ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — The Wisconsin SNo-bird Club held our first meeting of 2012 on Wednesday at the Orange Beach Community Center.

We had 42 new members attend! We start with donuts and coffee at 8:30 a.m. followed by the meeting at 9 a.m.

The Gulf Coast Jr. ROTC drill team presented the colors this morning in gratitude for our buying their coupon books. These books generate funds for them to participate in and travel to events as far away as Auburn.

We have a book/magazine/puzzle exchange available at every meeting. We also collect motel-size toiletries, boxtops for education, Campbell soup labels and aluminum can pop-tops for different charities.

Wolf Bay Lodge at Zeke's Landing will be following the Green Bay Packers through the play-offs and Super Bowl, so any Wisconsin fans are invited to join the party there.

At each meeting we pass a basket to collect donations for next Christmas when we give Wal-Mart gift cards to the Baldwin County foster children program.

On Dec. 5 we were able to give the program $1,350 to make Christmas better for 54 children. Thank you, Wisconsin!

Mark your calendars for these dates:

Jan 18 - 8:30 a.m. meeting at the community center: with Gulf Shores Chief of Police

Jan. 25 - 11:30 a.m. potluck at the community center - RSVP

Jan. 30-31 - Golf Fun Days - RSVP

Feb 1 - 8:30 a.m. meeting at the community center.

Feb. 4 - Brat Fest at Gulf Shores Adult Activity Center

Feb. 4 - Trivia Night in Orange Beach

Feb. 8 - Club breakfast - RSVP

Feb. 11 - Pancake Breakfast in Gulf Shores

Come to our meetings to meet someone from your area of Wisconsin, to volunteer in your winter community and to sign up for breakfasts, golf, day trips or longer excursions. We look forward to meeting you.

Questions, comments and RSVPs to Kenn at (251) 967-2463 OR wissnobirds@yahoo.com.