Tri-Cities clubs and hobbies
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Geneva Mother's Club: The Mother's Club of Geneva will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Geneva Community Center, 710 Western Ave. The club is celebrating its 70th year as a philanthropic women's organization serving the local community. Members enjoy various social events, such as a children's playgroup and book club, while also volunteering their time and efforts to raise money for a variety of local organizations and individuals in need. For information, call Lucy Cave at (630) 402-0668 or visit mothersclubofgeneva.com.
Geneva American Legion: The Fox River-Geneva American Legion Post 75 will be offering a "First Friday Fish Fry." On the first Friday of every month, a variety of seafood and chicken entrees with a wide selection of side dishes will be available at a cost of $7.50-$9, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the Legion Hall, 22 S. Second St., Geneva. Cocktails, beer, wine and nonalcoholic beverages can be purchased from the cash bar. For details, call (630) 232-2171.
Cub Scout Pack 643: You are never too young, or too old, to learn the effects of homelessness and the Cub Scouts of Pack 643 are about to find out. To help raise awareness of homelessness in DuPage County, the families of these young Cub Scouts invite you to come and learn about homelessness at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 next to the Oaks Clubhouse grounds, 300 N Oakhurst Drive in the Oakhurst subdivision, off Eola Road just south of McCoy. They will set up a makeshift city where scouts and their families will spend the night outside in tents, boxes or cars to raise awareness about family homelessness and raise money for Bridge Communities' Transitional Housing program. The public is invited to stop by, talk with the Cub Scouts and leave a donation. All donations go to Bridge Communities and Hesed House.
For the sixth year, DuPage County residents will give a "wake-up" call for the homeless in our community. Throughout the county, more than 1,500 teens, children and adults will spend the night outside. The all-night event will feature nearly 70 groups sleeping out in parking lots and parks, as well as an additional 50 families and individuals who will sleep out in their backyards. Bridge Communities' mission is to help rebuild homeless families who live and work in DuPage County. Especially in these hard economic times, many families are struggling to provide housing and stability for their children. This year's theme, "Give Us Hope," speaks to the hope Bridge Communities brings to transitional housing families. This program offers an opportunity for a brighter future to families in crisis through education and employment counseling, financial guidance, housing, mentoring, tutoring and auto donations. For information, contact Manuel Cordero at pack643@me.com or (630) 445-1311.
League of Women Voters: The local Leagues of Women Voters in Geneva, St. Charles and Batavia have invited Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, to present a discussion of ways to overhaul Illinois' tax system to better fund education. The event is planed from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9 in the community meeting room at the Geneva Public Library, 127 James St. Currently, the state has a deficit which is half as large as its entire operating budget. A problem of this magnitude cannot be solved by spending cuts alone. In addition, the over-reliance on property taxes to fund education is driving away businesses and threatening homeownership. According to Martire, without increases in income and sales taxes, there will not be enough money in the budget to provide basic human services and support for the schools. More revenue will make it possible for the state to pay its overdue bills and stay current in the future.
Martire was the principal author of a study that identified revenue enhancement proposals designed to address the 2002 fiscal crises in the state of Illinois. Five of the proposals identified in that study ultimately became law. Martire also is a key member of the research team that produces the "State of Working Illinois" reports, which detail industry, employment, wage and benefit trends in Illinois over the last 15 years. More information is available from education@lwvgenstc.org. For information about the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, visit CTBAonline.org.
Sierra Club: It really is possible to go camping in the winter and enjoy it? Hear veteran winter camper Jon Wesenberg give a presentation on surviving a camping experience in the wintertime. Sponsored by the Valley of the Fox Sierra Club, the talk will be given at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9 at the Batavia Public Library, Route 31 and Wilson Street, in downtown Batavia. There is no admission charge. For information, call (630) 466-1808, e-mail at zabs@juno.com, or logon to sierraclub.org/chapters/il/vof.
Geneva Mothers Club: The Mothers Club of Geneva will have its 35th annual "Holiday Art & Craft Show" from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 at Geneva High School, 416 McKinley Ave. More than 100 art and crafters will be selling gifts for the holidays. There also will be a luncheon and homestyle bakery. Admission is $4 or free for those under age 12. Proceeds from this event benefit many local nonprofit organizations. For details, call Katie Tabor at (630) 345-4020 or visit mothersclubofgeneva.com.
St. Charles Mothers' Club: Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16 at Tri-City Health Partnership, 318 Walnut St, in St. Charles. For those interested, after the meeting the group will head over to St. Charlies Pub, 312 W. Main St., St. Charles. The St. Charles Mothers Club welcomes new members at any time. The club meets on the third Monday of every month. For more information, call (630) 217-MOMS or visit stcharlesmothersclub.org.
Timely Talkers Toastmasters: Timely Talkers Toastmasters Club will meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at Valley Community Bank Clock Tower Plaza 75 S. Randall Road, North Aurora. Timely Talkers Toastmasters Club of North Aurora invites all people interested in improving their oral communication and leadership skills to attend the supportive group. For information, call Terry Rueffer (630) 761-1790 or e-mail info@timelytalkers.org.
