Tri-Cities clubs and hobbies

Send listing information to tricity@dailyherald.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.

Geneva Garden Club: Back by popular demand the Geneva Garden Club will again be selling holiday bows during the Geneva Chamber of Commerce's "Christmas House Tour" on Friday, Dec. 4 and Sunday, Dec. 5. Visit the Geneva History Center anytime Dec. 4 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to purchase your holiday bow. For information, call (630) 232-4268 or visit GenevaGardenClub.com.

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.

Batavia American Legion: The Batavia American Legion Post 504 will dedicate a memorial monument honoring all of its past commanders since 1920 at the Batavia west cemetery at noon Saturday, Dec. 5. Dignitaries have been invited to attend along with all current past commanders and current legion members. Other local American Legion posts have been invited along with the general public. The next meeting of the Batavia American Legion Post 504 will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15. They meet the third Tuesday of each month at the Batavia VFW canteen, 645 S. River St., Batavia. Post 504 is currently looking for additional new members. If you or a member of your family has served in the military and would be interested in joining, call Don Nallenweg at (630) 406-9331 for information or visit bataaviapost504.org.

St. Charles Mothers Club: The St. Charles Mothers Club will hold its Holiday Party at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7 at The Goddard School, 200 N. Tyler Road in St. Charles. Dinner will be a potluck and there will be a gift exchange for a $15 value gift for those who are interested. The club welcomes new members at any time. It meets on the third Monday of every month. For information, call (630) 217-MOMS or visit stcharlesmothersclub.org.

Sugar Grove Historical Society: The Sugar Grove Historical Society will host a Christmas meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7 at Bliss House, 259 Main St. Bring a plate of cookies for an exchange and your family remembrances of Dec. 7, 1941. Bliss House is open 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays. Stop by and see the patriotic and military display. A Christmas quilt, hand quilted by Vickie Frantz, is on display and will be raffled that night. The book, "Sin Qua Sip - History of Sugar Grove Township, is $24 at Bliss House.

Fox Valley Woodworkers Club: On Tuesday, Dec. 8, Fox Valley Woodworkers 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.

Fox Valley Retired Educators: The second meeting of the year will be held Tuesday, Dec. 8, at the Oscar Swan Inn, Route 38, Geneva. The group meets four times a year, supports local charities and enjoys sharing ideas. Some members are mentors through the state IEA-Retired Mentoring Program, some are substitute teachers and some are tutors. The program for December will be the music of Mark Dvorak. Mark Dvorak, a member of the Old Town School of Music, is a folk singer's folk singer. Mark has Chicago roots, but since 1981 has been crisscrossing the country performing, teaching and learning all the while. He has hundreds of songs in his repertoire and a natural style of performing that can make an old song sound new and a new song sound familiar. Any retired educator or support staff personnel interested in attending a meeting of the FVRE, call Ron Koeppl, (630) 208-7471.

VHRA: The Valley Human Resource Association will host a "Speed Networking Program" on Wednesday, Dec. 9. Margaret Resce Milkint, managing partner of The Jacobson Group, will be presenting. The meeting will be held at the Lincoln Inn, 1345 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia. Registration and networking begin at 7:15 a.m., followed by breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and the program from 8 to 9 a.m. In a format similar to speed dating, speed networking participants will pair up to network in short intervals. During this time, attendees will have a chance to exchange business cards, share knowledge and insights on current market trends, and perfect their networking abilities in a non-intimidating environment. Milkint will offer tips and advice, address networking fears, and respond to questions and feedback. For information or to register for the program, call the VIA offices (630) 892-4228.

Friends of the Fox River: On Monday, Dec. 14, the Friends of the Fox River will host its annual meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Historic Kendall County Courthouse, 109 W. Ridge in Yorkville. Agenda items include committee reports outlining 2009 projects and 2010 plans, and the election of officers. Committee members will report on Web site renovation, accomplishments from the year's events, the creation of an education center and office facility, recent work with best management practices advocacy in the southern part of the watershed, and the expansion of education outreach programs and materials. Refreshments will be served. For information on Friends of the Fox River, visit friendsofthefoxriver.org.

Geneva Rotary: On Tuesday, Dec. 15, Geneva Rotary Club will host its 34th annual holiday party luncheon for Association for Individual Development clients. AID serves individuals with physical or developmental disabilities in the Fox Valley area. This special event is held at First Baptist Church of Geneva, 2300 South St. Approximately 80 AID residents attend the luncheon each year.

Event chair Rotarian Gordon Hard stated "Rotary Club of Geneva continues its longtime tradition of providing a traditional Christmas dinner to the residents of AID. Our Geneva Rotarians will help serve lunch, entertain and help with Santa's gifts too." Club president Sandy Kaczmarski adds, "This special event really gets our club members in the holiday spirit and we enjoy meeting with our friends from AID each year."

Geneva Rotary, a service club of business persons and community leaders meets at 7 a.m. Tuesdays at Mill Race Inn, off Route 38 in Geneva. The club is involved each year with many local and international service projects, youth scholarships and international youth exchange. For information on Geneva Rotary, visit genevarotary.org. For details on AID, visit www.the-association.org.

Fox Valley Associates: The Fox Valley Associates of the Art Institute of Chicago will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at the St. Charles Country Club. The lecture will be "Loving Frank: Frank Lloyd Wright's Scandalous Love Affair," with Barbara Rinella dramatizing the intriguing character Mamah Bortwick from the book "Loving Frank." Guests are welcome.

