Enjoy the dulcet tones of the Batavia High School Chorus. Bring your holiday spirits with you for an enjoyable gathering with friends.

Peaceful Holidays

The holiday season can be challenging for many who are grieving the loss of individuals as well the disappointing loss of hopes and dreams. Reality often falls short of the picture perfect Thanksgiving or Christmas portrayed in many movies and commercials. There can also be a heightened sense of anxiety wanting to make everything memorable and perfect for everyone at the expense of your peace. For some, seeing family can mean conflict, and for others there is no family to celebrate with or the tensions runs high. 

Annie will share ways to temper our expectations, tools to take care of our heart and our mind, and ideas for how to have true peace on earth this coming holiday season. 

 Annie Barsch, MA, LMFT has been working with individuals, families, and couples over the past 20 years; both in a large private practice and more recently, on her own. Her specialties are trauma and complicated grief. 

Your summer flowers have brought us our October scholars!

The club now continues into it's 55th year of enjoying our flower fundraiser. This wonderful tradition has allowed us to once again, send some wonderful Batavia middle school children to some summer camps.

Please come to this meeting to meet them and hear about their experiences as we invite their parents to join in this wonderful celebration of the youth of our community.

Dr. R. Tracy Williams will once again tell us about Spectrios Institute for Low Vision. Hear about the wonderful eye and sight savings services this nonprofit provides to children and adults in our area. And along the way hear about Dr. Williams service to our major league sports teams in the area. You will chuckle as you hear about his life's journey while you appreciate his giving heart and the wonderful institution he's created.

Come and hear Russ Higgins, University of Illinois extension educator, give us “the dirt” about our agricultural state. If you think digging in the dirt can be fun, wait till you hear Russ talk about our state and all of its lovely dirt! Learn some very interesting information about our state while you laugh along with your Club members at his interesting stories and anecdotes.

Agriculture is full of ups and downs and 2024 is demonstrating extremes. Midway through the growing season Illinois farmers and their crops have experienced almost record spring rainfall, delayed planting, replanting, replanting again, above average temperatures and heat stress. Did we mention insects, disease and dropping commodity prices?

Join Russ Higgins, University of Illinois Extension agronomist sharing his perspective as he takes you to the fields and through the current growing season.

End of Year Celebration

Come and celebrate all that our club has accomplished in the past year.

Meet the new Board and share a meal!

Come and hear all about Lazarus House. Their mission is to offer guests connected to our communities, who are homeless or in need, hope for the future by providing hospitality, food, safe shelter, and education — tools for life. They strive to make certain that all who enter feel the love of Jesus.

Their desire is to offer everyone who comes to their doors the opportunity for hope and a future. They give people a hand up, not a hand out.

Enjoy an evening out in springtime with your Club as we hear about the delivery of mental health services to our local children. Sarah Russe of TriCity Family Services will be our guest. In addition, we are pleased to have Judge Sandra Parga talk to us about the challenges she faces as a Juvenile Court judge.

Join us to hear from one of our own BWC members,

Janie Maxwell,

the Executive Director of the Illinois Farmers’ Markets Association. (ILFMA)

The ILFMA supports local food and food systems by giving Illinois farmers markets and producers access to resources, education, and connections in order to grow healthier and economically vibrant communities.

February 5, 2024 (lunch meeting)

“More Than a Furry Friend”

Canine Companions for Independence-Suzanne Treudt

suzanne@treudtteam.com

www.canine.org

11:00 AM Social Time

11:30 AM General Meeting

Noon Luncheon

Program to Follow

MENU

TBD

December 4, 2023 (Evening Meeting)

“Delightful Dancers”

Students from Batavia Academy of Dance

Anne Gugliuzza, Artistic Director and Owner

www.BataviaAcademyofDance.com

It’s our annual bake and craft sale!

4:30 Bring your bakery packaged to go to your lucky buyers!

5:00 Come by for appetizers as you buy some goodies. Then socialize with a drink among friends. Have an appetizer or two!

