From the clubs
McHenry County Chapter of AARP: The McHenry County Chapter of AARP will meet at 1:30 p.m. today at the Fountains of Crystal Lake, on Route 31, one mile north of Route 176. Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley will speak on transportation issues. The April meeting will be on funeral planning.
Refreshments will be served. For chapter information, call Glenn at (815) 477-1952 or Fran at (847) 658-7222.
USA Dance: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day and think green March 15, at "Celtic Cha Cha." The gala presented by Greater Fox Valley Chapter of USA Dance will be held from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Sage Ballroom of Lakeside Legacy Arts Park, home of the historic Dole Mansion, 401 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake. Doors open at 7 p.m.
There will be a grand prize for the couple best representing the spirit of St. Patrick's Day. A free cha cha lesson will be taught by Frank and Jackie Penze from 7:30 to 8 p.m. Also included in admission of $12 for nonmembers and $8 for USA Dance members are appetizers, cake and coffee, and a chance to win door prizes. A play list will be available which suggests what dance to do to each song. DJ Dr. Rod will spin oldies to contemporary hits including ballroom, swing and Latin. Dress code is dressy casual, but no jeans or gym shoes.
The chapter is a not-for-profit organization. Visit the Greater Fox Valley Chapter's Web site at www.dancefoxvalley.org or call Walt at (815) 337-6860 or Jackie at (847) 639-8699. All the dances are smoke free and alcohol free.
Upcoming chapter dances are: April 19, "Spring Time, Swing Time" (Lindy Hop); May 17, Salute to the Fox Trot; June 14, Papa Loves Mambo; July 12, Red Hot Rumba; Aug. 16, Lemon Merengue.
Algonquin Garden Club: The Algonquin Garden Club meeting will be held at 11:30 a.m. March 18 at the home of Jean Vaughn-Krieble. Refreshments will be served by Sandi Paulu and Joyce Marsiglia.
The program is "Reflections on a visit to the Chicago Botanical Garden" by two students from Dundee-Crown High School, a recipient of one of the club's Horticultural Grants, followed by renowned speaker, Carolyn Stein Stillman. The speaker will be costumed as Princess Grace of Monaco, as she dramatizes "My Book of Flowers" by the Princess.
The Algonquin Garden Club is a District 1 club, which is a member of the Garden Clubs of Illinois Inc., Central Region, National Garden Clubs Inc. This active garden club welcomes new members. Call (847) 458-1770 for details.
Huntley Area Branch of AAUW: The Huntley Area Branch of American Association of University Women has begun a new season of exciting programs and events.
For details, call Diane at (847) 669-0848 or e-mail to huntleyaauw@ameritech.net.
• March 15: The group will celebrate St. Paddy's Day with a new twist on the old "wearin' of the green" . . . "The Carin' of the Green"- Women Working to Save Our Environment from noon to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15 at Lake in the Hills Village Hall, 600 Harvest Gate. Admission is free.
Presenters are:
Lisa Haderlein, executive director of The Land Conservancy of McHenry County
Lenore Beyer Clow, policy director of Openlands, a Chicago-based organization that promotes open space preservation in northeastern Illinois, and
Cassandra McKinney, McHenry County water resource manager
Moderator will be Paula Yensen, public policy chair for the AAUW Huntley Area Branch, and a member of the Lake in the Hills village board.
This free program will include brief addresses by each presenter, describing their work on behalf of our environment, followed by an interactive panel discussion session on preserving open space and natural resources in our rapidly-growing suburban area.
The public is invited to participate in the discussion, and to bring their own ideas and questions to the forum. Water quality, which is a topic of concern in our McHenry/Kane County area, will be specifically addressed.
Area agencies or individuals with an interest in these topics are invited to participate. Display space will be provided for anyone who has materials, displays, or other information to share. Display set-up will start at 11:30 a.m.
All area residents and public officials are invited to attend and take part in this opportunity for a dynamic, interactive exchange of ideas on these very important issues, which will affect the quality of life in our communities for decades to come. For details, call Diane at (847) 669-0848 or e-mail: huntleyaauw@ameritech.net.
• March 26: An organizational meeting of the Women of Mystery Book Club meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 26 at the Village Inn Restaurant in downtown Huntley
Admission is free.
Join us for this organizational meeting of the Huntley Area Branch's first book club. Starting in March, the group will meet bi-monthly to share and discuss favorite works of mystery and intrigue, written by Illinois women and/or featuring female protagonists. For this first session, the group will meet at the Village Inn, then discuss suggestions for a permanent meeting place.
Bring a book by your favorite author, and we'll pick one or more titles to read for our next meeting.
NARFE: The National Active and Retired Federal Employees will meet at 1 p.m. March 11. Chapter 2181 meets monthly on the second Tuesday of the month at the American Legion meeting room at 820 N. Liberty St. (Route 25) in Elgin. Lunch is available prior to the meeting in the American Legion lunchroom. Coffee, tea and dessert will be served after the meeting.
