New Muslim Converts

🎶Calling all music lovers, players, and listeners!🎶 Do you play an instrument, love listening to live spontaneous jam sessions or just want to meet new people? Come join us for a musical evening at Cafe Domkop! 🎸🎹🥁Feel free to bring your own instrument if you have. There will be one keyboard, one guitar, cajón and two mics on site already. From beginners to pros, everyone is welcome to join. 👋 **Meetup hosts will be there from 17:00 to 19:00** \- you’re welcome to join anytime\. 🎶 **Jam session is from 17:00 to 20:00** \- stay as long as you like and enjoy the vibe!

Gather 'round lakeside legends! 🌊✨ This time we’re trading rugged trails for smooth, accessible realness with a **wheelchair-friendly wander alongside the Leersumse Plassen** — because nothing says queer joy like gliding past shimmering lakes without too many barriers killing your vibe. Serving soft heather and glassy water views at every turn, this route is basically a nature runway. Find out more details about the route here (in Dutch): [https://rolstoelwandeling.nl/wandelroutenatuurzonderdrempels/](https://rolstoelwandeling.nl/wandelroutenatuurzonderdrempels/) Come ready to soak up the scenery! Because queer outdoors joy, like these waters, flows freely for everyone. 🌈💙 **Practical info** 📏 Distance: several options! *\~3.3 km loop, if you come by car (wheelchair accessible) *7.5 km, from/to nearest bus stop Donderberg in Leersum (wheelchair accessible) - 11 km, if you continue on via forest paths to Maarn train station (not wheelchair accessible) **Practical info** 📍 Start: Maarsbergseweg 18a (Leersum) via bus stop Donderberg (Leersum) 🏁 End: Bus stop Donderberg (Leersum) or Maarn train station 🧑‍🦽 Difficulty: easy to moderate -accessible route with some slight bumpy sections *🤝🏼 Meeting point*: **Driebergen-Zeist** station *🕙 Gathering time*: **10:55** *🚆 Travel schedule*: Bus 350 to **Leersum, Donderberg** (direction Wageningen) at **11:04** ➡️ arrival at **Leersum, Donderberg** at **11:33** ➡️Walk to Maarsbergseweg 18a ➡️ arrival at starting point around **12:00** ❗You can also travel on your own from another direction and meet us along the way or in Leersum. 🚗 If you come by car, you can park at De Veldschuur (Maarsbergseweg 18a). Several accessible parking spots available. 🧑‍🦽After a round of introductions, we start our trail around **12:10.** Pack your: 🍱 lunch box & snacks 🚰 water 🧥 rain coat/umbrella ☀️ sun screen 🏳️‍🌈 anything else you might need ❌ If you signed up and cannot make it in the end, please cancel your RSVP attendance so we know how many people will show up and someone else can take your place instead. 💗 A voluntary donation helps us to keep the Meetup group up and running :) you can either pay via a Tikkie or in cash after we finish the hike. *Hiking Queers Netherlands*

A fun evening full of oooohh's and aaahhh’s and this is why: https://youtu.be/9Usnkt4mEvM It’s all about having fun, so don’t worry if this is your first or second time playing. We will help you and we always cheer every player to victory so everyone has a great experience. Pls be aware - paid event - read all information! I reserved 4 lanes for 1,5 hrs, so we play from 20.00 - 21.30 Since I have to pay in advance I ask anyone that joins to pay their part as well in advance. If you join the list for this event, please transfer 15 euros immediately or make someone on the waiting list happy by giving your spot to him or her. I will sent a tikkie or publish it in the comments. Your spot is only confirmed after payment. No pay. No play. Please note that there is no refund for cancellation, since I have reserved bowlinglanes and have to pay full price wheter we are with 10 people or 3 people. In case you can't make it, I suggest you find someone to take your spot and he or she pays you the money back. If someone on the waiting list takes your spot then a refund is possible. If someone takes your place, pls let me know in advance. Pls be on time. We start bowling at 8 pm sharp. So be there at least 15 minutes early since u need to change shoes and maybe want to get a drink at the bar. After the bowling we usually go to a café in the city for drinks but if u feel like going home this is ofcourse also okay.

