Union Hall

Amalgamated Local 171 UAW retirees Monday, Dec. 19, 1 p.m. Local 171 Union Hall, 18131 Maugans Ave., Hagerstown. Christmas party, with bluegrass music. Bring canned goods for food bank. Call 301-733-6932. Sunshine Leisure Club Monday, Dec. 19, 11:30 a.m. Trinity Lutheran Church, Main Street, Smithsburg. Christmas party with guest speaker. Bring a covered dish and a $5 gift for exchange. All are welcome. Call Joan Ridenour at 301-733-6544

Club meetings Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International HALFWAY - Tuesday, Jan. 2, Western Sizzlin Steakhouse,17567 York Road. Speaker Walt Worton with praise singers. $10 buffet. For information, call 304-274-2353, 304-886-7048 or 304-671-1489. Mack Golden Bulldogs Director's meeting, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 9 a.m., Shoney's Restaurant, Valley Mall, Hagers-town. For information, contact LaRue Hughes, 301-790-3268. American Legion Auxiliary Morris Frock Unit 42, Tuesday, Jan. 2, light meal at 6:30 p.m., meeting starts at 7. Morris Frock American Legion Post 42, 405 Northern Ave., Hagerstown.

Club meetings Smithsburg Sunshine Leisure Club SMITHSBURG - Monday, Nov. 21, 11:30 a.m., Trinity Lutheran Church. Bring a brown bag lunch. Dessert and coffee will be provided. Funny hat day - members and guests are encouraged to wear a funny or silly hat. All are welcome. Local 171, UAW Retiree Chapter Monday, Nov. 21, 1 p.m., Local 171 Union Hall, 18131 Maugans Ave., Hagerstown. All Local 171, UAW retirees and new retirees from Local 842 are welcome.

Club meetings North American Rod and Gun Club Saturday, July 12, doors open at 5 p.m., dinner served at 6 p.m., North American Rod and Gun Club, 12108 Belvedere Road, Hagerstown. The club will host a steak feed for members and their guests. $15 per person includes steak, baked potato, cole slaw, dessert, club milk and soda. Children are welcome. Tri-State Singles GREENCASTLE, Pa. -- Saturday, July 13, 9 a.m., Brother's Restaurant, Comfort Inn, U.S. 11 and Interstate 81. Call Bill, 301-791-5371.

Amalgamated Local 171 UAW retirees Monday, Dec. 19, 1 p.m. Local 171 Union Hall, 18131 Maugans Ave., Hagerstown. Christmas party, with bluegrass music. Bring canned goods for food bank. Call 301-733-6932. Sunshine Leisure Club Monday, Dec. 19, 11:30 a.m. Trinity Lutheran Church, Main Street, Smithsburg. Christmas party with guest speaker. Bring a covered dish and a $5 gift for exchange. All are welcome. Call Joan Ridenour at 301-733-6544

Although federal statistics indicate that the number of on-the-job deaths in the nation fell 17 percent from 2008 to 2009,  area union supporters believe the trend toward safer workplaces could be endangered by the current economic and political climate. The Central Maryland AFL-CIO Council observed Workers Memorial Day Thursday with a ceremony at the Carpenter's Union Hall in Hagerstown. Each year there are workplace disasters that command  headlines. Among the incidents noted at the ceremony were the deaths of 28 coal miners last year in a Massey Energy Co. mine in West Virginia, the deaths of 11 oil workers when a BP rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico and, locally, the murder of Pennsylvania Wildlife Conservation Officer David L. Grove.

Club meetings Potomac Valley Audubon Society Friday, Feb. 13, and Saturday, Feb. 14, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Led by local birding expert Matt Orsie. Participants may meet at the lobby of the Chincoteague Island Best Western, 7105 Maddox Blvd., at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday; or at the parking lot of Martin's Supermarket by the U.S. 340/W.Va. 9 intersection just east of Charles Town, W.Va. at 3 p.m. and travel to the refuge. For trip details, e-mail Matt Orsie, wvbirder@comcast.

Club meetings Mack Golden Bulldogs MAUGANSVILLE - Monday, Oct. 8, social hour with coffee and donuts at 9:15, meeting at 10 a.m., U.A.W. Union Hall, Maugans Avenue. All Mack Truck retirees are welcome. Tri-State Civitan Club Monday, Oct. 8, 6 p.m., Tony's Italian Restaurant, 14224 Pennsylvania Ave., Hagerstown. The club's focus is on helping people with developmental disabilities. Call 301-739-4113, or e-mail hanahan4113@hotmail.com . Crossroads Garden Club Tuesday, Oct. 9, 12:30 p.m., Women's Club, 31 S. Prospect St. Clara McDaniel will offer tips on how everyone can make an impact on preserving the environment.