Send notes to the Connection at south@connectionnewspapers.com or call 703-778-9416. Deadline is Friday. Dated announcements should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event.
<b>Saturdays
</b>Al-Anon Beginner's Meeting. 7-8 p.m., at Messiah Methodist Church, Room 212, 6215 Rolling Road, Springfield. See www.AlAnonVA.com for more information and meeting times. For those whose life has been affected by another person's drinking, Al-Anon may help. Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives and Friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength and hope in order to solve their common problems.
<b>Thursday/Aug. 20
</b>Western Fairfax Republican Women's Club Meeting. Kala Quintana, director of Public Outreach for the Northern Virgina Transporation Commission and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, will be speaking on Northern Virginia's ongoing and current transportation issues. 6:30 p.m., at the Fairfax County Government Center, Sully District Station, 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard, Chantilly. www.wfrwc.org/.
<b>Sunday/Aug. 30
</b>NOVA Grassroots Rally for Bob McDonnell. 1-4 p.m. at Burke Lake Park. Meet and greet local candidates. Barbecue by Red, Hot and Blue. Bring the family. Sponsored by Virginia Federation of Republican Women clubs in districts 8,10 and 11. Info call 703 591-7368.
<b>Tuesday/Sept. 1
</b>Entrepreneurship 101: Starting a Business in Fairfax County, presented by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Business Assistance and the U.S. Small Business Administration. 8 p.m. at FCEDA headquarters, 8300 Boone Blvd., Suite 450, Vienna. An overview of start-up basics such as county licenses and permits, state workforce service and training programs and federal financing and certification resources. Register at www.FairfaxCountyEDA.org/sb_seminar.htm.
<b>Sunday/Sept. 13
</b>Ostomy Support Group of Northern Virginia LLC meets at Physicians Conference Center, Inova Fairfax Hospital, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church. Meet & Eat begins 1:30 p.m.; program begins 2-3:30 p.m. Featured speaker: Dr. Ian Shenk, gastroenterologist, discusses differences between Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis. To learn more, call OSGNV at 703-802-3457 or visit www.ostomysupportofnova.org.
<b>Thursday/Sept. 17
</b>Western Fairfax Republican Women's Club. 6:30 p.m. at Fairfax County Government Center (Sully District Station), 4900 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly. Meeting and presentation by the speaker, Jim Gilmore, former governor of Virginia will begin at 7 p.m. after the social. For more, visit http://www.wfrwc.org/.
<b>Sunday/Sept. 20
</b>Democratic Women of Clifton will host U.S. Gerry Connolly (D-11) 3-5 p.m., at Clifton Community Hall, 12641 Chapel Road, Clifton. Connolly will discuss how a bill is made and the upcoming VA elections. Parking available in the parking lot next to the shops.
<b>September/October
</b>Haven of NOVA Volunteer Training. Haven of Northern Virginia, 4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Haven, an all Volunteer bereavement support organization, will be offering Volunteer training. The training will be Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for two weeks. For registration and information, call 703 941-7000. Visit www.havenofnova.org or e-mail havenofnova@verizon.net.