The Illinois Snowbird Club welcomed 172 members and guests to LuLu’s Homeport Marina on Friday.

The previous Tuesday we had our putt-putt tournament at Waterville in Gulf Shores. We played 36 holes, two each with one hand, opposite hand, croquet mallet, foot and scramble. We enjoyed perfect weather and numerous holes-in-one.

On Thursday, 124 golfers participated in the Illinois Snowbird Golf Outing. The fog lifted and we enjoyed a cloudy day 25 degrees warmer than last year!

Thursday we will have a picnic at noon at Orange Beach Waterfront Park.

The next breakfast meeting is March 11 at 8:15 a.m. (doors open at 7:45) at LuLu’s in Gulf Shores. The cost is $8 Reservations need to be made by Tuesday by calling Rich and Nancy Huizinga at 251-948-7709 or Bill and Eileen Kolek at 251-948-5939.

John James

Illionis Snowbird Club Publicity Chair

Indiana Club

It was a warm morning, with soft breezes in the air; not at all unpleasant for an early morning breakfast at LuLus with friends, co-workers, and fellow Hoosiers at the fourth breakfast for the Indiana Snowbird Club.

President Doris Gammon got the crowd moving through the serving line and then entertained them with a multi-faceted monologue, mostly humorous, about her life as a Missouri native, transplanted to Indiana with her husband, Chuck, an Indiana native. “Can you believe I was born in a log cabin”? she asked the 155 in attandance as she gave the crowd a “short history of her life.”

After being served the buffet breakfast, the group was ready for some action, and that’s when Carol Powell, originally from Memphis, Tenn., but now a resident in lower Baldwin County, began her presentation for “Habitat For Humanity.” The crowd perked up for this, for many had a connection with “Habitat” in their home areas.

Carol’s talk, titled “Building Houses,”, focused on her 10 years as a volunteer, particularly with “Women’s Build” projects. Carol displayed her shirt with a phrase “Women’s Build — A Different Kind Of Housework” on the back, a shirt she is proud to wear. If you are wondering about a woman-built house, Carol said you can stop worrying. On inspection, a woman-built house has often been called the “best-built.”

 The Habitat Story has a connection with all walks of life. It is a Christian Housing Ministry. It is a non-profit agency, so makes no profit or interest on the loans that encompass transferring a newly built home to a needy family. Habitat counts on several national sponsors for materials when purchased, and they always count on the new owners’ “sweat equity” which is at least 400 hours of volunteer labor in the build project. Carol reported that Women’s Build has completed its 12th house in Baldwin county since 1999.

Charlotte McClurg, club secretary, reported that membership address lists have been completed, and copies where distributed. The club has a total membership of 213 this year. Shirley Plank announced the club treasury’s balance as $673.60. Mike Raters noted some programs taking place on Fat Tuesday including the seventh Annual Mardi Gras Party at LuLus, starting at 10 a.m.    Gary McClurg thanked all of his volunteers for the Bratfest, and for the Pancake and Sausage Breakfast, reminding everyone that next year, the club’s job will be in clearing tables.

Doris Gammon asked for volunteers to step forward who would be willing to take over the secretary’s job, and also the treasurer’s job next year. Contact her if you think you can do it!  Beverly Lockhart went over plans for the Low Country Boil food preparation job, which Indiana would be going to directly from the breakfast.

Shirley Mowry, special events chair, related several project she had been working on, especially a Dolphin Cruise today.

Jan Thomas will be planning a cruise project next year, and also a possible Alaskan Cruise for August 2012, encouraging those interested to plan ahead.

John Noonan, asked for name badges to be returned to him, if you are planning to leave for home before next meeting. He will keep the badges until you return next fall. You can keep the badges, too, but plese remember to bring them with you when you next return to the wonderful gulf coast of Alabama.

The next, and final, meeting for the Indiana snowbird Club will take place on March 10, at LuLus. The program for that morning will be pastor Carl Dickerson talking about his missionary work in Costa Rica.

Brad Strycker

Indiana Snowbird Club publicity

Iowa Club

The Iowa Snowbird Club held its last breakfast meeting Feb. 23,  at LuLu’s Homeport .

President Marvin Hastings introduced our speaker, Kit Alexander, director of environmental engineering for the city of Orange Beach. She took questions from the audience. She described the BP oil spill as having a sweet crude fingerprint, different from the Valdez spill.

It is basically food which causes microbe activity and depletes oxygen levels. It is not a human risk. They are negotiating with BP for money to refurbish the Gulf Shore and Orange Beach beaches. Meetings are being held with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to make sure safety procedures are in place before the deep water oil drilling begins again.

They are encouraged by the good numbers of snowbirds that are here and are optimistic about summer tourism.

 First time attendees were introduced. Pat Collins and Doris Wolf, past presidents of the Iowa Club, talked about all the fun and benefits enjoyed when you are president of the club and we know this will motivate a new president to step forward.

Kathy Frank, treasurer reported contributions will be made to the South Alabama Honor Flight and Coastal Chorale.

Don Brown and Bob Matheson reported on a very active Golf season here. The website has enhanced the program and golfers are encouraged to make sure their e-mail addresses are on the roster.

Reports were also given by Doris Wolf, Low Country Boil Chair and Terry Kiser, web-site and roster keeper.

Thanks were expressed to retiring President and Co-president Marvin and Betty Hastings for their fine leadership of the club.

We look forward to seeing you all at our first breakfast of our new season January 11, 2012 at LuLu’s Homeport.

Safe Travels!

Alberta Kisling, Publicity Chair