Fox Valley club briefs

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

Friends of the Fox River: The Elgin Association of Firefighters Local 439 and the Friends of the Fox River are hosting a river cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 10 on the Fox River at Festival Park in downtown Elgin. It will be a shoreline cleanup on both banks of the river starting from the Chicago Street bridge. This will be the second annual cleanup for the Elgin Fire Department after removing tons of trash from the river itself using diving equipment last year on Sept. 11. The group will be adopting this site for future annual cleanups and are seeking volunteers to come out and help pick up trash and debris to give back to our river and community. Volunteers should meet just south of the playground in Festival Park near Grove Avenue. Wear appropriate footwear. Gloves, bags and other equipment are provided through a generous grant program through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. For information on Friends of the Fox River, visit www.friendsofthefoxriver.org.

United Commercial Travelers: The fifth annual Octoberfest, sponsored by the United Commercial Travelers-Elgin Council 412, will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 at 280 S. Melrose St., Elgin. Requested donation is $10 and includes German music and food, including bratwurst, Wiener schnitzel and sauerbraten. There will be raffles for a one-night stay at a Holiday Inn whirlpool suite and a $20 gift certificate to Bennigan's; or a one-night stay at Wyndham Suites in Glenview, which includes breakfast for two in the garden atrium. There also will be door prizes. Proceeds benefit programs for adult and children with disabilities. For tickets, call Gary at (847) 695-9599.

Kane County Audubon Society: The Kane County Audubon Society will host a field trip and bird walk at Prairie Green Wetland. Meet at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 at Peck Farm parking lot in Geneva, 38W199 Kaneville Road, to car pool to Prairie Green. This should be a good time to see migrating birds. For information, call Tim Balassie at (630) 513-7345.

The monthly meeting will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Peck Farm, Peck and Kaneville roads, about half-mile west of Randall Road in Geneva. The program will be on ethno-ornithology, the study of the interactions of birds and people. The speaker will be Valerie Blaine, a member and a naturalist with Kane County Forest Preserve District. For information, call Bob Andrini at (630) 584-8386.

Take a bird walk at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 at Elburn Forest Preserve, south of Route 38 and about three-quarter mile west of Route 47. They will be looking for fall migrants. Meet in the parking lot. For information, call Nancy Schnaitman at (630) 365-9595.

Take a field trip to Horicon Marsh and Boat Trip. Meet at 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 at Peck Farm parking lot in Geneva, 38W199 Kaneville Road, to car pool to Wisconsin. They will bird from the dike roads and then go on a guided boat trip of the marsh at 3 p.m. Some members will stay overnight, but others may return Saturday night. For details and motel information, call Chuck Peterson at (630) 584-1566. Visit www.kanecountyaudubon.org.

NAMI: To celebrate National Mental Illness Awareness Week, NAMI Kane County, an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, will host its annual "Iris Day" event from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 at the Jewel/Osco Store on Larkin Avenue in Elgin. NAMI volunteers in teams of two will offer NAMI Iris bookmarks and brochures describing major mental illnesses. Donations received during the day will be used to further NAMI programs designed to bring about a better understanding of mental illness in our community and reduce the stigmatizing myths that surround mental illness. For information about NAMI and its support programs, visit namikanecounty.net.

Hampshire Lions Club: The Hampshire Lions Club invites the community to its all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to noon Sunday, Oct. 11 at the Hampshire Middle School commons, 560 S. State St. Cost is $5 per person. The menu will feature pancakes, sausage, coffee, milk and juice.

Elgin American Legion: American Legion Post 57, 820 N. Liberty St. in Elgin, hosts a variety of activities and events which are open to the public. The American Legion Hall is available for rental for any event. For details, call (847) 741-1684. The next "Second Sunday Breakfast" will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11. It is held the second Sunday of the month from September through May. The menu and prices are: steak and eggs, $6; eggs to order, with sausage, bacon, and potatoes, $4.50 or with two pancakes/no potato, $5. Omelets are $5 and include cheese, mushrooms, green, red, or hot peppers. Also included are white or wheat toast, juice, and coffee, as well as a few other beverage specials.

Post 57 will host its popular "Second Wednesday Spaghetti Night" from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14 at the post home. These spaghetti dinners are held the second Wednesday of the month from September through May. The cost is $6 per person, and the menu includes spaghetti with meat and mushroom sauce, meatballs, garlic toast, and salad.

