Business News and Politics

Please join us every week for power networking! Our Chapter Passed $1,666,736 USD in the past 12 months! BNI members, on average, increase their business 20% the first year. Our chapter is a dynamic, committed group of business people who know how to refer business to each other. Come for our meeting -- stay for the referrals!!! We have open categories for individuals who will bring enthusiasm and integrity to our meeting. Just one person per professional specialty is allowed in each chapter. Visit a meeting to find out more and lock out your competition! Register Here: https://bninovanorth.com/va-nova-north-bni-mclean-business-connection--n136/en-US/visitorregistration?chapterId=16988

**Feel Good. Do Good. De-Stress From the Holidays.** The holidays are amazing… and *a lot*. So come unwind, reboot, and hang out with good people who get it. Join us for **Reboot Hour**, a chill end of the month Tuesday meetup where you can: 🎮 **Play pinball or shoot pool** 🍺 **Grab a drink** 💬 **Meet awesome people in tech & startups** 🔄 **Donate the old devices you just replaced** …all in one stop. **Got new gadgets this season?** Bring your old phones, tablets, or laptops — we’ll **professionally data wipe** everything and pass them on to someone who truly needs them. **Come stressed, leave refreshed.** **Come with old tech, leave with new connections.** **Come for fun, leave feeling good because you did good.** *** ## ⭐ What to Expect ✔ Relaxed, post-holiday vibes ✔ Pinball, pool, and casual networking ✔ Founders, builders & tech-minded people ✔ Zero pressure — drop in anytime ✔ A simple, meaningful way to help close the digital divide *** ## ⭐ What to Bring Any old tech sitting around after the holidays: – Phones – Tablets – Laptops – Smart home gadgets – Headphones or accessories – Gaming Consoles (Everything is **professionally data wiped** to industry standards.) *** **Reboot your week. Reboot a life.** **Play a game, have a drink, and make an impact.**

DC Crypto Meetup – Final Gathering of 2025 Tuesday\, December 30 \| 5:30\-&;30 PM Mission Navy Yard 1221 Van St SE, Washington, DC We’ll be upstairs near the stairs ( as the host, if you can spot us). If it gets too loud, we’ll shift downstairs.2025 has been one of the most intense years ever for crypto, especially right here in Washington. Let’s close it out together: grab a drink, swap notes and talk about what’s next in 2026. Mission is the largest bar in the city, so there’s plenty of room. No formal agenda, no pitches, just good conversation.See you Tuesday! Happy hour is served daily from 4 - 6 pm, Hosted by NFTve – fine artist, NFT creator, and long-time blockchain & crypto enthusiast.

Weekly Draft night in NW. We currently meet up at Franklin Hall near 14th and Florida. U Street Metro is the closest stop. I'll have packs but feel free to bring packs if you have them. Entry is $17 (you can bring Play Booster packs to lower the cost by $3.50). If it is a special set, it will be more.

**A drop-in game every other Tuesday at the Bread Me Cafe on 10th Street NW.** The coffee shop is located 2 blocks west of the Convention Center. Street parking is available. **All skill levels are encouraged to participate,** however, no lessons are given after game play. Games begin at 1:00 and ends around 3:00 **If you own a mah jongg set, we encourage you to bring.**

**Description:** Join us for trivia at Lost Dog Cafe in McLean, Virginia located at 1690 Anderson Rd every Tuesday evening in October. Trivia begins at 7pm, but please consider joining earlier, around 6:30, since seating’s first-come-first-served. Speaking of seating, per Lost Dog’s regulations, a team needs to have at least five members in order to participate in trivia. So please make sure you RSVP so we can secure a spot to play in trivia. The nearest metro is McLean. **Donation:** Neurodivergent District strives to compensate Neurodivergent District members that volunteer to host our events. Please consider a donation to @katewoodwardcm for hosting. Please specify "donation to trivia host" in the description of your payment. Questions? Text 202-930-2881.

Come learn how money really works. We’ll cover how to grow it, protect it, get out of debt, and use smart retirement and infinite banking strategies to build long-term security.

Small business Owners who do business through referrals and community. Come visit our chapter to see how help each other expand our business and maximize our time. Our group has over 30 members from different backgrounds! We meet every Wednesday morning, network, and share great ideas! We are looking for a few more like-minded business professionals to grow our group! Come visit our chapter and see if we are fit! Breakfast and drinks are provided at $30. Location: Seva Spaces Tysons 1604 Spring Hill Rd 2nd floor, Vienna, VA 22182

A weekly networking meeting where we have a lot of fun and of course, meet other busy professionals!

• What we'll do On https://blackecon101.podbean.com/ Thursdays at 6 pm. discussing the economy....

