Fox Valley clubs briefs

To list your club's meetings, e-mail to foxvalley@dailyherald.com, or fax to (847) 608-0849.

Carpentersville VFW: Through the leadership of Commander John Blanchard, the Carpentersville Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Post 5915 and its auxiliaries were able to complete a year's worth of program requirements and achieve the required 110 percent of membership to put them into the running of All State and All American Post. On June 27, the post and Commander Blanchard were awarded with the honors of All State and All American Post at the Department of Illinois convention, which took place in Springfield.

South Elgin Lions Club: The South Elgin Lions Club will host its first Steak Fry Dinner on Sunday, Sept. 6. Dinner will be served between 4 to 8 p.m. It will cost $15 for a 12-ounce steak, potato and salad. Hot dogs and hamburgers will also be available. The meal does not include the beverage, but a cash bar will be available. You can cook your own steak or have a Lion cook it for you. Carryout dinners are also available. Call Lion Paul Groth at (847) 888-9575 for any questions or to purchase advanced tickets.

Elgin Lions Club: Elgin Mayor Ed Schock will speak at the Elgin Lions Club meeting at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8 at the Holiday Inn, 495 Airport Road, Elgin. The public is invited to attend the meeting. The mayor will be discussing current and future projects in Elgin. He will be available for questions from members and other attendees who are interested in the fortunes of the city. Those interested should contact Lion President Ed Bates at batesed@cod.edu, or leave a message indicating your planned attendance at (847) 289-4206. The meeting of the club includes a meal to which the public is invited. Advance notification of attendance is necessary to provide adequate seating and meals.

Elgin Area Camera Club: The Elgin Area Camera Club (formerly the Fox Valley Camera Club), kicks off its 2009-10 program at 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8 at the offices of the Association for Individual Development, 1135 Bowes Road (east off McLean Boulevard) in Elgin. The club meets twice monthly on the second and fourth Tuesdays. The second-Tuesday meeting is program night with presentations and discussion on a wide range of photo topics, including digital processing and imaging technique. The fourth Tuesday meeting is competition night, open to all members in good standing to submit entries in five photo categories. There are no entry fees. Images are judged by guest judges from other area camera clubs. All those interested in digital or film photography, at any skill level from beginner to advanced pro, are invited to join the Elgin Area Camera Club, established in 2003. Dues are $30 a year. For information, visit www.elginareacameraclub.com, e-mail Jim Slater at jhslater@wideopenwest.com or Bob Brandes, webmaster@elginareacameraclub.com.

Izaak Walton League: The Elgin Chapter of the Izaaak Walton League of America will host its first meeting and program of the 2009-10 year at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8 at the lodge, 899 Jay St. in Elgin. Justin Brown of the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation will present an hourlong program on urban coyote research in suburban Cook County. You can learn about the life of one of our newest neighbors, the Cook County coyote pack. A business meeting will follow the program. It is open to the public. For details or directions, visit www.elginikes.org. Newly elected officers for the 2009-10 year are co-presidents Bill and Jan Jones, vice president Tom Stewart, secretary Sharon Schuman, and treasurer Betty Rauschenberger. Sue Anderson, Ron Conley, Roger Dieringer, Bill Schmoldt, and Chuck Zimmerman will serve on the board of directors. For information on the program or on membership, call Bill at (847) 867-9393.

Fox Valley Rocketeers: The club of model rocketry enthusiasts will host its meeting from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the McHenry Public Library, 809 N. Front St. (Route 31). Join them for a rocket launch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at Kishwaukee Park, 12320 Davis Road, east of Route 47 in 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.

Henpeck HCE: Members of the Henpeck Unit of Kane County Association for Home and Community Education will meet on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at the home of Betty Nissen on Melms Road in Hampshire. As it is the first meeting of the 2009-10 year, business will focus on assignment of hostesses for meetings and local leaders for lessons for the year. Guests are welcome at any HCE activity. For the September meeting, contact Betty Nissen at (847) 683-4037 for details and directions. For information, call Peggy Gross at (847) 683-3826 or Mary Ann Harter at (847) 683-3632.

