Forever Home Feline Ranch Cat Of The Month "Rad"

'Rad'
Born April 2009
In 6 simple words, Rad is playful, sweet, good-natured, loving, & fun!

Rescued from a grim fate at a kill shelter Rad made his way to to us via a
board member who was told what a' great cat' he was!

Boy-o-boy were they right!

His foster mom says he is everything you could ask for in a young cat but
never forgets to take the time out to love, cuddle & purr with 'his
people'!
While he is sometimes shy when he first gets to know someone, don't be
fooled! Once he knows you out comes 'Mr. Personality'! He loves to be
talked to & gives you his undivided attention. He gets along great with
other friendly animals, is litterbox trained, never late for dinner, & would
make an amazing addition to any family!

To meet Rad or for more information email us at: Info@FelineRanch.org or
call 679-1593

Forever Home Feline Ranch
www.FelineRanch.org <http://www.felineranch.org/>
217-679-159

TWO TEACHERS' WORKSHOPS AT ROCK SPRINGS NATURE CENTER March 18

The Macon County Conservation District is offering two teachers' workshops
in March. Activity and hands-on ideas, resource materials, and field trip
ideas will be provided at all workshops. Teachers can earn CPDU's. Both
workshops will meet at the Rock Springs Nature Center.
Women of Early Illinois, March 18, 4pm - 8pm, is an overview of the everyday
life of women from many cultures and backgrounds as well as the impact of
specific women on Illinois history from 1700 to 1900. A light supper is
included. The fee is $10.
   Endangered and Exotic Illinois will be March 25, 4pm - 8pm, at Rock
Springs Center. This workshop will cover plants and animals that are
threatened or endangered in Illinois, whjy they are struggling, and the
invasive plants and animals from other parts of the world that contribute to
the problem. The fee is $10.
   Rock Springs Nature Center is located on the southwest edge of
Decatur at 3939 Nearing Lane. Please note, Wyckles Road is closed between
West Main and Rock Springs Road. Please register by calling 217-423-7708 or
email mccd@maconcountyconservation.org.

Springfield High School Jazz Bands present Swing into Spring March 19

Swing into Spring March 19
at the Springfield High School Commons door open at 6:30pm dance lessons
from 7pm to 7:30 pm the bands will play from 7- 10pm.

Springfield Jr Football Registration March 20

Springfield Jr Football "Kicks Registration Date" March 20 11:30am- 4pm
at Kick's Family Entertainment Center
2744 S 6th St

www.sprinfieldjfl.com

FitClub?s Ten Year Anniversary Celebration March 20

FitClub’s Ten Year Anniversary Celebration
Moves to FitClub West

FitClub will continue it’s10-year anniversary celebration on Saturday, March 20^th at FitClub West.

The festivities begin at 10am with a ribbon cutting at 2811 W. Lawrence Ave. FitClub West will
be holding an open house featuring demonstrations of the new Art of Strength Training Center.
Attendees will enjoy refreshments, prizes, health screenings, special membership offers and
discounts on FitClub merchandise.

The open house will be from 10am to 2pm with one lucky attendee winning a $1000 grand prize.

FitClub invites all members and those wishing to be part of the experience to come out and help
celebrate FitClub, Ten Years Strong. For questions or further information call Ron at FitClub,
217-787-8348 ext. 203.

Community of Quilters Quilt Show March 19 and 20

Community of Quilters Quilt Show March 19 and 20 in the
Orr Building on the IL State Fairgrounds.
Admission is $5
Fri: 10am- 6pm
Sat: 10am- 4pm
Parking is free
On site lunch available for purchase

MOUNTAIN DULCIMER WORKSHOP March 20

Join us at the Rock Springs Nature Center on March 20, 2010 for a
Mountain Dulcimer Workshop presented by Mike Anderson, a renown storyteller
and music maker from Jacksonville, IL. The workshop is sponsored by the
Macon County Conservation District.

A Beginner's session will be from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. with an
Intermediate session from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. The cost is $20.00 per
person for one session and $35.00 per person if attending both.
Pre-Registration by phone is required. Call 217-423-7708. Don't own a
dulcimer? We have a limited number to lend. Please let us know when you
pre-register if you wish to borrow one.

Rock Springs Nature Center is located on the southwestern edge of
Decatur. To get to Rock Springs Center from Decatur go south on Route 48 and
turn right onto Rock Springs Road. Watch for signs. Plenty of parking is
available. Please note --- the alternate route to Rock Springs Nature
Center via Wyckles Road from Decatur is closed due to repairs to the bridge
over the Sangamon River.

Disabled Veterans Regional Chili Cookoff March 20

Disabled Veterans Regional Chili Cookoff March 20
tasting 2pm- 4pm
$3 door admission
$1 per popular vote

3 Judging Categories
   1. Judges Choice
   2. Popular Vote
   3. Best Theme

Tallula Christian Church Ham and Bean Supper March 20

Tallula Christian Church Ham and Bean Supper March 20
All you can eat ham and beans!! 11am- 7pm

Pancake & Sausage Fundraiser March 20th

Boy Scout Troop 216, Cub Scout Pack 331 and the Men's Fellowship of First
Congregational Church group are holding a Pancake & Sausage Fundraiser to
raise funds for new equipment for the Scout groups.

