Club News

September 28, 2008 01:55 am

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The Methuen Youth Hockey Association, will begin its Learn to Skate Clinic and Learn to Play Hockey Clinic Saturday, Oct. 18. Both clinics run every Saturday morning for 26 weeks, through April 2009. Cost is $125 per clinic. Sign-ups will be held at the ice rink at Methuen High School Saturday, Oct. 4, and Saturday, Oct. 11, from 9 a.m. to noon. Register at the rink or complete an online registration form. For more information, visit www.myha.com.

The Massachusetts Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, is seeking gentlemen who are direct descendants of commissioned officers of the United States Army, Navy or Marine Corps who served in the Civil War, 1861-1865. Membership recruitment is continuous and ongoing. The purpose is to honor those who fought to preserve the Union and free the slaves. For more information, write to P.O. Box 955, Salem, NH 03079; call 603-898-4286; or e-mail rtlionheart1191@yahoo.com.

The Groveland Garden Club, is seeking new members. Meetings are the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Red School House. Prospective members need only to have an interest in gardening. Meetings include horticultural tips from members, paid speakers and refreshments. For more information, call Gail Dickson at 978-372-7675.

The Moving On Group of the Merrimack Valley, is having its 20th anniversary reunion Sunday, Oct. 5. The Moving On Group is a bereavement group for senior widows and widowers. Call Betty Cuddy, coordinator, at 978-683-8456 to join or to purchase tickets for the reunion.

The Derry Lions Club, meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at the Marion Gerrish Community Center in Derry, N.H. Call 234-2731.

The Men's Book Club, meets on the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Hampstead Public Library, Hampsead, N.H. Call 329-6411.

The Hampstead Garden Club, meets every third Wednesday at the Hampstead Congregational Church, Hadley Hall, Hampstead, N.H., at 7 p.m. Members gather to learn, create, teach and share information about all aspects of gardening with others who love gardening. Call 329-6205 or thandel426@comcast.net.

The Granite State African Violet Society, meets on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. (except January and July) at the Marion Gerrish Community Center in Derry, N.H. There are regular workshops, plant and leaf sales, and swaps. New members and visitors are always welcome. For more information and/or directions, call Connie at 887-3154.

English Conversations Circles, Mondays from 10 a.m. to noon and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Nevins Memorial Library. The morning session is on a drop-in basis. Registration is required for the evening session. To register, call 978-686-4080, ext. 32.

A weekly drum circle, for interested students, faculty, staff, and the general public will meet at Northern Essex Community College on the Haverhill campus. The student-run group, under the direction of Ken Langer, NECC music program coordinator, will meet Wednesdays at 3 p.m. in Room 220 of the Technology Center for an open forum of drumming. Participants should bring their own drums. Only a few hand percussion instruments will be available. For more information, e-mail klanger@necc.mass.edu.

Greater Haverhill Guild for the Blind, meets Saturdays at various locations. Any person who is blind or partially blind is welcome to attend, as are both singles and couples. For more information, or for the location of upcoming meetings, call Marge Brewer at 978-373-5903.

William R. Dewhirst Jr. Post 7366 Veterans of Foreign Wars, welcomes all veterans to join its monthly meeting held every second Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. The group meets inside Veasey Memorial Park, 201 Washington St., Groveland.

The Methuen Garden Club, resumes meeting from September through June, first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Nevins Memorial Library. New members welcome. The club is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts and the National Garden Club Inc. Call Susan at 978 682-4783 or visit www.methuengardenclub.org.

Clan MacPherson, a bagpipe band with about 20 members, was begun in Lawrence in 1921 to keep alive the tradition of Scottish music and customs. Open to men and women interested in continuing the tradition of piping and drumming, the band meets every Monday, 7 to 9 p.m. at the VFW Post 2104, 32 Park St., North Andover. Call 978-470-1680 or visit www.clanmacpherson.org.

Andover Choral Society, a nonprofit group, has been entertaining local folks since 1930. Allen Combs is the musical director. Call 978-688-6353 for ticket information or visit www.Andoverchoral.org.

Merrimack Valley Chorus, a women's a cappella chorus, has open rehearsals every Thursday at 7:15 p.m. at the Arts Council Building, 219 Middlesex Ave., Route 62, Wilmington. Call 800-928-6151 or visit www.merrimackvalleychorus.org.

Treble Chorus of New England, offers choral training for children ages 5 through 18. In residence at Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike St., North Andover. Call 978-837-5461 or visit www.treblechorus.com.

Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Society, performs at the Rogers Center at Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike St., North Andover. First concert of the season will be Sunday, Nov. 9. For tickets, call 978-685-3505; to join, call 978-687-7098. Also visit www.mvpomusic.org.

Merrimack Valley Bird Club, sponsors bird walks throughout the year, including the Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count. Call Al Retelle, president, at 978-475-4412 or Kitty Tremblay at 978-462-3917.

Merrimack River Watershed Council, a nonprofit citizens' organization working for clean water and wise use of natural resources associated with the river which extends from Laconia, N.H., to Plum Island. Canoe and kayak trips. Located at 600 Suffolk St., Fifth Floor, Lowell. Call 978-275-0120 or visit www.merrimack.org.

The Haverhill Garden Club, is seeking new members. The club meets each month from September through June at the public library. Monthly activities include workshops ranging from garden design, organic gardening, container gardening, lawn care and floral arranging to cooking with herbs. The club holds its annual greenery sale in December and its annual plant sale in May to help support ongoing civic beautification projects around Haverhill. For more information, call 978-372-8080 or 978-372-1028.

The Nevins Memorial Library, is working with local poets to establish Grey Court Poets. Membership in this group will be open to poets of all levels and styles, as well as fans of poetry who do not write but are interested in literary programs and projects. This group will provide a forum where people can learn about poetry, have their writing critiqued, work on poetry reading skills and share resources. Grey Court Poets will also participate in, and sponsor, readings, workshops and literary festivals in the Methuen area. An organizational meeting will be held in the fall, date and time to be announced. For more information or to join the group, e-mail greycourtpoets@live.com or call Krista at 978-686-4080, ext. 10.

The Harvard Club of Andover, sponsors social and educational events in the Andover area and surrounding communities, and is open to all graduates, students and their parents of Harvard schools. Contact Lawrence Morse, Harvard Club of Andover president, at 978-475-9682 or e-mail Lawmorse@bizatty.com for information regarding club membership.

The Haverhill Marine Corps League William Glynn Detachment, has been established and reactivated. Meetings are held in the basement of City Hall the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. Enter on the side opposite the Elks Lodge. For more information, call Richard Broadnax at 978-372-9441 or Gerard Boucher at 978-521-3982.

The Boys and Girls Car Campaign, will accept most any car with no restrictions now that the price of scrap metal has risen. Cars will be picked up anywhere in Massachusetts, usually within a week, and are sold at auction. To donate, call 1-800-246-0493. Funds obtained by the sale go directly to help the Massachusetts clubs.

The Exchange Club of Lawrence, meets every Tuesday at noon at Cedar Crest on Broadway in Lawrence. Volunteers are welcome. For information, call the club secretary at 978-815-8868.

Vintage Base Ball Clubs, including The Essex Base Ball Club and Lynn Live Oaks Base Ball Club, who play throughout the North Shore and Merrimack Valley, are looking for anyone interested in 19th century baseball. They are currently recruiting players, umpires, scorekeepers and sideline interpreters. Those interested may contact Brian Sheehy at historyball@yahoo.com or 978-790-5707 or visit www.essexbaseball.wordpress.com.

North Andover Garden Club, is seeking new members. The club meets the second Tuesday of each month at varying times and locations. Monthly activities include workshops that range from garden design, organic gardening and lawn care, to container gardening and floral arranging. An annual plant sale is held to help support ongoing civic beautification work in North Andover. E-mail northandovergardenclub@yahoo.com. Call Sorena at 978-794-1811 or Martha at 978-685-1568.

North Andover Cultural Council, is looking for new members. The NACC is a local grant program of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency that provides allocations to each of Massachusetts' 351 cities and towns to support cultural activities. The group sponsors local events such as watercolor and photography workshops. Those interested in joining may call Ann Cavanaugh at 978-683-6665 or e-mail ahcav@aol.com.

Andover Rotary Club, meets Fridays from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the Andover Inn on Chapel Avenue in Andover. Meetings feature guest speakers. Guests welcome. For information, visit www.rotaryandover.org.

The College Club of Greater Lawrence, a women's organization that strives to develop an interest in college work, provides scholarships to students in the Greater Lawrence area who will attend four-year, degree-granting institutions, and promotes sociability among college-educated women. The club meets Tuesdays five times a year and welcomes new members. For information, e-mail lafriel@comcast.net or call 978-372-1027.