The invited guest speaker for the March meeting is World War II veteran, Opal Waldman. She is a Chapter 2181 member. NARFE is the only association dedicated to protecting the earned retirement benefits of federal employees and their survivors.
Charlie Booker, president of the NorthWest Chicago Area Chapter 852, will guest on radio station WJJG-1530 AM at 8:15 a.m. March 29. For chapter information, call Nick at (847) 741-5772.
SHRM: On March 20, the Illinois Fox Valley Society of Human Resource Management welcomes Rich Woodrich and Jim Dickson.
They will journey into how a "Lean Implementation" can transform an organization from the ground up. Join them for an overview of "Lean Practices" and a few of the "Lean Tools," how to start your quest and what to expect once you do.
Illinois Fox Valley SHRM meets on the third Thursday of every month for a luncheon with versatile programs directed toward the human resource professional at Hennessy Restaurant, just north of I-90 off Randall Road in Elgin. Registration is at 11:15 a.m. and the meeting adjourns at 1 p.m.
Interested parties can call (847) 289-7170. The cost for Illinois Fox Valley SHRM members is $20 or $40 for non-members.
McHenry County Legionnaires: McHenry County Legionnaires from all county posts are invited to attend the monthly meeting of the McHenry County Council at 7:30 p.m. March 27 at American Legion McHenry Post 491 at 1331 N. Riverside Drive in McHenry.
The host post is American Legion McHenry Post 451.
For details, call Commander James B. Clark of McHenry Post 491 at (815) 344-2423 or McHenry County Council Commander Robert Howe Jr. at (815) 653-6931.
FCC Book Group: Jenny Lee, CTS Seminarian and FCC Intern will lead a book group for those who like to read and those who want to start reading. Groups meet at 11 a.m. and at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. It is your choice which you would like to attend.
This will be a great opportunity for reading, discussing the work and having fellowship together.
The club meets at First Congregational Church, 461 Pierson St., Crystal Lake. For more information, call (815) 459-6010.
March: "Snow Flowers and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See.
April: "Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia" by Elizabeth Gilber
May: "One Thousand White Women: The Journal of May Dodd" by Jim Fergus.
Pack 457: Cub Scouts from Cary Pack 457 are seeking alumni scouts and leaders to help celebrate the pack's 50th anniversary during various scouting activities throughout 2008.
The oldest Cub Scout pack in Cary, Pack 457 was formed in June 27, 1958. Since then, hundreds of children and adults from Cary have participated in scouting activities through the pack.
The pack wants these alumni to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the pack by participating in 2008 pack activities, including the 50th Pinewood Derby and the 50th Blue and Gold Banquet.
Those who have previously participated in Cary Cub Scout Pack 457 as a scout or a leader are urged to contact Teresa Sheehan, chairman of the Pack 457 50th Anniversary Committee, at (847) 639-3601 or Sheehan.scouting@comcast.net.
Families of Military Personnel: Families of Military Personnel meet from 7 to 9 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at American Legion, 1101 W. Algonquin Road, Lake in the Hills. Families with a loved one enlisted in the uniformed services gather together to learn how to cope with the changes and challenges with military service. Those with loved ones on deployment are especially encouraged to attend. For more information, call (847) 515-7878 or (847) 658-9241 or e-mail to keepitsharp@dis.net; or jake@aap.org.
Mothers and More: The Lake in the Hills Parks & Recreation Department has partnered with the McHenry County chapter of Mothers and More to offer free monthly outings for moms looking to educate and inspire themselves.
A new topic or speaker is presented monthly. Join the group at 7 p.m. at the LaBahn-Hain House, 128 Hilltop Drive, on Monday, March 17, to discuss the benefits of yoga.
• The eighth annual Spring Mothers & More KidStuff Resale will be held from 8 a.m. to noon April 5 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 1023 S. McHenry Ave. at McHenry and Dartmoor, near Crystal Lake South High School, Crystal Lake.
The sale features more than 16,000 items from more than 130 sellers of gently used spring and summer children's clothing, toys and equipment at great prices. Admission fee of $1 per adult shopper or equivalent food pantry item will be donated to the food pantries. Food Pantry patrons will be admitted free.
Proceeds from the sale benefit the Algonquin/LITH and Cary Grove Food Pantries plus support Mothers & More's activities and other outreach projects.
Mothers & More is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of mothers, supporting mothers as individuals and promote the value of all the work that mothers do. Mothers & More is proud to support the community with this sale. We greatly appreciate the support and generosity of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish.
For information call (815) 334-7813 or go to www.mchenrymothers.org
From the clubs To list your club's meetings, e-mail to mchenry@dailyherald.com or fax to (847) 608-0849.