AAUW

American Association of University Women, Sandhills/ Southern Pines Branch, will hold its holiday luncheon at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at Table on the Green, Midland Country Club.

Reservations are due by Dec. 2. The cost is $16 per person, and checks should be made payable to Sandhills/Southern Pines AAUW and mailed to Dee Fordree, 140 Midland Drive, Pinehurst, NC 28374.

The AAUW International Relations study group will meet Thursday, Dec. 7, at 1 p.m., with Sue LeClair. Ginny Roth will lead the discussion on "Turkey: On Europe's Verge?"

LSE

On Wednesday, Dec. 6, the Pinecrest High School Advanced Orchestra and Advanced Choir will be at the Pinehurst Member's Club to entertain members of the Ladies Special Events.

Members may bring guests. Pinecrest High School has been performing at the Pinehurst Member's Club at Christmas time for about 30 years.

There will be a luncheon right after the complimentary wine and juice in the main lobby at noon. The lunch will be served in the main dining room at 12:30 p.m. There is an elevator to the second floor.

James Brown will direct the choir, and Lindsay Leach will conduct the orchestra. Brown is a very talented conductor with many credits to his name, and will be appearing for the third year.

Leach will be conducting for the first time. She is a flutist, and is currently the director of orchestras and IB/AP music theory at Pinecrest High School. She holds a bachelor's and a master's degree in performance from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Md., as well as a post-graduate performance diploma and teaching certificate from the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Leach performs regularly as a soloist and chamber musician in the Sandhills, and is a newly appointed flutist in the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra.

To make a reservation, call the club at 235-8100, and press "1" when you first hear the recording.

If you have any questions, call Cynthia Strecker, Chairman, at 295-8828.

BNI

Business Network International offers free tips on increasing your business through positive word-of-mouth marketing. BNI is an exclusive business-to-business referral network with meetings at various times and locations.

Visit www.bni.com and/or call 910-585-2400 for more information.

Browns Backers

The Cleveland Browns Backers of the Sandhills will meet Sunday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m. at Broad Street Bar & Grill, 715 S.W. Broad Street in Southern Pines. The Browns play the Kansas City Chiefs.

Call Fred at 295-6480 for information.

Camellia Society

The Sandhills Camellia Society will hold its winter meeting Monday, Dec. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Homewood Suites by Hilton, Olmsted Village in Pinehurst.

"Join us for a light meal and refreshments in the lobby from 5 to 6 p.m.," says a spokesman.

The business meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the Camellia Room.

"Please be sure to bring your ACS application form and dues and an interested friend to the next meeting," says the spokesman.

A presentation on "Winter Hardy Camellias" will be provided by Glenn Underdown, owner of Cameron's II Nursery, Carthage. All camellia enthusiasts and growers are welcome to attend this free event.

RSVP by Dec. 1 to Tammy at 255-0012.

Pointing Breeds

The Sandhills Pointing Breeds Club will hold its monthly club meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. on the club grounds, 3280 Jackson Springs Rd., Jackson Springs.

A few club members are bringing in some home-cooked food and a small Christmas tree, so it should be a little festive occasion, says a spokesman. All members are invited to attend.

The SPBC is open to anyone interested in the pointing dog breeds. Dog ownership is not required. The club meets the first Tuesday of every month from September through May.

For more information about the club, contact Donna Boyce at dboyce@nc.rr.com or at 910-246-0190.

Post-Polio Group

The Post-Polio Support Group will meet Saturday, Dec. 2, at 10 a.m. in Conference Room A at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. The program will be given by Ginny Richmond.

A Christmas luncheon will follow at noon at Table on the Green, at Midland Country Club in Southern Pines.

For information, call 715-5266.

Republican Women

Moore Republican Women (MRW) will be celebrating its annual holiday gathering and installation of officers on Saturday, Dec. 9, at the "Fairwoods On 7" at 10:30 a.m. Richard Morgan will install the new officers for the 2007 year.

The menu includes meats, salad bar, petit fours, Pinehurst muffins and cash bar. Cost is $15 inclusive.

All guests are asked to bring a shoe box filled with goodies for the troops. Requested items include: granola or cereal bars, individual packages of cookies, trail mix, and other snacks, coffee, hot chocolate or herbal tea packages, travel-size hand sanitizers, batteries, disposable cameras, portable CD players and headphones or small homemade gifts.

"Bring unwrapped toys for tots, too," says a spokesman.

To make a reservation, call Donna Bartrip at 215-5922 no later than Wednesday Dec. 6.

"You do not have to be a member of MRW to attend this gathering," says the spokesman. "If you would like to attend and need transportation, let Donna know and she will arrange transportation for you."

Moore Republican Women welcomes new members and those who simply want to attend a luncheon.

If you are interested in joining MRW, call Linda Jarrett at 295-8837 or send an e-mail to tammys @pinehurst.net.