Send announcements, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call Matthew Razak at 703-917-6457. For additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
The Northern Virginia Writers First Friday will be May 4, from 7:30-9:30 p.m., at Leesburg Town Hall, 25 W. Market St., Leesburg. Virginia Hartman will discuss "The Writing Exercise and the Genesis of Stories."
The Phenomenal Women’s Alliance, an empowerment, leadership development, and networking organization for women is hosting a "Celebration of Women" Leadership Luncheon Saturday, May 5, at the River Creek Country Club from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Features Dr. E. Gail Anderson-Holness as the keynote speaker. Tickets $40. Call 571-223-1622.
"Networking With Style," fashion show, which will be held by the Loudoun County chapter of Zonta International May 9, at the Belmont Country Club, from 11:15 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
The event also includes a gourmet luncheon; a silent auction made up of items donated by the Loudoun County business community and "speed networking."
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter (LAWS). Tickets are $55. Contact Deb Goldman at 703-402-4421 or e-mail CynthiaKayMandelson@verizon.net. Registration forms available at www.Zontaloudoun.org.
After-School Book Club, 4 p.m., Wednesdays May 9, 16, 23, 30 and June 6 and 13, at Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road. Bring snacks and a pillow for afternoon classics. Recommended for ages 5-8. Call 703-737-8100.
The Ashburn Ruritan Club is holding its 12th annual Outstanding Student Citizen Awards Night, May 15, 7 p.m., at Eagle Ridge Middle School, 42901 Waxpool Road, Ashburn. Call Evelyn Owens at 703-729-2964 to make reservations.
The book discussion group at the Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling, meets Tuesday, May 15, 12-1:30 p.m. May's selection is "Tarzan," by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Open to all interested members.
Nonfiction book club at Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Place, Sterling, discusses "Loudoun County & Our Neighborhood’s History," Thursday, May 17, 4 p.m. Join Mary Fishback from Thomas Balch Library for a nonfiction book club in celebration of Loudoun County’s 250th Anniversary. Recommended for ages 6 and up. Call 703-444-3228 or visit www.lcpl.lib.va.us.
Mothers First-Ashburn/Leesburg is a nonprofit support organization dedicated to helping women transition from careers to at-home motherhood. Meeting is May 22, at 10:15 a.m., at the Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Contact 703-827-5922 or www.mothersfirst.org.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians is an Irish-Catholic fraternal organization, visit cunninghamaih.com. Its two main goals are to preserve Irish heritage and to nurture Catholic faith. The club meets the second Tuesday of every month at the Sterling Ruritan Club. Contact Bob Anderson at 703-858-7167 or Ned Woisard at 703-724-0524.
MOMS Club of Ashburn Village Area, an organization offering support to mothers and children holds meetings on the third Monday of each month. Thhe group also covers Ashbrook, Regency, Cameron Chase, Belmont Country Club, University Center, the Courts and Ridges and more. The club offers playgroups, activities, field trips, Moms' Night Out and more. Prospective members always welcome. E-mail ashburnmomsclub@yahoo.com or visit http://www.geocities.com/ashburnmomsclub.
The Ashburn-Sterling Masonic Lodge meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:45 p.m. for dinner at the lodge, located at 43881 Waxpool Road, Ashburn. Visit www.AshburnLodge.org or e-mail info@AshburnLodge.org or call 703-470-2188.
The Loudoun County Public Library Board of Trustees will hold its monthly meetings on the third Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m., at the Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, Ashburn. Call 703-777-0368 V/TTY or visit www.lcpl.lib.va.us.
Ashburn Assembly No. 11, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at Ashburn-Sterling Masonic Lodge. Contact the mother advisor, Clarissa Jones, at 703-724-0675 or e-mail momclarissa@vaiorg.org.
The Loudoun County NAACP meets at 7:30 p.m., on the third Monday of every month, at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 216 Loudoun St., S.W., Leesburg. Contact 540-687-8230 or 703-777-8270.
Countryside Quilters meet the first and third Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m., at the Community Lutheran Church, 21014 Whitfield Place, Sterling. Guild activities include book and fabric exchanges, workshops, speakers, field trips and community service projects. Call Leanne, 703-304-6721.
MADD Loudoun announces the new MADD Loudoun Victim Support Groups for families/significant others who have been impacted by a drunk-driving crash. The group is for families, significant others who lost a loved one, for injured survivors and their families. The MADD Loudoun Victim Support Group will meet on the third Wednesday of each month, 7:30 p.m., at 210 Wirt St., Leesburg.
The Ashburn Ruritan Club is collecting used TI-83 calculators to donate to Ashburn high schools. To donate, contact the club at 866-670-5984 or at ashburnruritan@onebox.com.
The Loudoun Walking and Volkssport Club invites the public to check out its self-guided year-round walks. The club offers eight walks in the county that can be done any day at just about any time. Each has a choice of distance, 5 and 10 kilometers. The club offers these walks as part of its community outreach efforts. Contact Bob Wright at
703-737-2175 or rwright2@jhu.edu.
The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling, has a walking club, which meets Thursday mornings, at 10:30 a.m. Walks take place outside, so wear loose comfortable clothing and sneakers. In case of inclement weather, walkers will be transported to the Dulles Town Center to walk around the "track."
Help Save Loudoun meets at 7 p.m., the last Wednesday of each month at the Cascades Library, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling. Visit www.helpsaveloudoun.com.
The Ashburn Ruritan Club is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit community-service organization focused on community service, fellowship and goodwill. The club aims to improve the Ashburn community by providing merit-based scholarships and support for under-funded educational programs. To join or attend a meeting, contact the club at 866-670-5984 or at ashburnruritan@onebox.com. The meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month in the Ashburn Library.
The South Riding Lions Club, which focuses on helping the vision and hearing impaired in Centreville, Chantilly, Herndon, South Riding, meets the first Thursday of each month at the Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, 43987 John Mosby Highway, Chantilly. New members welcome. Call Jim Vertrees, 703-327-3538.
Crochet Club, at the Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg. Meets Fridays, 9 a.m.-noon. Free. Call 703-737-8039.
Walking club, at the Leesburg Senior Activity Center, 215 Depot Court, Leesburg. Meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Free. Call 703-737-8039.