The 49'er club exists for friendship and fun

Intermountain Catholic

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(From left) Robin Barber Trips, Peggy Ekland, Dick O'Donnell, Evelyn O'Donnell, Joe Giovacchini, Maxine Giovacchini, and Dean Betenes, plan a trip for the 49'er group. IC photo/Laura V. Sausedo

SALT LAKE CITY — The 49’er club is a club that, as the name states, is for people who are 49 years old and plus who enjoy social activities such as trips to Wendover and picnics in the park.

The group gathers at St. Ambrose Parish once a month except during July and August, in which they have special social activities. For example, on July 9 they will have a catered picnic in Sugarhouse Park, and in August they will have a breakfast.

"We also have Bingo after the meetings," said Dottie Waagen, a member of the club.

Waagen joined the club many years ago through the invitation of another member.

"I joined quite a long time ago. I was working and the lady that asked me if I wanted to join the club, she was the secretary at the moment," said Waagen.

The 49’er club started in the 1970s.

"My parents were founding members of the group; they started at St. Ambrose with a small Catholic group," said Peggy Ekland, who is now the group’s public relations person.

Now the group has become non-denominational but they still gather at St. Ambrose and attend Mass before the meetings. Waagen joins them, even though she is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"I enjoy the group very much," said Waagen, who is going to be celebrating her 70th birthday with the "Breakfast in the Park."

"Once a month we celebrate the birthdays of the people who have birthdays in that month; this coming July we will be celebrating all of them with the gathering at the park," said Ekland.

The 49’er club has around 100 members and everyone has a roster in which they have the information of the other members.

"We have about 100 members, but they die often, a few members a year," said Ekland.

The group is just for fun, she added. "It’s a group of people over 49 years of age who like to have a good time and have social activities."

They also raise money for different charities during their activities..

The invitation to join the club is open to everybody. "They just have to attend one of the meetings in which a sponsor will introduce them to the members of the group and act as a guide at the beginning," said Waagen.

"Any one that wants to join the club can do it," said Ekland.