From the clubs
To list your club's meetings, e-mail to foxvalley@dailyherald.com, or fax to (847) 608-0849.
Elgin American Legion: American Legion Post 57 at 820 N. Liberty St. in Elgin will be hosting its annual Fourth of July Steak Fry from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 4. This event is open to the public. The price per person is $13 for a steak dinner with all the trimmings. Come out and support the veterans. Call (847) 741-1684 for details.
Crystal Lake Toastmasters Club: The club is participating in Crystal Lake's Fourth of July Parade on Sunday, July 5. The parade starts at 1 p.m. at the Crystal Lake city hall. The theme of the Crystal Lake Toastmasters Club's float is "speaking," with the float patterned after a typical club meeting. Club members will ride the float and walk the parade route. The Crystal Lake Toastmasters Club is part of Toastmasters International, a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to providing opportunities, tools, and support to improve your communication and leadership skills. The club meets from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of the month at the Crystal Lake Amcore Bank on Route 14. Visitors are welcome at all club meetings. For information, visit www.cystallaketoastmasters.org; or call Connie Bartholomew at (847) 337-1204. For information, visit www.toastmasters.org.
Society for Creative Anachronism: The local Society for Creative Anachronism has resumed its Elv Av Tiden fighter practice from 9:30 a.m. to noon Sundays at Wing Park, off Wing Street in Elgin. For information, e-mail elvavtiden@yahoogroups.com or bravgirl34@yahoo.com. This is a Society for Creative Anachronism activity that repeats every Sunday. This activity is free.
Fox Valley Rocketeers: The club of model rocketry enthusiasts will host its meeting from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Monday, July 6, at the McHenry Public Library. Join them for a rocket launch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at Kishwaukee Park, Woodstock. For details, call Mark Bundick (815) 337-9068 or Ken Hutchinson (815) 444-0539, or visit www.foxvalleyrocketeers.org for a map to the library or field.
Fox Valley Woodworkers Club: On Tuesday, July 7, Fox Valley Woodworkers Club will welcome Bill Gullberg, the Chairwright of the Windsor Academy of chairmaking, as the guest speaker. The club will meet from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, 8 S. Lincoln Ave. in Batavia. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The club has been known as a gathering place for woodworking enthusiasts of all ages and levels of experience since 1984. Visitors are welcome to attend the general meetings on the first Tuesday of each month. For details, visit www.fvwwc.org.
Elgin Area Women's Connection: The Elgin Area Women's Connection will meet for a Women's Fashion Show and Luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 8 at Villa Olivia Country Club, Route 20 in Bartlett. Enjoy a fashion show, a lunch, and an inspirational talk by business woman, wife, busy mother of five, speaker Connie Harris, telling how she overcame the pain of the past and learned to forgive. For reservations, call Jan at (630) 837-2632 or Carolyn at (630) 213-1205 or e-mail Car644@gmail.com by Monday, July 6. Cost for luncheon meeting is $15 inclusive, with complimentary child care.
Golden K Kiwanis: The Elgin Golden K Kiwanis will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 8 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 357 Division St., Elgin. John Carr from Veterans Assistance Commission of Kane County will speak on veterans benefits. Visitors are welcome. For information, call (847) 741-7176.
Elgin Genealogical Society: The Elgin Genealogical Society will meet at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, in the first-floor meeting room of the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin. Members should note that this is not the usual meeting date. Guests and visitors are welcome to attend this meeting in which Ann Weiss will be in costume as her Swedish grandmother. She will present her story working as a maid in Chicago at the Glessner House. For information, visit www.elginroots.com.
Boy Scout Troop 43: Boy Scout Troop 43 in Carpentersville wants you to begin the Adventure with them. On Saturday, July 11, stop by St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 225 Kennedy Drive in Carpentersville, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and see how Boy Scouts camp and sample the wonderful camp food. All boys, age 11 to 18, and their parents are welcome. Join the troop meetings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays, starting July 17 at St. Stephens Church. For details, call the Rev. Antonion Cabello at (847) 844-9295 or Chuck Molenda at (847) 426-5193.
Elgin VFW Post 1307: The Elgin Watch City Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1307 is sponsoring a Motorcycle and Vehicle Poker Run Rally on Sunday, July 12 to support the U.S. military troops serving our country in Operation Enduring Freedom. The run will begin and end at the VFW Post at 1601 Weld Road in Elgin, stopping at many area American Legions and VFW's along the way. Registration starts at 9 a.m. A pancake/sausage or egg burrito breakfast will be offered at a minimum cost to participants. The first vehicle will leaving the VFW at 11:30 a.m. Registration is $15 per person and all proceeds will go to provide needed personal supplies for the troops serving in the Middle East and for mailing of the packages. This is a great chance to have a lot of fun and help the men and women who are preserving our freedom under harsh conditions. Call (847) 888-9809 to register or for information.
Hampshire VFW: Hampshire Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8043 will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, July 13 at the Hampshire Township building, 100 Center St. New members are welcome. At the June 8 meeting, Commander Lowell Reiser opened the meeting with a salute to the colors, Pledge of Allegiance and opening prayer by chaplain Edward Wesemann. Thank you's were extended to the Post and Auxiliary members for their excellent participation in the Memorial Day services. Letters of appreciation were sent to the clergy, speakers, band director, band students, organizations and the entire community for the wonderful turnout. Auxiliary members distributed more American flags this year than in previous years. Discussion was held in regards to programs for Veterans Day to be held at the schools. Packages have been sent to local servicemen stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dates to remember: July 2, U.S. Army Corp. established 1926; July 4, Independence Day. For details, call Commander Reiser (847) 683-3443.