Lawrence Civil War Memorial Guard, meets at 7:15 p.m. every second Monday of the month at the Social Naturalization Club, 120 Broadway, Lawrence. The organization is devoted to preserving Civil War history in the Merrimack Valley. All are welcome. Call Elizabeth at 978-686-9881 or e-mail redtears17@aol.com.

The Downtown Women's Club, invites the public to mix and mingle with Andover's professional network of women. Events are open to the public and held the first Wednesday of every month in the lounge at Glory on 19 Essex St. Admission is free. For information, visit www.downtownwomensclub.com or call Jennifer Tortorella at 978-270-8060.

The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 8, is seeking new members. Must be of Irish Catholic birth or descent. Club meets the second Wednesday of the month at The Claddagh Pub, 399 Canal St., Lawrence. For information, call President Anne Marie Doherty at 978-794-0911.

The Rotary Club, Methuen, Mass./Salem, N.H., meets every Friday at 12:15 p.m. at the Sweetheart Inn, Myrtle Street, Methuen. For information, e-mail wood3836@aol.com.

Quota International of Lawrence, a women's professional organization, meets the third Monday of every month at 6 p.m. New members are welcome. Call 978-688-3596 or e-mail edoucette@aaamv.com.

Andover Historical Society, needs volunteers to help as tour guides, with special events and for data entry. Call 978-475-2236.

The Exchange Club of Haverhill, meets every Thursday at noon at Olivia's in Haverhill. The club is an all-volunteer service club dedicated to the prevention of child abuse. Its programs include Junior Police, Fire Prevention, Trees for Tots, Read Across America, Youth of the Year, ACE Award and the Book of Golden Deeds. For information, call Sue Daneau at 978-372-2843 or visit www.haverhillexchangeclub.com.

Haverhill Toastmaster meetings, second and fourth Monday of every month at the Haverhill Public Library from 7 to 9 p.m. The meetings are open to guests. 978-372-3400.

The Rotary Club of Lawrence, meets every Thursday at noon at the Greater Lawrence Technical School, River Road, Andover. Rotarians from other clubs and guests are welcome. For information, visit www.lawrencerotary.org.

The Massachusetts OCS Alumni Association, is seeking graduates of the Massachusetts Military Academy and the Massachusetts Regional Training Institute to renew past acquaintances with classmates, reaffirm their loyalty to the government during the present war and to render whatever assistance they can to a new generation of officer candidates of the Massachusetts Army National Guard. Write to P.O. Box 955, Salem, NH 03079; e-mail rtlionheart1191@yahoo.com; or call 603-898-4286.

Lawrence Ladies Lodge Sons of Italy, meets third Sunday, 2 p.m., Service Center, 246 Andover St., Lawrence.

Sons of Italy Lodge 902, meets third Thursday, officers meet third Tuesday, at 155 Marston St., Lawrence.

Merrimack Toastmasters, meet the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 7 to 9 p.m. at Stevens Memorial Library, 345 Main St., North Andover. Guests are welcome. Call 617-753-3473 for more information.

Newcomers Club of the Andovers, invites new residents of Andover and North Andover to coffee the first Tuesday of every month at Panera Bread, 58 Peters St., North Andover (intersection of routes 114 and 133). The gatherings are geared toward new members, but established residents who are interested in joining or volunteering for the club are welcome. Children are also welcome. For information, call Vickie Gallant at 978-809-7404.

Members of the Andover Knights of Columbus Council 1078, are collecting supplies and funds to send to soldiers in Iraq. Items include prepaid phone cards, protein bars, packets of powdered orange Gatorade, Beef Jerky, Slim Jims, instant flavored coffee, sunflower seeds, nuts, sun block, dental floss, lip balm and batteries. Baskets are located in the back of the church, St. Augustine School, 26 Central St., Andover, and the Knights of Columbus Hall, 10 Brook St., Andover.

Raytheon Andover Alumni Association (RAAA), a nonprofit association of employees with any service at Andover who wish to stay in touch with each other through a variety of social functions, welcomes new members to join for $6 a year. Send dues to Barbara Cote, 4 Riverbank Circle, Bradford, MA 01835. For more information, call Ms. Dowd at 978-685-5581.

The Derry Lions Club, meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at the Marion Gerrish Community Center in Derry. For more information, call 603-234-2731.

