Los Angeles

Become a confident speaker with Public Speak Easy’s cozy club of members from all backgrounds and skill levels! Come visit our meeting Fridays from 12-1pm at the Santa Clara Social Services Agency (333 W. Julian St, 2nd floor, Treasury Room), right off 87 in downtown San Jose. We welcome guests anytime! Come see what we're all about and how you can work at your own pace toward your goals. Please note: Due to COVID-19, all of our meetings are held exclusively on Zoom!) Check out our Facebook page here (https://www.facebook.com/PublicSpeakEasysToastmasters)!

Due to the pandemic, please reach us out first before you go to the park to find us. Thanks. Meanwhile, you are encouraged to learn the meditation and read books through the Internet. https://en.falundafa.org/ Falun Dafa has five gentle, easy-to-learn exercises, one of which is a meditation. All Falun Dafa activities are free of charge.

Regardless of where you are in your personal public speaking journey, we’d love to have you stop by and see for yourself why we wake up early every Friday morning! To improve our public speaking. We have very seasoned speakers and also those who are only starting on their journeys. Date & Time: Every Friday at 7:00 – 8:15 a.m. Location: Zoom Meeting If you are a guest, please sign in here: https://forms.gle/3QK5FNwkPN7nNWdNA http://nvtm.org/ http://www.facebook.com/nvtm2038/ “Love Life. Be Happy. Keep Smiling.” Denny Weisgerber, Founder NVTM Contact: Will be held on zoom. Please reach out to our VPM, Lee Chen, at vpm@nvtm.org for details.

Due to the pandemic, please reach us out first before you go to the park to find us. Thanks. Meanwhile, you are encouraged to learn the meditation and read books through the Internet. https://en.falundafa.org/ Falun Dafa has five gentle, easy-to-learn exercises, one of which is a meditation. Free of charge.

Santa Cruz Downtown Toastmasters creates an ideal environment for gaining public speaking skills. • If you have something to share with the world, but are nervous about speaking in front of people. • If you want to get over one of the biggest fears people have. • If you're someone who has never been able to speak in front of groups but whose work is now demanding that you speak. • If you're a seasoned professional who wants to fine-tune your skills. We have what you need and you will find people who are right with you, from novices to professional speakers. You will be amazed how you learn from them all. We meet every Friday morning from 7:15-8:30, at the Live Oak Senior Center, 1777 Capitola Road near 17th Av. Check out our website: https://santacruzdowntowntoastmasters.org/how-to-visit-or-join/ Visit us on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/Santa.Cruz.Downtown.Toastmasters/

Since its our first time meeting up, all you need to bring is yourself lol We will just introduce ourselves and have a conversation, just to get the vibe going! Hope to see ya! UPDATE: WE ARE NOW GOING TO START MEETING UP ON FRIDAYS AT 7PM EST AND SATURDAYS AT 530PM EST GOING FORWARD!

CORONA VIRUS UPDATE: Take advantage of social distancing by focusing on creative endeavors! These workshops are a wonderful way to stay inspired and connected from the safety of your home. They will now be taking place via Zoom and an RSVP will give you the link to join. If you're curious about writing, now is the time to join our workshops. We have openings in two groups, one meeting Wednesday evenings 6:30 to 9:30 pm and the other Friday mornings 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. In our healthy future we will meet at my home in Temescal District, Oakland as well as long distance participants online. You are invited to come to a workshop, for free, and find out how well it works for you. These groups have been meeting for forty years. We combine insights from Dorothea Brandt's Becoming a Writer (1934) and Peter Elbow's Writing Without Teachers (1973). We use inspired guidance from Diane di Prima's "Rant" from Pieces of a Song (2001), which proposes that we, each of us, come into this world with our own cosmology. This cosmology is a birthright and needs no alteration. Our writer's journey involves finding our view of the world, giving it respect, developing it, and expressing it in its own terms. Much inspired writing comes from these workshops. Many writers have opened doors into huge arenas of vivid stories, poems, essays, and novels they had no idea exist. Many of our participants have become published authors, including one American Book Award winner. Why do these groups work? Because we embrace the creative unconscious as the source of our inspiration, in accordance with Carl Jung's vision. And we give it simple appreciation. In these groups your first drafts, even very rough drafts, are read as portals into vivid, energetic writing. Our job is to help you go through the portals and gain confidence that you are the right person to do this -- to delve into your own creativity. Your unique way is the way that's best for your material. Clive began his writing career among the Beat Generation in 1960s New York City, mentored by Allen Ginsberg, John Wieners and Diane Di Prima, who published his first book, Mainline to the Heart. Clive’s foundation in Modernism, and his MFA from Columbia University, have supported a 40+ year career as one of the premier creative writing teachers that is unrivalled. He is among the last writers who lived the experience of the culmination of Modernism and will bring that experience to the workshops. You will be the creator as Clive elicits your response to the prompts that will unleash your own writer’s muse. And you will get feedback and advice with far more understanding and support than is usual in writing classes. As one participant has written, "Thank you, Clive, for creating and holding the sacred space where decomposition of creative self-doubt can occur, and up-lifting, cultivation and refinement of one’s voice can rise up." Phone Clive at 510-508-5149 or email him at clive@matsonpoet.com for more information on the workshops. Check out Clive's website, www.matsonpoet.com to learn more about Clive and his writing.

