The Centreville Garden Club is looking for members and is open to anyone with an interest in gardening. No experience necessary. The group has guest speakers, does garden related crafts, exchanges plants and shares information. It goes on field trips to local gardens, and has had two annual plant sales. It maintains the planter boxes at the Government Center. Meets on the third Monday of each month at the Sully District Government Building at 4900 Stonecroft Blvd. 7 p.m. Email centrevillegardenclub@gmail.com
* 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 sixth through eighth grade for the page program in preparation as Future Debutantes, and 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 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 or flgallagher@ cox.net
www.olddominioncotillion.org
* Amnesty International works to protect human rights worldwide. Everyone is welcome to join its Northern Virginia cluster chapter Fairfax. Meetings are held at Unitarian Church in Reston on the first Wednesday of every month from 7:30-9 p.m. Contact current coordinator Lee Jalali at 703-868-9977 or email leejalali@yahoo.com. Visit the Web site at www.amnestyusa.org.
* 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. Meetings are held the first Saturday of each month at 12:30 p.m. in Centreville. Prospective members and guests are encouraged to attend meetings. Email lanesmillchapter@hotmail.com
* 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, mom’s night out, etc. Meetings are held regularly at Centreville Regional Library, 14200 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 6-12 years old. Training and ongoing support is provided by NOVAM, and an agency funded background check is required. Contact Jane Beddoe 703-533-5505, ext. 15. E-mail: jbeddoe@novam.org.
* The Assistance League of Northern Virginia is dedicated to promoting the well-being, self-esteem and education of at-risk youth and adults living in Northern Virginia. Contact ALNV President Darlene Cooke at 703-848-0623 or visit www.assistanceleague.org.
* Western Fairfax County Woman's Club, a civic organization committed to enhancing the quality of community life through volunteer service and philanthropy, was established in 1968. This diverse group of women makes things happen in the community and looks to residents to join in. Club projects include scholarship awards, the semi-annual Chantilly Library Used Book Sale, and White House Ornament fund-raiser. While they perform community service, raise money and award women's scholarships, members of the WFCWC also have a variety of social activities that foster camaraderie and fellowship within the club. Social events include an English tea and garden party, luncheons and holiday parties, a night out at the theater and more. They are also a proud member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), the oldest and largest all-female volunteer organization in the world. The Western Fairfax County Woman's Club meets the third Monday of each month, September through May, at 7 p.m. at the Greenbriar Community Center, 4615 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly, and is open to all women in the area, ages 18 and older. New members welcome. Call President Eileen Chambers at 703-378-7054.
* 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, ÈmigrÈs 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 Ken Bombara at 703-851-6035.
* 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 P.G. Wodehouse, this club is for you. Call Deborah Dillard 703-815-9073 or write plum1881@aol.com (put Wodehouse in the subject line).
* 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. There are several other SBDCs throughout Northern Virginia listed at www.virginiasbdc.org. Learn more about MEC services at www.masonenterprisecenter.org.
* 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. Contact President Sarah Gustafson at 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, e-mail: ussathena@ussathena.org, or visit the Web site at www.ussathena.org.
* Historic Centreville Society was founded in 1987 as a nonprofit 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 a small membership fee of $15 per family. It has four program meetings a year, plus other meetings that are unscheduled. The group meets in the Centreville Regional Library and Mount Gilead house to hear speakers of historical importance. Contact Rita Koch, president, P.O. Box 1512, Centreville, VA 22020; or call 703-352-2370; or email fairfax2005@aol.com
* The New Mothers Luncheon Group provides an opportunity to meet with other mothers and their infants to get together for lunch, a speaker and a good time. The group meets every Monday at Restaurant Il Lupo in Fairfax City, and each week there is a different program. Reservations are required for all luncheons. To register, call 703-273-5593 or contact Rochelle Goldberg at eventbuilders@hotmail.com. Visit the Web page at www.event-builders.com.
* Centreville Community Foundation (CCF) is a nonprofit community service organization focusing 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 Marvin Powell at 703-201-4267 or e-mail him at marvpow@aol.com.
* 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. LWV meets on a designated day during the second week of each month in the mornings, afternoons and evenings with units throughout the county. Choose the closest meeting near you by contacting President Sherry Zachry at the League office at 703-658-9150 or by checking the Web site at www.lwv-fairfax.org.
* Northern Virginia Parents Without Partners (NOVA Chapter 715) 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. Meetings are every week and there are monthly orientation sessions for potential new members held at the New Fairfax City Library. Membership costs $49 a year, part of the dues go to the parent's kids for events. Members receive a membership card along with a newsletter listing the month's events. Call 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. 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. Centreville Post also sponsors Boy Scout Troop 1995 and additional Cub Scout packs. Post members also assist with Centreville Day and organize the parade. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Sully Government Center. Contact Commander Mark Miller at 703-912-1910 or email vapost1995@aol.com.
* The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 1995 serves the veterans. Meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Sully Government Center. All are welcome. Contact Suzy Denham at 703-304-5938.
* Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) 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 p.m. Call Susan at 703-798-9461.
* John Witt Chapter of the Colonial Dames of the XVII Century. A patriotic, genealogical and heraldic society for women of lineal descendants of an ancestor who lived and served prior to 1701 in one of the original colonies in the geographical area of the present U.S. The chapter meets several times a year. Contact Jennifer Smith at jsmithtot@aol.com