Cara Brady
For The Morning Star
As the song goes, girls just wanna have fun.
And the Queen Silver Star Jewels do, with activities including meeting for lunch, attending concerts, cruises and zip lining.
“We’ve all worked with families, jobs and community service and we still do, but now we want to take more time for ourselves and have fun with old and new friends and do some favourite things and try new things that we didn’t have time for before,” said Queen Silver Star Jewel member Carol Marks.
Sue Schrierer, Queen of the Bodacious Gems and Okanagan regional representative, is one of the founding members of the Crown Jewels of Canada Society. The society started in the Okanagan and now has more than 7,000 members across Canada. There are regional, provincial and national events as well as local activities.
“We are a national non-profit society which is all about women getting together for social activities and to support each other. Sometimes women don’t get out as much as they want to but together we can. This is our time to have fun,” said Schrierer.
The chapters are deliberately kept small, about 10 to 12 members, with many chapters in Vernon alone. Chapters, each with a queen and vice-queen, plan activities for their members and regularly get together with other chapters. Some chapters like quieter events like getting together for coffee and outings, while others are more active and sports-oriented. Some members from across the country got together for a cruise of the Mexican Riviera earlier this year and members like to travel together.
“We are always open to more chapters. It only takes two to start a chapter and then you invite your friends,” said Schrierer.
Prospective members are invited to come to a few activities and then decide if they want to join. Members receive monthly newsletters and have access to a members-only website and Facebook site so they can keep up on what’s going on locally and nationally. Some members have reconnected with friends they had lost track of through the sites.
“Our rules are simple,” said Marks, who met Schrierer through Crown Jewels. “Pay your membership on time. Wear our colours — red and white or purple and white. Wear something on your head— fascinator, hat, barrette, whatever you like. And have fun.”
Schrierer and Marks said Crown Jewels is a good way for women who are alone to make new friends or for those new to the community to meet people. A number of the members have partners and sometimes men who hear about the society encourage their wives to join.
“It’s about being together and enjoying activities and caring about each other,” said Schrierer.
Crown Jewels of Canada Society anniversary celebrations will be held later in the year.
For more information contact Schrierer at 250-938-4712 or bc@cjcsmembers.com, or Marks at 250-308-5395 or camarks@shaw.ca.