Stop by for its weekly Family Burger and Steak Night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays. Or enjoy the weekly Friday Night Fish Fry from 4 to 8 p.m. at the post home. It features your choice of haddock, perch, catfish, and shrimp with all the trimmings.

Hampshire VFW: Hampshire Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8043 will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12 at the Hampshire Township office, 100 Center St., Hampshire. For details, call (847) 683-3443. The Patriot Pen and Voice of Democracy essay contests are underway. Plans are being organized for the Veterans Day, Nov. 11, programs at the Hampshire schools. Membership for the coming year has begun and VFW Post 8043 welcomes new members. They have started this year's voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition. The contest is open to all high school students in ninth through 12th grades, including home-schooled students. Students participate by writing and recording a three to five minute audio essay expressing their views on this year's topic, "Does America Still Have Heroes?" Students' recordings are first judged at the post level with winning recordings advanced for judging at district, state and national levels. Monetary awards are given at each level. The top winner in each state earns a free trip to Washington, D.C. and the first place winner in the national competition receives a $30,000 scholarship plus the awards issued at the post, district and state levels. Student entries including the recording, typed copy of the essay and a complete application are due to our post by Nov. 1. For complete details regarding this exciting competition, call Post Democracy chairman, Lowell Reiser at (847) 683-3443 or see the Web site at www.vfw.org under youth scholarships. This competition is sponsored by the VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary throughout the country and has attracted over seven million participants in its 60-year history. An award presentation will be scheduled later this year to honor the top winners in our post competition.

Hampshire VFW Auxiliary: Hampshire Ladies Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8043 will meet at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12 at Hampshire Township building, 100 Center St., Hampshire. For details, call (847) 683-3443. The "All Holiday Gift Basket" raffled off at Coon Creek Days was won by Kathy Cahoon and the solar light that was donated was won by Linda Cahoon. The "All Holiday Gift Basket" at Burlington Fall Fest was won by Betty Reiser, all proceeds from the donations will be used for the Scholarships at Hampshire and Burlington Central high schools. At the social meeting Sept. 14, the following 50-year members, Joyce Deutsch and Joan Theis were honored. The other two 50-year members, Norma Diedrick and Jean Schendel, are out of state. The members were presented with their respective 50-year membership pin.

Henpeck HCE: The Henpeck Unit of Kane County Association for Home and Community Education met, for the first time in the 2009-2010 year, on Sept. 8 at the home of Betty Nissen in Hampshire. Business at this meeting centered around selection of hostesses for meetings and assignment of local leaders for lessons throughout the year. The next meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 13 at the home of Peggy Gross in Hampshire. A lesson on "Violence Across the Lifespan: Who It Affects and How You Can Help" will be presented by Mary Ann Harter. Guest speaker Ruth Peterson, community educator from the Community Crisis Center in Elgin, will describe services available to residents of Hampshire. Guests are welcome; contact Peggy Gross at (847) 683-3826 for details and directions. Membership is open to men and women of any age regardless of race, creed or national origin. For information about the organization or a free membership in the Henpeck Unit, contact Peggy Gross at (847) 683-3826 or Mary Ann Harter at (847) 683-3632.

Elgin Area Women's Connection: The Elgin Area Women's Connection will meet from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 14 at the Villa Olivia Country Club, Route 20 in Bartlett for a holiday craft, bake sale, auction and luncheon. Shop for autumn, Thanksgiving and Christmas crafts, gifts and baskets and treats from the kitchen. Bid on items in silent and live auctions. Enjoy lunch and hear inspirational speaker Tempe Brown of South Carolina, a former nightclub singer, tell how she tried to put the "puzzle of life" together without seeing the box lid. For reservations, call Jan at (630) 837-2632 or Carolyn at (630) 213-1205 or e-mail Car644@gmail.com by Monday, Oct. 12. Cost for luncheon meeting is $15 inclusive, with complimentary child care.

Fox Valley Bicycle and Ski Club: The Fox Valley Bicycle and Ski Club will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14 at the Batavia Public Library, 10 S. Batavia Ave. The topic will be "Professional Bike Racing: 1970s vs. Today." John Van de Velde, an Olympic cyclist from the late 1960s, raced professionally in Europe in the '70s. He comes from a cycling family with roots in Belgium. John's son, Christian, has continued in the family tradition and placed eighth overall in the 2009 Tour de France. John will show a 5-minute clip of Christian, and discuss racing in the '70s, as compared to today. He was a member of the Italian racing team in the popular movie, "Breaking Away." He will give some tips on how to deal with rude and dangerous motorists and how to be safe on the road. He remains active in promoting the sport of bicycle racing.

