FREMONT — They've been at it for the past 31/2 months, meeting behind the scenes in small committees, firming up a date and a site, mapping out their fund-raising campaign and setting up their new headquarters for the city's 50th anniversary celebration.

Organizers of Celebrate Fremont will give a progress report on those and other planning efforts during a community meeting set for 6 p.m. Monday at the Fremont Main Library.

It marks the third such public meeting for the group, which was formed last year to make celebration plans. Two meetings were held in January.

"The last time everyone was together, we were heavy on enthusiasm but light on plans," said Irene Koehler, chairwoman of the group's executive steering committee. "Now, plans are much more evolved."

The celebration's key event will be "Celebrate Fremont @ The Park," a two-day festival Sept. 9 and 10, 2006, in Central Park. A gala fund-raiser to help offset the costs of the event is planned for next Jan. 20.

Those who attend Monday's meeting will gain a better overview of the celebration — something that will help them as they begin to implement celebration plans, said Koehler, a Fremont business consultant who also chairs the city's Human Relations Commission.

But, along with progress, come setbacks. Chuck Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of Payment Processing Inc., has donated office space on Eggers Drive that will serve as headquarters for the group of more than 200 volunteers during the next year and a half. A lack of office equipment, however, continues to hamper planning efforts. Organizers say they need a generous donor who can supply them with new computers, printers, a copier and other standard office equipment.

Meanwhile, the Fremont Education Foundation said it will award $3,000 for Fremont anniversary curriculum grants for the next school year. Projects that could spring from these grants range from gathering oral histories to a student essay contest to dramatic arts presentations.

"We too are part of the community, and we too want to support Fremont's effort to celebrate its own history," said Fremont attorney Dave Bonaccorsi, vice president of the foundation. "It's a way through our teachers to have students learn about our past."

Applications are due Friday and winners will be announced in late June, Bonaccorsi said.

For information about the curriculum grants or to download an application, go to www.fremont-education.org and click "Innovative Education."