The Shuttlecock Club
This sounds straightforward, right? This must be a group of badminton fans who love the shuttlecock? Well, that is incorrect. Members of his group are riders who crashed themselves into the Shuttlecock Corner in Switzerland. Eight Cresta riders led by K. Meyer and his friends founded the club, with the first meeting held on January 30, 1933, at the Hotel Monopol. Anyone who is a Cresta rider, of any profession, doctor, lawyer, or ordinary citizen can join, so long as the sole requirement is met. The famous Cresta run is a natural ice skeleton racing track in Switzerland. As it is a very demanding sport, women were banned from 1929 until 2018, but before and after that, there were records of women trialing for the Cresta run, though we are not aware of any woman club member.
Work Less Party
If we can opt out of work and still get paid, that would be awesome, right? We can just focus our efforts on making our investments grow. But reality bites and we need to work. The Work Less Party in Canada, however, advocates for lesser work hours. It is not a bad suggestion. The group was founded in 2003, with the sole purpose of lobbying for 32 hours of work, instead of the 40 currently observed, a decentralized government, and an increase in the minimum wage. This may not make it seem they are a weird organization as after all the proposals they are putting forward sound sensible, but this will be breaking the long-standing practice of a 40-hour workweek. We hope that Canada starts this trend and then the rest of the world catches on. In other countries, there is now a right to disconnect law, where employers are not to contact their employees after hours. That is a step in the right direction, given the many stresses of work.
The Sons of Lee Marvin
This secret and weird group is not something you can apply for or purchase a membership. Lee Marvin was a well-known American actor with distinctive premature white hair and voice. For some odd reasons, film director Jim Jarmusch decided to form this organization for those who have physical and facial features that would make anyone mistake them as sons of Lee Marvin. Degrees, financial status, or age is not a hindrance, but sex is, as women cannot for obvious reasons be part of the club. At one point, the real son of Lee Marvin, Christopher, confronted Tom Waits, a member, and asked him about the club. Not knowing he was an actual son of Lee Marvin, Tom said that the organization exists, but he could not talk about it. One supposed activity that club members do together is watching Lee Marvin films.
The Association for Gravestone Studies
When we think of art, we usually associate it with paintings, sculptures, and carvings. But headstones or gravestones are pieces of art, too. This is why The Association for Gravestone Studies was founded. The sole purpose of this society, which was founded in 1977 was the preservation of gravestones and cemeteries. While we would rather not think of passing on and headstones may remind us of that, there are gravestones that were intricately made. All sorts of people are welcome to join the club. They have had members who are amateurs and also professionals like attorneys, linguists, art majors, historians, and many more. The additional unofficial requirement is perhaps not being easily spooked, as you will travel to cemeteries often.
The Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists™
The word scientist conjures images of a person mixing up chemicals in a laboratory and then accidentally blowing the cylinders up and ending up with a messy hair day. This is not the case with modern scientists, though. While some of them may be shy and recluse, many of them are now more outgoing and with flowing hair. This club was formed for scientists who believe they have luxuriant flowing hair and are proud of it. Being proud of their hair is a requirement because they would be displayed on the website. The original members who founded the club were admirers of psychologist Steven Pinker’s curly mane. This is a weird club, yes, but we give them credit for breaking the usual stereotypes of a scientist.
Barbershop Harmony Society
When hearing this name, you probably think that this is a group of barbers organizing themselves or some kind of union asking for more compensation and insurance coverage. But this is not the case. The Barbershop Harmony Society is the first of various organizations established to preserve and promote barbershop music as an art form. Barbershop music or quartet is a kind of unaccompanied singing of four singers. The society was formed in 1938 by Owen Cash and currently has about 30,000 members. What is cool about this club is that it inspired the formation of another organization for women, the Sweet Adelines International, with the same purpose. In 2018, the BHS formally announced it would allow women to join their ranks, which was a very welcome development!
Association for Renaissance Martial Arts
Martial arts have a long tradition, often tracing its roots in Asian countries. But since it has spread all over the world, many other cultures have adapted the various techniques and principles of martial arts. There are even online classes now teaching martial arts to students. But one organization took a particular interest in the martial arts practiced during the Renaissance period. This fellowship of Americans founded the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts in 2001, electing John Clements as its director. This non-profit organization was the spinoff of the Historical Armed Combat Association, which existed since 1992. The group has a curriculum they follow, which was inspired by the world of Sydney Anglo’s The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe. They aim to reconstruct historical techniques without modern modifications or influence.
Count Dracula Society
Edward Cullen was not the first famous vampire. But thanks to him, many are now inspired to look into gothic literature and appreciate how Bram Stoker created Count Dracula, the ancestor of all vampires. We give credit to modern cinema and social media for turning the fear of vampires into curiosity and appreciation. Before all of these happened, however, there was already an organization dedicated to all things vampire and Gothic, the Count Dracula Society in London. The society was organized in 1973 by two actors, Bruce Wightman and Bernard Davies who originally scheduled themed tours of Czechoslovakia and Transylvania. They also became interested in stage and screen adaptation portraying Count Dracula and Gothic literature. Famous members include Vincent Price, Richard Dalby, and Caroline Munro.
Project Steve
Scientists have long debated with religious believers on the origins of the Earth. There are two sides, those who believe in evolution and those who say creation is the one reality everyone should consider. Now, scientists with the name Steve or a variation of the name, such as Stephanie, Stephen, Esteban, could join the club as long as they believe in the evolution line of thought. The degree of support for evolution among science enthusiasts and scientists is logically high, resulting in a long list of members. Also, as it turned out, 1% of all scientists are named Steve! The group also boasts of having more biologists on its roster than that of the creationists. A paleontologist, Stephen Jay Gould, was the inspiration for the founders who established the club in 2003.
Mothers-in-law Club International
Mothers-in-law are usually considered villains in a couple’s relationship. They are usually portrayed in movies as the ones who continually harp against the husband, reminding him that he is inadequate and could not even pay rent or electricity nor provide food for the family. Perhaps getting tired of this stereotype, a group of mothers-in-law formed their own society in 1971. The organizations’ goal is to provide support for families across the US, knowing that starting one is a challenge. They hoped to share their experience and failures when they first started. The women also wanted to correct any incorrect notion and myths surrounding mothers-in-law. We hope that they are successful and that those they shared their wisdom with would listen and avoid making common mistakes in a relationship.