From the clubs

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

Kane County Genealogical Society: The Kane County Genealogical Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. today in the first-floor meeting room of the Geneva History Center, 113 S. Third St., Geneva.

Guest speaker Grace DuMelle will discuss "Uncovering Your Past in Land Records." Learn how to access a trove of public records that can provide maiden names, death dates, proof of relationships and much more. Once knowledgeable about two types of indexing systems (tract book and grantor-grantee) one can work in any county in the U.S., including Kane, Cook, Lake, and DuPage. Specialized maps and legalese will also be deciphered.

All are welcome. For details, call (847) 697-1029 or visit the society's Web site at www.rootsweb.com/~ilkcgs.

VFW Watch City Post 1307 Ladies Auxiliary: The monthly meeting of the Elgin Veterans of Foreign Wars Watch City Post 1307 Ladies Auxiliary was held Aug 20. The Ladies Auxiliary were represented at the B Co. 1/178 Infantry Farewell Ceremony on Aug. 23 at ECC. The Ladies pray are soldiers will be kept out of harms way.

The Ladies will be marching in Elgin's first Patriot's Military Parade to be held at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 13 at Elgin Community College. Come out see Elgin's first Patriot's Day Parade.

The auxiliary is sponsoring a blood drive in conjunction with Heartland Blood Center from 3 to 7 p.m. Sept. 16 at the VFW Post 1307. The public is welcome. Call Lynnetta (847) 428-3020 for reservations; walk-ins are accepted.

For Make A difference Day, the ladies are doing a two-month food drive, Sept. 1 to Oct. 24, to help the local food pantries. If you would like to donate items, call Kathy at (847) 697-6034 or Lynnetta at (847) 428-3020.

The Auxiliary is launching a project to make and donate lap robes to veterans in VA hospitals and nursing homes. The lap robes can be of any material, knitted or crocheted. The dimensions of the laps robes are 42 by 36 inches and for veterans with catheters the dimensions are 19 by 27 inches. If you would like to donate a lap robe call Mary at (847) 888-2002.

To help the Ladies Auxiliary help past, present and future veterans, call Sue at (815) 477-3322. New members are always welcome.

Elgin Junior Woman's Club: The Elgin Junior Woman's Club will hold a general meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 2 at First Federal Savings Bank, 325 S. Randall Road in Elgin. The club invites any woman in the Fox Valley area to attend who is 18 years or older and has an interest in serving the community. For details, call Sue Lucio at (847) 428-2966.

Golden K Kiwanis: The Elgin Golden K Kiwanis will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 357 Division St., Elgin. The program will be Chuck Emmert on "Does Hydroelectric Power from the Fox River Make Good Economic Sense?" For information, call (847) 741-7176.

Barrington/Northwest Community Associates: Men and women throughout the northwest suburbs who have an appreciation of art and an interest in art-related subjects are invited to attend the annual Fall Membership Tea sponsored by the Barrington/Northwest Community Associates. The tea will take place Sept. 4 at the Presbyterian Church of Barrington, 6 S. South Brinker Road. Tea is at 1 p.m. with program at 1:30 p.m.

Registration is not required; members and guests are welcome. There is no fee.

The tea is held to welcome returning members and to greet newcomers and present the itinerary for the upcoming season. The tea begins at 1 p.m. with assorted condiments, tea/coffee and is followed by a wonderful program.

James Wood, instructor at the Art Institute, will address common queries about artists and the art world. Board chair Carole Bulakowski will explain the 2008-09 itinerary which includes several outstanding excursions and equally interesting local programs focusing on various aspects of art and architecture.

Big Brothers Big Sisters: Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County is kicking off its First-Class Vacation for Two raffle to Hawaii. Proceeds from the raffle will be used to support the youth serving agency's mentoring programs. The First-Class vacation package will include a six-night/seven-day stay at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, Maui, round-trip, first-class airfare for two, limo ride to/from O'Hare International Airport, convertible car rental and $3,000 hotel credit for island excursions, meals, beverages, spa services and parking.

Tickets are available by calling the Big Brothers Big Sisters office at (815) 385-3855 or online at www.bbbsmchenry.org. Only 1,000 tickets will be sold. The drawing will take place Sept. 5. To purchase a ticket or learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of McHenry County, call (815) 385-3855.

Crystal Lake Toastmaster Club: The Crystal Lake Toastmaster Club is holding its Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contest from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6 at Amcore Bank, 5100 Northwest Hwy., Crystal Lake. Community audience members are welcome and invited to attend. Visitors are welcome at all club meetings. For more information about the club visit the club Web site, www.crystallaketoastmasters.org; or contact 2008-2009 club president Connie Bartholomew at (847) 337-1204 or cbartholomew19@yahoo.com. For more information about Toastmasters International and to find additional clubs, go to www.toastmasters.org.

Welcome Club: The Welcome Club of the Fox Valley invites those with an interest in knowing more about the area to attend the general meeting and monthly program at 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Fox Valley Presbyterian Church, 227 East Side Drive in Geneva.

