Send notes to the Connection at south@connectionnewspapers.com or call 703-778-9416. Deadline is Friday. Dated announcements should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event.
<b>Saturdays
</b>Al-Anon Beginner's Meeting. 7-8 p.m., at Messiah Methodist Church, Room 212, 6215 Rolling Road, Springfield. See www.AlAnonVA.com for more information and meeting times. For those whose life has been affected by another person's drinking, Al-Anon may help. Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives and Friends of alcoholics who share their experience, strength and hope in order to solve their common problems.
<b>September/October
</b>Haven of NOVA Volunteer Training. Haven of Northern Virginia, 4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Haven, an all Volunteer bereavement support organization, will be offering Volunteer training. The training will be Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for two weeks. For registration and information, call 703 941-7000. Visit www.havenofnova.org or e-mail havenofnova@verizon.net.
<b>Tuesday/Sept. 8
</b>South County Federation Meeting, 7:30 p.m. at the South County Secondary School, 8501 Silverbrook Road, Lorton. Southcountyfederation.com.
<b>Wednesday/Sept. 9
</b>NARFE Springfield Chapter Meeting. 1:30 p.m., at The American Legion Post 176, 5620 Amherst Ave, Springfield. NARFE, a nonprofit organization, has been working since 1921 to protect the earned retirement benefits of current, former, and retired federal civilian employees and their spouses and survivor annuitants. The meeting will begin with a presentation by Ursula Barretta, Fairfax Area Agency on Aging, "Anticipating the Future: 50+ Action Plan.” Following the presentation will be the Chapter's business meeting to discuss important upcoming issues. Guests are always welcome and encouraged to attend. Contact Chapter President Dick Gallagher at rmgallagher@verizon.net or 703 455-4373 for details on the meeting or questions about NARFE.
Faith Communities in Action Network Meeting-Access to Healthcare in Fairfax County. 2-4 p.m. at Fairfax County Government Center, conference rooms 9 and 10, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. RSVP to CILUSER@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-324-3453. All faith communities invited.
<b>Thursday/Sept. 10
</b>Terrorism Past and Present. League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Areakicks off 2009-10 program year by continuing to “encourage public conversation” about the Middle East with the second of three Rand Corporation /LWVUS collaborations. Forum looks at the forms terrorism has taken over three centuries and why current developments are especially alarming. 9:30 a.m., at Packard Center, 4026 Hummer Road, Annandale. Contact Nancy at 703-256-6570 or Peg at 703-256-9420.
<b>Sunday/Sept. 13
</b>Ostomy Support Group of Northern Virginia LLC meets at Physicians Conference Center, Inova Fairfax Hospital, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church. Meet & Eat begins 1:30 p.m.; program begins 2-3:30 p.m. Featured speaker: Dr. Ian Shenk, gastroenterologist, discusses differences between Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis. To learn more, call OSGNV at 703-802-3457 or visit www.ostomysupportofnova.org.