Clubs & Orgnaizations 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 at 8:30 to 10 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month at 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 Fridays at Ramona Senior Center, 434 Aqua Lane. Call The Elizabeth Hospice Bereavement Department at 760-737-2050, for more information.

CLUBS

Boys and Girls Club of Greater San Diego - Ramona Branch

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego - Ramona Branch begins Bitty Basketball sign-ups for boys and girls in grades first and second and kindergartners that turn 6 years old by April 3. Teams will be co-ed and games will be played on Tuesday and Thursday nights at Wilson Gym. Cost is $45 for members and $95 for non-members (includes $50 membership fee). Sign-ups begin Feb. 15 through March 19 at the Ramona Branch located at 622 E Street. Contact Rene Scribner at 760-788-7564, for more information.

Ramona Woman's Club

At noon on March 8, at the clubhouse, the Bridge group and Thimble club will meet for their noon luncheon and card party. The Thimble Club will continue their work for the Children's Protective Services, sewing blankets for the children. Fourteen blankets were donated last month. Hostess will be Jo Stone. Call Dorothy Berry for luncheon reservations at

760-788-2073. The Literary members will meet at 1 p.m. March 12. Dorothy Coen will review "The Magnificent Obsession" by Lloyd C. Douglas. Hostess will be Jill McKenzie. The Lady Bugs will visit Ganter Nursery in Vista. The group will meet at the Clubhouse parking lot at 10 a.m. on March 22. Call Ethel Kiss for reservations at 760-789-4908. Mark your calendars for April 12 for the annual fashion show. Contact

Jill McKenzie at 760-789-3596 for details and reservations. Tickets are $15.

Ramona Garden Club

On March 14, the Ramona Garden Club will welcome Dean Turney, current president of the San Diego Camellia Society and Southern California Camellia Counsel. Turney has been growing camellias and has been active in the local society nearly 25 years. He grows several hundred different species and varieties of camellias. Turney will be discussing the different varieties and sharing his pruning techniques. The Ramona Garden Club meets at noon on the second Wednesday of each month at the Ramona Woman's Club at 524 Main St. Meetings are open to the public and include refreshments and an opportunity drawing. For further information call 760-789-8880 or visit www.RamonaGardenClub.com.

Ramona Christian Writers Critique Group

Ramona Christian Writers Critique Group meets at

6:30 p.m.on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 23647 Atex Court. Both fiction and non-fiction writers are welcome. Contact Peter Zindler at pete.zindler@navy.mil or Sharon Cargo at 760-789-2393.

Ramona Women's Connection

On March 21 the Ramona Women's Connection will feature a "Spring and Summer Fashion Show" by Weekender's fashion coordinator, Nancy Stewart. The Weekenders are the "Clothes you Love to Live in." They are easy care, mix and match clothes, good for leisure, travel and business wear. Businesswoman and lover of books, Marilyn Dronenburg, will tell how you can "Make a Masterpiece of Your Life Story." Marilyn lives in Fallbrook and will share her story that evolved after enduring successive crises in her life. The Fashion Show Luncheon on March 21 will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Ramona Sizzler at 4th and Main. The cost of the program and salad-bar luncheon is $8.50 inclusive. For reservations, call Edith at 760-788-1378 or Carol at 760-788-1348. Complimentary child care is also available by reservation. All women are welcome, bring a friend and meet a friend.

San Vicente Valley Club

The San Vicente Valley Club will hold its luncheon on March 28 at the San Vicente Inn. The program will feature two local Eastern healers. Kelly McConville, licensed Chinese acupuncturist and Sandy Pease, experienced yoga instructor. Social time begins at 11 a.m. followed by a short business meeting. Program starts at

1 p.m. Guests are welcome. Reservations should be made at the front desk of the San Vicente Inn by March 23. Cost is $11. For information call Joan Renaud at 760-788-6960.

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 non-profit 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.

Vineyard Association

Ramona Valley Vineyard Association is a "grape-roots" organization that 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. Ramona Valley is designated as an American Viticultural Area. The next RVVA meeting will be 7 p.m. on Mar. 27. New members and visitors are welcome. For more information and meeting location, e-mail RVVA organizer Bill Schweitzer at bill@paccielo.com.

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.

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 on the second Tuesday at 8 a.m. 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 March networking mixer will be sponsored by LeTip and held at the Ramona Senior Center, 434 Aqua Lane. The mixer will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on March 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. 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 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.