Fox Valley club notes
From the clubs To list your club's meetings, e-mail to foxvalley@dailyherald.com, or fax to (847) 608-0849.
Elgin Watch City VFW: The Elgin Watch City Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1307 and its Men's Auxiliary have undertaken a project to help one of their members. They are reaching out to the community for assistance.
Randall "Skeeter" Kucharski served in Vietnam with the U.S. Army Infantry from 1970-71. During his tour of duty, Skeeter was exposed to Agent Orange, a chemical that was proven to cause diabetes and other diseases in the soldiers exposed to it. Skeeter developed diabetes in 2005 and was almost immediately crippled by a severe stroke that disabled him nearly completely. He cannot walk without assistance and often requires the use of a wheelchair. His bedroom is on the second floor of their home. Every night Skeeter must try to ascend the stairs to get to his bedroom and descend the stairs in the morning. This requires his wife or another family member to help him and prevent his falling.
The Elgin VFW Post and Men's Auxiliary are assembling volunteers of all trades and talents to build an addition to the Kucharski home to provide a first-floor bedroom for Skeeter with handicapped accessibility.
The post is asking members of the business community for donations of building materials or cash donations to make this a reality. They hope to break ground this month. All donations to this effort will be recognized with a letter confirming your generosity that may be used as proof of your charitable donation for tax purposes. This is a nonprofit project by Skeeter's friends and comrades.
If you are able to help, call VFW chaplain Doc Sheehan at (847) 921-0449. All calls will be returned promptly. Monetary donations can be mailed to: The Randall Kucharski Benefit Fund, c/o Fifth Third Bank, 1645 Larkin Ave., Elgin, IL 60123, Attn: Barbara Lopez.
Hampshire VFW: Hampshire Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8043 meeting was April 14 with the Commander, Lowell Reiser, opening the meeting with the Salute to the Colors and the prayer by Chaplain Patrick Herrmann.
The posting of the colors for the opening of the baseball season at the Plato Park was canceled due to the inclement weather.
V.F.W. Loyalty Day is today and a Proclamation has been signed by the Mayor, Jeff Magnusson of Hampshire and the Commander and Ladies Auxiliary President. V.F.W. Post 8043 will participate in the Batavia Post 1197 Loyalty Day parade Sunday
Nomination and election of officers was held and installation of officers will be held at the next meeting, May 12, with Past Commander, Roman Deutsch as Installing Officer for the coming year.
Dates to remember: April 11 was the official Persian Gulf War cease fire in 1991, May 1 is Loyalty Day, Law Day and National Day of Prayer. May 7 was the unconditional surrender of all German Forces signed in 1945 and May 8 is V E Day declared in 1945. May 9 is Military Spouses Day.
The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. May 12 at the Hampshire Township building, and new members are welcome. For details, call Commander Reiser (847) 683-3443.
Hampshire VFW Auxiliary: H Hampshire Ladies Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8043 meeting was April 14. In the absence of the President, Senior Vice President, Velda Grimes conducted the meeting. Opening prayer by Chaplain and the business was conducted.
The 60th Anniversary Party honoring the 60 year members is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. June 23 at the Citizens Bank community room.
The scholarship forms have been delivered to Hampshire and Burlington Central High Schools and the judging of the applications will be held at the next meeting, May 12.
Election of Officers was held with the following slate of officers for the coming year: President, Jerrilynne Partlo; Senior Vice President, Velda Grimes; Junior Vice President, Jean Stojan; Secretary, Mary Ann Peterson; Treasurer, Arlene Reiser; Chaplain, Elaine Setter; Guard, Irene Lee; Patriotic Instructor, Fran Stuehier; Banner Bearer, Pearl Herrman; Trustees Leola Widmayer, Joyce Deutsch, Mary Jo Stojan; Color Bearers, Dolores Tegtman, Donna Proffitt, Debra Pease, Connie Von Keudell; Historian, Doris Klock.
Installation of officers will be held May 12, the next meeting. The Audit report will be completed by the Trustees.
The Ladies Auxiliary welcomes new members. For eligibility requirements call Arlene Reiser at (847) 683-3443.
The Ladies V.F.W. Auxiliary 8043 participates in many national programs, Americanism, Buddy Poppy, Community Service, Hospital, Legislative, Rehabilitation, V.F.W. National Home for Children, youth scholarships as well as local programs through the Fifth District and cooperation with the V.F.W. Post 8043.
Elgin Area LWV: The Elgin Area League of Women Voters has a new committee that may interest you. The International Relations Committee will focus on the impact of job outsourcing. When a job is moved out of the United States, the worker loses income and the worker's community loses a consumer, causing all levels of governmental taxing bodies and manufacturers here at home to share in the impact. The second meeting of this group will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the conference room at the Gail Borden Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. All members and non-members interested in this topic are invited and encouraged to attend. For information, call committee chair, Dennis Bulat at (847) 608-1314.
Church Women United: The Elgin-South Elgin unit of Church Women United will meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday for a continental breakfast at Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, 12N462 Tina Trail in Elgin.
