Mother's First - Chantilly/Centreville is a support group for women making the transition from careers to at-home motherhood. Join moms and tots of all ages for meetings, lectures, field trips, moms night out, etc. The Chantilly/Centreville group meets on the first and third Thursdays at the Centreville Regional Library from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org for more information.
Northern Virginia Women’s Club is a group of friendly, mature women who play bridge, visit D.C. monthly, visit interesting places for lunch and have monthly luncheon meetings in a lovely setting. For more information, call June Perera at 703-803-9411.
Do you love serving your community and are interested in supporting the GOP? The Western Fairfax Republican Women's Club meets every third Thursday of the month at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, in Conference Room 10. Social hour starts at 6:30 p.m.; meeting starts at 7 p.m. There is an interesting guest speaker featured every month, as well as lively political discussion and planning of community projects throughout the year. Become involved! Call Jeanine Lawson at 703-753-2460 or Donna Gustave at 703-818-1335.
The Slovak American Society of Washington is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1988 by local residents. The membership is open to Americans with ancestral roots in what is today Slovakia, émigrés who have come here seeking freedom and others who have an interest in Slovakia. The group functions as a social, cultural and educational organization. SASW sponsors lectures, cultural events, exhibitions, Slovak language classes, social activities, scholarships and more. Contact Helen Fedor at 703-437-0228.
The Assembly of the Old Dominion Cotillion was founded to provide an opportunity for parents to prepare their daughters for the adult social world through planned social events culminating with an elegant ball. The annual Debutante Ball is held in July at Westfields Conference Center. The Cotillion accepts young ladies in their freshman and sophomore years of high school as Future Debutantes and in their junior and senior years as Debutantes. The program continues through college and beyond as Post Debutantes and Alumnae.
The Social Season begins with a Mother-Daughter Invitational Tea in early Fall. There are many activities planned during the yearlong Social Season including Ball Week and instruction in dance, poise and the social graces. These activities are planned to be enjoyable as well as provide an opportunity to help prepare the Debutantes for future social settings they may encounter. All activities with the exception of Ball Week are optional.
Contact Francine Gallagher, Director, at 703-476-9576.
Soup and Fish Club, the Virginia chapter of The Wodehouse Society meets the second Friday evening of each month at various bookstores and libraries around Fairfax County. If you love to laugh or simply want to seek refuge from unpleasant people and times in the gentle writing of the master of farce, P.G. Wodehouse, this club is for you. Call 703-815-9073 or write plum1881@aol.com (put Wodehouse in the subject line) for information.
The Fairfax Small Business Development Center, at the Mason Enterprise Center, offers a variety of services to support small businesses in Fairfax County, whether in business for many years and seeking growth or the aspiring entrepreneur looking for direction. Training seminars offered in all phases and aspects of small business management, including marketing, business plans, capital acquisition, financial management and employer-related issues. One-on-one counseling is available at no cost by FSBDC staff and volunteers from the professional sectors. Visit www.sbdc.org or call 703-277-7700 for additional information. There are several other SBDCs throughout Northern Virginia listed at www.sbdc.org. Learn more about MEC services at www.masonenterprisecenter.org.
* Equality Fairfax — Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community and Advocacy. Equality Fairfax is a nonpartisan organization that strives to improve the quality of life and meet the needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community throughout Fairfax County. Reflects the diversity of the Fairfax community, and builds relationships with business, civic, religious and community leaders. Equality Fairfax provides regular social events and meetings that inform and promote the community.
Efforts include: Social and volunteer activities, civic and community service and advocacy. Equality Fairfax, P.O. Box 1223, Vienna, VA 22183. Visit the Web site at www.EqualityFairfax.org. Email: info@equalityfairfax.org. Or call: 703-255-1552
The USS Athena is a Northern Virginia not-for-profit Star Trek and science fiction fan club and community service organization. The club is a chapter of an international non-profit Star Trek and community service organization known as STARFLEET: The International Star Trek Fan Association. In addition to supporting local charities and enjoying science fiction, The organization is also a strong supporter of education. About two months ago, The group held a talk on "Meteorites and Near Misses" with a guest speaker from the JPL. Earlier talks included "Mission to Mars" with a guest speaker from the Space and Telescope Science Institute, and "Klingon Linguistics" by Mark Okrand.
* Historic Centreville Society: Founded by Carol Friedman, the Historic Centreville Society was established in 1987 as a non-profit organization to promote and encourage historical research, to preserve and protect buildings and sites of historic interest, and to foster and promote public knowledge of and interest in local history. The group has a quarterly newsletter, and membership is $15 per family. It has four program meetings a year, plus other meetings that are unscheduled. The group meets in the community room of Centreville Fire Station 17 on Old Centreville Road to hear speakers of historical importance. Call Spencer Marker, president, at 703-754-8638. Address: P.O. Box 1512 Centreville, VA 20122.
