CATCH THE VISION 2010 Presented by the Parent Teacher Foundation (PTF)
of Springfield Christian School. This is our school’s largest fundraising event.

WHEN: MARCH 12, 2010 5:30 p.m.
Events:  Silent Auction Begins 6:45 p.m.
             Dinner served

             Live Auction Begins at 8:15 p.m.

WHERE: Crowne Plaza, Springfield, IL

Tickets are $30/person and can be obtained by contacting the school
at 698-1933 or via the school’s website at www.springfieldchristianschool.org.
If you are unable to attend, but would like to contribute financially,
you can do so via the school’s website.

Table sponsorships are available for a table of 10 for $500. This includes
the dinners for 10 people, prime seating for the auction, and recognition
in the auction program.The auction committee is still receiving donation items.
If you’re interested, you can submit that information through the website and
a member of the committee will contact you.

Illinois Symphony Orchestra celebrates World-Premiere of Jefferson - In His
Own Words featuring American Television Journalist Bill Kurtis

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestra Karen Lynne
Deal celebrates the life and times of the great American patriot Thomas
Jefferson in the world-premiere of Jefferson -In His Own Words by Judith
Shatin on Friday, March 12th at Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts
and on Saturday March 13th at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS.  Both performances
begin at 8:00 pm.  Concert Comments with Maestra Karen Lynne Deal will begin
at 7:15 pm in Bloomington and at 7:00 pm in Springfield.

 Illinois State Museum Seeks Junior Collectors

Display Your Collections on March 13, 2010 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
On Saturday, March 13, the Illinois State Museum will host the 12^th annual Junior Collectors Day.

Displays may include rocks and minerals, fossils, foreign coins, shoes, etc. To become a
Junior Collector, or for more information, please contact Nina Walthall
at walthall@museum.state.il.us or call 217-782-0061. Information is also
available online at the Museum’s Web site at www.museum.state.il.us/events.
The event is free, and open to the public.

The Illinois State Museum is located at 502 S. Spring Street

March Handbell Festival March 13 at Northfield Inn, Springfield IL
IL Great Rivers Conference Chapter of the Fellowship of United Methodists in
Music and Worship Arts will hold its 22nd Annual HandbellFestival.
This all day event is open to handbell choirs and or individual ringers from throughout the Midwest.

Participation is limited to the first 200 registrants. Registration deadline is
Sat Feb 13 for more info cann 309 928 2067 or email mjhir@aol.com

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. 

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.

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
 All you can eat ham and beans!! 11am- 7pm

 
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 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 9am-4pm
Northfield Center 1
3210 northfield drive, springfield IL
70 dealer tables
$1 admission

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

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 

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.

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. 

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. 

 Join us for Cruise for a Cure June 5, 2010!!
All proceeds benefit American Cancer Society
Hosted by Grounded Customs Auto Club at the Crowne Plaza and Hooters

Registration is 12 to 4:30pm
3000 S Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62703
Registration is fee is $10 per vehicle
first 75 participants receive a free event t-shirt

Cruise begins between 5:30pm and 6pm
through town and return back to the Crowne Plaza

Burn out contest at 7:30pm
Sounds Competition at 8:30pm
to enter events $5 extra
events held in Hooters parking lot

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

 First Christian Church (FCC)
'700 SO. 6th Street @ Cook Street
Springfield, IL  62703
217-528-3407
e-mail: fcc-spfld@att.net
Website: 1stchristian.org

LUNCHEON & SILENT AUCTION!  
On Sunday, April 18, 2010, the youth of FCC will be putting on a luncheon & silent auction
to raise funds to help send them to church camp.  If you have a treasure you can part with,
please bring it to the church office as soon as possible.  The luncheon & silent auction will
be immediately following worship which will be at Noon.
Your donations will be greatly appreciated!

Masquerade May 1
A benefit for the National MS Society, Greater IL Chapter Sat May 1 from7-10pm
at the Ambassador Ballroom at the Springfiel Hilton
-costume party
-dancing
-live band
-refreshments
-silent auction

donate an item or buy a ticket contact Michelle at 217-370-6518

March of Dimes presents March for Babies!! April 17
IL State Fairgrounds
Food-a-Rama building
registration from 9am
kick-off 10am

Bank Day
April 14
CEFCU
2424 W Iles
10am-2pm

**register online today at marchforbabies.org or call 787 5154 for more info

Fish Fry and Buffet 14th Annual
Fridays Feb 19 - Apr 2 4pm-7pm

St Louis Parish Center
523 E Union St, Nokomis

adults and carryouts $7.50 Children 5-11 $3
proceeds benefit St. Louis Parish and St. Louis School

Springfield Train Fair April 11
10am- 4pm
Orr Building
$4 per person
kids 10 and under free with an adult.

 **for more info call 217.528.7921

 Fourth Annual MacArthur Boulevard Artists Market
 Date: Saturdays in June - 5, 12, 19, 26
 Time: 9 am to 3 pm
 Location: Town & Country Shopping Center, 2403 S Macarthur Blvd,
Springfield, Illinois 62704 

More information: www.ShopOnMacArthur.com or info@ShopOnMacArthur.com

2010 Career & Employment Expo April 14
IL College's Bruner Fitness and Rec Center
**for more info call 217 245 5148

THE STORY OF HARNESS RACING by Currier & Ives May 1, 2010
August 31, 2010 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library 9:00 am to 5:00 pm 
Monday through Friday An Opportunity to Share the Sport of Harness Racing
with the People The pristine collection of 35 framed original Currier & Ives lithographs
includes studies of great trotting horses, mid-19th century scenes and comedic
adventures that convey a picturesque part of Americana prior to the advent and
development of photography. The exhibit is on loan from The Harness Racing Museum
& Hall of Fame. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library will complement the exhibit
with items from its own collections reflecting the rich history of Illinois’s horse and
racing industry. Among the items to be displayed are the 1836 rules and members
of the Petersburg, Illinois Jockey Club, a group that used the race track surveyed
by Abraham Lincoln.