Community briefs are for nonprofit organizations and events only.



Diabetes Education-Support Group

The Diabetes Education-Support Group meets the fourth Thursday of the month from 4 to 5:30 p.m. On Jan. 28, speaker Mae Ellis will talk about "Almighty Omegas and You." The group meets in the Meadow Room located in the Sutter Amador Hospital Outpatient Building. All are welcome. For more information, call 223-7448.



Hospice offers volunteer training

Hospice of Amador and Calaveras is offering training for family support volunteers. Volunteers provide special comfort to terminally ill patients and their families. Volunteers can help by sitting with patients and listening, reading to them, running errands or assisting in many other ways. The training will be held March 9, 10 and 11 at the Calaveras Senior Center in San Andreas. For those interested in finding out more about the training or about working with hospice, contact Ann Metherd at 223-5500 or ann.metherd@hospiceofamador.org.



Mother Lode Rose Society

Giselle Schoniger, aka "G," is the organic gardening educator at Kellogg Garden Products. She is the featured speaker at the Mother Lode Rose Society Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m. at the Amador Senior Center, 229 New York Ranch Road, Jackson. She will share her wealth of gardening wisdom as an educator to the industry and all consumers. For details, call Katherine at 245-6256.



Infant-Caregiver Psychotherapy/Caregiver Support Workshop

Join Jen Kalsbeek of The Infant-Parent Center for the Infant-Caregiver Psychotherapy/ Caregiver Support Workshop. This workshop will be providing a brief overview on the social-emotional and brain development of children prenatal to age 3. The powerful impact primary caregivers play in this development will be discussed. These essential relationships not only include children's parents, but caregivers as well. Thus, organizers will provide information on the importance of nurture and safety, as well as the challenges caregivers face in times of difficulty. This free workshop is open to the public and will be held in Sutter Creek on Thursday, Feb. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. Call The Resource Connection at 223-1624 to R.S.V.P. and for location information.



Blood drive

BloodSource will hold an Amador County Veterans blood drive Monday, Feb. 1 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 11041 American Legion Drive in Martell. This is sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars No. 8254, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 118 and American Legion Post 108. All walk-ins are welcome. To give blood, donors must be in generally good health, free from cold symptoms for at least 48 hours, be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent) and weigh at least 110 pounds. There is no upper age limit for donating blood. Prospective donors must bring a photo ID. For more information, call 223-4389. For donor eligibility questions, call (800) 995-4420.



Take a Chance on Love

Hospice of Amador and Calaveras is once again holding its fund-raiser, Take a Chance on Love. First prize is an all-expenses paid trip for four to Cabo San Lucas for five days and four nights. Second prize is a pair of diamond earrings and third prize is a three-night stay for two in an oceanside condo on the Monterey Bay with a $100 gift certificate at a local restaurant. Fourth prize is 12 rounds of golf with carts at three local golf courses. Tickets are $10 each. Those that make a $100 donation will receive five extra tickets free, plus a free Valentine's Day Basque cake from Andrae's Bakery. The winning tickets will be drawn on Feb. 13. Tickets are available by calling 223-5500.



Amador Bonsai Society

The Amador Bonsai Society will hold its next meeting on Saturday, Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at Ridge Road Garden Center, 18815 Ridge Road in Pine Grove. Following a general meeting, which will include a raffle of starter bonsai, activities will include repotting and trimming deciduous and evergreen trees. Attendees should bring plants and questions. Bonsai supplies will be available for purchase. For more information, contact Dale at 295-5659.



Jackson Woman's Club

The Jackson Woman's Club will host its next meeting on Friday, Feb. 5 at the Native Sons Hall on Court Street in Jackson. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. and lunch is at noon. Cost is $7. The guest speaker will be antique collector Marilyn Schreiber, who has been in the antique business in Amador County since 1999. Her program will cover her collection of vintage cranberry glass, which she has been collecting since 1980. The woman's club is open to all women of Amador and surrounding counties. To attend the luncheon or for more information, call Rosie at 223-5057.



Overeaters Anonymous

Do you have a problem with food? Come join Overeaters Anonymous for fellowship and support. There are no dues, fees, weigh-ins or diets. Overeaters Anonymous meets three times every week: Big Book Study Meeting is Mondays at 5:30 p.m. at Sutter Amador Hospital's conference room next to the cafeteria; Topic/Discussion Meeting is Wednesdays at noon at the meeting room beneath Pine Grove Market on Highway 88 in Pine Grove; and Fridays at 5 p.m. at Sutter Amador Hospital's conference room next to the cafeteria. Everyone is welcome at any or all of the meetings. Call Liz for more information at 295-6921.



AAUW scholarships

The Amador Branch of the American Association of University Women is offering $7,200 in college scholarships to local women in 2010. The purpose of the AAUW Scholarship Program is to support Amador County women who are currently working towards a bachelor or graduate degree or plan to attend a California community college in fall 2010. For more information about Community College Scholarships, contact Marge Chisholm at 267-0189. Upper Division/Graduate Scholarship applications or information may be obtained by calling Nancy Street at 295-1273. Applications are also available at the Amador County libraries. Applications for Community College Scholarships must be postmarked by March 5, while applications for Upper Division/Graduate Scholarships and Re-entry Scholarships must be postmarked by April 1.



Amador Corvette Club

The Amador Corvette Club meets the first Tuesday of every month at Round Table Pizza, 12280 Industry Blvd., Martell. New members are always welcome. For more information, including meeting time, call Dave Downing at 274-6169.



Sutter Creek Woman's Club

Sutter Creek Woman's Club will hold its annual Tea and Card Party on Thursday, Feb. 18 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Sutter Creek United Methodist Church. The event features lunch and card playing for men and women. During the tea, an opportunity drawing for gifts will be held. The club is taking reservations for card players, including pinochle, bridge, canasta and Mexican train. Tickets are $25 each. For information, call Loraine Daniels at 267-0810.



Immaculate Conception Men's Club

The Immaculate Conception Men's Club will hold a bingo benefit for the Interfaith Food Bank on Thursday, Feb. 4. Supper will be served from 5 to 6 p.m. for $5 with early bird games starting at 6:30 p.m. The regular session begins at 7 p.m., with a 10-game packet priced at $10. The church hall is located at the corner of North Amelia and Spanish streets in Sutter Creek with the entrance to the parking lot off Spanish Street. For additional information, call Mary Zboralske at 267-5821 or Kathleen Harmon at 267-9006.



Items for Community Briefs are invited from nonprofit clubs and organizations in Amador County. Deadline is Monday at noon. Material must be typed in upper and lower case and no more than 125 words. E-mail to editor@ledger-dispatch.com. Be sure your name and telephone number are included.