Fox Valley clubs notes

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

Richmond Garden Club: The Richmond Garden Club will host their 2009 Spring Flower Show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2 at the Richmond-Burton High School, 8311 Route 31 in Richmond. Twice a year, the club hosts these shows to feature talented, local floral designers as they create beautiful spring-inspired centerpieces. All creations are raffled at the end of the show. Many audience participants get to leave the show with a centerpiece of their own.

The money raised from these shows helps fund a college scholarship for the Richmond-Burton High School, where these shows are hosted in spring and fall. Numerous beautification projects are also funded with the proceeds. Plants are donated to the local retirement community, and many public gardens are maintained by the Richmond Garden Club. Club members look forward to decorating the bridge planters for the summer season.

Those interested in joining the club can call Sandra Mohoney at (815) 678-7929 or visit www.richmondgardenclub.org. For information on the Spring Flower Show or to purchase tickets, contact Barb Gallagos at (815) 678-4034. Admission is $9 and includes a raffle ticket.

Hampshire-Burlington Jaycees: The Hampshire-Burlington Jaycees will host its fourth annual "Spring Faire" for the children of Burlington and Hampshire from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 4 at St. John Lutheran Church on French Road. The Easter Egg Hunt will be divided into 3 groups, up to age 4, 5 to 7 and 8 to 11. They will also be offering games for the kids. Face painting and tattoos will be available for a minimum charge to help offset the costs of the event. While there is no cost for the Easter egg hunt and games, there will be locations at the event where the Jaycees will be accepting donations for next year. They are also requesting that you recycle the plastic eggs in bins located at the event.

The Jaycees are also requesting donations for the Hampshire-Burlington Food Pantry. Last year, the food pantry served an average of 80 families a month. This time of the year is when the pantry receives the least amount of donations. The Jaycees will have a drop box for your non-perishable items at their membership booth.

The Jaycees will also be having a coloring contest. Bring your completed entry for your chance to win a prize. Visit Web site, www.hbjaycees.com, to download coloring sheet.

Any funds raised over and above the cost of the event will be donated to Camp New Hope, a camp for disabled children in southern Illinois. The chapter is hoping to raise funds to send three children to camp next year. The Jaycees have been sending campers to Camp New Hope for years. If you know of a child who would benefit from this camp, contact the Jaycees. For details, call Michelle Kollins at (847) 683-9263.

Kane County Audubon Society: The Kane County Audubon Society will host Scope Day at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 4 at Nelson Lake. This month, members will have their scopes set up on the platform over looking the lake. The white pelicans could be back. Meet in the parking lot by the silo, west of Nelson Lake Road and about 2 miles west of Randall Road in Batavia. Call Terry Murray at (630) 896-3219.

On Wednesday, April 8, the meeting night will begin at 7 p.m. at Peck Farm, 38W199 Kaneville Road, about one mile west of Randall Road in Geneva. The program will be on shorebird identification by Kane County Audubon Society's wildlife biologist, Bob Montgomery. For information, call Bob Andrini at (630) 584-8386.

On Saturday, April 11, enjoy a bird walk at 8 a.m. at Sauer Family Farm. Attendees will be looking for shorebirds that they learned about at this month's meeting. This forest preserve has various pot holes and wetlands. From Elburn, go south on Route 47 and cross over I-88 and turn right on Finley Road, go one mile to Harter Road and turn right, then go a quarter-mile and turn left on Lasher Road. The entrance to the forest preserve is on the left. For information, call Nancy Schnaitman at (630) 365-9595.

On Saturday, April 18, enjoy a bird walk at at 8 a.m. at Elsen's Hill DuPage Woods Forest Preserve, off Route 59, half-mile north of Route 38 in West Chicago. This forest preserve offers migrants and early nesters. From Route 59, go about three-quarter mile to Gary's Mill Road, turn left and go half-mile to entrance on the left. Meet in parking lot. For information, call Rhonda Nelson at (630) 479-1384.

On Saturday, April 25, enjoy a bird walk at 8 a.m. at Oakhurst Forest Preserve, on Fifth Avenue, half-mile east of Farnsworth Avenue in Aurora. This Kane County forest preserve offers a variety of habitats and should produce a large number of birds. For information, call Vernon LaVia at (312) 543-4718. Visit www.illinoisaudubon.org.

VFW Post 2298: The Tri-City Evergreen Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2298 will host a variety of events this month. The Ladies Auxiliary will host a spring arts and craft show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 4. They will follow it up with a chili and soup dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 8. Admission is $5. The VFW Post 2298 canteen has new hours from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Lunch is also being served now from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Saturday. For details, call Jessie at (847) 844-0943 or the post home at (847) 428-9006.

Boy Scout Troop 111: The Elgin Boy Scout Troop 111 will host a Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, April 5 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 340 Grand Blvd., Elgin. All proceeds will benefit the Gary S. Webb family in an effort to help offset medical costs from Gary's battle with cancer. The breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to noon. It will include all-you-can-eat regular and southwestern scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage, fruit and assorted beverages. A minimum donation of $7 per person will be collected and children under 3 years of age are free. The silent auction will offer many items donated by generous local vendors, Troop 111 families and friends. Winners need not be present. For information about Troop 111 or this event, call Scout Master David Fulton (847) 695-2199.

