Fox Valley club briefs

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

Elgin Genealogical Society: The Elgin Genealogical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17 in the first-floor meeting room of the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin. Kristen Newton Smith will present "Getting the most out of Heritage Quest." Visitors and guests are welcomed. The Elgin Genealogical Society encourages genealogical research in all geographic regions of the world. Whatever your interest in family history EGS can help you. Visit www.elginroots.com for more information.

Plato Unit HCE: The September meeting of the Plato Center Unit Home and Community Education will meet at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at the Plato Center Village Hall, 10N934 Rippburger Road. The hostesses are Rita Mason, Marilyn Grewe and Nancy Haire. At the first meeting of the year, they will be discussing activities for the year and filling in the yearbooks. Guests are welcome; call Joan at (847) 931-8120. For information about HCE and the 10 units in Kane County, call the Extension Office at (630) 584-6166

Dundee Lions: In September, the Dundee Lions Club will be offering free eye and hearing screenings. A free eye screening to detect early signs of diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration will be conducted during Heritage Fest from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 at the West Dundee Village Hall, 102 S. Second St. This service is free and for anyone who is diabetic, over 50 years old, or has diabetes in the family and is risk for diabetes. A free hearing testing will be held at the Dundee Lions Club Fay's Pork Chop BBQ. The earlier the problem is professionally evaluated, the better chances for successful treatment. The free testing will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22 at Freeman Park in East Dundee.

Elgin VFW 1307: The Elgin Watch City Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1307 will hold a POW/MIA Remembrance event at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 at the post home, 1601 Weld Road in Elgin. This National Day of Observance was designed to set aside a day separate from Memorial Day and Veterans Day specifically to remember the missing - those who were captured or lost and never returned home. Their families never got any official notice of death - they were left to wonder and hope. The ceremony will be brief but respectful with the Table of Remembrance, a playing of Taps and a reading of "Remember." Special attention will be given to the last POW from the Vietnam War, Air Force Colonel Charles Shelton. Afterward, there will be a barbecue with burgers, hot dogs, potato salad and a draft beer or draft pop. There is a $5 donation at the door to help cover costs. Any profits will go to the post Relief Fund. For details, call (847) 888-9809.

Twins Club: Miraculous Multiples Mothers of Twins Club will host its Fall/Winter Kids Resale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 at Holiday Inn, Route 31 and Three Oaks Road in Crystal Lake. There will be thousands of gently used items including clothing, toys and baby gear.

Nippersink Garden Club: The Nippersink Garden Club will go on a tour of the Genoa City Bike Trail Park in Wisconsin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. They will be touring the native gardens of the Genoa City Bike Riding Trail. The meeting will follow at the home of Elizabeth Lyons. For information, contact Elizabeth at (262) 279-2905 or visit nippersinkgardenclub.org.

Model Railroad Club: The Kishwaukee Valley Eakin Creek Model Railroad Club, in conjunction with the Sun Flowers Garden Club of Sun City, will hold its annual fall open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20. The event will feature the club's outdoor garden scale layout behind the Millgrove Woodshop as well as model railroad layouts for "O", "HO", and "N" scales in the basement of the Woodshop at 13400 W. Sun City Blvd. All residents of Sun City as well as their family members and friends are invited to the event. We do ask that children be accompanied by an adult. Stop by and see the progress that's been made on the outdoor track and the inside layouts.

VFW Post 2298: The Tri-City Evergreen Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2298 Ladies Auxiliary will host a back-to-school family night from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21 at the post home, 117 S. First St. in West Dundee. Enjoy games and food. For details, call Michelle at (847) 264-0470.

Elgin Area Camera Club: The Elgin Area Camera Club (formerly the Fox Valley Camera Club) will meet from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22 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 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.

Dundee Lions: The Dundee Lions Club will sponsor their 14th annual barbecue featuring Fayes Pork Chop from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22 at Max Freeman Park in East Dundee. It will feature pork chops and chicken. Corn will also be served. Tickets are $12 in advance or $13 at the gate. Carryout will be available. There will also be an antique car show and the hearing van from Lions International will be there for those who wish to have their hearing checked between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets may be purchased ahead of time from members. The Dundee Lions support local charities in the Dundee Township area and Lions International Sight and Sound Foundation.

Golden K Kiwanis: The Elgin Golden K Kiwanis will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 357 Division St., Elgin. The program will be by retired judge Gene Nottolini on "Duties of a Judgeship." Visitors are welcome. For information, call (847) 741-7176.