Boy Scout Troop 43: Boy Scout Troop 43 of Carpentersville will be selling hoagies from now until Oct. 9. It features salami, provolone cheese and prosciutto on a fresh six-inch Gonnella hoagie bun, topped with fresh onions, tomatoes, olive oil and their special secret ingredient. Plain or hot and spicy hoagies are $4.50. You can purchase your freshly made hoagies for delivery on Saturday, Oct. 17 by calling the Hoagie Hotline at (847) 426-5193. All proceeds will help a Scout go to camp. For information, call Chuck Molenda at (847) 426-5193.

Valley Model Railroad Association: The Valley Model Railroad Association invites you to its open houses from 8 to 10 p.m. on the second and fourth Friday of the month at the club house, 33W519 Kenyon Road, off Route 25 in South Elgin. See the HO layout in progress and watch the trains run. They are open to new members. You can run one of the club members trains for a donation. For details, call (847) 742-2028 or e-mail vmr50@aol.com. Club members will be running HO and G Scale trains at the St. Charles Scarecrow Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 to Sunday, Oct. 11. They also hold their annual November Open House from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20; 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21; and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22.

NARFE: National Active and Retired Federal Employees Chapter 2181 meets at 1 p.m. monthly on the second Tuesday of the month at the American Legion meeting room, 820 N. Liberty St. (Route 25) in Elgin. A guest speaker is usually scheduled on subjects of interest to the group. This month, Maureen Warren will present a program about Eastgate Manor of Algonquin. NARFE membership is open to civilians who are eligible to receive an annuity or survivor annuity from the federal retirement programs of any agency of the U.S. government including: retirees, current employees, spouses and Surviving spouses of those eligible to join NARFE, former employees, a former spouse who is legally entitled to a federal survivor annuity. Lunch is available in the American Legion lunchroom before the meeting. For information, call Nick Hyser at (847) 741-5772. Visit www.narfe.org/chapter2181.

Plato Center HCE: The Plato Center Unit Home and Community Education will meet at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 at the Plato Town Hall, 10N394 Rippburger Road. The hostesses are Sue Metz and Verlene Schroeder. The lessons for Living will be "Healthy Eating: Fruits and Vegetables" presented by Nancy Haire and Joan Ziethen. There will be a synopsis on the lesson on China given at the August Open House presented by Nancy Haire and Joan Ziethen. We will be celebrating HCE week Oct. 11-17. There will be a display at Books at Sunset and Trefons Family Restaurant in Elgin. To attend this meeting or any of the other unit meetings, call Joan at (847) 931-8120 or the Extension Office at (630) 584-6166. Guests are welcome.

Carpentersville VFW: The Carpentersville Veterans of Wars Post 5915 Ladies Auxiliary is having a spaghetti dinner on Saturday, Oct. 17 at the post home, 301 Lake Marian Road. Everyone is welcome. Dinner will be served from 5 to 8 p.m. The dinner consists of salad bar, garlic bread, Italian sausage, homemade meatballs and spaghetti sauce and dessert with coffee, tea, or milk. Admission is $8 per person and children from age 4 to 10 eat for half price. The main portion of the proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society and the remainder will go to other community projects that the VFW supports.

McHenry County WIM: Kathy Sierminski, a McHenry County certified public accountant, will be the featured speaker at McHenry County Women in Management's October luncheon. The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Shah Center for Corporate Training and Illinois Small Business Development Center, 4100 W. Shamrock Lane, McHenry. Sierminski's presentation will cover recent changes in tax legislation and their impact on personal and business taxes. She also will discuss retirement planning and contribution limits. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

A tax specialist, Sierminski has been serving the financial needs of Chicago area clients since 1987. She has been a solo practitioner since 2006, offering tax and financial expertise and personal service.

