* Amnesty International, Fairfax Branch — visitors are welcome to join in discussion of current human rights issues around the world. Call 703-830-4194 for information, or write amnestyusafairfax@lycos.com.
* The Lane's Mill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is a small, but active chapter that offers a broad range of programs on historic preservation and natural conservation, education of the nation's youth, promotion of patriotism, and love of country. Prospective members and guests are encouraged to attend meetings. Contact Jennifer Smith, Chapter Regent, at 703-961-1030.
* Conversation Cafe: A lively, hosted, drop-in conversation among diverse people about feelings, thoughts, and actions in this complex, changing world. Held at Caribou Coffee, in Fairfax Corner every Wednesday from 7:30- 9 p.m., across from the Fairfax Government Center on the other side of Monument Drive. Location subject to change. Call for confirmation at 703-554-9595 or visit: www.conversationcafe.org.
* Mothers First Centreville/ Chantilly is dedicated to supporting women that have chosen to alter their careers to raise their children at home. Activities include lectures, field trips, moms night out, etc. Meetings are at Centreville Regional Library, 144200 Saint Germain Dr., Centreville. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
* The Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry (NOVAM) is looking for people interested in mentoring a child affected by or infected with HIV/AIDS through the agency's PALS Mentoring Program. Volunteers make a one-year commitment to a child and visit with their "Pal" twice a month. Pals mentors are needed throughout Northern Virginia for children ranging from 6-15 years old. Training and ongoing support is provided by NOVAM, and an agency funded background check is required. For more information on this volunteer opportunity, contact Brianna Jordan at 703-746-0440 ext. 15.
* The Centreville Regional Art Guild — Monthly meetings are held at the Centreville Regional Library. Call Angela Kleis at 703-830-6125 or Amy Mann at 703-631-1856. Or visit the Web site at centrevilleart.org.
* The Assistance League of Northern Virginia — Created five years ago, ALNV is dedicated to promoting the well-being, self-esteem and education of at-risk youth and adults living in Northern Virginia. For more information, contact ALNV President Cindy Burgess at 703-758-8454 or P.O. Box 209, Herndon VA, 20172. Go to www.assistanceleague.org.
* Do you love serving your community and are interested in supporting the GOP? The Western Fairfax Republican Women meets every third Thursday of the month at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, in Conference Room 7. 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 discussions and planning of community projects throughout the year. Call President Virginia Olander at 703-266-9531 or Lois Kooch at 703-830-2802.
* 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 year-long 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 is for all ages and meets at various bookstores, libraries, and restaurants 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 science fiction and community service organization that has been in existence since 1995 and sponsors several educational events annually. For more information, contact the USS Athena at 703-862-0457, e-mail: ussathena@QL.org, or visit the Web site at http://athena.QL.org.
* 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 703-830-6123. Address: P.O. Box 1512 Centreville, VA 20122.
* 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 Monday at Restaurant il Lupo in Fairfax City, with a different program each week.
Reservations are required for all luncheons. Contact Rochelle Goldberg at 703-795-0351 or at eventbuilders@hotmail.com. Visit the Web page at www.event-builders.com.
* Centreville Toastmasters is the place to improve your communication and leadership skills. The club meets from 7-8:15 p.m. twice a month on Mondays at the Centreville Regional Library. The next meetings are Aug. 16, Aug. 30, Sept. 7 and Sept. 20. Guests are welcome. Prepared speeches, oral evaluations and impromptu speeches (table topics) will be on the agenda. The newly elected officers for 2004-2005 include: Lynn Griesemer, president; Bob Harter, VP of education; Richard Chenette, VP of membership; Cindy Walsh, VP of public relations; Benny Benitez, secretary/treasurer and Tim Gavagan, sergeant-at-arms. Visit the Web site at www.toastmasters.org or contact Call Cindy Walsh 703-378-1280.
* 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, P.O. Box 1813 Centreville, VA 20121.
Call Bryan Hunt for more information 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 in the mornings, afternoons 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 and educational 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 194 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.
* The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1995 meets on the second Tuesday of every month. All are welcome. Contact Suzy Denham at 703-304-5938.
* 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. at Liberty Middle School in Clifton. For chorus details, call 703-938-3001.
* 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.