6:00 Enjoy our Batavia Academy of Dance Students

6:30 Our Holiday Dinner

TBD

November 6, 2023 (Luncheon)

“Building Better Lives”

Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity

Barbara Zegiel, Development Director (and BWC Member)

b.zegiel@foxvalleyhabitat.org

www.foxvalleyhabitat.org

Agenda

LUNCHEON:

11:00 AM Social Time, 11:30 AM General Meeting,

Lunch 12:00 PM. Program to follow

Menu

TBD

Your Flower Pot Orders Provide…

“Inspiration Through Art and Music”

Scholarship Performances

Scholarship Chair, Heather Hayes presents our…

Rotolo Middle School Summer Camp

Scholarship Presentations

5:00 - meet and greet

5:30 - dinner

6:15 - Scholarship presentations

Come and join us as we hear about this wonderful organization that enhances the lives of these special adults.

5:15 - Check -in

5:45 - Business Meeting

6:15 - Dinner together

Menu - Stuffed peppers with ground beef in a tomato sauce over mashed potatoes, broccoli side in a lemon butter drizzle, Italian greens salad, dessert is an assortment of Italian cookies with cannoli

6:45 - FVSRA Marcie Lucas development Coordinator

Water Street Studios

Let’s give a warm welcome to Gianne Bisogni, the events and marketing manager for this little jewel in our community. There is so much this studio does. The BWC is looking forward to hearing about it!

5:15 Check in and social/cocktail time

5:45: General Meeting

6:15 Dinner: with program to follow

Menu:

Spinach salad with strawberries, pecans, ornages tossed with a poppyseed dressing

Orzo sald with pesto, olive, tomato green onion and mushrooms

Marinated and grilled chicken kabobs

Vesuvio potatoes

Roasted veggies

Apple Pie

June 5, 2023 (Evening meeting)

End-of-Year Celebration and Plant Sale

5:00 PM Social /Cocktail/plant shopping

5:30 PM New Board Installment/Linnea Miller Award

6:15 PM Dinner and (Dancing?!)

MENU

Your Favorite!

Jason’s hors’ d’oeuvres! We can’t wait to see all the lovely goodies he prepares for us!

May 1, 2023 (Evening meeting)

“Mental Health Awareness Month”

Batavia’s Suicide Prevention Services

Stephanie Dewinski, LSW, Associate Director

www.spsamerica.org

info@spsamerica.org 1-800-273-8255 (24-hour Hotline)

5:15 PM Social /Cocktail

5:45 PM General Meeting

6:15 PM Dinner

Program to Follow

MENU

TBD

April 3, 2023

Dinner meeting

“Windows into Stained Glass”

Works of Art at Logan Street Missionary Baptist Church

Edward Tousana, Artist

www.loganstreetchurch.com

5:15 PM SOCIAL /COCKTAIL

5:45 PM GENERAL MEETING

6:15 PM DINNER

PROGRAM TO FOLLOW

MENU

Greek salad-romaine, tomato, cucumber, peppers, red onion, kalamata olive, feta

Roasted lemon oregano chicken

Vesuvio potatoes

Briami-zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, onion, peppers, tomato

Baklava

March 6, 2023 (lunch meeting)

“Traditions and challenges”

Batavia’s Valley Sheltered WorkShop

Hugo Saltijeral, Director

11:00 AM Social Time

11:30 AM General Meeting

Noon Luncheon

Program to Follow

We are also collecting donations of feminine products for Mutual Ground.

And we will always happily accept donations for our Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry.

MENU

Rolls and butter

Mixed greens w/strawberries, oranges, pecans w/red wine vinaigrette

Grilled chicken w/artichoke and sundried tomatoes

Roasted red potatoes

Grilled asparagus

Lemon meringue pie

February 6, 2023 (lunch meeting)

“Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly”

Maria J. Stamos, Expansion Program Planner

www.lbfechicago.org

11:00 AM Social Time

11:30 AM General Meeting

Noon Luncheon

Program to Follow

We are collecting donations for CASA ( Court Appointed Special Advocates)

Here is their wishlist:

We are asking our members to bring these items to our Feb meeting:

* baby shampoo and soap

* baby lotion

* baby diaper rash cream

* small toy, book or teether BUT NO STUFFED ANIMALS

* onesies in size 3 mos to 24 mos (girl, boy or gender neutral)

MENU

Ceaser salad

Pot roast

Whipped new potatoes

Roasted carrots and turnips

Bread pudding w/caramel sauce

December 5, 2022 (Evening Meeting)

“Encore! Encore!”

Students from Batavia Academy of Dance

Anne Gugliuzza, Artistic Director and Owner

www.BataviaAcademyofDance.com

It’s our annual bake and craft sale!

4:30 Bring your bakery packaged to go to your lucky buyers!

