Explore our groups
Join the UVA Women's Club's diverse interest groups to connect, learn, and have fun. Whether it's books, gardening, or crafting, you'll find a welcoming community. Enjoy casual meetups and structured activities that foster hobbies and lasting connections.
Antique Group
Are you passionate about antiques and local history? Our Antiquing Group is the perfect place for you! We offer engaging activities, including expert speakers, guided tours of local historical homes, and professional antique appraisals. One of the highlights is our unique auctions, where members buy and sell antiques to support our activities.
We meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m., with occasional exceptions. Annual dues are $10.00, which can be waived by contributing to or purchasing an item at our fall auction. Join us and connect with fellow antique enthusiasts!
The next meeting will be in late September.
Contact: Lainie Rainwater, Martha Weiss
Book Group
Are you a book lover looking for a community of fellow readers? Our Book Group is the perfect place for you! We meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m., usually at the Northside Library. Each May, we select a fantastic lineup of books for the coming year, ensuring a year full of great reads.
Every month, we have one or two facilitators to guide our discussions. We also provide simple and delicious snacks, along with coffee and hot tea. For more information on our book selections, check out our newsletters. Join us for engaging discussions and delightful company!
Contact: Palmer Gard
Crafty Ladies
Our Crafty Ladies group is perfect for expressing your creativity at any level and with any medium. We have a flexible schedule and enjoy a variety of activities, from weaving and paper folding to clay pot décor and egg dying. There's no need to worry about your skill level—everyone is welcome!
If you're interested in hosting an activity, simply choose a date and time, and send an email to the sign-up list with the details of your craft. Hosts may need to limit the number of participants based on the available materials. Join us to discover the extent of your creative energy and enjoy fun, engaging projects with fellow crafters!
Contact: Marjie Giuliano
Culinary Queens
If you enjoy exploring culture through food, trying new healthy recipes, and connecting with others over a shared love of cooking, Culinary Queens is the group for you!
We meet casually once a month from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM in my home kitchen. Each session includes hands-on cooking, learning new techniques, and of course—eating the delicious dishes we create together. Yummy!
Some highlights from last year:
Stuffed grape leaves made the Egyptian way
Homemade baklava for a sweet treat
Holiday cookie decorating using professional techniques
A special May celebration at a local farm with tea and shared dishes
There is no fee to join the group, but a $10 participation fee is collected at each meeting to help cover the cost of ingredients.
Come cook, connect, and create something delicious!
Contact: Dalia Osman
Garden Group
Garden Group generally meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 10:00 (new time), except for our September Luncheon and a few other exceptions.
Our schedule is filled with interesting speakers, field trips, social gatherings, flower arranging and more. If you are interested in gardening, flower arranging/demonstrations, birds, trees and more, consider joining our group!
The 2025-2026 tentative schedule includes field trips to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, The Orchid Station, Waterperry Farm and the Tahija Arboretum and LaCross Botanical Gardens at Darden …and we will have some interesting speakers and activities!
The Chair is Mary Jean Thiele, with much help from a board comprised of Sherry Aylor, Grace Giras, Ramona Shugart, Becky Williams, Tracy Scharer, Tina Cromwell and Carolyn Adams (Chair-Emeritus).
Current and new members can sign up by contacting Mary Jean Thiele for information. Dues are $20 per year, made payable to UVA Women’s Garden Group, and should be mailed to Tina Cromwell. They can also be paid at the “UVA Women’s Group Fall Signup Luncheon” on September 4th.
Upcoming Events
September 10th – Annual Brunch
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Ashcroft Clubhouse
Details: Tea sandwiches, salad, beverages, and dessert.
Note: Dues must be paid prior to or at the luncheon.
October 8th – Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden Trip (Tentative)
Departure: Leave Charlottesville at 9:00 AM (carpool)
Location: Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, VA (includes lunch)
November 12th – The Orchid Station Trip
Location: 4505 Burnley Station Road, Barboursville, VA 22923
December 10th – Annual Holiday Gathering & Gift Exchange
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: Home of Lisa Huffman
Details: Coffee, light brunch, goodies, and gag gift exchange.
Food Assignments: Members with last names A–L bring sweet goodies (finger foods).
Contact: Mary Jean Thiele
Mah Jongg Group
Are you interested in learning and playing Mah Jongg in a fun and competitive environment? Our Mah Jongg Group, inspired by the generous and foresightful Caroline Colvin, is the perfect place for you! We meet every Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the Ashcroft Clubhouse to play Japanese Mah Jongg.
Our group is active, fun-loving, and welcomes new players year-round. We love teaching new members this fascinating tile game, providing a joyful and mentally stimulating experience each week. Please join us to honor Caroline's legacy and enjoy the camaraderie and excitement of Mah Jongg!
Contact: Lisa Huffman
Singing & Sips
Love to sing? I sure do and hope to find others who want to gather and sing once a month. Day, time and place of gathering to be determined.
We are looking for a pianist that could/would play for us while we sing along.
The pianist should be a member of UVA WC and have time and interest to accompany this new interest group. If you know someone with this great talent please have them get in touch with me ASAP so the group can begin singing in September.
Contact: Carolyn Adams
Walking Group
The Walking Group is now being led by Marjie Giuliano and Monica Adams.
The Women's Walkers will be off to a brisk start in October, with those interested encouraged to sign up at the fall meeting. The plan is to convene in the Belmont neighborhood where there is easy walking and a variety of wonderful trees (hopefully in full color!) to enjoy as we stroll for about an hour over a predetermined route, before enjoying coffee at a local spot. Date TBD.
Contact: Marjie Giuliano and Monica Adams
Writing Group
The Women’s Club Writers (WCW) group is for those passionate about prose or poetry, whether you’re an experienced writer or just starting out. Meetings are informal — we share our work aloud, offer constructive feedback, and occasionally try prompts or different writing forms.
We meet every third Wednesday of each month, 2:30–4:00 PM, Northside Library (Conference Room #4 if available). Monica Adams reserves the room and sends reminders but is not a “teacher.” We learn from one another. Please bring something to share — your own work or a piece by a published writer.
Join us to rekindle your writing practice or explore it for the first time. New members welcome! Contact Monica with questions (leave a detailed message if calling).
Contact: Monica Adams
Visual Highlights
Our photo gallery showcases the vibrant life and activities of the UVA Women's Club. Here, you can browse through images capturing the essence of our gatherings, events, and interest group activities.
Visit our gallery to view the latest photos and get a glimpse into what happens at the UVA Women's Club. Enjoy exploring the highlights of our engaging and dynamic community!
apply for membership
Become a part of the UVA Women's Club and connect with a vibrant community of women dedicated to service, philanthropy, and sociability. We look forward to welcoming you!