NARFE: National Active and Retired Federal Employees Chapter 2181 meets at 1 p.m. monthly on the second Tuesday of the month at the American Legion meeting room, 820 N. Liberty St. (Route 25) in Elgin. A guest speaker is usually scheduled on subjects of interest to the group. This month, Frank Kajikawa, a NARFE member, will speak about his internment during World War II. NARFE membership is open to civilians who are eligible to receive an annuity or survivor annuity from the federal retirement programs of any agency of the U.S. government including: retirees, current employees, spouses and surviving spouses of those eligible to join NARFE, former employees, a former spouse who is legally entitled to a federal survivor annuity. Lunch is available in the American Legion lunchroom before the meeting. For information, call Nick Hyser at (847) 741-5772. Visit www.narfe.org/chapter2181.

Golden K Kiwanis: The Elgin Golden K Kiwanis will host its weekly meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 357 Division St., Elgin. The program will be by Dan Weaver of National City Bank on "Recovery for the Banks." Guests are welcome. For information, call (847) 741-7176.

VFW Post 2298: The ladies auxiliary of Tri-City Evergreen Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2298 will host a Penny Social at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the post, 117 S. First St., West Dundee. There will be door prizes, raffles for food baskets, afghans, etc. and refreshments. Admission is 50 cents. For details, call Fran Ganschow at (847) 426-2205. Starting Sept. 11, the post will host their Robbie and Tony Fish Fry from 5 to 8 p.m. every Friday through the end of May. Carryout is available. For details, call (847) 428-9006. The auxiliary will host a spaghetti dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at the post, 117 S. First St., West Dundee. The dinner includes spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, salad and dessert. $8 per person. For details, call (847) 428-2205.

Elgin Area Women's Connection: The Elgin Area Women's Connection will meet for a luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Villa Olivia Country Club, Route 20 in Bartlett. Come and hear Christy Schmidt of the Elgin Police Department give tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft. Enjoy lunch and listen to speaker Lynn Lila, a former rock band lead singer who expected life to stay "just right", tell her inspirational story of "Goldilocks and the Three Wishes." For reservations, call Jan at (630) 837-2632 or Carolyn at (630) 213-1205 or e-mail Car644@gmail.com by Monday, Sept. 7. Cost for luncheon meeting is $15 inclusive, with complimentary child care.

Elgin American Legion: The Elgin American Legion Post 57, 820 N. Liberty St., will host a variety of activities in September. The hall also is available for rental for any event. For details, call (847) 741-1684. A spaghetti dinner will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9. It is open to the public. Cost is $6 per person. The menu includes spaghetti with meat and mushroom sauce, meatballs, garlic toast and salad. The annual Septemberfest Dinner and raffle drawings will be on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the post home, 820 N. Liberty St. in Elgin. The two-meat dinner buffet will begin at 7 p.m., with the raffle drawings to be held at approximately 8 p.m. The cost is $10 per person. To purchase tickets in advance, call the post at (847) 741-1684. Post 57 will be hosting a breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 13. This breakfast is open to the public. The menu and prices are: steak and eggs, $6; eggs (made to order) with sausage, bacon, and potatoes, $4.50 or with two pancakes/no potato, $5; and omelets (cheese, mushrooms, green, red or hot peppers), $5. Also included are white or wheat toast, juice and coffee, as well as a few other beverage specials.

AARP: The McHenry County Chapter of AARP will meet at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 10 at The Fountains of Crystal Lake on Route 31 one mile north of Route 176. A representative from Blue Cross Blue Shield will be the speaker. Refreshments are served. For chapter information call Glenn at (815) 477-1952.

