<lst>Send announcements to the Herndon Connection, by mail to 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, by e-mail to herndon@connectionnewspapers.com or by fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Thursday 5 p.m. for the following week's paper. Photos/artwork encouraged. Call Meghan Williams at 703-917-6407 with questions. This free listing is reserved for activities and events that are open to the public at no or minimal cost.
Herndon Town Singers is seeking male voices. Fall rehearsals start Sept. 12. Call for an audition. 703-327-3137. The Herndon Town Singers perform a wide variety of music including holiday, patriotic and country.
Reston Association Camps. RA member registration begins Jan. 30, 2006. Non-resident registration begins Feb. 6, 2006. Check the January issue of RA's A to Z guide for complete camp details and a registration form. More information is also posted online at www.reston.org.
The Girl Scouts will offer "Camp Mi Vida!" Dec. 26-30, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The camp is intended for girls in the fourth-eighth grades who are not currently Girl Scouts. The camp is located at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, 432 Van Buren St., Herndon. To register, stop by the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center on Elden St. and pick up a flyer from the bulletin board. E-mail Jenna Cooper, jcooper@gscnc.org, with questions.
Birth Mothers Support Group meets weekly in Northern Virginia. It is for any woman who has ever placed a child in adoption and would like to meet with others who have done the same. The group is led by a licensed clinical social worker and a national certified counselor. Call Pat Cunningham or Stephanie Hayden at Catholic Charities at 703-425-0100. There is a modest fee based upon income.
Herndon Woman's Club. Group is affiliated with the General Federation of Women's Clubs, and is a volunteer organization which meets regularly in support of such charities as Operation Smile, Canine Companions, the county Women's Abuse Shelter, and local school libraries. For more information, visit www.gfwc.org. Call Angela Williams at 703-430-6404.
The Folk Club of Reston-Herndon meets Tuesdays, at the Tortilla Factory, 648 Elden St., Herndon, at 7:30 p.m. Sixty percent of membership is performers. Smoke-free environment where members support each other and promote folk music. Open mics three meetings of the month; performances on the fourth. Call Sue Schier at 703-435-2402.
Dulles Business Connection. The Dulles Business Connection is a networking group that meets every Friday at 7:30 a.m. at the Silver Diner Restaurant in Reston. Visitors are welcome. Contact Bob Gifford, chairman, at 703-827-6558 or 703-863-9640.
League of Reston Artists. Open to all Washington, D.C.- area artists, photographers and individuals interested in the arts. Workshops, classes, speakers, demonstrations, exhibitions and critiques. Write to P.O. Box 2513, Reston, VA 20195-2513, call 703-481-7898 or visit www.leagueofrestonartists.org.
Reston Sketch Group. Meets Thursday nights, at Reston Regional Library, from 6:45-8:45 p.m., with a draped model. There is a model fee. Call Joan at 703-715-2692.
Bookcrossing Meetup, meet other local Northern Virginia BookCrossers monthly to discuss good books and the best places to leave and find books "in the wild." Visit http://bookcrossing.meetup.com/72/.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving sponsors groups for injured victims and for relatives and friends of those who have been killed in drunk driving crashes. Call 703-978-3025.
The Epilepsy Foundation of the Chesapeake Region is sponsoring the following support groups for adults diagnosed with seizure disorders and caregivers.
Free of charge. Call 703-425-6660.
Reston Epilepsy Group meets the second and fourth Friday of each month, from 7-8:30 p.m., at Herndon High School, Entrance 5, Room 123, 700 Bennett St., Herndon.
Northern Virginia Epilepsy Group, support group for adults diagnosed with seizure disorders and caregivers, meets every Wednesday, from 7-8 p.m., at Falls Church
High School, Room 100, 7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church.
Mothers & More. A support group for mothers who have altered their career paths to care for their children at home. General meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month, at 7:30 p.m., at the Fairfax County Government Center. Admission is free, and visitors are welcome. Call, toll free, 866-716-7766.
MOMS Club of Reston offers play groups, outings, community service projects, and much more. Meetings held the second Wednesday of every month at 10 a.m. Children welcome. Call or e-mail for location. 1-800-520-0818, Ext. 1524, MomsClubofReston@onebox.com. The Reston chapter is open to residents of zip codes 20190, 20191 and 20194.
Mothers Against Unjust Law meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month, at 7 p.m., in the library of McLean Baptist Church, 1367 Chain Bridge Road, McLean. Women experiencing difficult litigation, legal abuse, parental alienation or custody evaluations call 703-748-0072. Free.
