In 1974, real estate agent Sheila Flannery moved from North Dallas, where she was involved in a number of professional, charitable and social organizations, to the Rockwall community. In her desire to become a part of the community to which she now belonged, Sheila began inquiring about organizations in the Rockwall area. What she found, at the time, was that Rockwall only offered organizations for women either by invitation only, charity based (worthy, but time-demanding), or those that required a special background or skill.

Sheila began talking with her friend and fellow real estate agent, Glo Dodd, about the need for a "newcomers" club for their real estate clients and other women new to the community. With support from their clients and others in the community, Sheila and Glo founded Rockwall County Newcomers & Friends in 1977. They started by having monthly meetings in members' homes and soon elected officers, wrote the bylaws, and created activities. It was decided from its inception that the main purpose of the organization would be MAKING FRIENDS and the only requirement would be that members be women residents of Rockwall County. Also, there would be no endorsement nor discrimination allowed in the organization (no selling, no brochures, no samples, no politics nor religion, etc.).

Today, Rockwall County Newcomers & Friends has approximately 200 members participating in more than 40 scheduled activities a month. For more than 40 years, our members have kept Sheila’s original concept and spirit – MAKING FRIENDS – alive and well in Rockwall County.