Send announcements or events, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102 or e-mail <a href="mailto:loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com">loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com</a>. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, call 703-917-6454.
Learn about the Master Gardener Volunteer Program and the requirements for becoming a Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteer, Sept. 15, 6 p.m., at the Loudoun Extension Office, 30 Catoctin Circle, S.E., Suite B, Leesburg. Free. Contact Debbie Dillion at 703-771-5838 or ddillion@vt.edu.
The Northern Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is looking for volunteer advocates, who are assigned to a specific local nursing home or assisted-living facility in Loudoun County and make weekly visits, meeting one-on-one with residents. Applicants must be available to volunteer four hours per week, primarily during regular business hours. Also, volunteer ombudsmen must not be employed by a long-term care facility. Interviews of applicants will be held this summer in preparation for the next annual training, scheduled for Sept. 15, 16 and 26, from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., each day. Call 703-324-5422, TTY: 703-449-1186 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/LTCOmbudsman.
The Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Road, is looking for teens who love to read for its Teen Reading Buddies program Mondays, Sept. 22, 29, Oct. 6, 20 and 27, at 4:30 p.m. Call 703-777-0368.
The Loudoun Museum is seeking a number of dedicated volunteers for this year's 17th annual Hauntings event. Each year, costumed guides lead visitors through downtown Leesburg's historic, and reportedly haunted, sites. This year's walking tours will be Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25, from 6-10 p.m. The museum needs volunteers in all areas of the event including ticket sales, tour guides, storytellers and museum visitor services help. Call Beth Friedmann, museum administrator, at 703-777-7427 or e-mail bfriedmann@loudounmuseum.org.
Loudoun County Public Library offers county residents various volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Volunteers work at many different tasks that enable the library to provide better service to the community. Teens are welcome and encouraged to participate. For more information about volunteering, call or e-mail Beth Wiseman at Library Administration 703-777-0368 V/TTY, Beth.Wiseman@loudoun.gov or ask at your local branch.
There are opportunities for people to serve on various county and regional advisory boards, commissions and committees. For information about specific vacancies, contact Rosey Rai, county administration, 703-771-5034 or by e-mail at Rosey.Rai@loudoun.gov. Information about each board, committee and commission is available on the Loudoun County Government Web site at www.loudoun.gov/advisory.
Loudoun Volunteer Services announces a new board of directors to include a new slate of executive officers. New members Megan Descutner of HCA Capital Division; Bob Gleason of the Sterling community; Mike Kalasanckas of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority; Melanie Miles of the Miles LeHane Group Inc.; and Joan Ziemba of George Washington University's Virginia Campus joined the board at its annual retreat, held at the Claude Moore Park Recreation Center in June.
The Heritage Farm Museum located in Claude Moore Park in Sterling seeks volunteers to serve as program assistants and instructors programs in their new interactive exhibit hall. Ask about internships for college and graduate school students; paid positions also available for qualified applicants. Call curator Katie Jones at 571-258-3800.
The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross is seeking volunteers to assist its blood collections staff at blood drives and blood donor centers. The volunteers will assist with customer service to donors and with caring for donors in the refreshment area after the donation process. This position is offered to people who are 14 years of age or older. Specific responsibilities include greeting donors and providing them with essential reading materials, serving refreshments and observing donors for post-donation reactions to giving blood. A free, brief training is provided.
Trainings are scheduled at Red Cross offices in throughout the various areas. To register for training or for more information, call the American Red Cross Volunteer Office at 1-800-272-0094, Ext. 1 or e-mail karlofft@usa.redcross.org.