About Us

The Happy Old Guys (HOGs) group was formed by senior men who want more out of life now.  Each member enjoys new camaraderie and individual growth, through the experience of diversified group activities.  Based in the Chicago Northwest Suburbs, the non-sectarian, not-for-profit organization is open to those who are no longer fully committed to work.

Started in July 2010, we meet the second Wednesday of each month at a Buffalo Grove area restaurant for lunch where we plan upcoming events.  Most of our meetings also include guest speakers.  HOGs special events include a broad range of tours, speakers and activities.

Tours and special events include:

Chicago financial exchanges and Federal Reserve

Wisconsin’s Harley Davidson factory and Museum

BMW golf tournament

Chicago Outfit roller derby

Tech toys presentations from Apple and Samsung

War Museum at Cantigny Park

Segway tour of Millennium Park

Architecture boat tour

Bar-B-Q and cooking lessons at Sunset Foods

Annual dinner gala including spouses/significant others

Tesla test drives

Illinois Holocaust Museum 

Chicago Auto Show

Virtual tour series of Israel

State and local politicians discuss Bears proposed move to Arlington Heights

Ravinia picnic and concert

2-day tours of various Illinois farms

Fermilab and Argonne National Lab

Tribune Freedom Center Printing Plant

Joliet Prison and Historical Museum

Lake Geneva cruise

Sanfilippo mansion vintage music machine collection

Vienna Beef Museum  and lunch

Amazon distribution center

Abt Electronics 

Ethnic luncheons

Movies and lunch

Chicago neighborhood tours

Luncheon guest speakers have included:

John “Bulldog” Drummond, CBS reporter

Holocaust survivor

A Tuskegee Airman

Jeff Dickerson, ESPN, analyst following Chicago Bears

Author Bob Schwartz, Never Put Ketchup on a Hot Dog

Les Grobstein, baseball sports reporter,  SCORE radio

Paul Green, Roosevelt University, political science professor, WGN Radio commentator

Rick Hahn, White Sox General Manager

Howard Cain, WWII B-29 flight engineer who photographed A-bomb devastation

Gerald Friedman, WWII hero of the Pacific who was onboard for signing surrender by Japan

Sentinel Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

David Zarefsky, Northwestern University professor, political analyst

Peter Slevin, Northwestern University professor, “Fake News and the Big Lie”

The Hubble Space Telescope, Adler Planetarium astronomer

Chicago’s iconic foods

Sex and seniors

Chicago media sports writers and reporters–Herb Gould, Scot Gregor, Howard Sudberry, and Ron Rapoport

50-year veteran ballpark vendor photo pictorial

Dan Grunfeld–from Holocaust to the NBA family story

Gary Midkiff, Barry Bradford and Lawrence Goodman–Chicago and national historians and entertainers

Infectious diseases specialist physician–Covid update

Dann Gire–movie critic and Oscar predictions

Mike Huff–a professional baseball player, odyssey to the major leagues

What is “valid research” (CJE)

Bruce Hochstadter–master gardener

State and national politicians–Raja Krishnamoorthi, Brad Schneider, Jonathan Carroll and Carol Sente

Sports events include:

Weekly golf group

Pool

Annual Lake Michigan fishing derby

Annual miniature golf tourney

White Sox and Cubs games

Casino trips

Poker and canasta groups

Bandits women’s softball

Chicago neighborhood tours

Bowling and biking with other seniors groups

Travel is a key component of HOGs.  We have held two and three-day road trips to the following locations:

Springfield

Galena

Milwaukee

Madison, WI and House on the Rock

Cleveland and Canton

Events are planned and implemented by our members themselves.  Your attendance at every event isn’t required.  Just “do what you like.”  To join HOGs, all you need is the desire to participate, have fun and an active email address.  Some events also include spouses/guests.  Annual dues are $125, which pays for–speakers, operating expenses, a charitable donation to a local food pantry and our major Member’s gala each year.  Interested individuals can learn more about HOGs by contacting our Membership VP for attending our next monthly meeting.  Or you can email us on our “Contact Us page.

Enjoy your golden years with guys who want to share the fun and excitement of an active retirement.