FRIDAY,MARCH:8,1996 3S

Despite a fewhedgers, Pricdssingles club seems to be taking off.Atlast count, the club had 60members, with 100 expected at thismonth's meeting. "If,s not just adating forum. It's a place where youcan make close friends and erljoydifferent activities in the groupi"said Price.

Singles in their late 20s to late40s meetfrom ?-9 p.m. on the thirdSaturday of themonth at theCommunity Boom at WestgateMall. Meetings give the group achance to go over'r,he clult's activitycalender, get to hnotr newmembers, and hear a guest speaker.

The first meeting is free and is folloved by aninformal get-together at a local restaurant

"There's a $S fee for a six month membership and anominal fee for some of the activities," said Priee."IMe're differeot fi'on the other singles eluh in town inthatwe have activities atleast two to three times aweek ,.. everything from ski h"ips to contra dances tolelationship seminars'"

Price mbved to the arrea two and a halfyears 4golrom Flolida As a single mother of a l-year-old son'she decided l,o open a day-care facility in orderto stayathome. She also supports herseHby eleaning homes,taking in laundta, writing fre+lanee parenting artielesand sEling herbs, vitamins and long distance phone

ATTERNATNru LOAFINGrewarding. She has already started

dating a member of the club herself and has madeseverzl good friends.

"Because there's a membership feg we haveattracted a lot ofprofessional people ... doctors,teaehers, nurs'es and engineerc,'said Price. "If,s agreatway to networkyow business. It's also a greatway !o get to know people before you go out withthem."

Club membership ineludes discounts at areabusinesses, ineluding a 35 pereent discount onmembership at Gold's Gyn. Child care is also pmvidedto member:s for a nominal fee with advanceregistration.

h'ice urges singles who want more information toattend the elub's nextmeeting on March 16.'You neverknowwhotl s-oins tc trc there."

It's hard work that makesnew singles club happen

ancy Pricg founder ofthe new Asheville SinglesClub, has nrn up against what she ealls theCatch-22 of starting a fr{endship club.e found that a lot ofpeople want to window shop

meeting, and if they do,tt'J see anyone they're attractedto, theydon't sign up or show up for the next meeting'That'b forstrating becauqe ev€tryonewants t'o see a full club."

ol've found that a lotbefore they actually join," baid Price. "They'll come to a

"Because I wor* out ofmy home, it's almostimpo'ssible to meet people," said Fric€.,"And alsopeople see that you have a child and assume that you.'reattached."

The lar scene didnlt appeal to Price, so she decidedto check outsome of the loeal singles clubs, "But theydl seerned to cater to the older crowd.ff

Frici said she also felt out ofplace as a single mother, "Even inParents Without Partners,everyone had 30 or 4O-yeu.oldchildren," she said.

The situation prompted thisentrepreneur to started her ownclub tlu'ee months ago,

She now spends an average of20hours a week organizing,advertising and recnriting. "I checkeverything becaffle we want this tobe a safe, clean-cut club," said Price."I weed out the people who givefalse lumbert on their application.Itusually means they're man'ied."

Price's hard work has been

Heather Rayburn