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. Details: phyljames@yahoo.com

CLUB HISTORY

The Illinois Snowbird Club originated in 1997. Approximately forty to forty five residents from the Bloomington-Normal area met at Hazel’s Restaurant for coffee and to discuss the possibility of forming a State Club. In 1997, the first official club meeting was held at Dempsey’s Restaurant under the leadership of Dottie Peiffer. The club left this site after a fire at the restaurant and the meetings were moved to Zeke’s. In 1998 we had eighty three members.

New growth in the club changed our meeting site again. The Club moved the 1999 breakfast buffet meetings to the Outrigger Restaurant, with one hundred eighty two members at the first meeting.

The year 2000 brought a new slate of officers, under the direction of President John Moore. Our growth continued as our attendance reached two hundred for the first time.

In the year 2001, our club again moved its meetings to the Kirkland’s Hitchin Post Restaurant, under the leadership of President Dick Vanderbosch. Rapid growth continued as we passed the two hundred twenty five attendance mark.

The 2002 season brought yet another new meeting place.  Perdido Pass Restaurant (formerly Buccaneer & Shirley & Waynes) was our new home.  The Perdido Pass Restaurant is in Orange Beach just west of the Bruno Supermarket on Highway 182.

Today we have a total of four hundred fifty eight members who enjoy wintering in the Gulf Coast area. Our members represent one hundred thirty towns and cities in Illinois.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

The overall theme of the club is to make the Gulf Coast community a better place to live and vacation through our participation in social and cultural events. Along with the social aspects, the club has direct involvement with the Snowbird Brat Fest, the Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Parade, and the Snowbird Play.

Many other volunteer opportunities are made available to the members at the breakfast meetings. Members are then encouraged to consider these causes and to share a portion of their talents for the good of our Gulf Coast Community. Many of our members are doing so today.