Clubs & Organizations Section
By Jennifer Jenkin

Ramona's clubs and organizations offer a variety of information, activities and opportunities available to you.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Al-Anon

Al-Anon Family Group meets at 8 a.m. Saturdays and 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at North Rural Recovery Center, 323 Hunter St. Visit www.alanonsandiego.org.

Alzheimer's Support Group

The Alzheimer's support group meets at 10 a.m. the third Wednesday of each month at the Ramona Senior Center. Call 760-787-0172, for more information.

Cancer Support Group

The Ramona Cancer support group meets from 8:30 to 10 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month in the Library Community Room. Call 760-789-0602, for more information.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia Support Group of Ramona provides an opportunity of information sharing, encouragement and fellowship. For meeting location and time, contact Nancy Harding at 760-789-1635.

Hospice

Elizabeth Hospice is facilitating a free education and support group for anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one. This group meets from 10:30 a.m. to noon Tuesdays at Ramona Medical Group, 1516 Main St., Suite 104. Call AnnMarie Whitehead at 760-737-2050.

CLUBS

Ramona Woman's Club

The next general meeting will be held at the clubhouse at 524 Main St. at 1 p.m. on Feb. 1. Speaker Darrel McKenzie will talk about the Space Shuttle and beyond. McKenzie has been a science teacher for elementary through high school and has participated in the Teacher in Space program for the State of California. He has also been involved in the NASA Space program, as well as the Space Down to Earth program. This will be an interactive presentation, which will involve audience participation. All are welcome to attend. Hostesses will be Janet Poindexter and Karen Stangl. At noon on Feb. 8, at the clubhouse, the Bridge group and Thimble club will meet for their noon luncheon and card party. Hostesses will be Joyce Rothwell and Teri O'Brien. Call Dorothy Berry for luncheon reservations at 760-788-2073. The Literary members will meet at 1 p.m. on Feb. 12. Tita Braley will review Mitch Alboma's latest novel, "One More Day." Hostess will be LaBelle Haeger. The Lady Bugs will visit J&J Worm Farms and a local Ramona Nursery. The group will meet at the Clubhouse parking lot at 10 a.m. on Feb. 22 and will stop for lunch on the way home. Call Ethel Kiss for reservations at 760-789-4908. Mark your calendars for Apr. 12 for the annual fashion show. Contact Jill McKenzie at 760-789-3596 for details and reservations. Tickets $15.

Ramona Women's Connection

The Ramona Women's Connection will be throwing a Valentine Party Luncheon on Feb. 21 at the Ramona Sizzler at 11:30 a.m.

Group members will have a "show and tell" of Valentine cards. If you have saved a special valentine, come share it. Prizes will be given for the oldest, funniest and prettiest cards.

Special speaker and singer for the event will be Susan Anderson from Canyon Lake. Her story will reveal the secret of how to "overcome anything."

Besides a gifted singer, Anderson is also an associate producer for "The Young Americans Performing Group," based in Southern California. The group is an educational institution that trains and teaches young musicians in preparation for worldwide musical outreach tours.

The Ramona Sizzler is located at 4th and Main streets. The meeting is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and the cost is $8.50, which includes a salad-bar luncheon. Complimentary childcare is available by reservation. Please call Francine at 789-1526 or Carol at 760-788-1348 for reservations to the luncheon and childcare.

Ramona Garden Club

Patrick Anderson, a local succulent expert will be the featured speaker at the Ramona Garden Club at noon Wednesday, Feb. 14. His interest in succulents began while volunteering at the Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino. His own Fallbrook garden, previously a lime orchard, has been featured in both Sunset Magazine and on "Victory Garden" on PBS. During the Garden Club meeting, he will speak on integrating succulents into local gardens. The Ramona Garden Club meets on the second Wednesday each month at the Ramona Woman's Club, 524 Main St. The meeting is open to the public and there will be refreshments and opportunity drawings. For more information, call 760-789-8880 or visit RamonaGardenClub.com.

San Vicente Valley Club

The San Vicente Valley Club will be hosting its annual Home and Garden Tour on April 21.

The event will feature a four-home tour of unique properties in Ramona as well as a raffle, fashion show, luncheon, wine tasting and bake sale, according to chairperson Vicki Trimble.

Proceeds from the event will fund several scholarships for Ramona students, she added. Last year, over $21,000 in scholarships was awarded to local students.

Raffle baskets will include several packages including, golf packages, timeshares, fine art/crafts, jewelry, bottles of cheer and goodies, theme park tickets and more. Each of the 15 baskets will be valued at at least $500. Tickets for the raffle will be $1 each or six for $5.

