<lst>Gemstone Club. Budding geologists and gem lovers ages 7-13 are invited to join and learn about birthstones and the alternate for each month. There will be polished gems and uncut crystals to examine. Learn about geology, mining, legends and literature for each gem. Each child will take home a gemstone. Attend one or all of the sessions, meetings are once each month. $4 fee. 4-5p.m. at Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N. Military Road. Registration required. To register call 703-228-4747 or visit registration.co.arlington.va.us.
Graduate Gemologists. Children ages 8-13 who have completed 12 months of the Gemstone club can add to their knowledge of gems and increase their collection at this monthly program. To ensure your child's place in all sessions, register and pay in advance for the remaining programs for the year. $4 per program. Registration required. To register call Gulf Branch Nature Center at 703-228-3403.
Arlington Mothers First is dedicated to supporting women who have chosen to alter their careers to raise their children at home. Activities include parent/child morning meetings and field trips, moms' nights out and lectures. The meetings are at the Thomas Jefferson Library, 7415 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church. Call 703-827-5922 or visit www.mothersfirst.org.
Mothers Against Unjust Law (MAUL), 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. Women experiencing difficult litigation, legal abuse, parental alienation or custody evaluations should call 703-748-0072. Free.
Toastmasters strives to improve participants' communication and professional skills. The program walks participants through a process that helps them get around fears about public speaking. The group meets on the first and third Wednesdays of every month at Ledo's Pizza at Quality Inn Iwo Jima, 1501 Arlington Blvd. Call Catherine at 703-838-0477 or Greg at 703-892-1161, or visit www.challengertoastmasters.org.
The Women’s Auxiliary of the Arlington Chapter of the Salvation Army meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Salvation Army headquarters, 518 S. Glebe Road. The Auxiliary was founded to help raise money for the Salvation Army’s Christmas projects for underprivileged children in Arlington. New members are welcome. Call 703-979-3380.
Straight Partners, a support group for heterosexual spouses and partners, current or former, of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or questioning mates, meets in Arlington and is co-led by professionally trained facilitators (male and female). Call 703-531-4938 for recorded information or to leave a confidential message. For more information visit www.StraightSpouseNetwork.org.
Arlington Learning in Retirement Institute, a nonprofit, volunteer organization offers a wide variety of college level, noncredit courses, lectures and special events for people over 50. 2801 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 306. 703-228-2144 or visit www.ArlingtonLRI.org.
Teen Options After School Program is held at the Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 S. 2nd St., Monday-Friday from 2:30-6 p.m. Weekly activities include arts and crafts, organized sports and weekly cooking classes. Contact Juanita Alexander at 703-228-7782 for a schedule of this month's events.
Arlington Adult/Teen Council. Help plan exciting activities for Arlington families and students, like trips, special events, dances, drive-in movies and more. Meetings are held monthly. Contact Kevin Clements for more information 703-228-4729.
Fairlington Baby-Sitting Co-op. Parents pay $5 annual dues and exchange free baby-sitting services with other members. There are also a few social events each year, as well as the semi-annual children's yard sale at the Fairlington Community Center. Call Liz Lichter, 703-671-0389, or Sarah Priestman, 703-933-3804, for an application and more information.
Fair Golds, an Arlington County-sponsored social group in and around the Fairlington area, meets in room 1 at the Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford St., at noon on the first and third Thursday of each month. The meetings begin with a brown bag lunch — dessert and beverage are provided. Fair Golds always welcomes guests and/or new members that are 55 years old or older. Call Emma 703-931-2951 or Janet 703-829-9428.
The Board of Parents for Autistic Children's Education, Inc. (PACE Inc.), a nonprofit organization serving the autism community since 1996 and recently recognized with a nomination for the prestigious Northern Virginia Leadership Award, has voted to become the Northern Virginia Chapter of Parents of Autistic Children (POAC-NoVA). POAC is an international organization dedicated to improving the public education of special needs students by providing opportunities for scientifically-based training to parents, teachers and related personnel that provide direct services to children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Meetings are held the second Saturday of each month at the Thomas Jefferson Library, 7415 Arlington Blvd. Route 50, Falls Church. Visit http://www.poac.net/ or contact Scott Campbell, president, at 703-391-2251.
