Activities
What makes Carolina Meadows different than most other retirement communities is the number of activities residents can take part in. We’re a community in constant motion as residents make their way from one activity to the next. Even more unique is the fact that most activities are run by the residents themselves. Here are just some of the activities and groups at Carolina Meadows:
Croquet
Imagine a round of golf where you’re allowed to hit your ball and knock your opponent’s ball away from the hole! That’s competitive croquet. Many residents love to get their competitive juices flowing on our regulation croquet court—many of whom like to wear the traditional whites. New players are always welcome, where they’ll learn the difference between a “booby” and a “baulk.”
Current Events
We live in complex times, and the Current Events Group facilitates weekly discussions about the events that affect our daily life here in America. Many of our residents are avid news junkies and have interesting perspectives to share on the headlines of the day. Topics can range from politics to healthcare to the environment to the economy.
Foreign Affairs
The Foreign Affairs Group is among the most popular on campus. Why? Our residents care a great deal about the news and events that shape our world. Topics can range from the Middle East to China to Darfur. These meetings often include guest lecturers, and there’s always a healthy exchange of ideas and opinions.
Garden Plots
The Carolina Meadow’s Community Garden is an acre of land that contains 46 plots filled with a mixture of rich black dirt and compost. Resident may request their own 9 × 6 plot, where they may grow whatever they like. You’d be amazed how well things grow in the Carolina sunshine.
Golf
Golfers can enjoy a professionally maintained, nine-hole, par-3 course that winds through campus. There are no greens fees or tee times, and residents and their guests may play at any time. Organized men’s, women’s and mixed group events are held during the week. The Meadow Links Golf Course is open year round, weather permitting. Walkers and bird-watchers, as well as golfers, are free to enjoy the paths and scenery.
Mac Users Group
Macs are different than most computers. They behave differently. Accomplish many of the same tasks of PCs, but often with different software and instructions. That’s why our Mac users have their own club—so they can discuss things like “Safari vs. Firefox” and “How do I install software?” among themselves. The Mac Users Group meets once a month.
MeadowSingers
Live! From Chapel Hill, North Carolina! It’s the MeadowSingers (applause)! The MeadowSingers is our very own home-grown chorus, currently 50 members strong. The group sings in four-part harmony under the direction of a professional conductor and resident accompanist. The MeadowSingers rehearse Mondays from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Auditorium. Anyone who enjoys singing is most welcome – no auditions are necessary.
Movie Shows
Grab some fresh popped popcorn and a drink. Once a month, residents get together to watch a movie. The movie show committee selects films from a variety of genres: drama, comedy, golden oldies, new releases, musicals, foreign films and documentaries. Feel free to hang around after the show; there’s bound to be some spirited discussion about the movie!
Music at the Meadows
Resident-funded “Music at the Meadows” is a performing arts series that schedules 12-15 concerts each year. A wide variety of performers play here including classical chamber groups from the North Carolina Symphony, UNC, Duke and other ensembles. The schedule regularly includes jazz and choral groups, country and folk singers as well as military bands and outstanding soloists. Carolina Meadows has a reputation as one of the best audiences in the Triangle and performers are pleased to perform in our excellent auditorium with its Steinway piano.
PC Group
Many of our residents rely on their PC’s to surf the web, stay in touch with family, and to conduct business. And there’s always a new or better way to get something done on the computer! The PC Group is a group of residents who teach each other about all the great things that are possible on the computer. PC/Windows Group members also make themselves available to other residents who need technical help.
Photo Club
The photo club gathers to share their mutual passion for photography. From cameras to composition, darkroom techniques to digital fixes are discussed. A display board has been erected in the Wellness Center to showcase various photos taken by Carolina Meadows residents. There are also several photo contests on campus, where all residents can submit their favorite shots.
Pool Watchers
Between all the water exercise classes—Heart Smart, Aqua Ducks, and Aquatones—and the many residents and guests who use the pool and Jacuzzi, the pool certainly gets a lot of use. The Pool Watchers is a large volunteer group of residents who make sure that no one swims alone. Volunteers are asked to give one hour a month to provide this important safety service.
Square Dance Club
The Carolina Meadows Square Dance Club meets once a week for an evening of dance, laughter, and camaraderie in the Auditorium. Many of the people in this group have never danced before, but are now hooked on doing the two-step once a week. The only requirement is the desire to have some fun- and get a little exercise in the process.
Tennis Courts
Two tennis courts provide a great place for exercise and friendly competition for Carolina Meadows’ residents. Our courts accommodate doubles matches, singles matches, and even solo players who can use our tennis ball machine in order to work on that back stroke. The courts are complete with windscreens and shaded benches.
The Meadowlark
The Meadowlark is a must-read around here; it is written and edited by residents to keep the community abreast of what’s happening with the community. News can include minutes from Residents Association meetings, plans for new buildings or facilities, or the welcoming of a new neighbor.
Voices Magazine
Voices is the literary magazine written and published annually by the residents of Carolina Meadows. Any member of the community is welcome to submit a short story, essay or poem to the editor of Voices. Each edition of Voices stands as evidence of the high quality of writing done by our residents and of the intellectual and aesthetic attributes of people in this community.
Writers Group
From its earliest years, Carolina Meadows has attracted writers—novelists, historians, poets, short-story writers, book editors, journalists, English teachers—and some who waited for retirement to put their personal stories down on paper. The Writers Group works with serious writers who are looking for an outside critique of their work in progress. Among those submitting their work to free-form dissection are Albert Geiger, a former fashion designer who is working on an autobiography, and Mac Secrest, also deep in a book he is writing on his experiences as a liberal newspaper editor in conservative South Carolina. Says one member, “The Writers Group is a lively group and discussions often range beyond the literary to philosophy, religion, psychology, and the human condition.”