Hampshire VFW Auxiliary: Hampshire Ladies Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8043 will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday, July 13, at the Hampshire Township building, 100 Center St. At the June 8 meeting, senior vice president Velda Grimes conducted the meeting with an opening prayer by chaplain Donna Proffitt. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by members followed with group singing of "God Bless America." Fifth District meeting was attended by treasurer Arlene Reiser. The new Fifth District President will be Barb Gray of Auxiliary 4551, Sequoit VFW Post. Hospital chairwoman Doris Kiock reported she has received hospital credit of $36,746 since the year 2000. Donations of men's clothing, toiletries and miscellaneous will be accepted. Graves registration chairwoman Arlene Reiser reported that deceased members were remembered with a Auxiliary and American Flag at their grave site for Memorial Day. Membership renewal letters will be sent to members. Prompt reply would be greatly appreciated. The Auxiliary welcomes new members. For eligibility, call Arlene (847) 683-3443.
NARFE: National Active and Retired Federal Employees Chapter 2181 meets at 1 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at the American Legion meeting room 820 N. Liberty St., Elgin. The next meeting is July 14. A guest speaker is usually scheduled on subjects of interest to the group. Lunch is available in the American Legion lunchroom before the meeting. The program will be with Roger Searle, community educator for Family Service Association of Greater Elgin. Active and retired federal employees and their spouses, and surviving spouses of those eligible to join NARFE from surrounding areas who are interested in becoming members are welcome. Visit www.narfe.org/chapter2181. Call Nick Hyser for information at (847) 741-5772.
Elgin VFW Ladies Auxiliary: The Ladies Auxiliary of Elgin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1307 would like congratulate the 2009-2010 officers: Denise O'Connor, president; Barb Redmon, senior vice president; Penny Reicks, junior vice president; Kathy Scaletta, secretary; Sue Borter, treasurer; Mickyanne Miller, chaplin; Pat Karwatzki, Guard; Pat Porter, Patriot Instructor; Flo Riley, Flag Bearer; Mary West, Banner Bearer; and Barb Redmon, Historian, as well as Flo Riley, 1-year trustee; Barb Redmon, 2-year trustee, and Pat Karwatzki, 3-year trustee. The Ladies Auxiliary has an exciting year planned. The first event will be the homecoming party for the soldiers from Company B, 1st Batallion, 178th Infantry from the Elgin Armory. The soldiers will be coming home the end of July or the beginning of August. The Homecoming Bash will be held at Streamwood High School. The next event is the Ladies Auxiliary second annual Streak Fry which will be held Sunday, Aug. 16 at the post home, 1601 Weld Road in Elgin. For information, call Dorothy at (847) 707-3064. All the proceeds from the Ladies Auxiliary events will benefit the veterans and their families. All events are open to the public and they would love to have you join them. If would like to join the Ladies Auxiliary so you can get in involved to help our Veteran, past, present and future, e call Sue at (815) 477-3322.
Mothers & More: Join Mothers & More of McHenry County for a presentation of options to weather these challenging economic times. Key ideas from the book "Smart Women Finish Rich" by David Bach will be discussed. Reading the book is certainly not required; all are welcome to join in and start saving. The presentation will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 30 in the fellowship room at First Congregational Church, 461 Pierson St. in Crystal Lake. Enter through the church office entrance on the Lake Street side of the building.
This is also a chance to meet women in the group and to learn more about Mothers & More, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of mothers. The group supports mothers as individuals and promote the value of all of the work that mothers do. Programs sponsored by Mothers & More of McHenry County are free and open to the public. For information, visit www.mchenrymothers.org.
Sunburst Corvette Club of Crystal Lake: The club will host its annual Corvette Car Show on Saturday, Aug. 29 at Reichert Chevrolet, 5220 Northwest Hwy. In Crystal Lake. The car show is the Corvette Club's primary fundraiser for the year. Proceeds are donated to local charities. This event is an opportunity to view some of the finest Corvettes in the Midwest.
The event will include three competitions for best car. Two are National Council Corvette Clubs Inc. contours events which will be judged by trained contours judges and participants will vie for NCCC points. There also will be a People's Choice Award. All spectators and participants are encouraged to vote for their favorite in each class for this event. Registration is encouraged. For advance registration forms, visit the Web site under the Events Listing section. Same day registration and technical inspection will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. There will be a driver's meeting for all competitors at 10:15 a.m. The judging for the first contours will begin at 10:30 a.m. Judging for the second contours event will begin following a break after the first event. Event registration is open to all Corvette owners. The registration fee is $12 per event before Aug. 1 or $15 per event after the deadline. Registration will be accepted on the day of the show as well. Spectators are welcome at no charge. Refreshments and food will be available. There will be silent auctions, raffles and door prizes for spectators and competitors. GM XM Radio will provide music for the event. For information, visit www.sunburstcorvetteclub.com.
Toastmasters: Do you want to improve your speaking skills. Need to be more confident on that interview or presentation. Come join the Listen Learn Lead Toastmasters for a fun and enjoyable way to keep the butterflies flying in formation. It meets at the Walker Parking Consultants building, 505 Davis Road in Elgin. The meetings are from noon to 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursday of the month. Call (630) 605-4815 or e-mail to vtreague@hotmail.com for more information.
LITH Rotary: The Lake in the Hills Rotary Club meets every Wednesday from noon until 1 p.m. at the Colonial Cafe, 2555 W. Bunker Hill Drive in Algonquin. The club is currently accepting new members. If you are interested in membership, join them on Wednesday for a free lunch to learn more about what the Rotary Club has to offer. Visit the Web site at www.lithrotary.org.
Sow Little Thyme: Sow Little Thyme Garden Club meets monthly in the Dundee area on the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. For meeting places and information, call Sheila at (847) 428-0849.