AMC Movie Club. Movie and dinner. Saturdays, 4-6 p.m. Call Howard at 703-522-0529 or e-mail bulldog344@hotmail.com.
Arlington/Falls Church Young Republicans holds monthly meetings on the fourth Monday of each month at the Boulevard Wood Grill, 2901 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. Meetings start informally at 7 p.m. with a happy hour designed for young people to network and progress to a formal meeting downstairs at 7:30-9 p.m.
Kids Clubs. Arlington Mill Club for children in kindergarten through third grade and After-School Adventure Program for fourth and fifth-graders. Arts and crafts, games, sports, field trips and more. Monday-Friday, 2:45-5:30 p.m. and Wednesday 12:45-5:30 p.m. Call Sarah Naduche at 703-228-6429.
Latin Dance for Teens. Learn to dance different types of Latin dance: salsa, meringue, mambo and cha-cha. Free classes held Tuesdays (4-6 p.m.) and Thursdays (3-5 p.m.) at the Barcroft Sports and Fitness Center, 4200 S. Four Mile Run. Call 703-228-7783.
Moms' Club. Support group for mothers who stay at home with their children. Moms' Club of South Arlington meets the second Monday of each month at the Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford St. Meeting places alternate between weeks. Call Tina at 703-486-1036. Moms' Club of North Arlington meets the second Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. Call 703-234-3950, ext. 3403.
New Beginnings. Offers discussion groups and social events for recently separated or divorced men and women. Call 301-924-4101 or visit www.newbeginningsusa.org.
Puppy Parties. Join other dog owners Saturdays, 9-11 a.m. The fenced-off area inside Shirlington Dog Exercise Area, along the bicycle path behind a storage facility along South Four Mile Run (between Shirlington Road and South Walter Reed Drive). One-year-old or younger puppies with proof of vaccinations are welcome. A volunteer will be on hand to answer questions. Call 703-578-0522 or visit www.arlingtondogs.org.
Senior Walking Clubs. There are six senior walking clubs in Arlington sponsored by senior action centers. The groups travel weekly to area destinations for a walk of an hour or more. Walter Reed Walkers walk at 9:30 a.m. on Mondays; Madison Walkers 7 a.m. on Wednesdays; Walking Club of Arlington 9:30 a.m. on Wednesdays; Dawson Terrace 9:30 a.m. on Thursdays; and The Lee Walkers 10 a.m. on Fridays. Call the Office of Senior Adult Programs at 703-228-4744.
Separated? Divorced? Widowed? Two programs for separated, divorced, widowed individuals will be offered by the Arlington Catholic Diocese. The Coping program is conducted for two hours on six consecutive Sundays at St. Phillips Catholic Church in Falls Church and is designed to help individuals get through the trauma of losing a spouse. Cost is $3 per session. The Rebuilding program is held on nine consecutive Sundays at St. Martin DePorres Center in Alexandria and is designed to help people move ahead with their lives after recovering from the trauma. The $30 cost includes Bruce Fisher’s Rebuilding book. For information about Coping, call Gerri Ellenberger 703-670-4845 or David Bodek 703-729-1945. For Rebuilding call Bob Nemmers 703-869-2671 or Marsha Davis at 703-680-9335.
Success by 6 Arlington Weekly Playgroup. The Arlington Methodist Church, 716 South Glebe Road, provides a program for parents to help their children be ready for school by age six. Meets every Wednesday from 10-11:30 a.m. Call 703-836-1820 or see info@scanva.org.
The Senior Singers Chorale. New members welcome. Meets at Lee Senior Center, Tuesdays at 2 p.m. No experience necessary. Free. Call 703-228-0555.