SNOWBIRD CALENDAR

MINNESOTA CLUB

Minnesota Club, Tuesday Morning Breakfast will meet January through mid-March at the Cayman Grill on Canal Road in Orange Beach. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Check the website for golf, upcoming events or update at mnal.org. For more information call 251-980-8400.

OHIO CLUB

Early arrival breakfast will be at Tacky Jacky's, Gulf Shores, on Dec. 21 at 9am. RSVP to Gayle at 937-621-1700. Early arrival dinner will be at DeSoto's on Dec. 29 at 5 p.m. RSVP to Gayle at 937-621-1700.

Two potluck dates: Jan. 13 at noon at The Caribe and Feb 13. at noon at Phoenix V. Additional activities are being planned and will be announced at our regular breakfast meetings.

Regular meetings and breakfast dates are: Jan. 4 and 18, Feb.1 and 15, and March 1. We will meet at the Cayman Grill, 26189 Canal Rd. Doors open at 8 a.m. and breakfast will be served around 9. RSVP to Sharon at 419-769-2199. Speakers have been scheduled for your listening pleasure. They are: Jan. 18 - Cody Johnson, Music Director Gulf Shores United Methodist Church; Feb. 1 Marketing Director for USS Alabama Battleship Park; Feb. 15 - Scott Fuller, Manager, Jack Edwards National Airport in Gulf Shores; March 1, Gulf Shores Councilman Steve Jones with updates on Gulf Shores progress.

SNOWBIRD POTLUCK

DATE/TIME: Jan. 5 and Thursdays through March

LOCATION: The 21st season of the Senior Snowbird Potlucks will be in the Adult Activity Center in Gulf Shores. Interested persons should plan to bring a dish which will serve 8 to 10 persons.

COST: 50 cents

PHONE: 251-981-6060

SKINS GAMES AND HOLE IN ONE TOURNAMENTS

DATES/TIME: Sundays through March 12, 1-4 p.m.

LOCATION: The City of Orange Beach Golf Center is very excited to bring back the Skins Games and Hole in One Tournaments the first Sunday of every week. The fun will include Skins on each hole, a closest to the pin on one hole and nine sponsors for a hole-in-one. This means you have 18 chances for a hole-in-one. Free hot dog lunch at 12:15 p.m. There is a $250 hole in one prize. This season’s sponsors are Benedetto’s, Big Fish, Cactus Cantina, Cobalt, Cosmo’s, Cox Pools, Diamond Jim & Mrs. Donna, Ginny Lane, and Island Air Conditioning & Heating. Each hole is an opportunity to win $250.

COST: $12.50 for members, $29 for nonmembers

PHONE: 251-981-4653

WINTER WEDNESDAYS AT BELLINGRATH GARDENS AND HOME

DATES/TIME: Wednesdays Jan. 4 through Feb. 22

LOCATION: Bellingrath Gardens and Home in Theodore. Topics include gardening, history and the collections in the home.

COST: $13 adults, $7.50 for ages 5-12

PHONE: 251-973-2217

SEVENTH ANNUAL SNOWBIRD FEST

DATE/TIME: Jan. 21, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

LOCATION: The Orange Beach Events Center at The Wharf. Snowbird Fest is a true festival event, trade show, expo and car show all packed into one! Snowbirds get free entertainment, as well as an opportunity to meet local area businesses to find lodging, get samples of their services and often delectable samples from local area restaurants as well. Every year is different, from the entertainment to the attractions. Snowbirds enter raffles to win giveaways, are often involved in the shows put on by our entertainers, and every year features samples of fabulous local cuisine, as well as other art, retail sales, games, events and fun for everyone.

COST: Free to attend

PHONE: 800-270-2457 or visit snowbirdfest.com

18TH ANNUAL PANCAKE AND SAUSAGE BREAKFAST

DATE/TIME: Jan. 28, 8-11 a.m.

LOCATION: Erie Meyer Civic Center in Gulf shores. The firefighters and rescue squad of Gulf Shores will be the beneficiaries of a Pancake Breakfast at the Erie Meyer Center in Gulf Shores. Snowbird clubs from 10 states Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin will stage the benefit, with all proceeds going to the Gulf Shores Fire/Rescue Association.

COST: $6

PHONE: 251-968-1166

11TH ANNUAL TRIVIA NIGHT AND SILENT AUCTION

DATE/TIME: Feb. 4, 6 p.m.

