of activities to men 55 and older, including golf outings, organized hikes and walks, day trips, bridge, and a Friday morning speaker’s program. Meetings take place Fridays at 10, in Morrill Hall at St. Mark’s Church on Oenoke Ridge. For information, visit online at smcnc.org. 

The Knights of Columbus meets monthly at St. Aloysius Church. For information, call Bob Schott at 972-0507. 

For information about the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, call Harmony Lodge No. 107, 231 Main Street at 966-9874. 

The New Canaan Old Timers was formed by men who played sports in town, but membership is open to all men. The club meets occasionally, and there is an annual spring buffet and summer clambake. For information, call Lauren Cerretani at 801-0214 or drop a line to the club at P.O. Box 1642, New Canaan 06840. 

What is the Yale Club?

The Yale Club of Lower Fairfield County is made up of alumni of Yale University. For information, call Dan Ward at 966-2529 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Are there any veterans’ organizations?

American Legion Post 30 is in New Canaan. Call 860-721-5942 for membership and meeting details. 

What clubs focus on the environment? 

The New Canaan Audubon Society is dedicated to maintaining and preserving the natural character of the community and encourages interest in nature, particularly birds. It also maintains four wildlife sanctuaries. The society meets monthly (except July and August) at the Audubon house at the New Canaan Nature Center. For information, call David Wright at 966-8480. 

The New Canaan Land Conservation Trust is a private, non-profit group dedicated to acquiring land which will then be maintained in its natural state to benefit the environment and the community. For information, call Arthur Potts at 327-2333/email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Concerned Citizens of New Canaan is interested in land-use issues and preserving open space. For information, call Kathleen Vollmer at 966-5504. 

New Canaan Nature Center Association is a nonprofit organization that offers programs, self-guided exhibits and other resources to help people of all ages better understand, appreciate and care for the world of nature. Call 966-9577. 

What is the New Canaan Community Foundation?

Since its inception in 1977, the New Canaan Community Foundation has built a permanent endowment to support projects that advance the educational, civic, cultural and social aspects of New Canaan. The foundation acts both as a steward for donors and selective grant maker. The foundation makes grants throughout the greater New Canaan area to organizations that address a broad range of the community’s needs. 

To make a donation, send a check to the foundation at 21 Locust Avenue, Suite 1B, New Canaan, CT 06840. For information, call 966-0231 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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