There's a busy early-winter schedule among our Gulf Coast area "Snowbird Clubs' activities and events:

Illinois: A Welcome Back Coffee kicks off a busy 2013 activity schedule at 10 a.m. Jan. 4 at the Orange Beach Adult Activity Center at 26251 Canal Road, Orange Beach, Ala. Breakfast meetings are 7:45 a.m. Fridays at Lulu’s at Homeport Marina, 200 E. 25^th Ave., Gulf Shores, every two weeks starting Jan.11.  The club meets through March 8. Other activities include golf outings, book club, Snowbird play, day trips, games and more. Other January activities include: Jan. 16 – Potluck and Games, 10 a.m. at the Gulf Shores Activity Center, 260 Clubhouse Dr., Gulf Shores; Jan 24 – Book Club, 9:15 a.m. at Summer House Condos, 102-B, Gulf Shores and Jan. 30 – Fairhope Guided Tour, cost is $20. Social activities contact Marilyn Edwards 251-948-2878, Details: Gpott45@aol.com .

INDIANA: Club meetings including Jan. 10, 24; Feb. 14, 18 and March 14 at 8 a.m. at Lulu’s Homeport.  The club will support several Snowbird community fundraisers and will be looking for volunteers. The club also needs help managing publicity – anyone interested contact Brad Stryker bradnjos@peoplepc.com. Suggestions for activities are also welcomed. Contact Gene Blastic 574-772-5556 or jecjblastic@mchsi.com

MICHIGAN: The first registration for 2013 is noon-2 p.m. Jan. 2 at Harry Roberts Community House and golf signups will also be that day. Club meeting dates are Jan. 10, 24; Feb. 7, 21 and March 7 at Erie Meyer Civic Center in Gulf Shores. Doors open at 8:30 a.m.; coffee and donuts available at 9:15 a.m. and the meetings start at 10 a.m. Details:  www.michiganclubalabama.com or email michiganclub1995@yahoo.com or Charlie Arensmeier, club president 517-230-3524

Minnesota:  December arrivals meet on Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. at the American Legion, 6781 Alabama 59, Gulf Shores.  The club meets the first Tuesday in January through mid-March at LuLu’s Homeport Marina, 200 E. 25th Ave., Gulf Shores, for a buffet breakfast. The doors open at 8 a.m. and food is available at 8:30 a.m. The cost is $8.50 including tax and gratuity. The club started nearly 20 years ago and still has an informal format with no dues or officers and meetings are manned by volunteers. There also is a website: www.mnal.org and a link to the club’s email contact

MISSIOURI: The Missouri Snowbird Club meets January through March. Regular meetings are held at 9 a.m. every other Wednesday at the Phoenix V Condos conference room. Bi-weekly breakfast meetings have been moved to 9 a.m. at Cobalt’s 28099 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach. The price is $10 plus tip. Dates include Jan. 9, 23; Feb. 6 and 20. Members participate in a golf scrambles every Wednesday afternoon. Sign up for the club’s regular Trivia Night fundraiser will move to the Orange Beach Event Center at The Wharf. Date is Feb. 16 and the event is a fundraiser for Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Libraries. Tables of eight cost $120. Bring your own snacks, table decorations and libations.  Details: www.mosnowbirds.org. Trivia Night contact: Judy Collier 314-609-0275.

NEW YORK: Luncheons at Shipps Harbor, Jan. 10, 24; Feb. 7 and 21 and March 7.  Start gathering at 11.  No fee to join club.  251-981-1246

NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA: The North and South Dakota Snowbird club meets at 9 a.m. Hazel’s Seafood Restaurant, 25311 Perdido Beach Blvd. Orange Beach the second and fourth Tuesdays in January and February and the second Tuesday in March.  The club is open to anyone who has a connection or affection for the Dakotas.

OHIO: The club will meet several times in December for the early arrivals, including an early dinner at 4 p.m. Dec. 28 at DeSoto’s.  Regular breakfast meetings start Jan. 2 at 8 a.m. and are staged  at LuLu’s Homeport Marina, 200 E, 25^th Ave. Gulf Shores the first and third Wednesdays including Jan. 16, Feb. 6, 20 and March 6 with a possible addition on the 20^th. Reservations should be made the Sunday before the breakfasts. Contact: Dick Haberstroh 513-702-0639.

PENNSLYVANIA: Breakfast meetings are 8 a.m. Jan. 2, 9, 23 and 30; Feb. 6, 13 and 27 and March 6 and 13 at Hazel’s Seafood Restaurant in Orange Beach. Potluck luncheons are noon Jan. 16 and Feb. 20 at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church. The club also has several “Eat and Talks” with dates to be announced. Details: Rich Smith 908-420-8806.

WISCONSIN: The Wisconsin Snobird Club has already been busy with breakfast and lunch meetings for the early arrivals. Dec. 25 – Christmas Dinner 12:30 p.m. at Orange Beach Community and Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve at the Beau Rivage Casino and Resort. The club will also be making a trip to see the Holiday Ice Spectacular at the Beau Rivage but the date has not yet been announced. The first meeting for 2013 is Jan. 2 at the Orange Beach Community Center with a board meeting to follow. Other January key dates include: Jan. 9 – Breakfast, 8:30 p.m. at Tacky Jack’s in Gulf Shores (reserve at the meeting or 251-554-4889; Jan. 14 – Historic Pensacola trip; Jan. 16 – Meeting 8:30 a.m. Orange Beach Community Center;  Jan. 19 – Trip to New Orleans; Jan. 22-23 Biloxi Overnight Casino Trip; Jan. 23 – Potluck, 11:30 Orange Beach Community Center; Jan. 26 – Senior Bowl Trip; Jan. 28-29 Golf Fun Days (sign up at meetings) and Jan. 30 – City of Fairhope Trip. The club also offers golf outings Monday and Tuesdays and cards on Friday mornings. Details: sites.google.com/site/wisconsinsnowbirdclub/home. To become a member you can either join at the meetings or email wissnobirds@yahoo.com or Cal Thuot at fayecal@juno.com.  The club president is Kenn Krouse 251 967 2463.