The Chester MOMS Club, is seeking new members. The club is a great way to meet other moms in the area and to participate in fun activities. Many daytime activities are planned such as park days, playgroups, holiday parties, craft projects, outings to zoos, museums, movies and much more. The club also offers a Moms' Night Out and donates to local charities. For more information, contact Kim at 603-401-4664 or by e-mail at kampeterson@comcast.net.

The Speech Masters Toastmaster Club, is building a Nonprofit Community Based Toastmasters Club at the Boys & Girls Club of Salem. Meetings are the first and third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Eclipse Teen Center. Toastmasters programs can help participants develop better speaking and presentation skills, build leadership abilities and help develop communication skills through basic or advanced programs. The Toastmasters Communication and Leadership Program teaches how to effectively speak, lead a meeting, manage a department or business, lead, delegate, motivate, and effectively formulate ideas. Open to all; students, professionals, stay-at-home parents and retirees. Toastmasters International is a worldwide educational volunteer organization. For more information, call Nelia Benjamin at 603-890-1149 or Dan Wilson at 603-898-7330.Home Schooling Group, meets from 3 to 5 p.m. on the third Friday of the month at the Hampstead Public Library. Home schooling can be a somewhat lonely chore. The group offers a time to share experiences and knowledge with other home schooling parents. Parents who are thinking about home schooling their children are also welcome to attend. The meetings offer the chance to learn about different curricula and various ways of handling the problems and questions that arise. For more information, call the library at 603-329-6411.

Southern New Hampshire Human Service Council, meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 9 a.m. at the Marion Gerrish Community Center, 39 West Broadway, in Derry. Offers the opportunity to meet other area human service agencies and learn about potential partnerships, collaborations, programs and services available throughout Southern New Hampshire. For more information, contact Cynthia Marshall at 603-437-8477, ext. 18, or by e-mail at cmarshall@urteachers.org.

The Derry Knights of Columbus, Phil Lessard Council 3023, meets on the second Wednesday of every month at the St. Thomas Aquinas Center. For more information, visit their Web site at www.kofc3023.org.

St. Mark's Lodge No. 44 of Free and Accepted Masons, meets on the third Monday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Masonic Temple on East Broadway. A potluck supper is at 6:30 p.m. before the meeting. All Masons are welcome. For more information, call Ed Younker at 603-432-2853.

Toastmasters of Manchester, meets the first, third, and fifth Thursdays of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. at VHG Labs, 276 Abby Road, Manchester. Visitors are welcome. Call for information at 603-437-2627.

Creative Women Writers Group, seeks new members and meets every month at the Derry Public Library. Participants need not be published authors. All genres welcome. Call 603-437-1481.

Divine Derry Dames, meets the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Flagship Cinema in Derry. The Derry chapter of the Red Hat Society, the group meets regularly for trips, book discussions and other events. Call June for information at 603-437-0519.

The FamilyTime Playgroup, meets Wednesdays or Thursdays from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Church of the Transfiguration, 1 Hood Road, Derry. The group is free for children up to age 5 and their parents. Register by calling Mimi Cagle at 603-216-5414.

The Merrimack Valley Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, numbers 43 women from 27 communities in Greater Boston and Southern New Hampshire who share a love of music and singing a cappella four-part harmony. Women 14 and older who love to sing are invited to attend open rehearsals on Thursdays at the Wilmington Arts Council Building, 219 Middlesex Ave., (Route 62), Wilmington, Mass. No prior experience is necessary. Music and audio learning tapes or CDs are provided. More information is available at www.merrimackvalleychorus.org or by calling 1-800-928-6151.

My Brother's Keeper Quilt Group, meets at the Kingston First Congregational Church in Kingston on the first and third Wednesday of the month. Quilts are sewn together and then sewn into sleeping bags, also known as "Ugly Quilts," for the homeless. New members are always welcome. For more information, contact Lisa Fortin at 603-382-3904.

The Mom's Club, is starting a new chapter in Windham. The Mom's Club is an international support group for mothers who stay at home with their children, including those who have home-based businesses, as well as part-time workers that are at home with their children during the day. The new Windham chapter will have monthly meetings, playgroup networks for babies and preschool children, interesting speakers and discussions, a baby-sitting co-op, as well as local community projects and fundraising/charity work. The new chapter will meet during the day allowing moms to bring their children to all activities. New members are always welcome. For information, call Angela at 603-432-2614 or e-mail momsclubwindhamnh@yahoo.com.