The League of Women Voters. Group meets during the second week of most months at two locations in Reston for review and discussion of a wide range of public issues at all governmental levels. The evening group meets on the second Wednesday, at the Reston Museum at Lake Anne Plaza, beginning at 7:30 p.m.; and the day group meets at various locations in Reston, call 476-6426 or 471-6364, on the second Thursday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Meetings are free, guests are welcome and no registration is required. The League is a nonpartisan organization that encourages citizens to play an informed and active role in government. Call 703-658-9150 or visit www.lwv-fairfax.org.
Boy Scouts. Reston Boy Scout Troop 1970 is one of several troops in the area. Monthly weekend activities include camping and focuses on a specific activity such as rafting, canoeing, fishing, back packing, hiking, biking, caving and bouldering. A high level of parent participation in the troop is a strong factor in its success. Meetings are weekly on Mondays, 7:30-8:45 p.m., which prospective scouts and their parents are invited to attend after contacting the scoutmaster at russ.housley@verizon.net. Visit www.troop1970.org.
chapter is open to residents of zip codes 20190, 20191, 20194.
Greater Reston Newcomers and Neighbors Club. Meet neighbors and make new friends. Share favorite activities — reading discussion groups, bridge, fine dining, sight-seeing, needle craft and more. Women from Northern Virginia are welcome to join whether new to the community or seeking more social fun and connections. Meetings are the third Tuesday of each month. Call Chris at 703-729-3720 or visit www.member.cox.net/fhopwood/GRNCC.
The Yarn Yarn Sisterhood, an informal knitting group in the Herndon/Reston area, has begun its fall meetings. The group is free and meets the second and fourth Tuesday every month, 7-9 p.m., at the First Baptist Church of Herndon, room 200 in the education wing. The meetings are informal gatherings of people who love to knit and crochet. While it is not a class, there are always members ready to help those who want to learn and free yarn for beginners to use. The group has charity activities for those interested and there will be an opportunity in October for members to sell their projects at the First Baptist Church flea market. This is a great time to start holiday gifts, learn a new craft or just meet some fun people. All skill levels and ages are welcome. No dues, no fees, no committees, no pressure — just come and enjoy. Contact Linda Soller at drsoller@excite.com.
Orphan Foundation of America is a Reston-based organization that provides scholarships and offers mentors to parentless teens leaving foster care. Passionate individuals are needed to work on tasks including reviewing student and mentor applications, contacting applicants by mail, phone or e-mail, making files, etc. Volunteers are also needed to help with development by researching foundations and organizations, preparing solicitation packets and other tasks. Call 571-203-0270 or e-mail help@orphan.org.
Orphan Foundation of America is a Reston-based organization that provides scholarships and offers mentors to parentless teens leaving foster care. Passionate individuals are needed to work on tasks including reviewing student and mentor applications, contacting applicants by mail, phone or e-mail, making files, etc. Volunteers are also needed to help with development by researching foundations and organizations, preparing solicitation packets and other tasks. Call 571-203-0270 or e-mail help@orphan.org.
Overeaters Anonymous has meetings every day throughout Northern Virginia. Call 703-823-NOVA (6682) or visit www.oanova.org.
The Junior Chamber International is an organization of young professionals who focus on providing individual development while contributing meaningful help to the community. Contact Chad W. Davis at 703-850-8886 or chad@chaddaviscpa.com.
The Girl Scout Council. Group needs volunteers to serve as troop leaders, help with cookie sales, plan special events, translate and conduct training for outdoor and other activities. Call 1-800-523-7898 or visit www.gscnc.org/gscnc/vol.htm.
Reston Interfaith invites individuals and families to adopt a family this holiday season. Support Reston Interfaith families by giving gifts for a child through the Adopt-a-Family program. The goal this year is to adopt 1,100 children from the Reston-Herndon area. Contact Meredith Young at 571-323-9566, or events@restoninterfaith.org.
Bookends, the Reston Community Center's senior book group, meets every fourth Thursday, from 12:30-2 p.m., at the Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods to discuss a variety of books. Drinks and cookies are provided at no charge. Participants should bring a bag lunch. Books are on reserve at the Information Desk of the Reston Regional Library. This free activity is intended for adults age 55 or older. Call 703-476-4500.
The Herndon Extreme, a U12 Division 1 NCSL boys team, is holding tryouts for the upcoming Spring 2006 season. Players in all positions are encouraged to tryout. The team's year round program includes winter indoor soccer, summer camp and speed/agility training. In addition to NCSL play, the team also competes in premier tournaments including the Raleigh CASL Shootout, Richmond Jefferson Cup and Virginia State Cup. Contact Coach Tracy Birrell at 703-869-8847 or Tracy.Birrell@fcps.edu. Visit the team's Web site at www.eteamz.com/HerndonExtreme.