Junior League or Jaycees? (Savannah: cliquey, living, cost of living)

[TupeloHoney]

Can someone please give me the no-holds-barred break down of Savannah society? My husband and I are (like everyone, apparently) contemplating a move to Savannah, and I think we have a good grasp on the basics - housing, jobs, cost of living, etc. What I really want to know and can't seem to google anywhere is the unspoken food chain of Savannah's social scene.

We're both from the deep south (Mississippi) and are pretty familiar with the unwritten rules of Southern living. A breakdown for our town is Junior Auxiliary = younger who's who, DAR & DAC = older who's who, Lion's Club = all well-to-do men, Business & Professional Women = more bookish, less popular who's who.

So, come on, what's the hierarchy in Savannah?

BTW, this isn't really affecting our decision to move, but we just want to know if we're getting into a Mississippi Delta situation or a Venice Beach, CA scenario?

[ellie]

If you think any of that matters, you're in the wrong club.

[Padgett2]

I am sure that there are certain social circles where "position" matters. But for most, we don't give a _____! (Fill in word of your choice.)

We do have a Junior League. They do a lot of volunteer work. There is also a very active Jaycee. And about a zillion other business/social/voluteer groups. If you want that sort of thing, you can find it easily. If you don't, well, you won't even notice that it's here.

Let's face it.....Savannah was founded in 1733. We have families that date back that far. We also have prominent families who either were slaves or owned them. We also have desendents of the Irish that were brought over to build railroads, and Italians, and Chinese, and Koreans, and Jews, and Catholics, and Jehovah Witnesses.

If there are any "unspoken rules" about Southern Living, I don't know what they are and Ellie is probably right......if such things matter to you, you probably will be in the wrong club.

[TupeloHoney]

That's actually really great to hear. Honestly a little unbelievable, but really great to hear. Sorry if I gave off the wrong impression, neither my husband nor I are all that hoity toidy. We aren't looking to join the "right" group of people. In a lot of older cities, both Southern and otherwise I'm sure, it's just hard to move in and really put down roots because the social scene can feel really cliquey (sp?) or set in stone. (If you don't live here and go to this church and drive this car, etc.) Sounds like Savannah must be a pretty open and welcoming town which is exactly what we're looking to find.

[ellie]

If you want to start out by joining something interesting, try the Telfair Museum of Art. The membership contains a good cross section of Savannah society. Where you go from there will be completely up to you.

Welcome to the Telfair Museum of Savannah, Georgia

[gentlearts]

Just to throw in my 2 cents a little late..My experience is that any service organization will welcome you if you go in with a willing spirit and take a job that nobody else wants ("stuff those 10,000 envelopes? I'd LOVE to").