DESTIN

“The Roost” – the winter home of the Destin Snowbird Club – will have its 2009-2010 ribbon-cutting at 2 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Destin Community Center located at 101 Stahlman Ave. in Destin.

Club registration will follow the ribbon cutting. Registration will also be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 7 and 14 with general meetings on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. December 1, 8 and 15. Each Tuesday in January and February two meetings are held: 8:30 and 11 a.m. to accommodate the club’s membership which numbers about 3000 each season. The Fort Walton High School Jazz Club will provide entertainment at the Dec. 1 meeting and Kim Cannon, Dec. 8. A holiday craft show will open at 9 a.m. prior to the Dec. 15 meeting. The club will gather at Old Time Pottery at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 12 for the Destin Christmas Parade and at 4 p.m. Dec. 13 at Capt. Kid’s for dinner, Christmas party and Destin Christmas Boat Parade.

Planned activities this year include multiple golf play dates, tennis, participation in area parades, fashion show, craft show, fishing trips, cards and games.

The 2009-2010 Board of Directors include: Margaret Marcella, president; Paul Hewitt, 1st V.P.; Bill Pasel, 2nd V.P.; Ken Lemire, treasurer; Gail Carsons, secretary; Diane Neeb, publicity and Gene Holzer, website.

For information: Diane Neeb, 850-622-5175 or www.destinsnowbirds.4t.com

WALTON COUNTY

The first registration for the season is 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 30 at Faith Assembly Church 306 South Geronimo St. in Miramar Beach. The membership fee is $7. Registration will continue Dec. 7 and 14 and the first general meeting is 10 a.m. Dec. 16.

Registration will continue Jan. 5, 12, 19 and 26 and Feb. 2 and 9 at Faith Assembly Church. General meetings will move to Linkside Conference Center at Sandestin Resort Jan. 7 and Feb. 11 and Santa Rosa Beach Community Church March 4.

The club sponsors a wide variety of activities including Arts and Crafts, Snowbird Dance, Snowbird Singers, Barbershop Chorus, ballroom dancing, tap dancing, line dancing, book discussions,  bowling, bridge,  casino outings,  euchre, charter fishing, golf scrambles, ladies golf,  leagues, picnics, singles club, tennis, ways and means, joys and concerns.

The 2010 leadership includes: Vivek Likhite, past president, Bob Swenson, president, Nancy Gehrke, 1st vice president; Eunice Collins, 2nd vice president; Donna Bruder, secretary; Betty Cardwell, treasurer and Tom Mahar, information officer.

Details: 850-837-5558 or www.waltoncountysnowbirds.com

FORT WALTON BEACH

Registration for the 2010 season will be staged January 5-7 from 11:30 am to 1;30 pm  at the Elks Lodge across from Seaspray on Highway 98.

The first general meeting is 10 a.m. Jan. 12 at the Elks Lodge. You must register to participate in the club’s activities. Membership runs between 300 to 350 Snowbirds each season. Members are encouraged to support the Emerald Coast Concert Association’s 50th anniversary by purchasing concert tickets. The club president is Marvin Hills and Sheena Baker is the secretary. More information will be available at registration in January.

PANAMA CITY BEACH

NOAH’S Ark Snowbird Ministry in Panama City has a full roster of activities for snowbirds all winter long, including several holiday events. Organizational meetings are held from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Dec. 7, 14, 21 and 28.

Worship services are held each Sunday at 11 a.m., and all faiths are represented in the Snowbird Club. The church holds a winter craft sale on Dec. 12, A Christmas party and show on Dec. 18, and a traditional Christmas dinner, which draws around 100 snowbirds, on Dec. 25. Details: 850-235-7801 or www.noahsarkpcb.com

PENSACOLA BEACH

The Pensacola Beach Community Church will be hosting regular Snowbird activities this winter but is seeking ideas from winter residents. The church celebrated the opening of its new Fellowship Hall this summer which replaced one destroyed in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan. Winter visitors are welcome to join in all church activities. If you have suggestions or want to volunteer, contact Dr. Charles Randle, pastor at 850-932-6628 or www.pbcucc.org

ALABAMA

SENIOR SNOWBIRDS: The first weekly Thursday potluck is Dec. 3 at the Gulf Shores Adult Activity Center at 260 Club House Dr., Gulf Shores. The luncheons are open to anyone but you are asked to bring a dish to feed 8 to 10 people. A 50 cent fee is collected to cover incidentals. Volunteers are needed to help with setup at 11 a.m. and the luncheon starts at 12:30 p.m. Details: Michael O’Rourke, 251-981-2493.

ILLINOIS

The first meeting of the 2010 season is set for 8:30 a.m. Jan. 8 with a Welcome Back Coffee at the Orange Beach Senior Activity Center located at 26251 Canal Road (across from library). Other January events include a 8:15 a.m. Breakfast Meeting on Jan. 15 at Lulu’s in Gulf Shores. The book club will meet at 9:15 a.m. Jan. 19 at Jubilee Landing located on Perdido Beach Blvd., in Orange Beach. The group will take a casino trip Jan. 27 to the Beau Rivage and a second breakfast meeting Jan. 29 at Lulu’s.

Officers include: Gerald “Buck” Buckler, President; Charlotte Gougeon and Donna Troxell, secretaries; Charlie Neff and John Moore, treasures and John James, publicity.

