<ro>Meet Your Neighbors, Seriously
<lst><b>Office of Common Ownership Communities
Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission
8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring
301-777-3636
www.mcparkandplanning .org/department/hoa/index.shtm </b>
Homeowners associations aren’t just for nitpicking about the neighbors’ grass. Potomac is full of associations that play a vital role in county decision making — from school construction and closures to traffic control to land use. Joining one means you’ll find out about plans for the highway being paved in your back yard before concrete trucks roll in. Sound boring? The groups also host outings, evening social events, and summer barbecues, and many publish their own newsletters. The Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission maintains a regularly updated list of civic and homeowners associations, which may be viewed for free at their Montgomery County office. A fee is charged for copies.
<ro> Meet Fellow Newcomers
<lst><b>Potomac Area Newcomers Club
301-320-3514
www.potomacnewcomers.com</b>
New to the Potomac area? The Potomac Area Newcomers Club is a group of 270 women who lead museum tours, a theater group, tennis matches, dog walking groups and more to welcome new residents to the community. Visit the Web site for a monthly calendar, or call for event locations and reservations.
<ro>Join Club Friday
<lst><b>Potomac Community Center
11315 Falls Road, Potomac
240-777-6960</b>
From October through March, the Potomac Community Center hosts Club Friday, a program for children in third through sixth grade. Every Friday from 7-9 p.m., children in Club Friday enjoy dancing, bingo, movies, basketball, pool, ping-pong and more. Sign up early — membership is limited to the first 550 applicants, and there is almost always a waiting list.
<ro>Join the MOMS Club of Potomac
<lst> <b>Moms Offering Moms Support (MOMS)
301-461-5469 (ask for Juli Jamison)
www.momspotomac.org</b>
MOMS Club of Potomac offers activities from book groups to arts and crafts for stay-at-home moms and their children, usually at least three each week. They also offer monthly Mom’s Nights Out, and community service events. Potomac MOMS holds a monthly business meeting on the third Monday of each month.
<ro>Meet Fellow Seniors
<lst><b> Potomac Community Center
11315 Falls Road, Potomac
240-777-6960
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rectmpl.asp?url=/content/rec/Seniors/ptmsr.asp </b>
Local seniors have run of the house at Potomac Community Center every Tuesday, when Potomac seniors meet from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The program offers entertainment, health screening and education, chair exercises, crafts, informational speakers, counseling on issues of interest to seniors and Tai Chi.
<ro>Give a Toast at the Toastmasters Club
<lst><b>ASCE Toastmaster Club
Potomac Community Center
11315 Falls Road, Potomac
240-777-6960
http://groups.yahoo .com/group/asce_Toastmasters/ </b>
Many universities now require public speaking as a graduation requirement. For those of us who missed the boat, there’s still hope to gain the confidence and skills necessary to speak in front of a crowd. Their mission is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills. ASCE Toastmaster Club meets at 9:20 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month at the Potomac Community Center, and at Davis Library in Bethesda on the fourth Saturday of each month. Newcomers welcome.
<ro> Perfect Your English
<lst> <b>Potomac Library
10101 Glenolden Drive, Potomac
240-777-0690
www.montgomerycountymd.gov/Apps/Libraries/branchinfo/pt.asp </b>
Join the English Language Conversation Club every Saturday from 3-5 p.m at Potomac Library. Join in practicing and improving your spoken English with the help of volunteers leading discussions.