 | This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
Asocial club orsocial organization may be a group of people or the place where they meet, generally formed around a common interest, occupation or activity with in an organizational association known as aclub. Examples includebook discussion clubs,chess clubs,country clubs,final clubs,strip clubs, fishing clubs, gaming clubs,women's clubs,gentlemen's clubs (known asprivate member’s clubs in the U.S.),hunting clubs,military officers' clubs,political clubs, religious clubs (such asChristian fellowships),traditional fraternal organizations,service clubs,fraternities and sororities (Greek-letter organizations),business networking clubs, science clubs, hobbyist clubs, informalprofessional associations, anduniversity clubs. The term can also refer to a criminal headquarters, such as theRavenite Social Club or the Cage.[1][2]
This article covers only three distinct types of social clubs – the historicgentlemen's clubs, the modern activities clubs, and an introduction tofraternities and sororities. This article does not cover a variety of other types ofclubs having some social characteristics. Social clubs have commonly been used by theItalian-American Mafia and otherorganized crime groups asheadquarters,fronts, and meeting places, with many mob crews even being named after the club that they are based out of (The Palma Boys Crew, The Gemini Crew, The Veterans & Friends Crew).
 | This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(June 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Working men's clubs developed in Britain duringVictorian times as institutes whereworking class men could attend lectures and take part in recreational pursuits. The ReverendHenry Solly founded theWorking Men's Club and Institute Union (CIU) for this purpose in 1862. Many middle-class social reformers founded these clubs during thetemperance movement as a place to relax without alcohol, but in time this changed. They became a combination ofpublic houses (pubs),music-halls andclubs, becoming places to be entertained, to drink socially and to play bar games. Working men's clubs are still prevalent across the United Kingdom, although not as popular.
In theDutch East Indies,sociëteits were established in various cities.
Modern clubs include Urban Diversion in San Francisco, which opened in 2003 as a general adventure and activities social club, and theGroucho Club inSoho, London, which opened in 1985 as "the antidote to the traditional club." The "traditional club" referred to is the elitistgentlemen's club, a fixture of British upper-class male society. This is not to be confused with the modern use of the phrase, which is now aeuphemism for astrip club.
Clubs in England and Wales were not controlled by the licensing system until theLicensing Act 1902 was passed, or inScotland until theLicensing (Scotland) Act 1903 (3 Edw. 7. c. 25) was passed. They were passed mainly to check the abuse of "clubs" being formed solely to sell intoxicating liquors free from the restrictions of the licensing acts, but it applied to all kinds of clubs in England and Wales. The act required the registration of every club that occupied any premises habitually used for the purposes of a club and in which intoxicating liquor was supplied to members or their guests. The secretary of every club was required to give a return to theclerk to the justices of thepetty sessional division with this information:
Social and recreational clubs may be considered tax-exempt501(c)(7) organizations under certain circumstances.
Typically, a social club has a constitution which states the club's objects, its structure, location of its activities, requirements of members, membership criteria and various other rules. British clubs are usually run by a committee that will also include three 'officer' positions – chair, secretary and treasurer.
| This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(June 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
_(cropped).jpg)
Social activities clubs are a modern combination of several types of clubs and reflect today's more eclectic and varied society. These clubs are centered on the activities available to the club members in the city or area in which the club is located. Some have a traditional clubhouse, bar or restaurant where members gather, while others do not.
Events can include a broad range of activities, from sporting events and social parties toballet, arts orbook clubs. Unlike traditional clubs, they are not limited to one kind of event or special interest, but include a broad range of events in their monthly calendars. The members choose the events in which the club is going to take part, based upon the changing interests of the members. The members themselves determine the events they will attend of those offered.
Some social clubs are based around a shared identity among their members. Clubs exist for single people, married couples, and people of certain sexual orientations or ethnic backgrounds.
Membership can be limited or open to the general public, as can the events. Most clubs have a limited membership based upon specific criteria and restrict the events to members to increase their feeling of security, creating an increased sense of camaraderie and belonging. There are many examples of private social clubs, including theUniversity Club of Chicago,The Mansion on O Street in D.C., thePenn Club of New York City and theNew York Friars' Club.
Social activities clubs can be for-profit,non-profit or a combination of the two (a for-profit club with a non-profit charitable arm, for instance). Some social clubs havefunction halls which members, or sometimes the general public, can rent for parties.
A number ofJewish community centers and other organizations, such as theYMCA, have social clubs for people withsocial anxiety andlearning disabilities. Membership in these clubs is limited to individuals with these conditions.
| This sectiondoes notcite anysources. Please helpimprove this section byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged andremoved.(June 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Fraternities and sororities are part of "Greek life" prevalent in universities. Many young men and women pledge during their freshman year of college in order to become a "brother" or "sister" of afraternity orsorority. These clubs are founded on principles of camaraderie and communal bonding. As social clubs, they are sometimes alsophilanthropic, hosting fundraisers for charities or on-campus events.
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding missing information.(October 2019) |