The Granite State African Violet Society, meets on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. (except January and July) at the Marion Gerrish Community Center in Derry. There are regular workshops, plant and leaf sales and swaps. New members and visitors are always welcome. For more information and/or directions, call Connie at 603-887-3154. ¬�

Speech Masters of Salem, N.H. meet at 7 p.m. on the first and third Monday of every month. Meetings take place at the Boys and Girls Clubs. The group is a branch of Toastmasters International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people become effective communicators. Speech evaluations provide suggestions on how to better present the speaker's ideas. Annual membership fees are about $60. Guests are always welcome. For additional information, contact Dan Wilson at 603-898-7730 or by e-mail at dan@wingsofawareness.com.

Chester Historical Society, welcomes new members to join and learn more about the town's history. The group's office and historical exhibits are open at Stevens Memorial Hall, the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit www.chesterhistorical.org.

Plaistow Fish and Game Ladies Organization, meets the third Monday of each month at the Fish and Game Club, 6:30 p.m. The club is located on May Ray Road in Plaistow. New members are always welcome. Send e-mails to elizstarr@yahoo.com.

The Merrimack Valley Camera Club, meets Wednesdays from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Trinity Church in North Andover. The club is looking for new members, from beginners to seasoned professionals. Formats include film and digital photography. Visit www.mvcameraclub.org.

Rockingham Herb Society, meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at Stevens Memorial Hall in Chester. Call 603-329-5584.

Hampstead Garden Club, meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in Hadley Hall, Hampstead Congregational Church. For more information, call Gail LaCreta at 603-329-7952.

Derry-Salem Elks, meets the first and third Wednesdays monthly, 8 p.m., at Lodge Hall on Shadow Lake Road in Salem, N.H.

The Winning Speakers, local chapter of Toastmasters, holds meetings the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Windham Senior Center, 2 N. Lowell Road. Guests are always welcome. Contact club President Dan Wilson at dan@wingsofawareness.com or 603-898-7330. Visit www.toastmastersnh.org/winspk.

The New Sandown Mothers Club, is seeking members. Offers new ideas, new attitudes and the chance to make new friends. Help local communities and others in need by joining the nonprofit organization. Features play dates, social time and mom's night out. The club includes a laid-back, diverse group of working and stay-at-home moms whose children are infants to age 5. For more information, visit the Web site at http://sandownmothers.tripod.com, e-mail sandownmothers@yahoo.com or call Kate at 603-887-7202.

Book clubs, the following is a list of area book and poetry clubs and discussion groups.

Hampstead Public Library, Hampstead, N.H.: Meets the third Thursday of every month from 1 to 2:30 p.m. 603-329-6411.

Langley-Adams Library, Groveland: Book club meets the third Wednesday of every month from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Refreshments will be served. 978-372-1732.

Little Farm Reading Club, Newburyport area: Meets last Wednesday of the month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Topics focus on New England and field trips to relevant sites are taken throughout the season. 978-462-2634.

Mystery writers group, Haverhill: Meets Mondays at Haverhill Public Library from 7 to 9 p.m. 978-372-2440.

Nevins Memorial Library, Methuen: Book groups meet once a month on Thursday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. 978-686-4080.

Poets and writers group, Bradford: Kalliope (named after the ninth muse, who represented lyric poetry) meets once a month in Bradford from 2 to 5 p.m. 978-373-6212.

Stevens Memorial Library, North Andover: Book group meets the last Tuesday of the month at 7:15 p.m. in the library's rotunda. Suggestions for future discussions are welcomed. All readers are invited to share in the discussion but meetings are very casual and participation is optional. 978-685-4820.

Windham Writers' Group: Meets second Tuesday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon at Nesmith Library. 603-437-7096.

Wingate Writers' Group, Haverhill: Meets alternating Mondays from 7 to 9 p.m. near downtown Haverhill for fiction writers with experience writing short stories or novels. Call 978-687-6212 on evenings and weekends.

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Do you have Club News? Please share your club milestones, member accomplishments, and interesting events. Photos are welcome and will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Mail your Club News to Betsy Curry, Club News, Sunday North, 100 Turnpike St., North Andover, MA 01845; e-mail it to bcurry@eagletribune.com; or fax it to 978-687-6045. In New Hampshire? Mail your Club News to Jill Diver, Club News, Sunday North, 46 West Broadway, Derry, NH 03038; e-mail it to jdiver@derrynews.com; or fax it to 603-432-4510.