Stateline SHRM: On Thursday, Sept. 10, Chris Johnston, leadership development consultant with Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, will discuss "Emotional Intelligence" at the next meeting of the Stateline Society for Human Resource Management. Experience and research indicates that leadership excellence in the 21st century requires more than basic competencies once thought sufficient for Leadership success. Great leaders today have not only those specific competencies identified by their organizations but more importantly also have another key competency: Emotional Intelligence. EI includes both social competence (how we manage relationships) and personal competence (how we regulate ourselves). The breakfast meeting begins promptly at 7:45 a.m. and will adjourn at 9:45 a.m. at the Family Service and Community Mental Health Center, 4100 Veterans Parkway in McHenry. Cost to members is $15; cost for nonmembers is $25 payable by cash or check at the door. Reservations are required no later than Monday, Sept. 7. Visit www.statelineshrm.org for information or to make your reservation. Seating is limited.

WIM: The Northern Fox Valley Chapter of Women in Management presents David Gursky, a licensed clinical psychologist, who will present the challenging differences in "Business Relationships Between Men and Women" at its meeting on Thursday, Sept. 10 at the Elgin Country Club, off Weld Road, Elgin. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m. with the luncheon and program at noon. Meetings adjourn promptly at 1:30 p.m. Cost for members is $20 and non members, $30. Reservations must be made for attendance online at www.wimonline.org. Gursky has been in private practice since 1991. He is one of the clinical director/owners at the Village Counseling Center, with locations in South Elgin, DeKalb, Hanover Park, and Morris, Ill. His presentation will expound on the sizable and challenging differences between female and male communication patterns, along with their implications and impact on a successful business career. He will incorporate pertinent information, humor and personal anecdotes while giving emphasis to flourishing as women in the competitive business culture of today. For information, visit www.wimonline.org.

Elgin Lions Club: The Elgin Lions Club will hold its 11th annual golf outing on Friday, Sept. 11 at the Hughes Creek Golf Course, 1749 Spring Valley Drive in Elburn. This event is used to raise funds for the club's efforts to supply eye care for Elgin residents. By far the greatest benefits of the club's efforts go to providing examinations and eyeglasses to Elgin school children. Other Lions clubs in the area also provide vision care, but the Elgin club proudly provides a larger proportion of the funds they collect to this effort. The outing is a scramble format with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. The cost for the outing is $80 per golfer which gives participants 18 holes of golf with a cart at a very nice golfing venue, a snack at the turn, and prizes for long drives, low net, and closest to the pin. It also includes a meal after all the golfing is completed, and a raffle. Those interested are urged to make a reservation so the crowd can be efficiently managed by calling Jim Bacak at (847) 742-4281. The club is still taking orders for businesses or individuals who wish to advertise their services by sponsoring holes ($75), the halfway house ($150), or beverage cart ($125). Sponsors can sign up by contacting Lions president Ed Bates at batesed@cod.edu or calling the club message line at (847) 289-4206.

Elgin Knights of Columbus: The Knights of Columbus Monsignor Henry Schryer Council 654 of Elgin will be participating in the Knights of Columbus annual Tootsie Roll fundraising campaign on Friday, Sept. 11 to Sunday, Sept. 13. This is the 40th year Elgin Council 654 of the Knights of Columbus have participated in the Tootsie Roll drive, which raises funds for the needs of the intellectually disabled. The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal benefit organization chartered in 1882. Elgin Council 654 of the Knights of Columbus boosts over 200 members, who hold true their commitment to the order's principals of Charity, Unity and Fraternity. For information, visit the local council Web site at www.kofc654.org.

Boy Scout Troop 2: Boy Scout Troop 2 invites you to its annual "All U Can Eat Pastagetti Dinner" from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 at St. John Lutheran Church, 115 N. Spring St., Elgin. They will be serving spaghetti and tomato sauce, spaghetti and meat sauce, linguine in olive oil, fettuccine alfredo and even macaroni and cheese. Five kinds of pasta including salad, garlic bread and dessert. They ask for a donation of $5 per adult, $4 for seniors, or $18 for the entire family. Children are admitted free. Proceeds from this event provide the Troop with summer camp expenses, equipment and general operating expenses. For details about joining Troop 2, visit www.Troop2.com.