By THERESA M. HEGEL

By THERESA M. HEGEL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
"Girls' Night Out: Celebrating Women's Groups Across America," by Tamara Kreinin and Barbara Camens; photographs by Leslie Parr (Crown Publishers, $25)
INCE THE DAYS OF QUILTING bees and sewing circles, women have been joining together for a common purpose and companionship, and these days, the phenomenon is more widespread than ever.
Inspired by experiences with their own women's groups, Tamara Kreinin and Barbara Camens -- a former Valley resident -- decided to write a book about the kinship and empowerment such groups provide to women across the country.
"Girls' Night Out" is full of colorful vignettes exploring a number of women's groups. In the first chapter, the authors explain that such women's groups are different from other female friendships because they "have a formality of purpose, an intentionality, overtly acknowledging the importance of the relationships they foster."
Camens and Kreinin visited these groups and interviewed their members, discovering the circumstances behind their origins. The authors describe a typical meeting of each group, outlining many of the groups' traditions and rituals.
In many instances, Camens and Kreinin allow the women's enthusiasm to speak for itself. Members from each group talk about the intimacy and support they've received at meetings. The interviewed women are almost unanimous in concluding that their groups provide them with so much more than their acknowledged purposes. Many of the groups have remained together for years, and the women in them consider the others their closest and most trusted friends.
Diverse activities
The activities at the foundation of each group are as diverse as the women who have joined them. The Phenomenal Ladies Motorcycle Club in Prince Georges County, Maryland, is a group of 10 women who own motorcycles and ride together on cross-country road trips. The Mah-jongg Girls in New York City are a group of six twentysomething friends who get together to play mah-jongg for several hours every other Tuesday night.
The Tea Group in Boston is a group of artists who, since college, have used a traditional teatime as a forum to discuss their art. Some of their most creative pieces grew directly out of their experiences with the group. The Bridgies in Needham, Mass., started meeting to play bridge and converse more than 30 years ago. As the years went by, they played bridge less and less, until they were coming simply for the conversation.
The last chapter of "Girls' Night Out" outlines some basic steps for anyone interested in joining or forming a women's group. After reading about some of the fascinating groups and members in the preceding chapters, there's little doubt that many women will be inspired into action, and Camens and Kreinin end their book on just the right note.
hegel@vindy.com