Boy Scout Troop 166: Troop 166 is hosting a Fox River Grove Village President Debate at 8 p.m. Monday, April 6 at New Hope Church, 400 Lincoln Ave. in Fox River Grove. It will be open to the public. This will be a 60-minute debate. The Scouts will come up with a total of 15 questions (10 will be asked; 5 for reserve). Each candidate will be given a total of 2 minutes to answer. If there is enough time, they will then use the reserved questions. The Scouts will determine and present the questions plus run the debate.

Hampshire Girl Scouts: The Hampshire Girl Scouts will "Rock The House" for PADS homeless shelter. The Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies and Juniors have selected PADS of Elgin as the recipient of their annual communitywide service project. PADS is a safe haven for what has come to be known as the "working poor." PADS provides overnight shelter and case management, advocacy, outreach and educational opportunities for men, women and children in the area. Girl Scout activities will begin the week of April 5-11 with a door-to-door scavenger hunt. The Girl Scouts will be armed with material reusable shopping bags donated by Wal-Mart, Block's Food Market and Jewel Food Stores. The Girl Scouts will be collecting items needed by PADS including: coffee; laundry detergent (powdered or liquid); toilet paper; plastic spoons; foam cereal bowls, luncheon and dessert plates; jam or jelly; peanut butter; tea bags; creamer; Kool-Aid packets; powdered milk; bulk sugar; 8 oz. foam coffee cups; napkins; batteries (D, AA and AAA); disposable razors; facial tissue; rain ponchos; and shampoo (travel size only). Additional needs are listed on PADS Web site: padsofelgin.org. (Note: Currently PADS has been over gifted with bar soap and is not accepting any additional bar soap items.) Drop boxes also will be located around Hampshire: Red Ox Restaurant on Route 72; Citizens Bank on Warner Street; and the Hampshire Park District Office on South Street. The drop boxes will be at the business April 13-15 (after the scavenger hunt.) The fundraising activities will culminate on April 16 with a "Rock The House" 1980s theme mother-daughter dance and donation ceremony. Doris Kemph of PADS will attend the dance and receive the donations on behalf of the shelter.

McHenry County Historical Society: Continuing each week through April 20, the McHenry County Historical Society presents its annual four-part lecture series. Called the "Sampler Series," each program will focus on something or some one making history from McHenry County. Except for the first program, the remaining three will be held at the society's museum, 6422 Main St. in Union.

On Monday, April 6, the Sampler will feature Bull Valley residents Ken and Darlene Fiske. This couple first met at Chicago's NBC television station in the early 1950s. Ken hosted and produced "Out on the Farm" while future wife, Darlene, helped direct daytime "soaps." Their discussion will shed light on early television production.

At 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 13, the focus will be on an area businessman, John Betts, who produces giant-sized limited edition all-metal classic vehicles. Participants will see some of these models and learn about Betts' consumer design career.

To round out the lecture series comes a look into the world of "Magic" with a panel of longtime magicians at 2 p.m. Monday, April 20. Magicians will do some tricks and tell stories of performing in famous sites like Riverview Park and Chicago's Treasure Chest Club. Join Marshall Brodien as Wizzo, Lake in the Hills resident Fred Drehobl as Freddy Fredricks, and Don Theobald as T-Bone the Clown. They will be telling great stories.

Registration is required. The cost for all four programs is $35. Members pay $30 and individual programs are $10. To register, call (815) 923-2267. Visit www.mchsonline.org.

Izaak Walton League: The Elgin Chapter Izaak Walton League invites the community to a special program at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 7 at the Izaak Walton League Lodge, 899 Jay St. in Elgin. Shila Hoyos, chief steward site manager of Poplar Creek Prairie Stewards, will be the guest speaker. The group has been working actively since 1989 to return native plant communities to the Poplar Creek Forest Preserve in Hoffman Estates. For details, visit www.elginike.org.

Elgin Woman's Club: The next meeting of the Elgin Woman's Club will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, at the Holiday Inn, 495 Airport Road, Elgin. Chaired by Linda Fagan and hosted by the health department, the program will feature a presentation titled, "Enriching Your Life With Laughter." Featured speaker for the program will be Jill League, community training center database coordinator for the Education and Community Wellness Department at Sherman Hospital. League is also a Certified Laughter Leader. The committee for the April meeting consists of Helen McCulloch, Phyllis Ahlgrim, Loa McLean and Tracey Varney.

Members are asked to make reservations no later than Friday, March 27, by calling the hotline at (847) 622-3614 and should wear comfortable clothing for this meeting. The luncheon meeting and program costs $15 and may be paid for by check at the door the day of the meeting.

