AAUW

The members of the Sandhills/Southern Pines Branch of the American Association of University Women will meet at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, in the Youth Room at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Southern Pines.

The topic for this meeting will be information about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), a program recently adopted by AAUW to promote interest in these fields on the part of female students.

"We plan an informal information-gathering and popcorn meeting this time, featuring recent DVD PBS productions on advances in education in China and India," says a spokesman. "Please feel welcome to visit with us."

Membership is open to all graduates who hold an associate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university. Dues are $34 for the remainder of the year. AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research.

For information about the location, upcoming meetings, the projects we support and AAUW fundraising, call 295-2871.

Linden Garden Club

Linden Garden Club of Pinewild held its first meeting of 2009 Thursday, Jan. 15, at the Pinewild Country Club. The meeting was brightened by the beautiful and colorful display of orchids and informative facts about the growing, proper care and propagation of orchids by local grower Linda Thorne, of Seagrove Orchids.

President Jeanne Leone presided over the business meeting. Secretary Martha Romero presented the minutes of the previous meeting and Treasurer Nona Burrell updated the financial report to the membership. She announced that the scholarship raffle to benefit a Sandhills Community College horticultural student was very successful.

The next meeting and luncheon will be held Thursday, Feb. 19, at the Pinewild Country Club. The guest speaker is Sally Larson of Fireshadow Pottery in Seagrove who will present the program, "The Life Line of a Piece of Pottery." Members are reminded to contact Dawn Munday to make their reservations for the meeting and/or lunch.

ASGA

The American Singles Golf Association's (ASGA) Pinehurst meets Friday, Feb. 6, for a Texas Hold 'Em card party; for the dinner meeting Thursday, Feb. 12, at the Country Club of Whispering Pines, and Saturday, Feb. 21, for an 18-hole outing at Pinehurst Country Club, followed by a social.

Those interested in becoming members or attending a function should contact Tim at 949-4672 or e-mail ASGAGolfpinehurst@nc. rr.com.

Computer Clubs

SCC Computer Club

The Sandhills Community College Continuing Education Computer Club meets at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at Van Dusen Hall, on the college campus.

The program this month centers around the definition, explanation and usage of certain basic computer terms, such as pixel, DPI, memory, science of color, input and programs. The speakers should be interesting, entertaining, and informative.

There are light refreshments, a door prize, and always the dissemination of a wealth of information, says a spokesman.

Computer Club of the Sandhills

The Computer Club of the Sandhills meets Monday, Feb. 9, at 4 p.m. in the lower level of the Whispering Pines Village Hall. Sandy Berger, nationally respected computer authority, journalist, and author, will present "Free Stuff." Berger will present a wide variety of software and services that she has found useful. She is the founder of Computer Living Corp, a computer consulting and training company based in Pinehurst and writes a weekly column for The Pilot.

For information, call Art Reetz at 949-3733 or Georg McNally at 949-2294.

Computer Club of Seven Lakes

Computer Club of Seven Lakes meets Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 3 p.m. in the game room at Seven Lakes North. "Income Taxes and Your Computer" will be presented by Bill Roberson, district coordinator, AARP Tax Aid Program, and volunteer Sue Darr, former IRS specialist.

Genealogical Society

The Moore County Genealogical Society (MCGS) met on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at Mac's restaurant in Carthage.

President Norma Jones called the meeting to order. Kathy Lawrence read the minutes of the last meeting. Treasurer Tom Stewart gave a financial report.

Vice President Wade Copeland, introduced the guest speakers, Jeff and Debbie Irwin. Jeff is an archaeologist with Cultural Resources at Fort Bragg. He is in charge of artifacts and historical sites there. He explained what he does, and his wife, Debbie, told how she integrates archaeology and genealogy into the core curriculum with her eighth-graders at Southern Middle School to get them interested in reading, writing, history, geography, and science.

Students take field trips to sites such as Longstreet Presbyterian Church and cemetery on Fort Bragg and the Copeland homeplace site in Jackson Springs and learn techniques used by archaeologists. They learn to use computers, GPS systems, and metal detectors as well as research techniques. They then write a research report on a topic related to what they have learned.

