Snowbird Clubs

Destinations

Northern Gulf Coast
Southern Gulf Coast

The GPS: A Fatally Misleading Travel Companion

As you plan your trip South this year you might be tempted to try to find a less congested route.
This story on NPR is a cautionary tale on relying on GPS – a godsend for many of us – to take us off the beaten path.

New York State Snow Bird Club

The New York Snowbirds are flocking to the Florida-Alabama Gulf Coast for another wonderful winter. The New York Snowbirds welcome guest speakers and entertainers to their luncheon events.
In January the group will gather for lunch at Shipp’s Harbor Grill, 27842 Canal Road, Orange Beach.

Illinois Snow Bird Club

There is a Welcome Back Coffee Jan. 7, 9:30 a.m. at the Orange Beach Senior Activity Center followed by the first Breakfast at 8 a.m. Jan. 14 at Lulu’s. Potluck and Games is Jan. 20 at 5 p.m. at the Gulf Shores Adult Activity Center. A Casino Trip is Jan. 27 to the Isle of Capri in Biloxi followed by a Breakfast Jan. 28, 8 a.m. at Lulu’s.

Wisconsin Sno-Birds

Wisconsin Sno-Birds will be meeting at the Orange Beach Community Center, Canal Road, on the first and third Wednesdays of January, February and March in 2012.

February’s events include: Feb 1 – Meeting 8:30 a.m. with board meeting to follow; 4 – Brat Fest and Trivia Night; 8 – Breakfast 8:30 a.m. Longhorn Steak House, 8 a.m. reservation required 251-968-7818; 11 – Gulf Shores Fire Dept. Pancake Breakfast, Casino Trip and Fairhope Mardi Gras Parade; 13 &14 Golf Fun Days; 18 – Dog Track; 21 Fat Tuesday; 22 – Meeting, 8:30 a.m. (note date change); 23 – Picnic Orange Beach Community Center, 11:30 a.m.; 24 – Low Country Boil and 27 – Wisconsin-Michigan Golf Outing, Timbercreek, Noon. Details: Kenn Krouse 251-968-7818.

For extensive Wisconsin Sno-Bird News, https://sites.google.com/site/wisconsinsnowbirdclub/

WHY ALABAMA?

“Like most Snow Birds someone has been someplace and mentioned how nice the area is. So as Snow Birds we migrate there to the Pleasure Island Coast of Alabama as one of the places to come. The reasons why we come here: Dreams of retiring in warm weather. Places where friends are. It is a retirement minded community. The larger cities of Mobile and Pensacola are nearby. The beaches for some are the big draw. The people are friendly and Lastly- NO SNOW!!! ”
Kenn Krouse, Current Wisconsin Sno-Bird President

CLUB HISTORY

Two separate groups with different interest from Wisconsin started meeting at the Dairy Queen in Gulf Shores.

One club was formed from that meeting. They continued to meet at the Dairy Queen until the group increased in size to about thirty members. Several meeting places were used until settling at the Legion Club in Gulf Shores. This was about 1994. The club continued to grow to over two hundred members. At this time the Legion also became too small. In 1999 we started meeting at Wolf Bay Lodge. By the end of the 1999/2000 year we had 356 registered members. Since 2002, our meetings have been held at the Orange Beach Community Center.

WISCONSIN VOLUNTEERS

Our members are active in many area groups and volunteer their time doing after school tutoring, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Libraries, Hospice of Foley; Gulf Shores Zoo, Habitat for Humanity and many others.

Pensacola Area Snowbird Clubs

The Pensacola Beach Community Church invites Snowbirds of all denominations to join in various church activities.

A Snowbird Roost is Jan. 6 at the Perdido Bay Community Center from 11:30 am – 1:30 p.m.

Panama City Snowbird Club

The Noah’s Ark Snowbird Club Member Desk will be open from 9 a.m. until Noon Monday through Thursday. Noah’s Ark is across Front Beach Road and just West of the Days Inn at 12902 Front Beach Road in Panama City Beach.

Also, stop by the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitor’s Bureau from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. on Friday’s for the Winter Visitor Appreciation Days. Pick up a Sun Card which offers discounts at area shops, restaurants and attractions. Receive free coffee and donuts. Details: 850-233-5070 or visitpanamacitybeach.com.

Panama City Beach will host its annual Canada Day Feb. 20 at The Boardwalk Beach Resort, 9450 South Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach, Fla. Tickets for the dinner/dance are $17 per person and usually sell quickly (seating for 1000). They will be sold at The Boardwalk Beach Resort Jan. 17 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a 10 ticket limit. Details: 850-236-2469.

Walton County Snowbirds

The Walton County Snowbirds will open its twenty-second season on Monday, January 3 when Barbara Becker and a staff of fellow volunteers register hundreds of expected snowbirds, 350 of whom have already checked in. New arrivals may expect a warm welcome from representatives of more than thirty-five planned activities that will give plenty of choices to returning and first-time snowbirds when they gather at Faith Assembly Fellowship Hall.

Destin Snowbird Club

The Destin Snowbird Club will hold its “Big Registration” Jan. 3, 2011 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at “The Roost” at the Destin Community Center, 101 Stahlman Drive, Destin, Fla.

Season activities range from golf, tennis, casino trips, games, social outings, quilting and more. The club featured more than 2000 members in 2009-2010.