LOCATION: The Orange Beach Event Center at The Wharf. Benefits the Orange Beach and Gulf Shores libraries. Costumes and decorations at Trivia Night are welcomed. Need inspiration? Choose a team favorite book. Bring your own libations and snacks. Prizes awarded for first, second, third places.

COST: $100 for a team of eight

WEBSITE: mosnowbirds.org/Trivia.html

19TH ANNUAL SNOWBIRD BRATFEST

DATE/TIME: Feb. 4, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

LOCATION: In the parking lot adjacent to the Erie Meyer Civic Center in Gulf Shores. The festivities start at 10:30 a.m. and will proceed until all the brats are sold. All proceeds benefit the Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Fire and Rescue Departments. This is a rain or shine event and carry out and take out services are available in addition to the walk-through lines.

COST: $5 per brat, soda, tea, coffee $1

FIFTH ANNUAL 8 PIN TAP TOURNAMENT

DATE/TIME: Feb. 14, 1-4 p.m.

LOCATION: Gulf Bowl in Foley. Proceeds benefit the Christian Service Center.

FIFTH ANNUAL BALDWIN COUNTY HERITAGE MUSEUM GOLF SCRAMBLE

DATE/TIME: Feb. 16, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

LOCATION: The best thing about playing a round of golf in a four-man scramble besides choosing the best shots until you reach the hole, is playing for all the proceeds to benefit the Baldwin County Heritage Museum. Your entry fee includes 18-holes of Scottish links golf, cart, range balls, a delicious lunch and prizes. Registration starts at 8 a.m. Call or email for complete details.

COST: $60 per golfer

PHONE: 251-986-8375

MELISSA'S PLACE - BENEFIT CONCERT AND LIVE AUCTION

DATE/TIME: Feb. 16, 3-6 p.m.

LOCATION: The Orange Beach Events Center at The Wharf with all proceeds going towards completing construction of Melissa's Place, an orphanage being built in Haiti for girls 5 - 16 years old. In addition to the music of The Coachmen, and Wojamm travelling here for this event, Gulf Coast locals Lisa Christian, Mac Walter and Shelby Brown, recently seen on The Voice, will perform. During the intermission of this great benefit concert, a live auction will be held with proceeds also going to Melissa's Place. BYOB event

COST: $10

11th ANNUAL LOW COUNTRY BOIL

DATE/TIME: Feb. 20, 10:30 a.m.-noon

LOCATION: The Low Country Boil will be at St. Andrew by the Sea church located at 17263 Fort Morgan Road. There are four different seating times. Your ticket also includes entry to the zoo at your convenience. Tickets available through the zoo and snowbird clubs.

COST: $13, includes drink

PHONE: 251-968-5731

SNOWBIRD CLUB NEWS

ILLINOIS: The 2017 Illinois Club “Welcome Back” coffee is Jan. 6 at 10 a.m. at Orange Beach Adult Center on Canal Road next to Library. Breakfast Meetings are scheduled at 8 a.m. on Jan. 13 and 27, Feb. 10 and 24, and March 10 at Cayman Grill at 26189 Canal Rd, Orange Beach.

INDIANA: Indiana Club meets for breakfast at 8 a.m. on the second and fourth Thursday January through March. Doors open at 7:30. Cayman Grill, 26189 Canal Road, Orange Beach. Contact Bev Walker at 812-981-0752 for reservations.

IOWA: The Iowa-Alabama Snowbird Club Co-Presidents, Steve and Chris Hedlund, have announced the 2017 Iowa Snowbirds event schedule. Breakfasts, $10 per person, will be at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesdays, Jan. 11 and 25 and Feb. 8 and 22 at Perdido Beach Resort at 27200 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach. Reservations need to be made on the website, Iowa-Alabamagulfcoastsnowbirds.org, preferred, or by calling Shari DeCook, 641-521-0929 or Sharon Hesselmann, 563-357-2721.