She holds a Masters in Accounting from Northern Illinois University. She is a member of the Illinois CPA Society and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She serves on the boards of a number of community organizations including the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce, the Wonder Lake Neighbors Food Pantry and McHenry County Women in Management. Cost per person is $20 for both members and guests. To make a reservation or for more information, call (815) 363-2693, visit www.wimonline.org or e-mail mchenrycounty@wimonline.org,

VFW Post 2298: The Tri-City Evergreen Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2298 will host Octoberfest from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at the post home, 117 S. First St. in West Dundee. Enjoy good food, good company and good music. For details, call Pete or Fran (847) 426-2205. Post 2298 will host a Turkey Party at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7, at the post home. Doors open at 6 p.m. so come early and stake out your chair. For details, call (847) 428-9006.

HCE: At the Sept. 23 city council meeting, Elgin Mayor Ed Schock proclaimed the month of October as Kane County Association for Home and Community Education. The first week, Oct. 4-10, will be devoted to 4-H club and Oct. 11-17 will be devoted to HCE. Displays will be on exhibit at Books at Sunset, 1100 South St. and Trefons Family Restaurant, 1569 Larkin Ave. Kane County Association for Home and Community Education is dedicated to addressing the issues of community outreach, cultural enrichment, family living, international study, public relations and community involvement for the entire population of Kane County. For information about HCE and the 10 units in Kane County, call the Extension Office at (630) 584-6166.

Fox Valley Beaux Arts: Fox Valley Beaux Arts will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20 in the community area room of The Greens at 801 N. McLean Blvd., Elgin. The program will feature music from Judson University with pianist Jin Young Lee and guitarist Ben Esch. Beaux Arts welcomes guests to join members for an enjoyable evening of music. For information about the October meeting or to become a member of Beaux Arts, call Marge Haefliger at (847) 697-7374.

Rutland Township Historical Society: The Rutland Township Historical Society will present a program on "The Schroeder Cemetery" at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23 at the Rutland Township Hall, 16N491 Powers Road, Gilberts. The program will be given by Linda Eder and Jane Smith of the Kane County Genealogical Society. In 1845, Isaac and Sarah George deeded one acre of their farm to 21 pioneers in Dundee and Rutland townships as a "burying ground." The program is a detailed study of the land and includes a biography of Albro Gilbert who owned the farmland where the village of Gilberts is now located. After the presentation, refreshments will be served. For information, call Carol Peschke at (847) 888-4941.

Prairie State LIFE Organ Club: October will be a busy month for the Prairie State LIFE Organ club. Many members will be preparing to enter a contest with the Lowrey Company. The focus will be on using the many features found on the organs. Compositions will be judged in December. On Saturday, Oct. 24, the club will host its next LIFE meeting with a potluck lunch beginning at 11 a.m. It will have a Halloween theme. For details, call (847) 741-3324.

VFW Post 1307: The Ladies Auxiliary to Veterans of Foreign Wars 1307 will host a fall festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1 at the post home, 1601 Weld Road, Elgin. It will feature a basket raffle, bake sale, and a used cookbook sale. There will be Vendors from Watkins, Tupperware, Pampered Chef, and Tastefully Simple available for your shopping convenience. The Ladies Auxiliary will be serving a Chili and Cornbread luncheon for $3 from noon to 2 p.m. Desserts will be available. The Fall Festival is a fundraiser to support national military services and other VFW programs. Come join us for an afternoon of fun and show your support of veterans past, present and future.

Huntley American Legion: Huntley American Legion Post 673, 11712 Coral St., will host its annual "Feather Party" from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Nov. 7. The Legion will be raffling off turkeys, hams, ducks, steaks, and other items. The Legion will also provide free turkey sandwiches. Many door prizes will also be given away. Everyone is welcome. You could go home a Big Winner. You do not have to be a member of the Legion to participate in this community event. The American Legion is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving veterans, their families, and the community. It is the Legion's largest fundraiser of the year. The proceeds help achieve those goals to support many charitable donations.

Elgin AAUW: Independent Players and the Elgin Chapter of the American Association of University Women will sponsor a "Femmeprov Workshop" from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. There will be a performance at 8 p.m., which will be open to the public. The registration fee is $30 and includes lunch, snacks, and a T-shirt. It is open to women over the age of 16. Scholarship aid available to seniors, students, and minority women from the Fox Valley community. Women will be selected from this workshop for performances at The Red Bar Winery in Elgin. To register, contact Gareth Mann Sitz at garethsitz@sbcglobal.net or (847) 695-6719.

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 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.

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.