Double Love Mothers of Twins Club: The centrally located mothers of twins club is a support group for Mothers of Multiples. Meetings are held in meeting room 2 of the John Graham Pavilion at Sherman Hospital, 915 Center St., Elgin. Meetings include various speakers, social events and twin talk. The group meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of each month, except December, June and July when it meets at offsite locations. Join the Moms that have been there "two" for our next scheduled meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Visit www.doublelovetwinsclub.com

Kane County Genealogical Society: The Kane County Genealogical Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 in the first-floor meeting room of the Geneva History Center, 113 S. Third St., Geneva. The presentation will be "Germans - Finding the Paper Trail" given by Patricia Reaves, a German educator and genealogist. There will be an overview of Germany and German historic areas will be presented. Examples of various types of German groups, including German-Americans, and their paper trail will be shown. Translations and the German old script will also be discussed. Reaves is a native German, who came to the U.S. at 11 years of age. She is skilled in reading German script, has a master's degree in German, and currently teaches Advanced Placement courses at Riverside-Brookfield High School. She is also a professional translator and researcher for the UW Madison Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies. Reaves has presented numerous German genealogy workshops throughout Illinois and Wisconsin and is also the author of "A German Genealogical Primer." For information, call (847) 697-1029 or visit www.rootsweb.com/~ilkcgs.

McHenry County Legionnaires: McHenry County Legionnaires from all county posts are invited to attend the monthly meeting of the McHenry County Council at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 at the Hebron Public Library, 9908 St. Albans St., Hebron. The library is one block south of Route 173 and two blocks east of Route 47. The host post is the American Legion Hebron Post 606. For information, call Commander Kenneth Kraft of Hebron Post 606 at (815) 648-2689, or McHenry County Council Commander Robert Howe Jr. at (815) 653-6391.

Fox Valley Beaux Arts: Fox Valley Beaux Arts will usher in the fall season with its annual luncheon and style show on Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Elgin Country Club, 2575 Weld Road, Elgin. A fashion wardrobe designed for travel, titled "Traveling Chic", will be presented by Chico's of The Arboretum in South Barrington. The gathering begins at 11 a.m. with a silent auction and basket raffles. The style show starts at noon, followed by lunch. The luncheon and style show is $40 with the proceeds supporting scholarships for senior high school students talented in the fine arts. All friends of the arts are welcome to join Beaux Arts members for an enjoyable and entertaining afternoon. Reservations are due by Friday, Sept. 18. For information, call Mary Ellen Kanies Beckmann at (847) 697-1085.

Tri-City Evergreen VFW Post 2298 Ladies Auxiliary: 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.

AARP: The McHenry County Chapter of AARP will meet at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at The Fountains of Crystal Lake on Route 31 one mile north of Route 176. Speaker will be a representative of the Fountains on the topic of Assisted Living. For chapter information call Glenn at (815) 477-1952.

Donor Club: The Donor Club of Elgin will present its traditional book review and tea at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 at the First United Methodist Church, 216 E. Highland Ave., Elgin. The tickets are $12 each and will be available from members or by calling Jacque at (847) 888-8586. Limited tickets will also be sold at the door. Tea, coffee and cookies will be served. There will be homemade cookies, peanut brittle, breads and cupcakes for sale as well as some gently-used books. A basket raffle will also be held.

This year marks Barbara Rinella's 23rd year of giving book reviews for the Donor Club. This year's selection is "The American Lion, Andrew Jackson In The White House" by Jon Meacham.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Biography, the book tells of the story of Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States. According to the Random House Web site, "Beloved and hated, venerated and reviled, Andrew Jackson was an orphan who fought his way to the pinnacle of power, bending the nation to his will in the cause of democracy."

Every year, Rinella has performed one-woman shows dramatizing current biographies. This year, will Jackson's beautiful wife, Rachel, appear to talk about their exciting love, their improper marriage, her feelings about a husband that is elevated to idolatry as the hero of the Battle of New Orleans and her heartbreaking - literally - treatment of the media? Or, perhaps it will be the very lovely, strong-willed Emily Donelson, Rachel's niece that will tell of her aunt's romance and death which would result in Emily's role as Jackson's White House hostess.

Elgin Woman's Club: The Elgin Woman's Club luncheon meeting and program will be held Tuesday, Oct. 6 at the Holiday Inn, 495 Airport Road, Elgin. The business meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. with lunch served at noon.

Hosted by the Home Life Department, the program will feature a presentation on home fire safety and the "File Of Life," by Lt. Robert Bedard of the Elgin Fire Department. Bedard has been with the Elgin Fire Department for 20 years and currently serves as their public relations person. He also hosts a monthly spot on Elgin's local cable station.