* Clifton Chapter of the Red Hat Society is part of an organization with 10,100 chapters worldwide. Members are age 50 and older and meet monthly just to socialize and have fun. They go on outings and day trips, meet for lunch and have even been known to tell a dirty joke or two. The group is currently closed to new members. Call 703-250-7554.
* New Mothers Luncheon Group in Northern Virginia is an opportunity for mothers and their infants (up to 8 months old) to get together for lunch, a speaker and fun. The group meets every Tuesday at Restaurant Seven in Tysons Corner, with a different program each week.
Reservations are required for all luncheons. Contact Rochelle Goldberg at 703-961-9179 (before 8 p.m.) or at eventbuilders@hotmail.com
* Centreville Toastmasters is the place to improve your communication and leadership skills. The club meets from 7-8:15 p.m. on Mondays at the Centreville Regional Library. Guests are welcome. Prepared speeches, oral evaluations and impromptu speeches (table topics) will be on the agenda. Guests are welcome. Call Lynn Griesmer 703-263-2468.
* A Parkinson's disease support group meets the fourth Saturday of each month in the Sully Senior Center at Centreville Presbyterian Church from 10 a.m.-noon. The program is free. The church is at 5690 Sully Road, in Centreville. Call 703-378-9213.
* Centreville Community Foundation (CCF) is a nonprofit community service organization that focuses on the needs of the local community. Residents and businesses in the Centreville/Chantilly area interact with each other to preserve the community's history, while enhancing the quality of life for everyone. Donations are welcome and may be sent to Centreville Community Foundation (CCF) P.O. Box 1813 Centreville, VA 20121.
The group meets from 7-9 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month at 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. in Chantilly. Each meeting is held at the Supervisor's office in the government center. Call Bryan Hunt at 703-322-9770 or e-mail at bryan@huntcpa.com.
* The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area meets on a designated day during the second week of each month mornings and evenings. Choose the closest meeting near you by calling the League Office at 703-658-9150 or by checking the Web site at www.lwv-fairfax.org. The League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area is a nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government. Any man or woman of voting age is encouraged to become a League member.
* The New Neighbors League Chapter of Washington, D.C., is an organization of 275 members which offers opportunities to have fun on a weekly basis. The group was established in 1988. For a $25 membership fee, the club offers monthly luncheons, coffees, wine-tastings, bridge, crafts, performing arts and day trips. Residents may join at any time. For NNLC membership information, call Brenda Harshe at 703-330-1850 or e-mail her at mharshe@erols.com.
* Northern Virginia Parents Without Partners (NOVA Chapter 960) holds many social, family-oriented events, such as hiking, picnics, workshops, moderated discussions and museum trips for never-married, separated, divorced and widowed parents and their children. Membership costs $35 a year, and members receive a membership card along with a newsletter listing the month’s events. Call 703-354-6992. There is also a Fairfax Chapter (715) located in Merrifield. Call 703-866-7896 or 703-406-3750 or visit the Web site at www.pwp715.org
* Centreville Post 1995 was organized in 1994 under the Department of Virginia of the American Legion. It has recently reached an all-time high of 189 members and supports the western Fairfax County communities of Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton and Fairfax Station.
Centreville Post 1995 conducts several programs in the community. It sponsors an American Legion baseball team, the local Boys State Program, hosts a local high-school oratorical contest and works with other area charitable community organizations like Western Fairfax Christian Ministries and Habitat for Humanity. Post members also assist with Centreville Day.
Centreville Post 1995 meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the new Sully Government Center. Call 703-912-1910 or visit the Post Web site at http://members.aol.com/ vapost1995/ page/ index.htm.
* Barbershop Quartet Singing — The Centreville chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing was founded in 1995 and formally chartered in 1996 as the Centreville Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America Inc. (SPEBSQSA). The Sounds of America chorus competes in singing competitions in the Mid-Atlantic District (includes New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, parts of West Virginia, New York and Pennsylvania as well as the Outer Banks of North Carolina). Rehearsal is every Wednesday from 7:30 to 10 p.m. in Centreville at Liberty Middle School. For chorus details, call 703-938-3001.
<sum> TOPS — Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a support group dedicated to sensible weight loss and the maintenance of proper weight. TOPS VA #606, Centreville, meets Thursdays at the Centreville Presbyterian Church. Weigh-ins are held 6:15 through 7 p.m. with the meetings beginning no later than 7:10 p.m. Call Susan at 703-798-9461 or Tina at 703-830-9569.