<hdr30>Around Town
<lst>Technical Support Experts and Trainees are needed for Springfield Community Theatre. Experience preferred but training will be provided. Great fun. The upcoming play is "Later Life." Performances: April 25, 26. May 2, 3,9 and 10. Contact Catalina Smith 703-273-4491 for further information.
Springfield Toastmaster's Club, which has been helping people improve public speaking and leadership skills for 35 years, meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 7-9 p.m., at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 8304 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield. For more information, call Helen at 703-560-2187.
Mother's First Organization is a support group for women who are adjusting to motherhood and staying at home full/part time. Support meetings, field trips, lecture series, mom's night out and other events. Groups throughout Northern Virginia and Maryland. Call 703-827-5922 or contact mothersfirst.org.
Burke area girl scout troops from service unit 52-07 are collecting donations to send girl scout cookies to deployed troops in the Middle East. Contributions can be made at local cookie booths at the Safeway on the corner the Lee Chapel and Old Keene Mill, Petco, Radio Shak and Hollywood Video or by contacting Susan Smith at 703-440-0458.
New Beginnings offers discussion groups and social events for recently separated or divorced men and women. For Northern Virginia activities, call 301-924-4101 or visit www.newbeginningsusa.org.
United Community Ministries (UCM) is looking for donations for the needy. Items can be given through church or community organizations or dropped off at 7511 Fordson Road between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday–Friday. UCM can schedule pickups for donations of food by churches or other organizations. Items that are most needed are spaghetti sauce, pasta, macaroni and cheese, dry cereal, beans, single-serving cereal for homeless care packages, diapers and paper and plastic grocery bags. Also needed are tuna or canned meats, canned fruit, rice, canned soup, sugar, jelly or jam, canned vegetables, peanut butter, individual juice boxes, canned fruit, individual fruit cups, individual applesauce, individual raisin boxes, individual pudding cups, saltine crackers, baby food, formula (Good Start), bath soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, feminine care products, laundry soap, deodorant, toothbrushes and shampoo. Call Tracy Davis at 703-768-7106, Ext. 328.
NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees): The only organization that serves current and retired federal workers, spouses and survivors united to preserve their economic security and well-being by supporting legislation to protect current retirement benefits; to clarify the public's perception of federal workers; and to strengthen political influence at both state and national levels. Springfield Chapter 893 meets the second Wednesday each month, except July and August, at 1 p.m., St. John's United Methodist Church, 5312 Backlick Road, Springfield.
World Heritage is seeking families, couples (with or without children) or single parents interested in hosting a high-school-age foreign exchange student. Call Judith Henderson at 703-998-0606.
The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority's Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park is seeking footage in home movies, documentaries and other film capturing moments in time of the old W&OD Railroad. The film footage will be part of the agency's ongoing study of the park's history. To share information about available footage, call the trail office at 703-729-0596; e-mail wodtrail@erols.com or write: W&OD Trail Office, 21293 Smiths Switch Road, Ashburn, VA 20147.
The 25th Anniversary Adopt-a-Flag program calls for the display of American flags along Burke Centre Parkway each year on various holidays and other notable dates. Currently, the program consists of 50 flags to be displayed, of which residents may adopt. The adoption fee is $50 for a two-year period. The adoption fee covers the cost of the flags, poles, pipe sleeves, flag storage and general upkeep. Flag adopters will receive a certificate of adoption noting the number of their particular flag. Those interested in adopting a flag should stop by the Burke Conservancy office to complete a short form and make payment. Adoption certificates will be issued by mail. For more information, contact the Burke Conservancy office at 703-978-2928.
Applicants are now being accepted for the title of Mrs. Virginia 2003. This is the official preliminary title to the Mrs. International Pageant, which will occur on May 31. The woman chosen to be Mrs. Virginia International will become an ambassador from the state of Virginia and will receive an official title, sash, and a prize package valued at more than $5,000. The competition includes interview, aerobic wear, and evening gown. Married women living or working in Virginia should call 276-596-9332.
Rotary International, a world-wide service organization, annually awards World Peace Scholarships to 70 qualified candidates on a global competitive bases. The scholarships are for two-year Master’s degree level studies at one of seven Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution. Candidates selected for a scholarship will have appropriate academic preparation, including language skills and significant work experience with proven leadership abilities demonstrating a commitment to peace and conflict resolution.
As scholarship recipients may not study at a center in their own countries, two U.S. centers, the University of California, Berkeley and Duke University combined with the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill are open only to scholars from overseas. The other Rotary center hosts are located in Argentina, Australia, England, France, Japan and Peru.
The application deadline for this scholarship is June 1. For more information and an application, contact Pono Prasad, Chair, World Peace Scholarships Committee District 7610 at 703-383-6911 or e-mail sankarshan_p@yahoo.com. Interested individuals may also want to consult the Rotary Web site at www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/amb_scho/centers/about.html for more information. A list of clubs in Virginia may be found at www.rotarycommunity.org/7610.
The Celebration Singers are a volunteer women's show chorus from all over northern Virginia with numerous awards from the Fairfax County Council for the Arts for its programs performed for community, civic, military and social groups as well as for retirement and nursing homes. No one in the Singers is paid for her services.
New singers and instrumentalists are always welcome.
Call Ann Langley at 703-354-3788 or Maureen Cocozza at 703-941-4018 for more information.