Living their best lives: Baby Boomer Babes and Bros Club built a positive social network
While organizing a 50th class reunion, the first seeds of what would become a club and a community were planted.
For Catherine Colon, community is important, and it's what led her to form the Baby Boomer Babes and Bros Club.
“Getting together with girlfriends after so many years became a routine with about five of us. I started a Facebook group on May 17, 2018, to post opportunities like dinner, movies and weekly breakfasts to enable us to re-establish our friendships,” Colon told The Herald News.
Colon graduated from Somerset High in 1969. After retiring from her career as a work-life specialist in Arlington, Virginia, in 2018, she decided to return to her roots.
“I called us the Baby Boomer Babes. We started to grow as other people learned about our activities, and on June 21, 2019, we added the Bros since so many guys wanted in on our fun. Today we have 268 members,” Colon added.
Baby Boomer Babes and Bros membership grew
As membership grew, the wide range of individual members’ interests also caused the group to broaden its horizons.
“With the help of other admins, we branched out to include the book club, health and wellness, movies, plays, bocce, bowling, shopping, cooking, line dancing, walking/hiking, thrift shopping, and following local bands,” Colon said. “The Village Kids, Midnight Kitchen and the Sixties Band are some of our favorites.”
The book club began in August 2019 and meets monthly. Members take turns suggesting what to read next.
Some best-selling local authors have also made appearances at book club.
“Steve Manchester has been kind enough to come and speak with us twice,” Colon said. “We love his books and have read several as a club. Also, Heidi Chiavaroli has spoken to our group about her historical fiction.”
The group also navigated the uncertain times brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. But another aspect of their community came into being as they rose to meet the challenge of those days:
“The pandemic was challenging for us as a group, not being able to get together. So we started walking. We would meet at Battleship Cove and walk several days a week, sometimes in 20-degree-below weather, which started our Trailblazers,” Colon said. “We expanded to hikes at local parks and sometimes would bring our chairs and lunch to meet outside.”
They’re also a creative bunch.
Colon said, “We have many talented people in our group, which became obvious as we expanded. We have writers, artists, and musicians who share their talents. As we encourage each other to grow, people have been able to find their niche and feel confident to show what they can do. Members are involved with the Fall River Art Association and Gallery X.”
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Louis A. Colon Post 72 is the club's place to meet
Colon said a large piece of their success comes from the Louis A. Colon Amvets Post 72, 659 Brayton Ave., Somerset. Her father, Louis A. Colon, established the post when she was a child, Colon said.
She said that through the generosity of Wayne and Sandy Medeiros, the post has become the group’s “Cheers.”
It’s “a safe place for us to meet each Friday to have dinner and sing karaoke. Several of us act as volunteers there to help support local veterans,” Colon said.
The Boomers have also brought in local bands to perform, and arranged community and fundraising events, including an annual tea party with fashion show, Kentucky Derby, craft classes, wine-tasting and more.
They’re about to embark on a new venture as well:
“We will have a weekly game lounge soon to enable the local community to come together and play board games in partnership with Mastermind Adventures,” Colon said.
They’ve even got a Florida branch for members who go to escape the cold New England winter. The SW Boomer branch meets annually at a member’s restaurant: Hurricane Charley’s in Punta Gorda, Florida.
Becoming a member
Colon said that, although they are not a dating site, several relationships have evolved from the group.
Most members of the group are in their 60s, but there are some who are younger. Colon said there are also group members who are in their 80s.
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There are no membership dues.
“Membership is possible if you know a member. That is our vetting process,” Colon said.
She said the mission of their Facebook group is to bring people together. It’s run by administrators and they don’t tolerate political or religious posts, or bullying.
If anyone is interested in becoming a member, they can send an email to cathybabyboomer@gmail.com.
Colon emphasized something else that this group has created: community and connection.
She believes that everyone matters, and her work as a work-life specialist helped her be aware that people need to be acknowledged.
“Often as we age, we do not always have family close by or we have lost a partner. My goal in maintaining this group is to have a safe environment of support so that folks do not feel alone,” Colon said.
“Our group consists of married couples, singles, widowed people, and people looking for human connection. We check in on each other and provide rides to medical appointments, watch our houses when we travel, and drive to the airport when needed. I believe I help seniors stay connected by offering opportunities to play and to inspire connection so they can remain healthy and live their best lives.”
Taunton Daily Gazette/Herald News copy editor and digital producer Kristina Fontes can be reached at kfontes@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette today.
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Baby Boomer Babes and Bros Club brings seniors together
