@hearkat: The old-fashioned way works well, too. Use a paper star chart and a pair of suitable binoculars w. good optics (7×35 or 40). The online sites, like Sky & Tel, will give you weekly location of visible planets, phases of the moon and unusual events such as meteor showers and the odd comet or two
Once you learn the bright constellations, you can figure out compass directions with no effort, and thus dazzle your friends.
The trouble with even the best amateur telescopes is that we have become accustomed to the stunning (filtered, enhanced, long duration with a clock mounting) photos taken by Hubble. Nothing that an astronomy club can provide will equal that. Check these out:
Whatever plan works for you, keep on looking up. The heavens tend to diminish our obsessions with weight, popularity, and all the other versions of narcissism.