Ft Walton Beach Snowbird Club

The 2011 Season Fort Walton Beach Snowbird Club Membership Registration is Jan. 4-6 at the Fort Walton Beach Elks Club, Highway 98-East.

The newly renamed Winter Guest Fest (formerly the Senior Snowbird Expo) is Jan. 7 at the Emerald Coast Conference Center, 1250 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE Fort Walton Beach.

FWB Michigan Snowbirds- Michigan Breakfasts are every other week, starting Jan 12 , 9 a.m. at the Ramada Inn in Fort Walton Beach.

Indiana Snowbird Club

The Indiana Snowbird Club will begin their twice-monthly breakfast meetings at 8:15 a.m., Thursday, January 13, 2011 at Lulu’s Restaurant in Gulf Shores. Doors will open at 7:45 a.m. Other meetings will be January 27, February 10 and 24, and March 10, same place and times. You may make reservations by calling Doris Gammon at 981-6901-14153, Beverly Lockhart at 317-432-8708. Meal cost is $8.00, with drink, tip and tax included. A short program is part of every meeting.

Missouri Snowbird Club

The Missouri Snowbirds spend January through February, and for some lucky folks March also, in the Orange Beach, AL, Gulf Shores, AL and the Perdido Key, FL area where they participate in many activities. In addition to the snowbird activities enjoyed during the winter months, members also participate in a few activities in and around the St. Louis area the rest of the year.

Minnesota Snowbird Club

Our club is very casual, with no officers or dues. Volunteers are the essential part of our club and we are involved with the other clubs on the fund raisers. We have trips planned, Red Hat outings, and of course, lots of golf!

The first weekly Tuesday meeting is Jan. 4 at 8 a.m. at Lulus, located on the north side of the Intracoastal Canal Bridge in Gulf Shores.

Michigan Snowbird Club

Where do I start? First of all we are 1200+ strong and growing (except there is no building that can hold over 700 people in the area – We are a social club that has one heck of a good time besides the charity work we do for the area. Every second meeting of the month we have a food drive and every member brings nonperishables to the meeting – we have filled many pick-ups with food.

The Michigan Club will hold five meetings in 2011 in addition to numerous activities and fundraisers.

Pennsylvania Snowbird Club

Our members come from all over Pennsylvania: we stay at the state park, in rented houses and in condos all over Southern Baldwin County. We have no officers, no dues, no by-laws or constitution. We just like to meet and eat breakfast, Pot-luck luncheons and occasional “Eat and Talk” dates.

Ohio Snowbird Club

Ohio Snowbirds Logo Ohio Club, Alabama Gulf Coast

In January, the club will meet the first and third Wednesdays each month at 8 a.m. at Lulu’s. Opposite Wednesdays there will be activities scheduled and the Red Hat group and ROMEOS will meet twice this winter. Participating club members will go on a cruise Feb. 7-12 from Mobile. Space is still available. Contact: Sharon Goodwin 251-971-3410

Who Are the Snowbirds?

Legend has it that the term Snowbird was first used to describe Canadians who often fled the brutal cold weather characteristic of our neighbors to the north.

1,000th Michigan Snowbird Club Member for 2010

1,000th Michigan Club Member for 2010

At the February 18th meeting, the Michigan Club honored their 1,000th member. Kathy Niedzwieki from Grand Rapids, is shown with Duane Davis, President. The club picked up another 63 members at the meeting, and now has a total of !,080 members.

Iowa Snowbird Club

Iowa Club meets for breakfast at 8 a.m., 2nd & 4th Wednesday, January 12th & 26th, February 9th & 23rd. They meet at Lulu’s Homeport on the north side of the Intracoastal Canal Bridge. Contact Doris Wolf at 251-981-6901 ext. 5908 for reservations.

Iowa Snowbirds Club Meeting
Wednesday January 12, 2011
submitted by: Alberta Kisling, Publicity Chair

The Iowa Snowbird Club met Wednesday January 12 at LuLu’s Homeport for breakfast with over 200 present.

President Marvin Hastings introduced Jan Taylor and Linda Spangrud who are chairing a gala 25th Anniversary event promoting literacy. They told of the millions who are dysfunctional due to impaired ability to read and asked for volunteers to help.

Herb Malone, CEO of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism spoke to us about their
summer nightmare due to the oil spill, but feels the worst is past. He said what we can do to help is to continue coming here and to spread the word to others that the deep cleaning is done and they are open for business. They operate two Welcome Centers, a web-site and have many events coming up.

President Hastings introduced first time attendees. He also introduced the Iowa Committee. Doris Wolf reported the tickets are about gone for the Low Country Boil, AJ Lang asked for volunteers for the Brat festival to be held February 5th and the pancake feed February 12th. Terry Kiser has done a great job on our web-site: www.iowa-alabamagulfcoastsnowbirds.org , Don Brown, Bob Matheson and Paul Stemmerman are in charge of the Golf Outings and golfers can sign up for outings on the club’s website or call Bob Brown at 251-980-8509 ext 40509 or Bob Matheson at 251-224-4171.

The first cocktail party will be January 21st at Phoenix V 24400 Perdido Beach Blvd. Orange Beach from 5 to 7 p,m. with Karen Shaffer, Karrol Subbert and Doris Wolf hosting. Bring a dish to share and your own beverage. No RSVP required.

The next breakfast will be January 26th at 8:30 at LuLu’s Homeport, RSVP by Saturday
January 22nd to Doris Wolf at 251-981-6901 ext 5908 or email clintwolf@aol.com .