Members of the Newcomers Encore Baton Rouge take an excursion to the Season to Taste oil and vinegar store. The organization offers monthly programs and outings to connects members and introduce them to Baton Rouge.
Through it all, the club’s main priority is nurturing friendships among newcomers.
The club’s history is a little complicated with the Newcomers starting in the 1950s, then the Newcomers Encore later breaking into a separate group in 1974, when the oil and gas boom brought so many new people to the area.
“At some point, the club got too big, so they divided it up, because they didn’t want to kick people out,” Teller said. “So, Encore was people who chose to stay, because they made friends in the organization.”
When an economic downturn slowed the flow of people, so the two clubs once again became one.
“We have members who are still part of Encore, because we don’t kick anyone out, but we welcome anybody new in Baton Rouge and surrounding areas,” Teller said. “We also have people from Zachary, Prairieville, Gonzales, Geismar and Walker — the entire Baton Rouge area.”
The Encore members have since become mentors to incoming members.
“For instance, you have a child that plays sports, we direct you to BREC,” Teller said. “Or you have a love for gardening, we’re able to direct you to gardening groups. The Encore people are able to make suggestions of resources for people and find their different activities that they would enjoy doing.”
These days, that mentorship is even more important with the chemical industry’s influx of new people into the capital city.
“The chemical industry is a growing industry, especially in the direction of St. James Parish,” Teller said. “And in the past, there was a big LSU hiring and we drew in a lot of international people when BASF came to Baton Rouge, and people working there had to make a three-year commitment to stay here.”
One member discovered Newcomers Encore Baton Rouge when she moved to Baton Rouge from South Africa with her husband.
“They loved Baton Rouge so much that they retired here,” Teller said. “And their son is graduating in chemical engineering at LSU and started Parish Brewing, which makes Canebrake Beer.”
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