Mickey Miller, administrator of Elderday Center in Batavia, and Kally Klose, a board member and volunteer, will be the special guests. They will share the details of their dedication and love, that have helped them to keep the facility open for the last 10 years, and inspire attendees on how they, too, can be of help.

"No individual will be refused admission to the center due to a financial need," said Miller. "One day I may be having lunch with the 'client of the week' recipient, making arrangements for repairs for the bus, balancing the budget, or opening new doors by writing many grants. I wear many hats."

In addition to the program, new residents to the area, and new club members are encouraged to come to meet all the board members and learn more about the club and the various special interest groups coordinated by members.

Various volunteer activities chairwomen will be there, with signup sheets, and be ready to answer your questions about numerous activities.

Club activities include breakfast, lunch, and dinner outings; group games such as Bunco, bridge, mah-jongg, pinochle, tile rummy, Mexican train dominoes, and scrabble; Lifetstories, a memoir group, mini-book groups, movie and theater outings; a sewing group; a walking group; a special singles group; an end-of-year picnic; informal dinner parties; and more. New activities and interests groups are added frequently by members. Enjoy an evening of seeing old friends, meeting new ones, and making plans for a fun-filled year.

The Welcome Club of the Fox Valley is a social and philanthropic organization for women in the area who are interested in meeting and making new friends through various social and fundraising activities.

Many of members reside in areas around the Fox Valley, including Aurora, Batavia, Bartlett, Elburn, Elgin, Geneva, Lily Lake, Maple Park, North Aurora, St. Charles, South Elgin, Sugar Grove and surrounding areas.

The group meets montly September through June. Each meeting includes a meet-and-greet, which kicks off the meeting, followed by a short general business meeting, an entertaining and informative program.

Past programs have included: Nutrition advice, tips on foolproof cooking, handwriting analysis, ask the attorney, landscaping ideas, interior decorating, identity theft, organizing your home, updating your wardrobe with recyclable or vintage items, crime prevention strategies, and more.

The annual membership fee of $25 provides you with a membership directory and a monthly newsletter that recaps the upcoming monthly events and activities.

For membership information, call Nora at (630) 587-9845, or Carol (630) 513-5773, or visit the Web site at www.welcomeclubfoxvalley.org.

American Needlepoint Guild: The Fox Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild will meet at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at St. John's Lutheran Church, 300 Jefferson St. in Algonquin. They will be taught "Amy's Spring Garden." For supply information, call Jan Hyser at (847) 639-2592.

NARFE: The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association will hold the next meeting at 1 p.m. Sept. 9. 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. Come early and have lunch before the meeting in the American Legion lunchroom. Refreshments will be served after the meeting.

At this meeting there will be a sign up sheet for a tour of Eastgate Manor in Algonquin. If you'd like to sign up via phone, call Henry at (847) 426-5520. The program at the meeting will be presented by Dr. D. Landon, chiropractor, with an office in Elgin.

Join NARFE to know what is going on regarding services and benefits and to support NARFE legislation goals to help save your existing benefits.

Active and retired federal employees and their spouses, widows and widowers from surrounding areas who are interested in becoming a member and also receiving the monthly NARFE Retirement Life magazine are welcome to attend the meetings. Call Nick at (847) 741-5772.

McHenry County AARP: The McHenry County Chapter of AARP will meet at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11 at the Fountains of Crystal Lake on Route 31 one mile north of Route 176. The speaker will be Craig Strubue of Merrill Lynch on seniors better managing their money. In October, the speaker will be Dr. Anthony Probenzano of Osco Drugs on managing medication. Refreshments are served. For chapter information, call Glenn at (815) 477-1952 or Frances at (847) 658-7222.

Stateline Society of Human Resource Management: On Thursday, Sept. 11, Janelle Crowley, human resources director for the city of Woodstock and president of the McHenry County Sheriff's Merit Commission, will discuss the signals of potential workplace violence situations and how to recognize the signs of aggressive behavior. No one is prepared for workplace violence. In nearly eight out of ten cases, killers left behind clear warning signs. In many instances companies fail to identify and/or recognize the signs of trouble in the workplace. USA Today found many employee problems were ignored. This interactive discussion will include findings from real life case studies.

Crowley is a certified assessor and team leader for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. She was nominated and awarded the "Glass Ceiling Award" by The National Center for Women and Policing in Los Angeles for initiating a new hiring process for the McHenry County Sheriff's Department.

The breakfast meeting begins promptly at 7:45 a.m. and will adjourn at 9:45 a.m., meeting at the Family Service and Community Mental Health, 4100 Veterans Parkway in McHenry. Cost to members is $15; cost for nonmembers is $25 payable by cash or check at the door. Reservations are required no later than Sept. 8. For information or to make a reservation, visit the Web site at www.statelineshrm.org. Seating is limited.

• 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.