Tri-Cities Clubs and Hobbies
To list your club's meetings, e-mail to tricity@dailyherald.com, or fax to (847) 608-0849.
Kane County Genealogical Society: The Kane County Genealogical Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 23, in the first-floor meeting room of the Geneva History Center, 113 S. Third St., Geneva. The speaker will be Eric Basir of Photo Grafix, discussing "Photo Identification and Restoration." Members and guests are invited to bring their originals for discussion and use during the program. Basir has worked to develop video courses and do-it-yourself photo restoration books to help improve the skills of the family historian. Since 1999, as part of Photo Grafix Pro Services, he has helped many genealogists solve photo reproduction, repair and identification problems. All are welcome to attend this interesting presentation. For information, call (847) 697-1029 or visit www.rootsweb.com/~ilkcgs.
American Guild of Organists: The Fox Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists presents the 10th annual "Bach and Beyond" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 31, at Marmion Abbey, 850 E. Butterfield Road, Aurora. This year, the program will include a brass quintet in addition to talented organists from the chapter. Music of Bach, Mendelssohn and Mozart will be featured, along with two congregational hymns and a choral anthem. A freewill offering will be received to benefit the chapter's young organists fund. For details, call Betsy Kahlbaugh, Fox Valley AGO Program Chair, at (630) 212-8370.
Fox Valley Woodworkers Club: On Tuesday, Aug. 4, Fox Valley Woodworkers Club will meet from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, 8 S. Lincoln Ave., 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.
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, Aug. 4, at Prairie Landing Golf Club in West Chicago. Networking will be at 6 p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Dinner costs $25. This month, they are celebrating fellowship with a Southern Living party. Join them to view and purchase the newest items from the beautiful Southern Living home decor collection. Reservations must be called in to Christie Plotzke by July 28 at (847) 931-2292. For information about Zonta, contact club president Bobbie Gerbrecht at bobbie@bobbiegrayson.com or (630) 879-7889.
Timely Talkers Toastmasters: The group will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Aug. 5, 19 and 26 at Valley Community Bank Clock Tower Plaza, 75 S. Randall Road, North Aurora. This is a community club and all guests are welcome. Timely Talkers Toastmasters began its new fiscal year. New officers for 2009-2010 are Ray Termini, president; Dan Kyburz, vice president of education; Lynne Noren, vice president of membership; Jamie Weaver, vice president of public relations; Stephanie Mayo, treasurer; Barbara Brungart, secretary; and Dan Taddei, sergeant at arms. These officers are dedicated to supporting and leading our members in having a "prosperous" year. The club meets at 7 p.m. the first, third and fourth Wednesdays of the month at Valley Community Bank Clock Tower Plaza, 75 S. Randall Road, North Aurora. For information, call Terry Rueffer at (630) 761-1790 or e-mail info@timelytalkers.org.
Wayne Art League: Artists from the Wayne Art League will exhibit their work from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Geneva History Center, 113 S. Third St. The exhibit will feature works by artists from Geneva, St. Charles, Elburn, Batavia, Aurora, Elgin and Wayne. Media will include watercolors, oils, pen and ink, acrylic, oil pastel and colored pencil paintings.
Sierra Club: The Valley of the Fox Sierra Club will hold its annual Fox River Cleanup and Restoration from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 15, in downtown Aurora. They will meet at the Aurora Township Office parking lot, 80 N. Broadway (Route 25) in Aurora. Have fun with other volunteers as you clean the riverbanks in downtown Aurora as well as restoration in other locations. They will provide all supplies, gloves and bags as well as snacks and water; however, you should bring a refillable water container, because no throwaway water bottles will be allowed on site. Trash will be separated and recycled as much as possible. All participants will sign the standard waiver; those under 18 must have a parental signature. Children under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Waivers can be requested ahead of time by contacting fran.caffee@sierraclub.org. Wear sturdy shoes, sunscreen and insect repellent. Support for the event is also provided by the Fox Valley Park District and the city of Aurora. For information, call (630) 466-1808, or log onto sierraclub.org/chapters/il/vof.
Batavia Mothers' Club Foundation: The Batavia Mothers' Club Foundation is holding a 50/50 raffle, in conjunction with its 24th annual Autumn Arts and Craft Show. The drawing will be held Oct. 17 at the BMCF Craft Show held at Rotolo Middle School. You do not have to be present to win. Only 100 tickets are being sold. Tickets are $20 each. Every 10th ticket pulled wins a mystery prize. The last ticket drawn wins half the money raised in the 50/50 raffle. The Autumn Arts and Crafts Show is the Batavia Mothers' Club Foundation's largest fundraiser. Proceeds go to organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for children in the Fox Valley area. The club expects to sell out before the show, so don't delay if you are interested. Contact Tammi Grosbeck by phone at (630) 222-0407 or e-mail to ttracyg@yahoo.com; put BMCF Raffle in subject line.
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, 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.
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 7-8:15 a.m. Fridays at the Panera Bread, 154 W. Wilson St., Batavia. For details, e-mail pjmcgold@yahoo.com.