MICHIGAN: The Michigan Club will have five meetings in 2017. The dates are: Jan. 5 and 19; Feb. 2 and 16, and March 2. Meetings are at the Erie Meyer Center in Gulf Shores starting at 10 a.m. The doors open at 8:30 a.m. and coffee and donuts are available at 9 a.m. Meetings include entertainment, announcements of Club activities and door prizes. Membership dues to participate in the meetings costs only $3 total per person for the entire year. Details: www. michiganclubalabama.com

MINNESOTA: The Minnesota Club meets as a group November – March in our “home away from home” state of Alabama. We golf, we volunteer and just plain have fun! Breakfast each Tuesday, Cayman Grill, 26189 Canal Road, Orange Beach. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., breakfast at 8:30 a.m. In addition to weekly breakfast, the Minnesota Snowbird Club is very active in the community. Details: www.mnal.org

MISSOURI: The Missouri Snowbirds spend January, February and for some lucky folks, March also, in the Orange Beach, Gulf Shores and the Perdido Key area where they participate in many activities. The Club will meet for breakfast at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesdays Jan. 11 and 25, Feb. 8 and 22 at Perdido Beach Resort 27200 Perdido Beach Boulevard, Orange Beach. Business meetings at Phoenix V will alternate with breakfast. Details: www.mosnowbirds.org

NEW YORK: New York State Snowbirds are an informal bunch who have been gathering for social times since 2000. The 2017 New York Snowbird Club will meet for lunch on the second and fourth Thursday at Cayman Grill at 26189 Canal Road, Orange Beach. Reservations required. Contact Frank Panczyszyn 251-987-3856 or email nysnowbirds@gmail.com.

NORTH DAKOTA/SOUTH DAKOTA: The Gulf Shores-based North and South Dakota Snowbird Club meets every second and fourth Tuesday morning in January and February; and the second Tuesday morning in March. We gather at Hazel’s Restaurant in Orange Beach at 8:30 a.m. for breakfast with a short meeting to follow at 9 a.m. We also have several other social events throughout the winter season including pot lucks, dinner at local restaurants, etc. While in Gulf Shores we collect food and infant items at our breakfast meetings for the local food pantry and also contribute to the Baldwin County Heritage Museum Golf Tournament. Details: Joyce, 605-351-0274

OHIO: Early arriving Ohio snowbirds will meet for dinner at DeSoto’s on Dec. 29 at 5 p.m. RSVP to Gayle at 937-621-1700. The 2017 Ohio Snowbird Club will meet at the Cayman Grill at 26189 Canal Road, a short distance east of Doc’s. The price remains the same at $10 per person. Doors will open at 8 a.m. and the buffet will be ready by 9:15. Dates of breakfast are: Jan.4 and Jan 18; Feb.1 and 15; and March 1. Sharon Schock is coordinating breakfast reservations, RSVPs required by the Monday prior. This can be done by signing up at the prior breakfast or calling Sharon at 419-769-2199. Details: www.snowbirdsgulfcoast.com/snowbird-clubs/ohio-snowbird-club

PENNSYLVANIA: Pennsylvania Snowbird Club Members stay at the state park, in rented houses and in condos all over south Baldwin County. Breakfast meetings are 8 a.m. Wednesdays at Hazel’s Seafood Restaurant, 25311 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach. Upcoming 2017 dates include: Jan. 4, 11 and 18; Feb. 1, 8, 22 and March 1 and 8. Potluck luncheons are noon Feb. 15 at the Orange Beach Presbyterian Church on Canal Road in Orange Beach. On selected Mondays (dates to be decided) we meet at 5 p.m. at O’Charley’s Restaurant in Foley for “Eat and Talk.” Contact person year round: Rich Smith: 908-420-8806 or bettyrich@rcn.com Details: www.snowbirdsgulfcoast.com/snowbird-clubs/pennsylvania-snowbird-club

WISCONSIN: The Wisconsin Snobird Club boasts a membership of more than 700 and activities are open to all winter visitors to the southern Alabama and northern Florida areas. Club meetings are on the first and third Wednesdays beginning in January and running through March. One exception is the Feb. 2 meeting will be a Thursday. Please make note. The meetings are at the Orange Beach Event Center, 4671 Wharf Parkway W., Orange Beach. There is a coffee and doughnut social hour prior to the meeting. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. with club updates by all committee heads and the president. Various items are raffled off during the meetings as well. The different social committees all have info booths available with info on such things as golf outings, local as well as distant trips, fundraisers, lunches etc. Details: www. sites.google.com/site/wisconsinsnowbirdclub/company-calendar

CLUB FUNDRAISERS: Key dates for major Snowbird fundraisers this year include: Jan. 28 - Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast; Feb. 4 - Bratfest and Trivia Night; Feb. 14- Pin Tap Bowling Tournament; Feb. 16 – Baldwin Heritage Museum Golf Tournament; Feb. 17 - Low Country Boil. More details will be available in our January edition.