March 20, 2010
Location: First Congregational Church
2100 Bates Avenue
Time: 8:00-11:30 a.m.
Cost: $5.00 for Adults
Children 12 and younger $2.00
Children 4 and younger Free
**For more information, contact Lynn Wilson at 793-9617

Rebecca St. James Live in Concert March 20

Rebecca St. James Live in Concert march 20th at 6:30pm at the iworship center.
Tickets $16 in advance $20 at the door
**tickets as www.trinitytickets.net, Family Christian Store and Local Churches

21st annual spring coin show March 21

21st annual spring coin show March 21 9am-4pm
Northfield Center 1
3210 northfield drive, springfield IL
70 dealer tables
$1 admission

13th Annual Original Barstool Open March 27

Make a Difference! All proceeds go to local charities!
To enter your team or for more info visit www.barstoolopen.org

Decatur Quilt Fest March 26& 27

Friday, 10am-5pm
Saturday, 10am-4pm

admission $5 (1 day ticket) $8 (2 day ticket)
$4 for group of 6
$3 kids under 12

Decatur Civic Center corner of U.S. Route 51 & U.S. Route 36

Annual Pancake and Sausage Breakfast March 28

Boy Scout Troop 53 and St. Aloysius Church holds annual
Pancake and Sausage Breakfast March 28
at the St. Aloysius Parish Hall, 2000 Sangamon Ave
7:30am- 12:30pm
$5 Adults
$3.50 Children
$20 For a Family

NORTH TO ALASKA Exhibition Opening JANUARY 31-March 28

North To Alaska at the ILLINOIS STATE MUSEUM
Photographs by world-renowned photographer Robert Glenn Ketchum and
Rarely seen objects from the Collections of the Illinois State Museum

A new exhibition, opens January 31,
2010 at the Illinois State Museum, Springfield. The exhibition features
more than thirty stunning large-scale color photographs of the Alaskan
wilderness by world-renowned photographer Robert Glenn Ketchum. Ketchum's
photographs reveal the vastness of the Alaskan wilderness and depict the
diversity of Alaskan landscapes. Included in the exhibition are rarely seen
objects from the Illinois State Museum's collections representing the Aleut,
Inuit, Koyukon, and Tlingit peoples. North to Alaska will be on exhibit at
the Illinois State Museum from January 31 through March 28.

The Illinois State Museum is located at 502 S. Spring Street
Admission is free. Parking is available nearby, and the building is ADA accessible.

2010 Raffle House Event!

The Springfield Area Home Builders Association, in partnership with
several not-for-profit organizations in our local community, proudly
present the 2010 Raffle House Event! In the coming weeks, this
website will be updated with the rules, information about the selection
of homes and their respective builders, and how to purchase a ticket.

In addition to providing one lucky winner with a wonderful new home,
The Raffle House Event will also donate a large portion of the proceeds
to several not-for-profit and charitable organizations that are active in
our local community. These partnering organizations make a positive
impact in the greater Springfield area through the work that they do.
One of our primary goals with this event is to support these
organizations so that they can continue to make our community
an even better place to live. More information about these organizations
will be coming soon on this website.

A brief overview of the Raffle and some important dates:

Tickets will go on sale starting May 1, 2010
You may purchase your ticket(s) through the SAHBA or any of the partnering community organizations
Ticket price is $100
Only 4,000 tickets will be sold.
Our Grand Prize Drawing will be held on Thursday, September 16, 2010
Grand Prize winner will get a choice of any of the remaining homes or a $150,000 cash prize
Homes will all be approximately valued at $250,000
$33,000 in other cash prizes offered
1:80 chance of winning a prize per ticket

Volunteer Opportunities at the Illinois State Museum

The Illinois State Museum announces volunteer opportunities
for ongoing or temporary volunteers.

Docents Needed for Changes Exhibition

The Illinois State Museum is currently recruiting volunteer docents for its
natural history exhibition, Changes: Dynamic Illinois Environments. This is
an exciting opportunity to get more involved with the Museum and its
visitors. Docents are stationed in the Changes exhibition with hands-on
items that relate to the exhibit, like mammoth and mastodont teeth, a Tully
monster, coal and fluorite, bison fur, freshwater mussels, and much more.
Docents share these hands-on objects with visitors and answer questions. The
successful docent is someone who likes the natural world (plants, animals,
rocks, fossils, etc.), likes talking informally to people, and is able to
learn the information in Changes.

To become a Changes docent volunteers must be 14 or older, complete the
Illinois State Museum volunteer application process, and complete a 7 hour
training session. Training is held once a year. Volunteer applications are
due by March 19 to participate in the next training on Saturday, March 27.

