Browns Backers

The Cleveland Browns Backers of the Sandhills, a club made up of loyal Cleveland Browns football fans living in the Sandhills area, meet every time the Browns play a game.

The local chapter meets at The Bell Tree, 155 NE Broad St., Southern Pines, a nonsmoking facility.

The next game at The Bell Tree is Sunday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m., versus the Buffalo Bills. For information, call Fred at (910) 295-6480.

For further information, visit www.brownsbackersofthesandhills.com.

Coin Club

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

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

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

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

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

The coin club is continuing to sell raffle tickets for a Dec. 2 drawing of three winners for a first prize five dollar old gold coin (pre-1933), a second prize of five high grade Morgan silver dollars and a third prize of three high grade Peace silver dollars. Raffle tickets are $1 each or 25 tickets for $20 and can be purchased at Town and Country Antiques located on U.S. 1 in Aberdeen.

Computer Club of the Sandhills

The next meeting of the Computer Club of the Sandhills will be held on Monday, Oct. 12, at 4 p.m. in the lower level of the Whispering Pines Village Hall. The subject of the talk will be "Open Office."

Dick Kuehl will discuss some of the features and operations of the Open Office software suite and talk about why 270 million people have downloaded this free software, switching from Microsoft Office to Open Office.

Kuehl is an instructor at Sandhills Community College, where he teaches an Open Office course. He will also be instructing and assisting the Information Technology Department at First Health as they transition from Microsoft Office to Open Office.

The computer club meets the second Monday of each month at 4 p.m. in the lower level of the village hall of Whispering Pines. The purpose of the club is to bring users of personal computers together for the exchange of ideas, knowledge, skills and technical information.

Membership is open to computer users with all levels of expertise. Visitors are welcome. For information, contact George McNally at (910) 949-2294.

Republican Men

The October program of the Moore County Republican Men's Club will feature talk radio celebrity Bill LuMaye. LuMaye broadcasts a drive-time conservative talk show on WPTF in Raleigh, 680 AM, weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m.

LuMaye grew up in Green Bay, Wis. He and his wife, Jenn, live in Raleigh with son, Ben, and daughter, Nichole.

A Green Bay Packers fan, he is an avid X-BOX player and devotee of the television series "24." He also enjoys spending some quality time with his "Hog" (Harley-Davidson motorcycle).

His radio career began in 1980 in his hometown. His recording background includes production work on several movie, national television and radio projects bringing him the recognition of a National Clio and Grammy award.

LuMaye was the first radio host to be embedded with the troops in Iraq, broadcasting live the week before Christmas 2003. The men and women of the 432nd Civil Affairs unit celebrated the capture of Saddam Hussein, dodged incoming RPG shells and talked with their loved ones back home via the Bill LuMaye Show, live from Iraq.

The Moore County Republican Men's Club is the largest Republican Men's Club in North Carolina with over 350 members. They meet for lunch and a program on the second Thursday of each month at the County Club of North Carolina.

Anyone interested in attending the October meeting or becoming a member can call Terry Guttrich, vice president of membership, at (910) 215-8916.

Lunch is $15 and can be paid by cash or personal check. Annual dues for the club are $20.

"All Republican men are welcome," says a spokesman. "Republican women are encouraged to attend or join as an associate member."

Men's Fellowship

The Sandhills Men's Fellowship continues its breakfast speaker series with Chris Miller as the guest Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Miller was a member of the CIA's clandestine service for over 24 years, and "came in from the cold" upon having his cover lifted in 2007, when he retired.

He spent his career as a case officer working overseas, running sources of intelligence on issues including counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation, and East Asian affairs.

Over his career, he held senior management positions both in the field and at CIA Headquarters in Virginia.

He lived and operated in countries in East Asia, Europe, and Central America, and traveled on temporary duty to many other countries.

Before joining the government, Miller worked for a number of years in the financial management sector of retailing firms. He is a graduate of Indiana University's School of Business, where he earned a bachelor's degree with highest distinction. Since retirement, Miller has been an active consultant to the United States military on intelligence matters.

Fellowship begins at 7:40 a.m. at the Pinehurst Member's Club. Breakfast will follow at 8 a.m.

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

NARFE

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Sandhills Chapter 1895 will hold a special meeting Monday, Oct. 12, at 10:30 a.m. at Sandhills Community College, Ball Gardens Visitor Center, 3395 Airport Rd., Pinehurst.

Dolores Muller, a Master Gardener, will provide a tour of the gardens following a short general meeting.

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.

Newcomers

Newcomers of the Pinehurst Area is an organization formed to introduce new residents to one another and the community by providing social events and activities.

To join this group, call (910) 315-2471 or visit the Web site www.pinehurstnewcomers.com.

S.P. Rotary Club

During the month of October, programming for the Rotary Club of Southern Pines will include:

Oct. 9, Sustainable Sandhills organization

Oct. 16, Dr. John Dempsey, President of Sandhills Community College

Oct. 23, State Representative Jamie Boles, who will discuss issues being dealt with in the state legislature.

Anyone wishing to join the Rotary Club of Southern Pines may contact Al Wakeman at (910) 245-8683.

Sandhills Buckeyes

The Sandhills chapter of the Ohio State Buckeye club meets at The Bell Tree, 155 NE Broad St., Southern Pines and Beef O'Brady's, 229 Hay St., Fayetteville.

This week's game is against Wisconsin Saturday, Oct. 10, at 3:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.sandhillsbuckeyes.net.

Women of Weymouth

Women of Weymouth will welcome Polly Kelly as their Oct. 19 program speaker. Kelly is a world traveler and has a passion for music and cooking.

Kelly's program at Weymouth is titled "Hidden Egypt: More than Temples, Tombs and Tut." She has visited Egypt many times, and this country is one of her passions.

Kelly has written a cookbook titled "American Holiday Cookbook," a menu-driven book detailing the history and foods of traditional American holidays. She has been exposed to various cultures, foods, and traditions throughout her life.

Kelly graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in history and minors in fine arts, comparative religions, and French from New York University's Washington Square College of Arts and Science. She studied voice and opera in New York City for nine years and went on to a career in advertising and public and investor relations. Now retired, Kelly has three children and 10 grandchildren, and lives in Pinehurst when she isn't traveling with her husband, Thomas Kelly.

The meeting will start at 9:30 a.m. with a coffee time, followed by the business meeting and program. Donna May, program chairman, expects a large member turnout; however guests are welcome, says a spokesman.