The event will be held at the San Vicente Inn and Golf Course. For ticket prices or to purchase tickets for the luncheon, fashion show and wine tasting, call the club at 760-789-9290. Tickets for the home tour will be available at several locations in town. For more information on the club or event, call Vicki Trimble at 760-440-0047.

On Wednesday, Feb. 28, the San Vicente Valley Club luncheon will feature local speaker and year-round traveler, Chuck DeMund.

The topic will include an entertaining description of his "Trip of a Lifetime," covering a six-week tour of the South Pacific. Typical of the

DeMunds, avid adventurers, the trip included a cruise, helicopter and charter boats.

The luncheon is open to the public with members and guests encouraged to make reservations at the San Vicente Inn front desk by Friday, Feb. 24. The cost is $11.

The social begins at 11 a.m., followed by a short business meeting before the luncheon. De Mund will begin entertaining at 1 p.m. For information, call Joan Renaud at 760-788-6960.

SVVC Seeking Applicants

San Vicente Valley Club is inviting applicants for 2007 Community Awards, made possible by the annual Home and Garden Tour on April 21. Applicants must be Ramona-based and nonprofit organizations. To receive an application form, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to San Vicente Valley Club Community Funding, 24157 San Vicente Road, Ramona, CA 92065-4199. Applications are due April 1.

Wildlife Research Institute

This year's annual Hawkwatch will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays in January and February at 18030 Highland Valley Road. Observe wintering and resident hawks, owls and eagles. Learn the identification and life histories of birds of prey from a Wildlife Research Institute biologist. Up to 13 species of raptors can be seen. Hawkwatch is free to the public and rewarding for all ages. Bring your binoculars and scopes. Only heavy rain cancels. For more information, call 760-789-3992.

SERVICE CLUBS

Kiwanis

Kiwanis of Ramona meets at 7 a.m. Saturdays at Ramona Sizzler, 344 Main St. For information, call President Ed Bacorn at 760-789-6391.

Ramona Rotary Club

The Ramona Rotary Club meets at noon Tuesdays at Ramona Sizzler, 344 Main St.

For more information, call President Micki Mennet-Martin at 760-789-0802 or 760-420-0802.

Ramona Rotary Club & Intermountain Volunteer Fire Department

The Ramona Rotary Club and Intermountain Volunteer Fire-Rescue Department Auxiliary presents "An Evening in Monte Carlo, A Night to Remember" from 7 to 11 p.m. on Feb.9 at the Amy Strong Castle, Mt. Woodson, 16422 N. Woodson Drive, Ramona. The evening will include a Macy's fashion show, luxury and exotic vehicle display, gaming tables, gourmet hors d'oeuvres and desserts, no host bar, live auction, reverse raffle and opportunity drawings. Cost is $75 per person. Black tie optional. Call Sharon Greene at 760-788-6060 for information.

Soroptimist

Soroptimist International of Ramona is a worldwide service organization for women in management and professions. The women-only service organization meets every second and fourth Tuesday. Meetings are held at the home of Kathy Brumfield at 8 a.m. on the second Tuesday. The fourth Tuesday meetings are held at 7 p.m. in the conference room at San Vicente Inn, Ramona. For more information or if you would like to become a member, call membership chairperson Cindy Price at 760-788-6944.

BUSINESS NETWORKING

Business Network International (BNI)

Business Network International is a business and professional networking organization offering members an opportunity to share ideas, contacts and referrals. The Ramona chapter meets at 7 a.m. Tuesdays at Ramona Sizzler, 344 Main St. Call membership committee member Karen Richwine at 619-820-8860, for more information.

Chamber of Commerce Mixer

Ramona Chamber of Commerce's February networking mixer will be held at the Ramona Senior Center, 434 Aqua Lane. The mixer will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 15. Entry tickets are $5 and include business networking opportunities, drawings and more. For information, contact mixer chairperson Jo Fox at 760-803-8306 or visit www.ramonachamber.com.

LeTip

LeTip of Ramona is a professional networking organization of women and men dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service. Its primary purpose is to give and receive qualified business tips or leads. Each business category is represented by one member. The group's meetings are from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Thursdays at Ramona Sizzler, 344 Main St. For individuals and businesses interested in becoming members, call Scott Brown at 760-789-7079 or visit www.letipoframona.com.

Team Women Ramona/ Intermountain Chapter

Team Women Ramona/Intermountain Chapter networking group meets from noon to 1 p.m. every second and fourth Wednesday at the Ramona Sizzler, 344 Main St. Each business may be represented by only one member and the members will refer business within the chapter. Guests are welcome. For more information, contact chapter President Russ Ann Zazas at 760-788-5571.