The BNI Capital Business Alliance is a business and professional networking organization for all industry leaders. We are one of the top BNI groups in the region, focused on building business relationships and friendships that lead to growing each others business. We meet every Wednesday morning to build relationships, showcase our services, and meet new people! We welcome all visitors who are looking to expand their referral networks and grow their business. There is no fee for visiting our lite fare breakfast meeting and if your business category is open in our chapter you can learn more about how to become a member and join us every week! We are very active outside of our Wednesday morning meetings as well! We host member-only events regularly and are always out and about networking at other events. Due to COVID-19 circumstances our meetings are currently being held virtually through a Virtual Zoom Meeting from 7:30 - 9:00 am. A link to the meeting will be sent to you once you register as Attending on Meetup. We can't wait to meet you! Be prepared to tell us all about your business!

To attend: 1. RSVP; then 2. Register at: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-years-eve-international-gala-at-the-omni-shoreham-hotel-tickets-1968203407374](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-years-eve-international-gala-at-the-omni-shoreham-hotel-tickets-1968203407374) ***with MULTIPLE AMAZING TALENTS*** **- *CIRQUE PERFORMANCES*** ***\- LIVE BANDS – INCLUDING 7 DEADLIES & CRUSH FUNK*** ***\- WASHINGTON’S BELOVED MASCOTS\, INCLUDING TEDDY FROM THE NATIONALS*** ***…and much more!*** ***FOUR Options*:** *1) General Admission* 2) VIP Admission 3) White Glove VIP Dinner 4) Late Night Admission **(*Group Rates Available. Email events@thingstodoDC.com for Details)*** **THOUSANDS ATTEND EVERY YEAR – AND THIS YEAR WILL BE NO EXCEPTION!** Tonight, we circle the globe and touch countries from around the globe to make this a truly WORLD-WIDE WELCOME into 2026! *15 INTERNATIONAL THEMED CELEBRATIONS \~ MULTIPLE SEPARATE BALLROOMS \~ ONE OF D.C.’s MOST LUXURIOUS LOCATIONS \~ EXCLUSIVE CIRQUE NEW YEAR’S EVE PERFORMANCES \~ LIVE BANDS, including 7 DEADLIES \~ SALUTE TO MULTIPLE COUNTRIES \~ FULLY STOCKED OPEN BAR \~ MIDNIGHT CHAMPAGNE TOAST \~ HUGE MIDNIGHT BALLOON DROP \~ D.C.’S BEST DJS \~ KARAOKE \~ STROLLING ENTERTAINERS \~ PARTY FAVORS \~ CARICATURIST DRAWINGS \~ AFRICAN DANCE SHOW \~ THE CHINESE LION DANCE \~ LIVE IRISH DANCE SHOW \~ OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATION\~ INCREDIBLE HOTEL ROOM RATES \~ WHITE GLOVE SERVICE \~ VIP OPTIONS \~ MANY BARS AND STATIONS TO PREVENT LONG LINES \~ A SELL OUT EVERY YEAR \~ AND MUCH MORE!* **… including the Washington Nationals' most beloved President, TEDDY (and some friends) ready to race into 2026 and welcome in the new year with thousands of their fans!** **THE PARTY:** (A) **THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE – GRAND BALLROOMS** 1. T**IMES SQUARE (New York City)** Embrace your patriotic spirit with pride and enthusiasm as we transport you to a trendy New York nightclub setting with one of Washington’s best DJs spinning the greatest American retro, top 40, hip hop, and dance! A giant midnight balloon drop (with a hidden apple) and light show will welcome you to 2026. (…and you don’t have to risk frostbite.) Again, be prepared as a GIGANTIC BALLOON DROP covers the dance floor at the stroke of midnight! **WASHINGTON’S LARGEST MIDNIGHT BALLOON DROP: THE BEST IN DC!** **2) EXCLUSIVE INTERNATIONAL CIRQUE PERFORMANCES AND CELEBRATION** 3. **TEDDY FROM THE WASHINGTON NATIONALS** **4) THE HOLLYWOOD EXPERIENCE: Starring** **7 DEADLINES** **(B) THE CARIBBEAN** **1) *BARBADOS, BAHAMAS, JAMAICA, and ALL THE OTHER CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES*** **\- STARRING DJ PUMPKIN** **2) BONUS: WIN A TRIP TO THE CARIBBEAN!** Enter a drawing to win a vacation trip to one of the Caribbean Islands or Cancun, Mexico. **(C) SOUTH AMERICA** **THE 1950′s HAVANA SALSA EXPERIENCE** **(D) EUROPE** **1) *PARIS, ROME, PRAGUE, MOSCOW, BERLIN AND THE* EUROPEAN HIGH ENERGY NIGHTLIFE EXPERIENCE:** 2. **OKTOBERFEST CELEBRATION:** 3. **DUBLIN:** **(E) ASIA** **1) THE TOKYO EXPERIENCE: KARAOKE** **2) CHINESE LION DANCE: The Native Chinese** **(F) AFRICA:** Dressed in full native traditional African outfits, we will be dazzled by their interactive show and energy. **For your price of admission, in a single evening, you will revel in and enjoy:** * One of Washington’s Most Luxurious and Historic Hotels * Fully Stocked Open Bar * Plenty of Comfort Space with No Long Lines for Food or Drinks * Midnight Champagne Toast * Elaborate Buffet Menus (served by the same kitchen that serves royalty) * A Celebration with Beloved Nationals Mascots Teddy and Friends * Washington’s Best DJs * Exclusive Cirque Performances * The Live Talents of “7 Deadlies” * The High-Energy Rockin Beats DC’s Favorite DJs * Teddy from the Nationals * Salsa (with optional lessons) * Karaoke * Magic * An African Dance Presentation * A Chinese Lion Dance Presentation * Oktoberfest Dance Presentation * Live Irish Dancing * Caribbean Music * Huge Balloon Drop * Special Guests * Caricaturist * VIP Options * Two Different Ticket Times and Prices * Hats, Tiaras, Party favors and Giveaways * AMAZING Low Discounted Overnight Hotel Rates (only $164) ...plus many more surprises. **VIP OPTION** Want to make your New Year’s Eve experience extra special? Why not indulge yourself with VIP treatment? Enjoy all of the fantastic amenities our New Year’s Eve Gala has to offer and complement them with our exclusive special VIP Reception and Dinner. **OPTIONAL OVERNIGHT HOTEL STAY – Only $172 a Night!** (Rooms Available at:[https://bookings.omnihotels.com/event/washington-dc-shoreham/new-years-eve-gala-room-block](https://bookings.omnihotels.com/event/washington-dc-shoreham/new-years-eve-gala-room-block) To attend: 1. RSVP; then 2. Register at: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-years-eve-international-gala-at-the-omni-shoreham-hotel-tickets-1968203407374](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-years-eve-international-gala-at-the-omni-shoreham-hotel-tickets-1968203407374)