Rotary Club: The Rotary Club of Batavia has begun its 21st annual Corvette Raffle. Ticket price is $100 with only 800 tickets sold. The grand prize is a 2010 Corvette Convertible (or $40,000 cash) with seven other cash prizes. Tickets are available from Rotary Club members; by calling Avenue Chevrolet at (630) 879-1255; by mail at Rotary Club of Batavia, P.O. Box 111, Batavia, IL 60510 or on the Web site: www.bataviarotaryclub.org. The raffle will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 at Avenue Chevrolet, McKee and Randall roads. Proceeds are returned to the community through donations to various community social programs. The club meets at 7:15 a.m. Tuesdays at Apple Villa Restaurant on Randall Road.
Batavia Woman's Club: Tickets are on sale now for the Batavia Woman's Club annual luncheon and fashion show. This year's show, "Make a Difference - in the Life of a Child" benefiting CASA Kane County, will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21 at the St. Charles Country Club, 1250 Country Club Road. The show features fashions from the Fashion Walk Shops of Geneva along with a silent auction, basket raffle, 50/50 raffle, and door prizes. Doors open at 11 a.m. and lunch is served at 12:15 p.m. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased individually or by reserved tables of 10 or 12. "Adopt A Bear" sponsorship is also available for $25. The bears will be given to children served by the CASA program. To order tickets or "Adopt A Bear", call Kellee at (630) 326-9152 or e-mail fashionshow@bataviawomansclub.org and include your name, address and phone number. Visit bataviawomansclub.org.
Boy Scout Troop 3: Troop 3 is preparing for its 100th anniversary in 2010. As part of that preparation, volunteers are updating troop history. Rosters going back to 1920 have been found and lists of boys and adult leaders from 1920-49 have been compiled. Members of the troop would like to contact scouts and adults from these early years to learn more about the history of the troop. If you know how to contact former members or their family members, or would like information about the lists, call Jerry Roesner at (630) 892-1904 or Ed Stredde at (630) 896-6324, or e-mail to troop3rosters@yahoo.com. Troop 3 would also like any other information related to Troop 3 history, Bob's Hill Boys books, Troop 3 alumni, and Eagle projects completed by members of Troop 3. Troop 3 is in the Foxfire District of the Three Fires Council, part of Boy Scouts of America. The troop is chartered by the New England Congregational Church, a charter that dates back to 1910. The troop has long been informally known as "Bob's Hill Boys," in association with books written by Charles Pierce Burton. In 2008, the Three Fires Council served over 36,600 youth throughout DuPage, Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, and parts of Will and Cook counties. Visit www.threefirescouncil.org.
North Aurora Lions: North Aurora Lions Club will host a "Pancake Breakfast with Santa" from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at the North Aurora Activity Center, 1 N. Lincolnway. Visit with Santa and have your picture taken with him for $4. Tickets sold at door are $6 for ages 9 and older; $4 for ages 8 and younger. Kids, age 2 and younger, get in free. For information, call (630) 589-6938.
Dance clubs: The approach of autumn brings the usual location change for International Folk Dancing and Silk and Thistle Scottish country dancing at Fermilab, back to Kuhn Village Barn. There will be dancing Tuesdays (Scottish) and Thursdays (international), through the season, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The barn is on Sauk Boulevard, on the east side of the Fermilab site in Batavia. Fermilab's Barn Dance also is returning to the barn, with dances at 6 p.m. the second Sunday of the month and at 2 p.m. the third Sunday of the month, beginning in November. English country dancing meets the first Sunday of the month through the rest of the season. English dancing begins at 1 p.m. with an hour for experienced dancers, then at 2 p.m. with dances for everyone. Newcomers are welcome. All dances are fully taught and walked through. There is often a potluck supper following the dancing. To get on an e-mail reminder list for when this group meets, e-mail folkdance@fnal.gov. The public is always welcome to join any of the dance groups, and there is no need to come with a partner. In general, there is no charge for the instruction, but donations are accepted. The barn dance, which always has live music, requests $6 from adults and $3 for seniors and teens. More information on international, Scottish and English country dancing is available by calling (630) 584-0825 or (630) 840-8194, or e-mailing folkdance@fnal.gov. For barn dancing, call (630) 840-2061 or (630) 897-3655, or e-mail garren@fnal.gov. Or visit fnal.gov/orgs/folkclub/folkdance.html.
Fox Valley Divorce Support Group: The Fox Valley Divorce Support Group meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at the Infusion Tea Shoppe, 205 W. State in Geneva. New members should come at 6:45 p.m. The meeting is free and open to all. The Fox Valley Divorce Support Group provides help and information to those in all stages of the divorce process and is open to people of all faiths. Besides providing information through guest speakers, the group offers fellowship and emotional support. David and Judy Janis are the group's facilitators. Their own experiences of unsought divorces have enabled them to offer help and counsel to others who are going through the pain and challenges of divorce. For details, visit www.foxvalleydivorcesupport.org or call (630) 208-1724.
Campton Hills Rotary Club: The club meets at noon every Tuesday at Old Towne Pub, 40W290 LaFox Road in Campton Hills. Rotary is an international organization of business and professional persons united to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and peace in the world. To learn more about Rotary, log onto www.rotary.org or e-mail Bill Paskey at bpaskey@ttssystems.com.
Toastmaster Club: The Talk of the Town Batavia Toastmasters Club invites you to hone your public speaking, communications, and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. The group meets from 7 to 8:15 a.m. Fridays at the Panera Bread, 154 W. Wilson St. in Batavia. For details, e-mail pjmcgold@yahoo.com.