* The Red Hat Society (Clifton Chapter) is part of an organization with over 25,000 chapters worldwide. Members are age 50 and older and meet monthly just to socialize and have fun. They go on outings and day trips, meet for lunch and tea. The group is currently closed to new members. Call Orene Blum at 703-250-7554 if interested in starting a new chapter.
* The Town of Clifton Beautification Committee meets at the Clifton Caboose for assignments and asks for volunteers once a year in the spring. Eagle Scout projects are recommended. The committee coordinates the Christmas Candlelight Home Store on the first Saturday in December. For questions, call Jennifer Chesley at 703-830-2129 or Lynne Garvey Wark at 703-322-1811.
* Clifton Town Council meets the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road. Annual car show on Main Street is held on Labor Day. Clifton Day is held the Sunday before Columbus Day in October. Contact Mayor Tom Peterson at 703-CLIFTON or at mayorofcliftonva@aol.com.
* Architectural Review Board- An organization that approves structural and cosmetic changes to houses, fences and other out-buildings to maintain the historic flavor of the town. Homeowners must submit an application to the board before a building permit will be issued. Meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at the Clifton Town Hall. Call Royce Jarrendt at 703-266-0767.
* The Clifton Betterment Association meets four times a year (Next meeting on August 16th) to maintain the historical integrity of Clifton by sponsoring Clifton Day, the Fourth of July party, Clifton 5K Caboose Run, charity events and by working to preserve the green space around town. It also publishes a directory and quarterly newsletter, The Clifton Clatter. In order to be a member, you have to be a resident of the area around Clifton Elementary School. Call editor Lane Johnston, at 703-222-9872 or check out the Web site at www.cliftonva.org. The president of CBA is Michelle Stein, 703-830-4908
* The Clifton Community Woman's Club is a service organization that is open to residents of the Clifton community and surrounding areas. Meetings are the first Thursday of the month. The 9 a.m. meetings are at the Fairfax Station Museum and the 7:30 p.m. meetings are at members' homes. Call President Betty Bosanko at 703-250-4608 or Membership Chairman JoAnn Gallo at 703-495-9062.
* The Clifton Community Woman's Club Homes Tour takes place the third Thursday in May from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The club selects five houses in the area for touring and then sells tickets for the event, which also includes a silent auction and a boutique of handcrafted items. The proceeds go to charity and also fund four scholarships for students headed to GMU and NOVA. Call Diane Smith at 703-830-3418.
* The Democratic Women of Clifton has some 270 members and is active in Democratic politics. Co-chairmen are Jane Blechman and Jane Barker. Meetings are held during the school year, Sundays from 2-4 p.m., at the Clifton Town Meeting Hall, 12641 Chapel Road in Clifton. The first meeting of the year will be Sept. 17, with Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerry Connolly (D) as the guest speaker. For more information about this organization, call Jane Barker at 703-830-1355 or e-mail her at cliftonwomendems@aol.com. Or see www.democraticwomenofclifton.org.
* Clifton Lions Club meets the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 7 p.m. in the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum on Fairfax Station Road. This group contributes funds raised by charity events to organizations helping the blind and hearing-impaired. It also holds an annual pancake breakfast and sponsors a fund-raising, vintage-motorcycle show and several other local fund-raisers. Call Gary Reed at 703-815-1042 for joining information.
* The Fairfax Jugglers Club teaches and holds practice in juggling. Meetings, which are free and open to the public, are every Thursday, 7:30-10 p.m. Call Pete Walker for seasonal location at 703-250-3281, or e-mail Pwalker800@aol.com.
* Friends of Fairfax Station Inc. is an all-volunteer board of directors that runs the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum at 11200 Fairfax Station Road, Fairfax Station. Open Sundays between 1 and 4 p.m. Model train displays are shown every third Sunday of the month except December, and a large model train show is held on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 4, from noon to 4 p.m.
Special events include:
* Aug. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Keith Young presents views of Confederate prisoner life at Point Lookout Mountain Prison Camp;
* Sept. 4-5 from 12-5 p.m. A display of special HO model trains and Moty's Lego model trains.
* Oct. 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. A tour of Civil War railroad sites in Alexandria and environs.
* Oct. 14-15 Art show and sale on Friday, 6-10 p.m.; Saturday, 11-5 p.m.
* Nov. 5-6 Art show and sale, Saturday, 10-6; Sunday, 1-5.
* Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Civil War Forum, Clara Barton returns to Fairfax Station.
* Dec. 3-4 Annual Model train display. Saturday, 10-5; Sunday, 12-4 p.m.
For membership information, call president Joan Rogers at 703-278-8833.
* Alcoholics Anonymous, for meeting information and locations, call 703-876-6166.
* Acacia Lodge meets the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Masonic Temple on Main Street in Clifton. Call David Morris at 703-978-4441 or 301-568-5005.