After the meeting, the MCGS board met to choose a nominating committee for new officers and a committee to find a new newsletter editor.

The next meeting will be March 21 at the Moore County Agricultural building in Carthage at 10:30 a.m. Visitors and prospective members are always welcome.

The society meets in the months of January, March, May, July, September and November.

Newcomers

Newcomers of Pinehurst has changed its name to Newcomers of the Pinehurst Area to better reflect the geographical diversity of the membership. Not only are there members from Pinehurst, but also from Southern Pines, Whispering Pines, Taylortown, Jackson Springs, West End, Seven Lakes, Foxfire Village and Aberdeen.

Newcomers of the Pinehurst Area was formed to introduce new residents to one another and the community by providing social events and activities. They include Dining In, Dining Out, Lunch Bunch, golf, walkers, bridge -- couples, marathon and weekly, tennis, book club and many more.

Those interested in joining Newcomers of the Pinehurst Area can call (910) 315-2471 or visit www.pinehurstnewcomers.com.

Men's Fellowship

The Sandhills Men's Fellowship will kick off its 2009 breakfast speaker series with the return of John Derr as the guest speaker Tuesday, Feb. 10.

Derr is a legendary golf reporter who covered almost every Masters golf tournament in various capacities beginning in 1935, the second year of the contest, until 2001.

As the director for the CBS television and radio sports departments, he had the unique opportunity to cover some of the most exciting venues in sports from the Olympics to World Series to U.S. Open Tennis. His "Rolodex" of personal friends ranges from heads of state to major celebrities of his era. Derr is among the inaugural recipients of the Masters Major Achievement Award.

"Please join us at 7:45 a.m. at the Pinehurst Member's Club," says a spokesman. "Breakfast will follow at 8 a.m."

The Sandhills Men's Fellowship has been in existence for 31 years, originally founded by Henry Duncan, pastor of the Pinehurst Village Chapel. It no longer has a religious affiliation nor is it a membership organization. The only qualifications are men who enjoy fellowship, breakfast, and amazing speakers from the highly qualified pool of interesting people who live in the Sandhills.

For more information, call Tom Stewart at 295-9775.

NARFE

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Sandhills Chapter 1895 will hold its monthly meeting at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at the Community Congregational Church, 141 N. Bennett St., Southern Pines.

Chapter 1895 welcomes all Federal (including U.S. Postal Service) active employees, retirees, spouses and surviving spouses to monthly meetings.

Additional information about NARFE is available by contacting Vilma Geisert at (910) 215-5898 or George Sandoval at (910) 246-9881.

Coin Club

The Moore Numismatic Association Coin Club will meet at 7 p.m. today (Wednesday) at the Aberdeen Fire Station, U.S. 1.

Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month and consist of coin news and events, member presentations and discussions and a coin raffle and auction.

Club membership is $15 per year for adults, $6 for those 17 and under.

"New members are welcome," says Paul Brill, secretary-treasurer.

Call Brill at (910) 638-4542 for information.

Pointing Breeds

The Sandhills Pointing Breeds Club will meet at its new time, 10 a.m., on the first Saturday of the month from now until May. The next meeting is Saturday, Feb. 7, at the club grounds.

All members are invited to attend, and light refreshments will be provided. The club's meeting house is located at 3280 Jackson Springs Road, Jackson Springs.

The SPBC is open to anyone interested in the pointing dog breeds. Dog ownership is not required.

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

Quilters Guild

Jennifer Amor, national quilt instructor and pattern designer, will visit the Sandhills Quilters Guild at its Tuesday, Feb. 17, meeting at the Senior Enrichment Center, U.S. 15-501.

She will present a lecture "On the Road Again" during the meeting. After the meeting, Amor will give a three-hour workshop on "Bargello Basics."

On Wednesday, Feb. 18, she will give a six-hour workshop titled "Machine Magic Makes the Perfect Jacket." There are openings in both of the workshops and the guild has opened participation to nonmembers.

Call Gail Reilly at 949-4544 for fees and supplies lists.