Greeters Needed for Spring Rush

The Museum also needs volunteers on a short-term basis in April and May.
"Spring Rush," the Museum's busy school group season in April and May, draws
students from all over the state. Greeters are needed to provide groups with
a brief orientation as they arrive at the Museum. Shifts are three hours in
length, and parking is provided. Greeter Orientation will be held on
Thursday, April 1. Training is available for those who cannot attend April

For more information on either volunteer opportunity, or to receive a
volunteer application, please contact Beth Shea at 217-782-5507
or e-mail: volunteer@museum.state.il.us.
The Museum is located at 502 S. Spring St.

GEE/CONSTANT CHILDREN BEASON MEMORIAL PLAYGROUND FUND

On September 20^th, 2009 Raymond and Ruth Gee along with children
Justina Constant (16), Dillen Constant (14), and Austin Gee (11) lost
their lives in the Gee/Constant Family Tragedy in Beason, IL.

To honor the memory of the Gee/Constant Children, a new Memorial Playground
will be built at the park in which they enjoyed playing. The new playground will serve
as a safe and fun place for all kids to play and for families to gather.

The cost for the new playground and renovation of the existing equipment is $20,000.00.
The Beason Community has been working very hard to raise the funds needed to make
this Memorial Playground a reality. WE NEED YOUR FINANCIAL HELP TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
We are asking for a financial donation of any dollar amount.

Special Olympics Benefit & Poker Run July 3

United Riders MC and Lincoln Knights of Columbus Special Olympics
Benefit & Poker Run

Type: Causes - Fundraiser
Date: Saturday, July 3, 2010
Time: 11:00am - 11:00pm
Location: Lincoln, IL

The United Riders MC is partnering with the Knights of Columbus to
hold a benefit and poker run for the Illinois Special Olympics.
Activities to be included are live music, food, giveaways and a Super
50/50 raffle that will include cash and a three night stay in New
Orleans!!

Sign up for the Poker Run at California Bar and Grill in Lincoln from
11am to noon. Poker run will end at the Knights of Columbus Hall on
217 Limit Street in Lincoln and the benefit begins at 5:00pm.

48th Annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast May 12

48th Annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast features Paul Rusesabagina,
real-life hero of acclaimed film Hotel Rwanda

Paul Rusesabagina, whose story is portrayed in the critically acclaimed film
Hotel Rwanda, will be the featured speaker at the 48th Annual Governor's
Prayer Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., May 12, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in
Springfield.

For tickets, contact Paula Luebbert or Sharon Caldwell
Sharon.Caldwell@llcc.edu, Lincoln Land Community College-Capital City
Training Center, 130 W. Mason, Springfield, IL 62702. (217) 782-7436.
Tickets are $20 per seat or $200 per table. Make checks payable to the
Governor's Prayer Breakfast (sorry, no credit cards).

Robert Morris University Annual Golf Outing June 24

Piper Glen Golf Course June 24

Opportunities:
$425 - Foursome and Hole Sponsor
$100 - Hole Sponsor
$350 - Foursome
$100 - Per Golfer
$80 - Alumni
$25 - Dinner Only

What is included??
18 holes of golf
Cart
2 Complimentary drink tickets
Dinner

Top 10 in a Best Town Contest!! Girard, IL

Girard ,IL has been chosen as one of the Top 10 in a Best Town
contest being put on by Kraft Singles. The winner gets a block party
with country band Love and Theft and a visit from some ABC soap stars.
Here is the link to the contest itself. This is something everyone is Central
Illinois, whether from Girard or not, should be able to get behind.
How often is it that a small town around here has a chance at something
like this. Thanks for any help you can give spreading the word.
Vote Now!!

http://family.go.com/best-town-contest/

35th Annual Glass and Pottery Show and Sale April 10- 11

COMMUNITY SHRED EVENT and CAIBA Spring Mixer April 20

The Capital Area Independent Business Alliance will host a
COMMUNITY SHRED EVENT and CAIBA Spring Mixer

Business owners and individuals alike are invited to bring up to 15 boxes of
documents for shredding on Tuesday, April 20, 4:30-7pm. The event will take
place in the front parking lot at Ace Hardware, Wabash Avenue, Springfield.
Along with the opportunity to have materials shredded, business owners are
invited to stop by and enjoy a 'mixer' with members of the Capital Area
Independent Business Alliance. Ace Hardware will provide complimentary
hot dogs and CAIBA will provide other refreshments.

Rather than charge for document shredding the CAIBA asks that anyone who
brings items for shredding also bring a bag or case of food to donate to the
Salvation Army Food Pantry. The Salvation Army canteen will be on hand to
collect that food, which will be used to provide up to 250 area families
with a week's worth of groceries. The event will take place rain or shine.
Shredding is courtesy of CAIBA member Affordable Shred
www.affordableshred.com <http://www.affordableshred.com/> .

The CAIBA has 125 members and was organized in May of 2009
to support the needs of independent business owners. A key goal
for the organization is to encourage consumers to patronize
locally owned, independent businesses.
For more information about the CAIBA www.IBuySpi.com
<http://www.ibuyspi.com/>.