5:00 Come by for appetizers as you buy some goodies. Then socialize with a drink among friends. Have an appetizer or two!

6:00 Enjoy our Batavia Academy of Dance Students

6:30 Our Holiday Dinner

Rolls and butter

Salad of Romaine, feta, cranberries, pecans w/champagne vinaigrette

Baked ham

Roasted sweet potatoes

Scalloped potatoes

Brussel sprouts w/bacon and maple

Apple pie

Coffee and soft drinks

November 7, 2022 (Luncheon)

“A Chance to Help Military Families”

James Cooks, Manager

www.hines.va.gov/fisherhouse

(708) 202-7154

Agenda

LUNCHEON:

11:00 AM Social Time, 11:30 AM General Meeting,

Lunch 12:00 PM. Program to follow

Menu

Kielbasa (smoked sausage) with sauerkraut/ Mustard and horseradish provided

Red potatoes with butter and parsley

Brown sugared carrots

Rye bread and butter

Cucumber salad

Jason’s special apple raisin strudel

October 3, 2022 (Evening)

“Full STEAM Ahead”

Our Rotolo Middle School Scholars’ Presentations

Agenda

5:00 PM Social/Cocktail time

5:30 Dinner with our scholarship students and families.

6:15/6:30 PM. Program to follow

Menu

A great mix of scrumptious and filling hors d’oeuvres, sure to please everyone!

September 12, 2022 (Evening)

“CHIP IN Batavia Makes a Difference”

History of the Organization and Services

Joanne Spitz, CHIP IN Co-Chair (& BWC Member)

chipinbatavia@gmail.com

www.chipinbatavia.org

Agenda

EVENING DINNER:

5:15 PM Social/Cocktail, 5:45 General Meeting, Dinner 6:15 PM. Program to follow

Menu

Mixed green salad, strawberries, oranges, and pecans tossed with red wine vinaigrette.
Grilled chicken with artichoke and sundried tomatoes in white wine lemon broth
Red roasted potatoes
Pasta Primavera
Strawberry shortcake

It’s our 8th Annual Plants Sale!

Followed by our General Meeting and

Hors D’oeuvres Dinner!

Yes, we have now been spreading our plants all over the Fox Valley for 8 years now.

The proceeds from annual sale help support our club’s operations.

Come a little early at 5 pm.

Peruse the many pretty plants our member gardeners have brought just for you. We guarantee you will “dig” them!

Enjoy a visit from “We Grow Dreams”

This is a wonderful local nursery that provides people with disabilities the opportunity to lead fulfilling lives and to train and work in a supportive, safe, and caring environment while producing and providing gorgeous plants of all kinds to the community. In this pursuit, they honor the concepts of human dignity, respect, hard work, fellowship, and friendship.

Come out and learn all about this fantastic business resource just around the corner in West Chicago!

Just in time for planting season!

Come on out and enjoy your Club.

Mix and mingle with old and new friends alike!

Meet some of our new members!

And….learn all about the needs of the residents of the Batavia Apartments.

5:30: Check in

6:00: Club Meeting. We have a lot to share.

6:30: WINNER! WINNER! Chicken (and cheesecake) dinner!

7:00: Meet Lynn Queen, Resident Service Coordinator Assistant and Taylor Mucho-Otterman, Resident Service Manager of Mercy Housing. We are so excited to have these enthusiastic and “devoted to their jobs” ladies meet all of us. Together we can start to see what our Club can do to help this diverse and multigenerational community in our town.

It will be great to be back together again!

11:00 am:

Check in and spend some social time with your club friends.

11:30 am:

Hear about everything the club has been up to, and what we have planned to help our community in the near future.

Noon:

Time for a fabulous lunch!

12:30:

Dessert and our speaker Jan Wright!

Jan is here to tell us all about The Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence. Hear how this not-for -profit enriches our educational system.

And Jason is looking forward to cookin’ up some fantastic vittles.

Program: Illinois Presidents and Batavia Black History

Batavia Depot Museum

Presented by: Kate Garrett Director

www.bataviahistoricalsociety.org

Here is our link to zoom in!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82008877360?pwd=OEkwODFRbUJFUzhlZkRtb3czbGE3dz09

Face to face meeting has been canceled

Due to a low number of lunch orders, we needed to cancel Enticing Cuisine’s lunch offer.

A “Zooming: General Meeting begins at 11:30 AM.