*** YOU MUST register here to get the Zoom link: https://bit.ly/3rGCA5E *** The virtual support network is a free weekly discussion about the issues facing the arts & creative community in Los Angeles, and come up with actual solutions and ways in which we can support each other. Each week, we'll discuss, brainstorm, strategize, and come up with actionable steps to take that will help point us in the right direction. Feel free to bring a notebook, your ideas and insights, and discussion topics you'd like to see addressed in the future! Join our Facebook networking group or WhatsApp accountability group for additional support! https://www.facebook.com/groups/dragonflyarts

Guru Yogi Ramesh will give you the tool for the healing science of laughter. Yogi will energize your toxic body and mind with yogic breathing exercises and laughing exercises for stress reduction and inner happiness. The benefits of laughter are no depression, anxiety, good sleep. healthy hearts and lungs. No mental stress. You will feel very happy and relaxed. Laughter is the best medicine for every body. Tax free and do it any where, any time and be happy. Please click on the following link for the online event: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/2484297274?pwd=V2MzK1R6SE5oTGlFRW5oVXpVRFdyUT09 Meeting ID: 248 429 7274 Passcode: m7y66Z Visit my website: https://www.laughingyogi.org for the latest updates

We invite you to participate in the weekly assembly of the Venice church of Christ. We come together the first day of every week to offer prayers before God, to speak to one another in songs, to partake of the Lord's Supper, to hear the Scriptures read and its message proclaimed, and to give to support the work of God on the Westside of Los Angeles. We are meeting in person at the Culver City Senior Center, 4095 Overland Avenue, Culver City, California 90232, and you are welcome to meet with us there. We maintain a link to our livestream in this Meetup. You are welcome to come as you are; our collection is not designed to be a solicitation from any visitors. We look forward to encouraging you in your faith!

This is a 45-60 minute soothing meditation, assisted around singing bowls, most of them crystal. The goal is to relax your body, soothe your soul, and balance your your energy. I have figured out how to recreate the experience of a live sound bath on the internet. One of the things we find is that singing bowls, especially the crystal ones, seem to transmit some of the energy of the practitioner, which means that it is helpful when the practitioner is confident in their technique and in sound theory, is centered and grounded, and works with healing intent. If you have had an uncomfortable experience in a sound bath, the practitioner may have been off that day. Please note that the session on the last Saturday of the month is a more focused, coached experience designed to help you move through trauma. For more information and donation options, please visit https://www.ayamanatara.com/classess/please-join-sound-bath/

**This group is best suited for those with conversational level in both French & English and want to practice** ● Join us every Sunday and Wednesday from 1:30pm to 3:00pm Eastern Time (New York, Atlanta, DC) for the weekly French Meet English online language exchange via ZOOM. ● The event is 100% free, however donations really help! For those who would like to support our language exchange, you can make donations here- https://paypal.me/frmeeten?locale.x=fr_FR HOW IT WORKS: English/French speakers from all over the world will be split into small groups of 3-4 people and will engage in 2 rounds of conversation; 15 minutes French/15 minutes English. The host manages the switch overs and informs speakers when to change languages. WELCOME: 1:30-1:45 pm- Speakers join the meeting from all over the world ROUND 1: 1:45 -2:15 - Speakers are split into small groups and speak for 15 minutes in English followed by 15 minutes in French (we try to keep EN/FR balanced between groups & you'll receive a message when to change languages) BREAK: 2:15 - 2:30 - Participants are automatically brought back to the main room ROUND 2: 2:30 - 3:00 - New breakout groups WRAP UP: 3:00- Close out with announcements from host Download ZOOM here: - iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zoom-cloud-meetings/id546505307 - Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=us.zoom.videomeetings&hl=fr -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ● Rejoignez-nous tous les dimanche et mercredi de 13:30 PM à 15:00 l'heure New York/Atlanta/ DC pour l'échange linguistique hebdomadaire French Meet English via ZOOM. ● L'évènement est 100% gratuit, cependant vos participations nous aide beaucoup! Pour les gens qui veulent soutenir notre groupe vous pouvez faire un don en cliquant ici- https://paypal.me/frmeeten?locale.x=fr_FR COMMENT ÇA MARCHE: Anglophones / francophones du monde entier seront répartis en petits groupes de 3 ou 4 et participeront à 2 séries de conversations; 15 minutes anglais / 15 minutes français. L'hôte gère les changements et informe les participants quand il faut changer de langue. L’ACCUEIL: 13:30-13:45pm - Les participants se joignent à la réunion des 4 coins du monde (épreuve de patience) SÉANCE 1: 13:45 -14:15 - Les participants sont divisés en petits groupes de 3 ou 4 et parlent pendant 15 minutes en anglais et puis 15 minutes en français (nous essayons de garder un équilibre EN/FR entre les groupes et vous recevrez un message quand il faut changer de langue) PAUSE: 14:15 - 14:30 - Les participants sont automatiquement ramenés dans la salle principale SÉANCE 2: 14:30 - 15:00 - Nouveaux groupes de discussion (Comme premier séance) CLÔTURE: 15h Messages de l'hôte Téléchargez ZOOM ici: - iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zoom-cloud-meetings/id546505307 - Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=us.zoom.videomeetings&hl=fr A très bientôt

