While most young scenesters are spending their extra time hitting the clubs, they may not be gaining anything from the experience but a hang over. Gone are the days of culture, while celebrity role-models seem to be preoccupied with less than legal activities. So, what’s a twenty-something to do when they want to escape the shallow? Seeing an immediate need to putting the “social” back in socialite, Amanda Blakely and Ashleigh Dempster have created The Society, a non-elitist club which includes activities such as photography lessons, private film screenings, book clubs, Spanish lessons with twist, and, of course, philanthropic soirees.
The Society was an idea spun from their involvement with Rethink Breast Cancer's social soirees, and a yearning for something more fulfilling than what Toronto had to offer. The girls still organize the annual Boobyball - this year’s them is "Glamified". Always ready to push the limits, the venue Up Country furniture store was transformed into a gigantic rock star hotel room/playground reminiscent of the glam rock era. Cotton candy booths, a Guns and Roses cover band, mini VIP rooms, and more made guests feel like true rock and roll royalty.
The Society knows how to rock, but they also understand the importance of cultural education. Dempster explained that the Society's activities were based on things that they themselves wanted to try, but which weren't presented to them in an enticing way. "Why aren't we going to the ballet, [so] what's stopping us?"
Apparently nothing at all. Events range from cocktail/language nights to architectural bike tours around Toronto. Tamara Glick, six month member and image consultant, enjoys the Society because every event is "an exciting experience, there's always something a little bit unusual. You're going to do something that you haven't done before". Who else can you go with to take polo lessons, learn how to DJ or check out a ballet movie screening in the ballet studio itself? The S-List is the only one that you want to be on if you're looking for out-of-the-box entertainment. Recently members have been given special charms to flash for special treatment at restaurants, spas, clubs and more. Apparently the "S" stands for splendidly spoiled!
Started a little over a year ago, the Society has grown from 200 members to approximately 1200, all by word of mouth. Sarah Wickens, a consultant who was referred by her friend, remarked that the Society is "a great organization that lets you reach out and touch the arts a little bit more than you normally would without having to hit the thousand dollar plate dinners." Blakely and Dempster explain that they wanted to keep the Society personal, so that they could know every single person who joins. Since membership is on a referral basis, these girls really do know their customers. "You can trace any member to the founding members." if you're interested in joining but don't know an S-List soul, don't be discouraged. To get your foot in the door, head down to an event to make nice and mingle with the culturati. Glick says, "In the Society you have an opportunity to meet people that you might not otherwise run into".
"Amanda and Ashleigh are inspirational - they're our age, they're doings some really great things. It's great to meet women like that", say television producers Jocelyn Mercer and Connie Contardi, who joined just a month ago. Their reason for joining? "[We were] looking to network with other young entrepreneurial, ambitious, philanthropic women who were creatively driven." They certainly came to the right place considering that most members are well educated and looking for cultural stimulation. There's a 60/40 split of women to men, who range in age from 23 to 35 and are in a place in their lives where they aren't settled down yet.
The Society doesn't seem ready to settle down either. On Thursday, November 8th, the group will be spreading its socialite wings to the Big Apple itself.
If you live in Toronto or New York, find a way to get yourself on the "S" list! A world of culture and excitement await you.
The Society: www.thesocietytoronto.com
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