The Villages - September 2019 - 32

QUIRKY CLUBS

"We have signs sometimes where I'll put the states
out," Leopold said, laughing. "I'll put New York and
Boston at the same table or Kentucky and Indiana at
the same table and they're all looking at each other, but
later on they get to be friends. We always have round
tables so people can interchange with each other."
Beyond special events, club meetings often feature
a speaker with a Disney background - past meetings
have featured a woman who visited all of the Disney
parks and had recommendations for where to go and a
book author who was an expert on the hidden Mickey
icons that Disney conceals throughout the parks.
Club meetings begin with a moment of silence, the
Pledge of Allegiance and a singalong version of "Zipa-dee-doo-dah." It's a tradition that has been in place
since the club was founded back in April 2016 - and it
even carries over to group dinners when the club takes
a Disney cruise.
"We have to start off the dinner with 'Zip-a-dee-doodah' - we all stand up and sing," Leopold said. "At first,
the other folks around the table look at us funny - by
the end of the seven days, they're up singing with us."
For Leopold, Goofy is more than just a Disney
character. He sports a Goofy tattoo on his arm from
his time in the Navy, and he has a reputation of being
a goofy, down-to-Earth kind of guy who loves to have a
good time.

SEPTEMBER 2019

"My nieces and nephews still call me 'Uncle Goofy'
when they send me a Christmas card," he said. "I just
was always the jokester or the goofball of the group.
When they wanted somebody to do something stupid,
I'm that guy."
That love of all things Goofy led Leopold to start the
club a few years ago, and it was immediately popular.
It has since grown into one of the largest clubs in The
Villages - there even is a wait list for club meetings
and events, and he says he tries to include as many
people as possible when they have extra slots to fill.
Leopold and the rest of The Goofy Villagers Club
share a fondness for Disney and the lighter side of
life. Attend a meeting of their club and you can bet
on having a great time - no matter who you are
or where you come from. A goofy outlook is all that
is required.
"I am Goofy - the name fits for me," Leopold said.
"And I like it. I like seeing people smile, I really do."

The Goofy Villagers Club
Meets: First Monday of each month at 6 p.m.
Where: Rohan Recreation Center
More Info: thegoofyvillagers.com

http://www.thegoofyvillagers.com

The Villages - September 2019

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