I am going to get into hot water for this remark, but as the originally interested person is a woman, telling her that getting involved in the usually anorak and plane spotter filled flying club scene is a positive thing may not be the best way to start her off.....
As one woman making suggestions to/for another......
I haven't found all flying clubs to be like that. Admittedly, some are. But others are just good places to get to know people, get known, find out....all sorts of things. If you want to cost-share with other PPLs, find out about cheap aircraft shares, quiz someone about microlights or taildraggers, or scrounge aerial lifts if you can't afford to fly yourself, I can't think of a better place to do it. Certainly not at a new club that you don't know on your return from four weeks in the US.