The program, "God's Wisdom Inspires Hospitality" will be led by Annette Rogman. They will honor one of their women as Valiant Woman for 2008. They also will receive the Fellowship of the Least Coin offering.
For details, call Peggy Homfeldt, (847) 741-6358.
Culture Club: On Saturday, Immanuel Lutheran Church's Culture Club will discuss "World Without End" by Ken Follett. The club will meet immediately after the 6 p.m. service, around 7:15 p.m. in Luther Hall C.
The Rev. Bill Yonker will lead the discussion of the book. The community is invited to join in the discussion.
The church is at Route 72 and Van Buren in East Dundee. Parking is available in both the south and western lots. For details, call the church office at (847) 428-4477.
Audubon Society: The Kane County Chapter of the Audubon Society meets for programs and activities.
On Saturday, enjoy a bird walk at 8 a.m. at Nelson's Lake. On the first Saturday of each month, Kane County Audubon invites the public to join them as they view the birds of Nelson Lake. This month, they will look for migrants and new arrivals. Meet in the parking lot by the silo, which is west of Nelson Lake Road, and about three-quarter mile south of Main Street, and two miles west of Randall Road in Batavia. For information, call Rhonda Nelson at (630) 879-1387.
On May 14, the meeting will be at 7 p.m. at the barn at Park Farm Park at Peck and Kaneville roads, about one mile west of Randall Road in Geneva. The program will be "Belize and Beyond" by member Jerry Hope. Hope has been shooting slides for 55 years and loves getting off the beaten trail. For details, call Jerry Hope at (630) 377-1444.
For information call Terry Murray at (630) 896-3219 or visit Web site www.kanecountyaudubon.org. For details on the Illinois Audubon Society, call Tom Clay at 217-544-BIRD (2473).
Dundee Township Historical Society: The Dundee Township Historical Society will hold its annual meeting on at 2 p.m. Sunday at the museum, 426 Highland Ave., West Dundee.
After a brief meeting, a special program titled "Digging Up Gramma's Privy," will be presented by guest speaker Craig Pfannkuche. Pfannkuche is a well-known historical and genealogical researcher as well as an amateur archaeologist.
Believe it or not there are treasures to be found in the old "two holer" that was a common site in the Midwest countryside for countless decades.
A walk down the path was not just out of necessity. The outhouse also was a place to "dump" broken bits of household objects and no longer needed useless items. Find out what some of those treasures might be.
The public is invited to attend. There is no fee. Donations are appreciated. For information, call the museum at (847) 428-6996.
Young Eagles Chapter 101: On Sunday, the EAA Chapter 101 will hold their Young Eagles Rally from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Young Eagles is to promote aviation to children, ages 8 to 17. All boys and girls who come out will get the chance to take their first flight in a private airplane. Come out and meet the pilots, see the different types of aircraft and maybe even get the chance to control the plane while flying with the pilots assistance. The rally is held the first Sunday of each month till December at Schaumburg Regional Airport, Irving Park Road and Wright Boulevard in Schaumburg. The rally is held weather permitting. For information or to register, call Chuck Soumar at (708) 788-6390 or e-mail Youngeagles101@aol.com.
Elgin Elks: The Elgin Elks Lodge, in cooperation with the Illinois Elks Children's Care Program and Sherman Hospital, will sponsor a free Orthopedic Diagnostic Clinic for children from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday at Sherman Hospital, 934 Center St., Elgin.
The clinic will be conducted by Dr. Vincent P. Cannestra of Orthopedic and Spine Surgery Associates. Dr. Cannestra has worked with the Elks Program for several years, conducting free clinics four times a year for children birth to age 21.
All diagnostic services, including x-ray's, MRI's and other tests are paid for by the Elks Program. Financial assistance with treatment for a diagnosed problem may be available through the Elks Charity.
This clinic is especially for children who complain of frequently occurring leg, knee, hip, shoulder, elbow, back or wrist pain. The clinic also is for children with diagnosed or suspected back curvature, or who seem very clumsy and/or fall frequently.
This clinic is by appointment only. Appointments may be made by contacting the Elks Program at (800) 272-0074, from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Family physicians are welcome to refer children to the clinic, but no referral is necessary to obtain an appointment.
Elgin Genealogical Society: The Elgin Genealogical Society will meet at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the first-floor meeting rooms at Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. Jeff Brockman will present "Using Maps in Your Genealogical Research." For information call Larry Pepper at (847) 426-7377 or visit the Web site at www.elginroots.com. Visitors and guests are welcome.
Fox Valley Citizens for Peace and Justice: The topic of race in America is back in the news, and it will soon be addressed here in Elgin.
Vince Gaddis will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. Gaddis's topic is "A Revolution in Values: Why America Must Embrace the Beloved Community."
Gaddis has his doctorate in intellectual history from Northern Illinois University. He is professor of history and chair of the Department of History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies at Benedictine University.