"Loving Frank" by Nancy Horan is a historical fiction depicting the outrageous relationship between the brilliant architect Frank Lloyd Wright and the wife of one of his clients, Mamah Bortwick Cheney. Mamah Bortwick was an emerging feminist, receiving her master's degree from the University of Michigan. A keen intellectual who loves to quote Goethe, and who cherishes the written word. Mamah settles into an ordered, respectable life in Oak Park, when she marries kind Edwin Cheney. Life will turn upside down, however, when Cheney hires Frank Lloyd Wright to design a new home for his family.

Rinella presents one-woman shows dramatizing current literature. She will bring to life the intriguing character of Mamah, who fights unsuccessfully to control her passion and her destiny.

Coffee will be served at 10 a.m., followed by the lecture at 10:30 a.m. and lunch at noon. The cost for members is $16 for the lecture or $36, and $20 and $40, respectively for guests. For reservations call Sue (630) 377-0208 before Dec. 7.

Fox Valley Newcomers and Neighbors Club: The Fox Valley Newcomers and Neighbors Club will celebrate the holiday season at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16 at the St. Charles Country Club, 1250 Country Club Road. The meet-and-greet is planned for 11:30 a.m., followed by a noon luncheon and entertaining musical program.

Enjoy the beautiful views of the winter landscape, while dining, and listening to a variety of musical compositions that will set the festive holiday mood for members and their guests.

Special guest, pianist Cody Clausen will provide holiday music and lead the group in singing a variety of favorite Christmas carols. A St. Charles resident, he is a freelance singer and songwriter, and is currently completing his first CD. In 2006 he won the Christian American Idol competition. He also is currently on staff at Christ Community Church.

Cost for this event is $25 and includes lunch, coffee and tea, gratuity and tax. A cash bar is available. To reserve your seat, and select your menu entree, call Jacque Blatner at (630) 761-6577 by Dec. 8. Your check is your reservation and is nonrefundable. Dress code dictates that no denim be worn.

The Fox Valley Newcomers and Neighbors Club is a social and philanthropic organization for women in the area who are interested in meeting and making new friends through various social and fundraising activities.

This year, the fundraising activity will benefit the Lazarus House, in St. Charles, the area's only emergency shelter that is open 365 days per year; Web site is lazarushouseonline.com.

The group meets monthly for a luncheon during the months of September through June. Each monthly meeting includes a "meet and greet" which gives members an opportunity to socialize before a short general business meeting, luncheon, and an entertaining and informative program. The luncheons are held at local restaurants in the Fox Valley area, and are open to all current and perspective members, and guests with prepaid reservations.

Past programs have included: Interior design ideas, information on subliminal communications and handwriting analysis, wine tastings, learning how to accessorize with the current fashion trends, makeup tips and tricks, learning to organize your clutter, and much more. There's something for everyone enjoyment.

Club activities include three book groups, the Knot So Nifty Knitters, the Excellent Adventures group, the Impromptu Lunch group, Golf Groupies, Monthly Bridge, the Spare Time bowling group, a couples After Six group, and yearly social. New activities and interest groups are added frequently by members.

The annual membership fee of $25 provides a membership directory and a monthly newsletter that recaps the upcoming monthly events and activities.

Many of the members come from both near and far, and reside in the areas around the Fox Valley, including Aurora, Batavia, Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Elburn, Elgin, Geneva, Lily Lake, North Aurora, Rockford, St. Charles, South Elgin, Sugar Grove, Sycamore, Wayne and Winfield. For membership information, call Jane at (630) 584-9010, or Darlene (630) 208-1364, or visit foxvalleynewcomers.com.

Timely Talkers Toastmasters: Timely Talkers Toastmasters Club will meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16 at Valley Community Bank Clock Tower Plaza 75 S. Randall Road, North Aurora. A special holiday meeting will be held on Dec. 30. 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 Lynne Noren at (708) 609-4983 or e-mail lynnenoren@dawsonsales.com.

North Aurora Mothers Club: The North Aurora Mothers Club is seeking donations from area businesses, organizations and individuals for the community's annual Operation Christmas program, now under way. Operation Christmas provides gifts, groceries and a traditional holiday meal to needy area families.

The club manages the annual philanthropic effort, which last year assisted more than 60 local families. Organizers this year hope to help at least that many families.

"Every donation, whether it's money, a grocery gift card or a sponsorship of a family, is greatly appreciated," says Tammy Studebaker, Operation Christmas chairwoman. "These items will help make this holiday season a little brighter for local children and families needing assistance this year."

Here's how you can help Operation Christmas this holiday season:

• Donating new items: Basic home needs (bedding, blankets) and grocery gift cards are particularly useful.

• Donating money: Used to purchase gifts and food for non-sponsored families.

• Family sponsorship: Provide the needs for an entire family. Businesses and organizations enlist employee and customer support to help fulfill family wish lists with giving trees.

Volunteers work closely with sponsors and donors to collect and deliver Operation Christmas items before Christmas. For information on becoming an Operation Christmas sponsor, or to make a donation, contact Tammy at (630) 907-2537. Monetary donations may be mailed to: NAMC Operation Christmas, P.O. Box 57, North Aurora, IL 60542. For information, visit northauroramothersclub.org.

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: Campton Hills Rotary 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 email 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.

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 through 1949 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, please contact Jerry Roesner at (630) 892-1904 or Ed Stredde at (630) 896-6324, or send 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. Our mission is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetime by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law. For more information please visit www.threefirescouncil.org.

Pottawatomie Garden Club: "Beyond The Garden Gate" is the theme of the 2010 biennial Pottawatomie Garden Walk from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 10. Five homes are featured. For the first time in 15 years, a garden boutique will be in one of the gardens. Another garden will have refreshments. Tickets will be available in April on the club's Web site, pottagardenclub.org, from club members and sites in St. Charles.