Leigh Butler is chairman for the October meeting, assisted by committee members Trudy Anderson, Suzanne Hamaker, Ann Mapes, Lorene Moulton and Lois Oberst.

Club members are asked to bring nonperishable food items for the Salvation Army food pantry.

Reservations should be made no later than Friday, Oct. 2, by calling the hotline at (847) 622-3614. The luncheon meeting and program costs $15 and may be paid for by check at the door the day of the meeting. The club meets monthly from September to May at local restaurants for luncheon meetings and programs. Women interested in receiving more information about the Elgin Woman's Club may also call the hotline.

This year the Elgin Woman's Club is celebrating its 122nd year, having been founded in 1887 and one year later, founded Sherman Hospital. Since the club was organized members have supported hundreds of local projects including yearly scholarships to students from Elgin Area School District U-46 high schools. In addition, members serve as readers in local schools, volunteers in hospitals and other agencies throughout the Elgin area and are active in recycling, conservation, women's health, international affairs and other projects.

Boy Scout Troop 43: The Carpentersville Boy Scouts troop will offer its hoagie sale. It features salami, provolone cheese and prosciutto on a fresh 6-inch Gonnella hoagie bun. The hoagies are topped with fresh onions, tomatoes, olive oil, and special secret ingredient. You can get plain or hot and spicy for $4.50 per hoagie. They will be selling Hoagies from now until Oct. 9. Delivery will be Oct. 17. Call the Hoagie Hotline at (847) 426-5193. How about a Hoagie Party while watching your favorite ball teams? All proceeds will help a Scout go to camp. For information, call Chuck Molenda at (847) 426-5193.

Fideliter Club: The Fideliter Club of Elgin, a nonprofit organization, will hold its 121st annual Charity Ball on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Prairie Lodge/Sun City in Huntley. The theme of this year's Charity Ball is "Camelot." The black-tie event will begin with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m., followed by dancing to the music of the Sophisticats. The cost is $275 per couple, or $137.50 per person. For reservations and information, contact Brenda Morrissy at (847) 888-9303.

The first vice president and this year's ball chair is Pat Szpekowski, president of PmS advertising, inc. of Carpentersville. "Our annual charity ball serves as the Fideliter Club's major fundraising project to benefit many area not for profit service agencies who serve the needs of women and children," said Szpekowski. "I am honored to lead and continue this long-standing Elgin tradition."

The Fideliter Club and Charity Ball is steeped in a rich history of helping others. "The Fideliter Club is Elgin's oldest philanthropic organization founded in 1888. "Through the proceeds of our annual charity ball, the Fideliter Club donated over $25,000 this year to area non profits," Szpekowski added. "These donations are possible because of the generosity of local individuals and businesses."

The Fideliter Club provides donations to the milk fund at the Elgin Child and Family Resource Center and the developmental and bilingual preschool programs in Elgin Area School District U-46.

The profits of the annual Charity Ball also assisted the Elgin Boys and Girls Club, Boys and Girls Club of Dundee Township, Girl Scouts-Sybaquay Council, Senior Services, Larkin Center, Ecker Center for Mental Health, Cal's All Star Angels, Summit School, Inc., Centro de Informacion, Elgin Day Care Center, Little Angels, United Way of Elgin, Community Crisis Center, Literacy Connection, Well Child Center, Greater Elgin YWCA, Glenwood School for Boys, and Elgin Christian Development Corp.

In its earlier years, members of the Fideliter Club would personally visit the "neediest" families in Elgin to provide food and clothing. These were times before the motorcar and the telephone. Club members personally made many long trips to carry out their generosity.

The Fideliter Club today is composed of 34 women from the greater Elgin area. The 2009 officers are: Kacey Rupczynski, president, Pat Szpekowski, first vice president; Kathy Hannell, second vice president; Betsy Cappas, recording secretary; Linda Gruber, corresponding secretary; Brenda Morrissy, treasurer; Mickey Brown, immediate past president; and Angie Young, historian. For information, or to donate to this worthwhile cause benefiting area children, call Brenda Morrissy at (847) 888-9303.

Elgin Junior Woman's Club: The Elgin Junior Woman's Club is hosting a Vendor and Home Decor Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28 at Epworth United Methodist Church, Randall Road and Highland Avenue in Elgin. Items from Mary Kay, Tastefully Simple, Celebrating Home and many more vendors will be available. There will also be craft and bake sale items to choose from. For information, contact (847) 224-4318 or slr735@comcast.net. Proceeds will benefit Children's Research Foundation.

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.