** Welcome to a FREE 3rd Sunday 1pm-2:30pm monthly Meetup! Generally 20 to 40 new participants register online at Zoom.com, for Zoom meeting ID click link below. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be hosting our 3rd Sunday "Meetup for Conversations" at 1pm online via Zoom.com until further notice. Please click on the online link below. This online event is FREE to participate. We are a nonprofit org solely supported by voluntary donations (no pressure, no obligation). Please register in advance for our 1:00pm Online Meetup via Zoom. For the last 20+ years, we co-organized in-person Meetups every 3rd Sunday. We have created opportunities for many people in the greater Washington DC area to make new contacts and extend joy, friendship and prosperity. We have enjoyed many fascinating conversations over lunch and worked together on many exciting community projects with many people from diverse backgrounds. We look forward to providing you with opportunities to network, to make new contacts, and to explore the possibility of working together harmoniously to achieve extraordinary results. Let’s come together, learn together, and succeed together! REGISTRATION LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rd-ihqT8rGtxZVfSGV5GXaMJ_3h4HtvNV After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Any problems call 202 496-1555 or email to volunteers at alliesdc3@gmail.com, alliesnet2@gmail.com, ml.alliesdc@gmail.com Details WHY ATTEND? When you attend this online or inperson event, you will... • Connect face to face with a diverse group of people interested in personal, economic, spiritual and community development. • Move closer to your current goals taking this action step once a month • Extend and build your network of local allies and friends • Accelerate your professional development through interpersonal interactions • Invest in building a better future for all -- One City, One World EVENT AGENDA Please join us promptly a few minutes before 1:00pm for our Meetup so that you may introduce yourself. All self-introductions are normally completed by 1:45pm then we have breakout groups. Please arrive at 1:00pm to be sure to hear everyone’s introduction and be able to share yours. We will... • Express appreciation • Introduce ourselves to the group (if you wish) • Network virtually via zoom.com REGISTRATION LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rd-ihqT8rGtxZVfSGV5GXaMJ_3h4HtvNV After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information to join the meeting. If you have any questions, please email cr.alliesdc@gmail.com and/or alliesnet2@gmail.com Thank you!

Discover what Toastmasters is all about! Guests will learn how Toastmasters helps you develop effective communication and leadership skills that can lead to success in your career, business, and community. Join us for this entertaining, enriching opportunity to invest in yourself! OMG Toastmasters meets every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month 7:30pm – 8:30pm Pacific Time. 1st Friday - in person at Greenwood Park, 1520 Greenwood Ave, Torrance, CA. 3rd Friday - via Zoom. The Zoom opens by 7:15pm. Please email contact-4615754@toastmastersclubs.org to receive the Zoom registration link. We look forward to meeting you!

