Clubs & Organizations Section

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get more involved in your community, there is no better place to do it than right here in Ramona. Our clubs and organizations have such a variety of interests from business networking to historical societies to churches to club service to gardening to support groups to concerts and more. You name it, Ramona seems to have it. I invite you to take advantage of these groups by contacting one of the many listed in this column. Becoming a part of your community can open many doors.

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The Ramona Chamber of Commerce’s February Networking Mixer will be hosted by the Wildlife Research Institute at 18030 Highland Valley Road. The mixer will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 16. Entry tickets are $5 which includes business networking opportunities, raffles and more. For information, contact mixer chairperson Kathy Smiley at (760) 788-9384 or visit www.ramonachamber.com.

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The Ramona Rotary Club has joined forces with the Fusion Club at Ramona High School. There have been discussions for nearly a year with the 140 or so energetic members of Jim Plum’s service and mentor club. Several Fusion members were on hand to approve the merging of Fusion-Interact. Plum celebrated with pizza and soft drinks during their lunch break. Rotary president Bill Jenkin, Chuck Lemanager and Floyd Fiduk will act as liaisons with both clubs. Fusion mentors younger students and perform community service. Rotary now will be in a sense mentoring the mentors. Ramona Rotary is anxiously awaiting the final touches on the application from Rotary International. Rotary meets at noon each Tuesday at the Ramona Sizzler. For club information, call president Bill Jenkin at (760) 443-1306.

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The Ramona Kiwanis Club in conjunction with the Ramona Sheriff’s Department co-sponsored the 6th Annual Kids Bike and Safety Fair. The fair was deemed a success with hundreds of residents participating. Ramona Kiwanis donated and awarded four new bicycles and over 40 bicycle accessories.

Planning has started for the 2006 edition of the Annual Kiwanis “Bow Wow, Pow Wow” dog show to be held in Ramona Community Park in June. Stay tuned for details. The Ramona Kiwanis Club Foundation is hosting a Holland America seven-night round-trip cruise from San Diego to the Mexican Riviera, leaving Saturday, April 15. Call Gordon or Donna Zick at (760) 789-0315 for details. Kiwanis meets at 7 a.m. each Saturday at the Ramona Sizzler. For club information, call president Bob Hailey at (760) 789-4624.

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The Ramona Garden Club announces its new meeting place and time. The club will meet at noon on Feb. 8 at the Ramona Library Community Room. Richard A. Wright, Home Orchard Specialist will be the next guest speaker. Wright hails from the Walter Anderson Nursery crew and will be sharing his vast knowledge of a variety of ways to create your own garden paradise through the planting of edible landscaping. The first meeting at the new location will include light refreshments, beverages and an opportunity drawing. The Garden Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at the Ramona Library Community Room, 1406 Montecito Road. The club is a member of the Palomar District Garden Club, the California Garden Clubs Inc. and the National Garden Clubs Inc. For more information, call Patricia Frederick at (760) 788-9177 or Ramona Valencia at (760) 604-1852 or visit www.ramonagardenclub.com.

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The Ramona Valley Vineyard Association is a “grape roots” organization which meets the fourth Tuesday of every month at members’ homes/vineyards. The group discusses topics such as viticulture and other matters of interest to the vineyard and winemaking community. Current projects include encouragement of new vineyard development, vineyard expansion and utilization of sustainable agricultural practices. The Ramona Valley is designated as an American Viticultural Area. The next RVVA meeting will be 7 p.m. on Feb 28. New members and visitors are welcome. For information and meeting location, email RVVA organizer Bill Schweitzer at bill@paccielo.com.

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Relay for Life is a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money to help the American Cancer Society save lives and fight cancer. The Ramona RFL committee has scheduled the local event on May 6 from 10 a.m. to May 7, 10 a.m. The fundraiser will be held at the Bulldog Stadium, 720 Ninth St., Ramona. The event is open to all age groups. Organizations, clubs, schools, service groups, churches, neighborhoods and others are encouraged to form a team and participate. For information, call team recruiter Kris Blaszcak at (760) 788-6377 or msdeco@pacbell.net. For other information on RFL, contact chairman Bob Richardson at (760) 788-5464 or visit www.acsevents.org/relay/ca/ramona.

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The Partners for Community Access BEST Mentoring Program is seeking new mentors to participate in the upcoming Feb. 28, mentor training session in Ramona. Caring adults are asked to establish a positive relationship with a child by spending one hour per week with them, for the duration of a year, on the Ramona Elementary School campus. Ongoing training and support will be provided. The goal of the program is to foster improved academics, self-esteem, cultural awareness and healthy lifestyles for participating children. For information, contact Claudia Davis, program coordinator, at (760) 788-1314 or cd@partners forcommunityaccess.org.

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The Ramona Pioneer Historical Society will hold its potluck meeting on Feb. 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the Barnett Barn at the Guy B. Woodward Museum. USD’s Professor of History and author, Iris Engstrand, will speak about her book “San Diego, California’s Cornerstone.” Professor Engstrand is the author of 21 books dealing with Spain, California and The West. She is a trustee for the San Diego Natural History Museum. Engstrand has lived and traveled extensively in Spain and Mexico and lectures widely in both English and Spanish. The public is welcome to attend. Bring a salad, desert or main dish to serve eight. The museum is located at 645 Main St. For information, call the museum at (760) 789-7644.

