Whether you're new to the area or just looking for something to do, joining a club or organization is a good way to become more involved in what's going on around you in The Lou. It's pretty easy to find a soccer club or a community service club, but here are a few other options for those who choose the road less traveled.

• Have you ever wanted to fabricate a bicycle that was as light as air? Or finagle a daisy out of an inflated, flexible material? Fortunately, you can learn to make that and more at the Balloon Twisting Club. Silly Jilly, a St. Louis-based clown, encourages any would-be rubber artists to attend.
• If you would rather spend an afternoon in the park on a windy day holding a string, there is a club for that, too. The Gateway Kite Club flies their kites all over St. Louis and its surrounding areas, and you don't even have to be a member of the club to join them in flight. Summertime pizza socials and a scary-kite Halloween activity offer fun for all ages.
• Are you a "W-I-Z-Z-A-R-D" with words? St. Louis' chapter of the National Scrabble Association, Club #610, claims that "There is no membership fee, but we encourage you to patronize our hosts." The club meets week at Schlafly Bottleworks, and if you prove yourself to be good enough, you might make the club's Top 10 Ranking.
• The closest coin club, aka the St. Louis Numismatic Association, is more about showing off and trading coins than it is about learning to flip them. It has 350 members and holds two shows each year. Meetings are held on the last Friday of each month and are followed by an auction. Don't worry, you don't have to correctly pronounce "numismatic" in order to participate.
• Dust off that pink corvette and its passengers, because all dolls are welcome at the St. Louis Fashion Doll Collector's Club. Although the many fashionable varieties of Barbie are preferred, this club doesn't discriminate. Tickets are only $3 for the club's upcoming doll show, and for a price that small, all doll enthusiasts should jump at the opportunity.