Details: Rich and Nancy Huizinga 251-948-7709 or Bill and Eileen Kolek 251-948-5939

IOWA

The first 2010 outing for the Iowa Club is a breakfast meeting at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 13 at LuLu’s. Other breakfast meeting dates are Jan. 27, Feb. 10 and Feb. 24, also at Lulu’s. Reservation are required. Call Doris Wolf at 251-981-6901 Ex. 5908).

The club will also have a series of cocktail parties including Jan. 22 at Phoenix V, Feb. 5 at Phoenix VII and Feb. 19, Phoenix on the Bay. The parties are from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and participants are asked to bring your own beverage and a dish to share. No reservations needed. The club officers include Betty and Marvin Hastings, co-presidents. Phone 251-981-6901 Extension 1003, MarvinHastings@yahoo.com; Birdie Kisling, publicity, bandbkisling@wesleythevillage.net; Karen Sund, secretary; Kathy Franke, treasurer and Connie White, assistant treasurer. Committee chairs include: Doris Wolf, Low Country Boil 251-981- 6901 Ex. 5908, clintwolf@aol.com ;  A.J. Lang, Brat Fest and Pancake Breakfast and Don Brown, Golf 251-981-6901 Ex. 7101; or golfdrb@aol.com and Ned Ratekin,  Iowa Roster.

MICHIGAN

Early registration for the 2010 Michigan Snowbird Club will be staged from 1 p.m. each Sunday in December at the Harry Roberts Community Center located at 300 E. 16th Ave., Gulf Shores. Members also can sign up for golf at registration. Information on an upcoming Christmas luncheon also will be available. The Michigan Club registered over 1000 members last season.

Details: Patt Gentges 251-981-1811 or snowbird6931p@aol.com

MINNESOTA

Luncheon meetings will be held each Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Gulf Shores American Legion through the month of December.

In January, 2010, breakfast meetings will be held each Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at LuLu’s. Meetings are informal – we are all about conversation and good food.

Weekly golf outings begin in January. Minnesota actively participates with other state clubs in activities that support the local fire departments and the Little Zoo That Could! Check this column for times/places of upcoming events. Food items for the Christian Service Center are always appreciated.

Details: Larry & Nancy Anderson, 251-968.3143

MISSOURI

The meeting schedule for the 2010 season: Jan. 6 & 20, Feb. 3 & 17, 9 a.m. at Phoenix V condominiums located at 24400 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach. The Breakfast schedule: Jan. 13, 27, Feb. 10,, 24, 8 a.m. at The Hangout Restaurant 101 E. Beach Blvd. Gulf Shores. The cost for breakfast is $9. Reservations are now being accepted for the popular Trivia Night hosted by the Missouri Club. The date is Feb. 6, 2010 and the event will be staged at Phoenix West condominium at 23972 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach. Tables of eight cost $100. Last year’s event raised more than $9000 for several area libraries. Details: Judy Collier 314-609-0275.

OHIO

For early birds arriving in December: Breakfast – Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 8:30 am at Hazel’s on the Beach Road;  Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 8:30 am at LuLu’s.

The rest of our breakfast meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday’s of each month at LuLu’s at 8:00 am.  with buffet ready at 8:15 a.m.

There will also be luncheons on the opposite weeks of our breakfast meetings.  Our informal Red Hats and Romeo’s have 3 luncheons planned:  Monday, Jan. 18, 1:00 pm at Winsell’s Oyster House (formerly Ruby Tuesday) Monday, Feb. 8, 1:00 pm at the Magnolia Hotel and Restaurant in Foley, Friday, Mar. 5, 1:00 pm at Bahama Bob’s.

Officers for 2010 include: Sharon Goodwin, president; Bob Hofacker, vice-president; Marge Vetter, secretary; Gayle Hofacker and Asst. Ron Rose, treasurer; Gayle & Bob Hofacker and Mary & Gene Lawson, membership committee and Carolyn Rooks & Clovis Hagood, activities committee.

Please call Gayle Hofacker at 251-540-7745 by the Monday before each meeting or email her a gayliano13@embarqmail.com

PENNSYLVANIA

The club will return to its regular breakfast location at Hazel’s Restaurant, 25311 Perdido Beach Blvd in Orange Beach. Breakfast starts at 8 a.m. with meeting to follow at 8:30 a.m. Meeting dates are Wednesdays: Jan 6, 13, 17; Feb. 3, 10 and 24 and March 5 and 12. Potluck lunches are schedule for Jan. 20 and Feb. 17 at 11 a.m. at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church 616 Fort Morgan Road, Gulf Shores. Two Eat and Talk gatherings are scheduled for 5 p.m. Jan. 29 and Feb. 26 at Hazels.

Details: Jerry Lindenmuth  251-981-6821 or Howard Wise 814-422-8207 until Dec. 27 or 251-201-1232 after Jan. 3,

WISCONSIN

The early birds from the Wisconsin Club enjoyed several breakfast and lunch gatherings in October and November. Club members will mark the Thanksgiving Holiday Nov. 26 with a group dinner from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Orange Beach Community Center. Other upcoming events include: Dec. 2, 11:30 a.m. lunch at The Hangout; Dec. 5, Cruise; Dec. 9 8:30 a.m. breakfast at The Hangout; Dec. 16 lunch at Wolf Bay at Zeke’s Landing and a Christmas luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 25 at the Orange Beach Community Center. The first general meeting is 8:30 a.m. Jan. 6, 2010 at the Orange Beach Community Center. Club president is Kenn Krouse 251.967.2463 or wissnobirds@yahoo.com