Join Team Network’s Vienna Venture Network Captains Mark Sweeney and John Partridge for breakfast and professional networking tomorrow morning at 8 am at the world famous Vienna Inn

**PLEASE BUY TICKETS THROUGH EVENTBRITE. RSVP THROUGH MEETUP IS NOT A TICKET PURCHASE CONFIRMATION.** Strive welcomes you to 'General Business Networking', Columbus' hottest networking event! We are set in the perfect central location in Downtown for all to join. Are you interested in business? Want to elevate your career? Meet Consultants, Analysts of all types, Bankers, Software Engineers, Entrepreneurs, and more who are active in the space or are eager to get started. **\*\*This will be a multi-vertical event\*\*** **There will be professionals with backgrounds in the arts, finance, tech, real estate, healthcare, and more. Come with an open mind, and leave with connections that wouldn't be possible otherwise!** Pack some business cards and come with an open mind! Meet your future business partners, employers, coworkers, investors, and friends. You don't want to miss this opportunity to expand your network and create a brighter future. We will have a space for our event to check-in. The event will go from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (feel free to come at any point in this timeframe). Name tags will be provided. Business casual dress code. Job fair attire. **Remember, it's not who you know, it's who you meet tomorrow!** We look forward to meeting you at the event! Sincerely, Strive Networking Team *Refund requests are permitted up to 24 hours after purchase, so long as we are not within 48 hours before the event start time. Refunds will be made in full and repaid to your method of payment. Note that we are unable to reimburse PayPal fees.* *Disclaimer: By attending Strive Networking events you agree to photos/videos taken during the event being used to promote future events.*

Bring your business cards and network in person with other business professionals! Gold Star Referral Clubs is one of the most established professional networking organizations in the country, with multiple groups in central Ohio. Join us!

Let's have lunch at Uptown Westerville's newest restaurant. Ampersand is owned by the same couple who owns Asterisk. They are known for ramen, rice bowls, teriyaki and small plates.

Come and grow your business by meeting these other business professionals. We can help you expand your customers.

If you are interested in selecting investment choices for your 401(k) or other workplace savings plan, minimizing your income tax liability, or identifying the most effective investments for your brokerage account, we are the group for you. We are a local chapter of Bogleheads, whose investment strategy can be found here: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Bogleheads%C2%AE_investment_philosophy Or you can peruse the Boglehead forum here: https://www.bogleheads.org/index.php I look forward to seeing you there. Mark Vonder Haar

At *Energize and Elevate*, you'll be part of a supportive mastermind where we share challenges, brainstorm solutions, and inspire one another to take bold steps in our businesses. Grow your network, gain fresh perspectives, and build meaningful relationships with like-minded women who are committed to success. [Add Event to Calendar](https://evolvecolumbus.eventcalendarapp.com/) Whether you’re looking to move the needle in your business or simply need a space to connect and recharge, this is the perfect place to fuel your entrepreneurial journey. \*\* Please note, we will be arriving around 8:15a for open networking! Get there early and get connected! Contact Alexis Morley at [alexis.morley@edwardjones.com](mailto:alexis.morley@edwardjones.com) or Terri Lawson at [terri.lawson@e-merge.com](mailto:terri.lawson@e-merge.com) for more information.

First group meet up to end/start the New Year strong! Looking for a fun way to watch the big game and stay after for a toast to 2026? RSVPs are limited as the venue will be packed, but our group is promised VIP status.