From the clubs

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

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. The speaker will be Bob Mrachek of the Colonial Funeral Home on funeral planning.

The May meeting will be on Getting to Know One's Self. Refreshments will be served. For information call Glenn at (815) 477-1952 or Fran at (847)-658-7222.

Algonquin Garden Club: The Algonquin Garden Club will sell perennials dug from members' gardens and flowers for Mother's Day from 8 to 11:30 a.m. May 10.

The sale will be at the Algonquin Town Center near Butera Grocery east of the Fox River on Algonquin Road (Route 62).

Mark your calendar and come early.

Would you like to be a Garden Club member?

Algonquin Garden Club is starting a new season of learning and planting for the beauty of our parks. This is an active club that enjoys great programs and outings aside from planting and weeding. The group welcomes new members. Call Jean (847) 458-1770 for details.

USA Dance: Goodbye winter, hello spring. Celebrate at "Spring Time, Swing Time" from 7:30 to 11 p.m. April 19 at the Sage Ballroom of Lakeside Legacy Arts Park, home of the historic Dole Mansion, 401 Country Club Road, in Crystal Lake. Doors open at 7 p.m.

A free Lindy Hop 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 please no jeans or gym shoes.

The event is being presented by Greater Fox Valley Chapter of USA Dance, a not-for-profit organization. Visit their Web site at www.dancefoxvalley.org or call Walt at (815) 337-6860 or Jackie at (847) 639-8699. All dances are smoke-free and alcohol-free.

Upcoming chapter dances are: May 17, "Salute to the Fox Trot;" June 14, "Papa Loves Mambo;" July 12, "Red Hot Rumba;" Aug. 16, "Lemon Merengue;" Sept. 20, "Two to Tango;" Oct. 18, "Happy Days Hop" (East Coast Swing).

Fox Valley SHRM: On April 17 the Illinois Fox Valley SHRM welcomes Kathleen Caldwell, president of Caldwell Consulting Group LLC. This interactive session will teach you how to take your career and HR team to the next level of effectiveness.

Illinois Fox Valley SHRM meets at Hennessy Restaurant in Elgin, just north of I-90 off Randall Road, the third Thursday of every month for a luncheon with versatile programs directed toward the Human Resource Professional.

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 $20; $40 for nonmembers.

Elite Forces: Chapter VI-Elite Forces, 173rd Airborne Brigade Association meets at 8 p.m. the second Friday of the month at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1307, 1601 Weld Road in Elgin. All veterans of the 173rd are invited to attend meetings and participate in activities. For information, call (630) 777-8574 or e-mail to rgetz173@yahoo.com.

Signal Hill DAR: Signal Hill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will hold a Genealogy Workshop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Barrington Area Library, Room "A" on first floor, 505 N. Northwest Hwy., Barrington.

Debbie McArdle, a member of Kishwaukee Trail Chapter NSDAR will present the program: "Do These Genes Make Me Look Fat." The presentation will show how DNA testing can be used in genealogy research.

Following the program, Helen Palmer and the DAR Membership Task Force, as well as chapter members, will be available to assist those who are interested in DAR Membership.

Anyone who would like to know more about the NSDAR, interested in becoming a prospective member or researching their family history is invited to attend this free meeting.

A light breakfast and lunch will be served.

• Signal Hill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will welcome the spring season on April 15 at the Barrington Area Public Library, first-floor room B, 505 N. Northwest Hwy., Barrington.

The business meeting will be at 11:30 a.m. with a social period and refreshments to follow at noon.

At 1 p.m., Tom McCarthy will present a timely program "Conservation -- What We Can Do." McCarthy is the manager of the McHenry County Land and Facilities.

Hostesses for the day will be Pat Esposito of Sleepy Hollow, Bonnie Free of Barrington, Lois Lee of Barrington Hills, Janice McGrath of St. Charles and Jeanette Muench of Crystal Lake.

To be eligible for membership, a woman must be no less than 18 years of age and able to prove her lineage to an ancestor who aided in the cause of American Independence through military, civil or patriot service. Club members will help prospective members trace their ancestry. A free lineage workshop, open to the public, will be held April 12 and private assistance also may be arranged.

Anyone needing to know more about membership or the lineage workshop may contact Leslie Rohrer at (847) 587-5301 or Joanne Farrell at (815) 603-7824.

CAGG-NI: The Computer-Assisted Genealogy Group of Northern Illinois meetings are held at 10:30 a.m. the third Saturday of each month at the Schaumburg Township District Library, 130 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg.

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.

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.

BNCA: The second "Exploring Art" program, sponsored by the Barrington/Northwest Community Associates, focuses on the well-known Impressionist painter, Henri Matisse. A "favorite" presenter returns to the Barrington Area Library on April 23 to captivate her audience with intriguing details about the life and art of this illustrious French painter. Lanni Ori has entitled her discussion "The Joy of Matisse" and will explore the long and varied career of this master painter who became renowned for his brilliant use of vibrant color, rhythmic line and bold pattern.

An art historian, Ori's expertise and vivacious personality promise an engaging presentation for all those who attend. A noted book reviewer and discussion leader, Ori also is a member of the Barrington Hall of Fame.

This lecture is available to B/NWCA members and to guests. Reservations are not necessary and there is no charge for this program. For more information, call Mary Wajda at (847) 991-1207.

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 on 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 the 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.

Mothers & More: 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.

• Mothers & More of McHenry County will hold an Open House event from 6:30 to 8 p.m. April 21 at the Algonquin Public Library, 2600 Harnish Drive in Algonquin behind Target off Randall Road.

This great group provides a wide array of monthly programs to support the many interests and needs of mothers as individuals. Women share experiences and develop friendships through social, informational and outreach programs, as well as events that include their children/families.

• Energy and health are essential parts of all of our lives. Join Mothers & More of McHenry County as we evaluate various ways to improve six aspects of health.

Carla Gibson of Perfect Wellness will discuss choices that we can make in eating, drinking, exercising, breathing, resting and, most importantly, thinking. We'll also learn about neurological re-patterning and simple exercises to keep your body out of "fight or flight" mode and in "relaxing and repairing" mode to improve overall health.

Carla is certified in the Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique. She helps people to take charge of their health and remove interferences that may keep them from reaching health and life goals.

The presentation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. April 28 at LaBahn Hain House, 149 Hilltop Drive, Lake in the Hills. To R.S.V.P., call (630) 606-9508 or e-mail to tetons@foxvalley.net

Mothers & More is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of mothers. We support mothers as individuals and promote the value of all of the work that mothers do.

For more information about Mothers & More or this program, call Deb Kolk at (815) 308-5722 or check out the Web site at www.mchenrymothers.org. Join the group for refreshments, a drawing for a one-year membership and an informative night out.

Huntley Jaycees: The Huntley Jaycees meet at 7 p.m. every third Monday of the month at Sammy's Restaurant, 11012 Route 47.

For more information call Mike Thackwray at (847) 833-8724.