Since the club was founded in 1887, members have supported hundreds of local projects including yearly scholarships to students from area high schools and their major accomplishment--the founding of Sherman Hospital in 1888. In addition, members volunteer in hospitals and other agencies throughout the Elgin area and are active in recycling, conservation, women's health, international affairs and other projects.

Women who want to know more about the Elgin Woman's Club, recognized for more than 121 years as a leading philanthropic organization, may call the hotline. A club member will return the call within 24 hours. As a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs there is a variety of club information on their website, www.gfwc.org.

Zonta Club: Looking for some fellowship and networking opportunities with professional women in your community? The Zonta Club of St. Charles-Geneva-Batavia is a local organization of professional women working to improve the status of women in the Tri-City area. The next meeting will be Tuesday, April 7 at Prairie Landing Golf Club, Route 38 and Kautz Road in West Chicago. Networking will begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Dinner costs $25. Reservations must be called in to Christie Plotzke at (847) 931-2292 by March 31. For information about Zonta, contact club president Bobbie Gerbrecht at bobbie@bobbiegrayson.com or (630) 879-7889.

American Legion: American Legion Post 57 will host a spaghetti dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 8 at the post home, 820 N. Liberty St., Elgin. This dinner is open to the public and the cost is $6 per person. The menu includes: spaghetti with meat sauce, meatballs, garlic toast and salad. The American Legion's hall is available for rental for any event. Call (847) 741-1684 for more information.

Elgin Area Women's Connection: The Elgin Area Women's Connection will meet for lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 8 at the Villa Olivia Country Club, Route 20 in Bartlett. Enjoy Judy Dagraedt, composer, vocalist and instrumentalist, and Mary Tack as these ladies prompt us to "Name That Tune." Then, hear Dagraedt present her talk, "Peace in the Midst of Turmoil." For reservations, call Jan at (630) 837-2632 or Carolyn at (630) 213-1205 or e-mail Car644@gmail.com by Monday, April 6. Cost for luncheon meeting is $15 inclusive, with complimentary childcare.

Golden K Kiwanis: The Elgin Golden K Kiwanis will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 8 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 357 Division St., Elgin. The program will be by Bob Tanner, CEO for Greater Elgin Family Care Center. His topic will be, "Providing Primary Health Care to the Uninsured and Under-insured Public." Visitors are welcome. For information, call (847) 741-7176.

McHenry AARP: The McHenry County Chapter of AARP will meet at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9 at The Fountains of Crystal Lake on Route 31, one mile north of Route 176. A guest speaker will present geneology information. Refreshments are served. For chapter information, call Glenn at (815) 477-1952 or Fran at (847) 658-7222.

Sierra Club: The Valley of the Fox Group of the Sierra Club will welcome the Illinois director to address current environmental and energy legislation at 7 p.m. Monday, April 13 at the Batavia Public Library, 10 S. Batavia Ave. The public is invited. Sierra Club Illinois Director Jack Darin will discuss the upcoming environmental bills in the Illinois House and Senate. Chief among them is the Clean Care Act, which will require pollution standards, including those for carbon dioxide, for cars sold in Illinois to be similar to those sold in California. Coffee and refreshments will be served. For information, call (630) 466-1808.

Henpeck Unit: The Henpeck Unit of Kane County Asssociation for Home and Community Education will meet Tuesday, April 14 with Betty Rylko as hostess at the Burlington United Methodist Church. Guests are welcome; call Betty at (630) 669-5295 for details and directions.

At the March 10 meeting, the subject is about being "down in the dumps" and how long it lasts and what should be done about it. Six members answered roll call by naming a recipe from "Lessons for Living" that they have tried and liked. Community outreach director Mary Ebert shared an article regarding parcel track notices being circulated which police consider a "scam on seniors." Dues of $l5 for year 2009-10 were collected from members present.

Items for the Hampshire/Burlington Food Pantry were collected at this meeting. It was suggested that deodorant be collected for the Community Crisis Center at the April meeting.

The lesson titled "Blues, Blahs and Bouncing Back" was presented by Mary Ann Harter. It covered the difference between regular "blues" versus depression, techniques for bouncing back, and insights on helping others. In a lively discussion, members identified their own experiences with the blues and depression. For information, call Peggy Gross at (847) 683-3826 or Mary Ann Harter at (847) 683-3632.

NARFE: The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association local chapter 2181 will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 14 at the American Legion meeting room, 820 N. Liberty St. (Route 25) in Elgin. Lunch is available at the Legion's lunchroom before the meeting. The guest speaker is Roger Searle. Membership is open to all who are or will be eligible to receive an annuity or survivor annuity from the federal retirement programs including current employees, retirees, and spouses and widows of those eligible to join NARFE. Get up-to-date information at www.narfe.org and call Greater Fox Valley Chapter 2181 membership chairman Nick Hyser at (847) 741-5772.

• Submit club news and photos of activities to Club News, Daily Herald, 385 Airport Road, Suite A, IL 60123. Or e-mail to foxvalley@dailyherald.com or fax to (847) 608-0849.