**History** The history of [Blendon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blendon-woods/) began long before its 1951 opening, rooted in a landscape of rugged ridges and deep ravines that made the land unsuitable for traditional farming. In 1945, a report proposing a metropolitan park system for Franklin County specifically highlighted these cliffs of Bedford Shale as some of the "wildest land in the vicinity". Following this recommendation, the recently formed park district purchased the first 229 acres in early 1949. Because the terrain was so uneven, developers had to cut a mile-and-a-half-long roadway through dense woods just to bring in heavy equipment. This initial preservation effort ensured that the mature second-growth hardwood forests remained largely untouched by the urban expansion spreading toward Westerville. Opening day arrived on Labor Day, September 3, 1951, marking Blendon Woods as the second park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system. The final push to open was a frantic race; the State Highway Department only finished the primary gravel access road four days before the gates opened. Early staff members, consisting of just four full-time employees, had to hand-dig pit toilets and learn construction skills on the fly to build the first picnic shelters. Despite the dusty conditions and limited facilities, the park was an immediate success, drawing massive crowds from across Central Ohio. By the end of the 1950s, annual visitation had already climbed to over 190,000 people. As the surrounding suburbs grew in the 1960s, the park faced severe overcrowding that threatened its natural habitats. In response, Franklin County voters passed the first Metro Parks levy in 1960, providing the funds necessary for a decade of steady expansion. During this era, the park nearly doubled in size, growing from 264 acres to over 570 acres by 1968. Planners also addressed a critical water shortage by collaborating with the U.S. Soil and Conservation Service to build a lake in 1964. This body of water originally served as a temporary reservoir before its role shifted toward conservation and wildlife support. The 1970s marked a transition toward the specialized wildlife and educational focus for which the park is known today. In 1971, the Walden Waterfowl Refuge was established around the 11-acre Thoreau Lake, creating a sanctuary that remains restricted to provide a quiet habitat for migratory birds. A formal nature center was also developed during this period, expanding on the guided Sunday walks that had been a park staple since the early 1950s. The park’s famous "Monarch Mansion" also became a prominent fixture, starting a long tradition of raising and releasing thousands of monarch butterflies each September. These initiatives cemented the park’s reputation as a premier destination for birders and nature enthusiasts. In more recent decades, Blendon Woods has continued to modernize while maintaining its wilderness character. The 10-acre Natural Play Area was added in 2017, encouraging kids to explore the ravines and woods off-trail. This was followed by the opening of a $1.5 million inclusive playground in April 2025, designed to accommodate children of all physical abilities. The nature center also underwent major renovations to include immersive, three-dimensional exhibits and a new butterfly house. Today, the park encompasses 653 acres, preserving a unique geologic and biological corridor amidst the bustling Westerville and Northeast Columbus area. **Map of the Park** Here is a map of [Blendon Woods](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BLN_map_Inclusive-Playground-and-Butterfly-Trail_May-2025_1980px.png). **Summary** For this event, we will hike the Lake View, Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook, Brookside, and Sugarbush Trails. This sounds like a lot, but it will really be only a little over five miles. Blendon Woods has a few hills here and there, but it's not one of the more strenuous metro parks. **Where We'll Meet** We'll meet just in front of the Nature Center. This is about a mile into the park from the main entrance. You have to go past the Ranger Station and the Shadblow Reservable Area to get to it, so don't stop too early at the Ranger Station and get it confused with the Nature Center. **After the Hike** Afterward, we will head over to [Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/) at Easton for [drinks](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/#dinner-menu) and [food](https://forbiddenroot.com/wp-content/uploads/Cbus-Food.pdf). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks. The brewery's actual address is [4080 Worth Ave, Columbus, OH 43219](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4080+Worth+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43219/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88388a86d10b6619:0x4d42b470a5cf11d3?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111); however, I recommend pointing your GPS to the [Worth Garage](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Worth+Garage/@40.0542293,-82.9137962,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88388b4df6082825:0x17582f0eccd9dda1!8m2!3d40.0542293!4d-82.9137962!16s%2Fg%2F11rzfvvv8b?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) across the street. Parking in this garage is free as long as you're not on the first floor, and it is literally right next to the brewery.

We meet to learn and practice American Sign Language and to grow our familiarity with Deaf culture. Facilitated by hearing folks (with a connection to a professional interpreter) using Deaf-created content. People of all ASL skill levels are welcome! As we learn, we hope to connect more with the Deaf community in Central Ohio. Join us as you're able! Come regularly or just once - whatever you're looking for! Each meetup will explore different topics related to ASL/Deaf culture, and will feature time to practice conversation with one another. Just bring yourself and a willingness to learn!

Join us as we kick off Summer Movie Season with a Happy Hour & a movie event to see the sci-fi action-adventure, THE MANDOLARIAN AND GROGU! The sci-fi action-adventure follows a lone bounty hunter and his apprentice Grogu (Baby Yoda) embark on an exciting new Star Wars adventure. Here are details, a trailer and our plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: In the film, Djarin and his apprentice Grogu are enlisted by the New Republic during a period where remaining Imperial warlords threaten the galaxy. The film is written/directed by Jon Favreau (the mastermind behind the early MCU films) and stars Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwild1rw7Aw HAPPY HOUR PLAN: For Happy Hour food and drinks before the show we’ll meet in the bar area at nearby Bravo at 5:15pm! We’ll have a section reserved for the group, so keep an eye out for us and we’ll keep one out for you! CMG Pro Tip: If you can, bring cash as it helps make for a quicker exit from the restaurant. MOVIE PLAN: Please purchase your ticket for the 6:45pm showing and meet in the lobby area at 6:30pm! Tickets on sale now and advance purchase as soon as possible is advised! Once you have yours, please list you seat number in the Comments section of this event. Happy Summer and See You Soon, Dan

PO Box 21. Is a speakeasy in the basement of Highbanks Distillery in Westerville. Check out the menu: https://www.poboxtwentyone.com/home