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The Ramona Cancer Resource Center will hold its annual fundraiser tea from from 1 to 3 p.m on April 29. The theme for the tea is a “Cup of Friendship.” Tea will take place in an outdoor patio setting located at the historic Woodward home, 705 A St., Ramona. $15 donation. For information, call Ellie Whitcomb at (760) 788-9522.

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The monthly luncheon meeting of the San Vicente Valley Club on Feb. 22 will feature pottery extraordinaire, Chris Castberg. Castberg began “throwing” (the art of making bowls or vases on a wheel) pottery when he was a senior at Ramona High School. He will demonstrate the art of pottery throwing and will have his bowls and vases on display.

The SVVC welcomes residents from Ramona and the surrounding areas to join the nonprofit organization. Social time will begin at 11 a.m., a brief meeting will begin at 11:30, lunch will be served at noon and Castberg will speak at 12:45 p.m. Reservations (or cancellations) must be made at the front desk of the San Vicente Inn by Feb. 17; for information on the San Vicente Valley Club, call membership chairwoman Mary Lou Kohl at (760) 788-5778.

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The San Vicente Valley Club is inviting applicants for 2006 Community Awards, made possible by the Home and Garden Tour to be held May 13. Applicants must be Ramona-based and nonprofit organizations. To receive an application form, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to San Vicente Valley Club Needs Assessment, 24157 San Vicente Road, Ramona, CA 92065-4199. Applications are due April 1. For information, call Mignon Leins at (760) 788-6743.

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The Ramona Women’s Connection group will host a “Dessert Concert” at the home of Ron and Marlene Robershaw. The star-studded event will begin at 7 p.m. on Feb. 24. Emmy-award winning film composer and arranger, Jack Wheaton, will be entertaining with a piano concert and telling of his “Journey for Truth.” Wheaton won the Emmy for one of his many film scores he composed and arranged. The concert will include music of Gershwin, Broadway tunes and classical. Attendees will be served delicious and decadent desserts. Cost of the star-studded evening is $5. For reservations, directions or information, call Francine Abbott at (760) 789-1526 or Marlene Robershaw at (760) 789-7474.

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The Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church will hold a Valentine’s Day potluck dinner on Feb. 12, from 5 to 8 p.m. The event will take place at the church’s social center located on the west corner of Sixth and “E” streets in Ramona. Blessing of the meal will be to the melody of the Spanish children’s choir. Entertainment will include singing of love’s blessings by English and Spanish serenaders from the parish. For information about this event or other church activities, call (760) 789-0583.

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Do you suffer from fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue or other related disorders? There is hope, you can get better! The new San Diego Fibromyalgia Support Group provides an opportunity of information sharing, encouragement and fellowship. The group is facilitated by a registered nurse. The monthly meetings are held in different parts of San Diego County. The next meeting will be in Ramona on Feb 4. For meeting time and location, call (760) 789-1635 or email janis_@cox.net.

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The Ramona Woman’s Club will meet at 1 p.m. on Feb. 2. Brian Leone will present music and stories of many of Broadway’s leading composers, including George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Leonard Bernstein. Refreshments will be provided by Mercedes Montijo and Ethel Kiss.

A luncheon and card party will be held at noon on Feb. 9. It is open to the public but reservations are required; call Pearl McCullough at (760) 789-9308. Hostesses will be Teri O’Brien and Joyce Rothwell.

The Literary Section will meet at 1 p.m. on Feb. 13 at the clubhouse, 524 Main St., Ramona. Pearl McCullough will review “Ramona” by Helen Hunt Jackson and “Ramona’s Daughter” by Virginia Myers. Hostess will be Fern Jackson.

The Lady Bugs will visit Plant World and Tropic World in Escondido. The group will carpool from the clubhouse at 10 a.m. on Feb. 23. For information and reservations, call Ethel Kiss at (760) 788-4908. For all other questions about the club and its activities, call Linda Knowles at (760) 789-4762.

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The Natural Childbirth Support Group (formerly the Homebirth Support Group) will meet Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. at 809 Pine Heights, Ramona. Guest speaker and Ramona resident Nisha Haley will speak on the topic of childbirth. Haley has been a doula for five years and is a long time volunteer at UCSD’s Birth Center. Haley also teaches childbirth classes at Best Start. For information, call Karen Wallace at (760) 787-0302.

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Ramona Council of Arts, Unlimited is offering hula and Tahitian dance by instructor Penni Evans. Evans has been teaching Polynesian dance for many years and directs a professional group named the Young Polynesian Dancers. The class is offered on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. at Jill’s Dance Studio for ages 13 years and up. For information, contact Evans at alohapenni@aol.com. Other classes currently being offered are tap dance, tumbling (floor & beam), dance theater (jazz, hip hop & lyrical styles), preschool dance and movement, and adult fitness. For information, call Ramona Council of Arts, Unlimited at (760) 788-0914 or visit www.artsunlimited ramona.org. 

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Our readers want to hear what your group is up to. Send your club or organization’s upcoming events or happenings (up to 150 words) by the 18th of each month to:

Jennifer Jenkin

Phone: (760) 788-8148

Fax: (760) 788-8413

E-mail: media.rhj@pacbell.net