Gaddis's research currently focuses on the history of the civil rights movement. His forthcoming book will be titled "Martin Luther King and the Philosophy of Redemptive Suffering: Love, Leadership, and the Civil Rights Movement."
Gaddis also is pastor of the New Generation Christian Center in Aurora.
This event, co-sponsored by Fox Valley Citizens for Peace and Justice and Gail Borden Library will be free and open to the public. It is part of the library's "A Tapestry of Freedom" series. All are welcome. Light refreshments will be served.
Elgin Lions Club: The Elgin Lions Club will have its monthly dinner meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Holiday Inn, 495 Airport Road, Elgin.
The guest speaker will be Dean Ayres, a certified birdfeeding specialist and owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Algonquin. His topic is "The Top 20 Northern Illinois Birds."
Nonmembers are welcome.
The cost is $15 per person which includes a three-course potluck dinner. For information or to reserve a seat, call Dan Weiler at (630) 587-5600.
Henpeck HEA: The Henpeck Unit of Kane County Homemakers Education Association will meet Tuesday at the home of Dorothy Gurke in Elgin. Guests are welcome; call Dorothy at (847) 695-1277 for details and directions. The lesson on "Decluttering Your Life" will be presented by Betty Nissen and Mary Ann Harter.
Upcoming events include annual meeting on May 21 at the Lincoln Inn in Batavia. A buffet luncheon will be followed by a program called "Flower Fairy." Each Unit is asked to provide a centerpiece with a flower theme which will be used as a door prize. A tour of Starved Rock State Park is planned for June 3. Deadline for reservations is today.
Membership in HEA is open to men and women of any age regardless of race, creed or national origin. For information about the organization and a free one year membership in the Henpeck Unit, call Peggy Gross at (847) 683-3826 or Mary Ann Harter at (847) 683-3632.
Men of Harmony: The Fox Valley Men of Harmony chorus will host a fast moving, multi-generation musical concert at 4 p.m. May 10 at Larkin High School, 1475 Larkin Ave., Elgin.
In addition to the local men's chorus, talented mixed vocal groups from area high schools will entertain with some of their best musical numbers. FVMH Musical Director and many-time District Quartet Champion, Doug Smith, will reprise a quartet from his past.
Featured performers will be The Crush International Collegiate Quartet, finalists from California who are members of the 2007 International Champion Westminster Barbershop Chorus.
For show tickets, call Bruce Safbom at (630) 513-6073 or (630) 817-0100. Ticket prices are $15 for adults; $14 for Seniors; $8 for students; and free for children age 4 and younger.
Fox Valley Rocketeers: The Fox Valley Rocketeers, a local club of model rocketry enthusiasts, is hosting its May Rocket Launch from 1 to 5 p.m. May 10 at a farm field at 505 Menge Road, Marengo, roughly at the intersection of Menge and Bauman Roads.
The launch theme is "Slip Glidin' Away" for rocket and boost gliders. Rocket fliers are welcome to come and fly low- and mid-power rockets, and to attend the club meeting, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Monday at the McHenry Public Library, 809 N. Front St.
For details, call Mark Bundick at (815) 337-9068 or Ken Hutchinson at (815) 444-0539, or visit www.foxvalleyrocketeers.org for a map to the field or library.
Three Fires Boy Scout Council: Scouts from across the six county area of DuPage, Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, and parts of Will and Cook counties served by the Boy Scouts of America, Three Fires Council will showcase decades of timeless ideals in Scouting from the organizations inception in 1910 leading up to the coming milestone in 2010 at Scout-O-Rama.
The event is open to the public and being held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10, rain or shine, at Cantigny Park in Wheaton. Tickets to the event are $4 per person and offer added value through coupon offers from Burger King, Colonial Café, Dick's Sporting Goods and Oberweis Dairy.
Additional parking will be available at the corporate headquarters of International, 4201 Winfield Road, Warrenville.
The theme for this year's Scout-O-Rama is "Scouting through History-A Century of Service." Some highlights of this year's Scout-O-Rama include a special opening ceremony, weather permitting, of paratroopers landing with the American Flag, a 25-ft. climbing wall, geocaching, Radio Disney Patrol and the vast offerings of Cantigny Park including the beautiful gardens just in time for Mothers Day.
For details on buying tickets for the upcoming Scout-O-Rama, call the Three Fires Council, BSA at (630) 584-9250 or visit the Web site at www.threefirescouncil.org.
CAGG-NI: The Computer-Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois meetings are held at 10:30 a.m. the third Saturday of each month at the Schaumburg Township District Library, 130 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. 60193.
Leopard Operating System (MAC) will be covered on May 17.
Jim Kolak Jim will demo Apple's latest MAC operating system -- Leopard OSX 10.5. New features such as Quick Look, Time Machine, Spaces and many others (300-plus in all) will enhance your computer experience.
Leopard can now be used on both MAC and Windows software. One of this year's series of programs to help get our online lives together.
For more information, call (630) 529-4849