Let us meet, have a coffee and code together, or just discuss :)! This Meetup is everyone that considers himself "Techie", in the broad sense and wants to socialize :). Join us and chat, ask your questions, or work on your own projects. The choice is yours! There is no agenda, this is simply a gathering of interested folks :). We're meeting at Lebkov right inside the Utrecht Centraal station. We're typically sitting at the large table. Search for the folks with the laptops in the back! You are very welcome to join whether you are an experienced developer, or simply interested and want to chat!

The third session of Shared Reading will focus on poetry. Using two poems to get us started, one classic and one contemporary, we will try to get to the heart of what poetry is all about. Why do people read poetry? What can it do for us? How do you read a poem? Whether you are a long time devotee or poetry skeptic, this meetup is for you! As with all our sessions, you do not need to have prepared anything in order to attend the session- just come along, pull up a chair, and join the discussion. If there are particular poems or lines of poetry that resonate with you, feel free to share them with the group. We will meet at the circular table at the Dekker van de Vegt bookstore in Nijmegen. If you have trouble finding us, you can always enquire at the cafe bar- the staff know where we are. Looking forward to seeing you there!

⚠️ **IMPORTANT: You must sign up and buy a ticket here to attend:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) **Join the Amsterdam** **Coffee Club and make new friends!** Each meetup brings together 4–6 people for casual conversations over coffee. We use the Groupvibe platform to facilitate the meetup and ensure everyone’s a good fit. 👉 **To attend, you’ll need to complete registration via this link:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) We’ll share the exact location of the upcoming meetup the night before only if you have bought a ticket or membership plan. **Why this works:** \* Smaller groups make real conversations easier. \* Discover new cafes in your city, together. \* Curated cafes with good coffee and vibe. \* If you hit it off with your group, there’s plenty of time to hang out afterwards. **Note:** RSVPs on Meetup don’t reflect total attendance. Many attendees register directly via our website. The event on [Meetup.com](http://meetup.com/) is only a placeholder. This meetup is organized by Groupvibe, a small team passionate about helping people form meaningful friendships offline.

⚠️ **IMPORTANT: You must sign up and buy a ticket here to attend:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) **Join the Utrecht City Coffee Club and make new friends!** Each meetup brings together 4–6 people for casual conversations over coffee. We use the Groupvibe platform to facilitate the meetup and ensure everyone’s a good fit. 👉 **To attend, you’ll need to complete registration via this link:** [https://groupvibe.com/](https://groupvibe.com/) We’ll share the exact location of the upcoming meetup the night before only if you have bought a ticket or membership plan. **Why this works:** \* Smaller groups make real conversations easier. \* Discover new cafe in your city, together. \* Curated cafe venues with good food and vibe. \* If you hit it off with your group, there’s plenty of time to hang out afterwards. **Note:** RSVPs on Meetup don’t reflect total attendance. Many attendees register directly via our website. The event on [Meetup.com](http://meetup.com/) is only a placeholder. This meetup is organized by Groupvibe, a small team passionate about helping people form meaningful friendships offline.

## 🎨**Activity for EXPATS & English Speakers** ☕ Are you an art enthusiast living in or around **Amersfoort, Hilversum, Utrecht, Nieuwegein, IJsseltein, De Bilt and the rest of cities of the Utrecht's province** who love painting or drawing? Maybe you've felt the joy of creating but struggled to find others who share your passion and speak **ENGLISH**? **You're not alone! 😉** ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ## 🖌️**About this event** You will meet other Art Lovers like you to Draw, Paint and have some drinks Together ! Our events are not just about sketching or creating art—they’re about building connections. Every two weeks, we meet at a café to have a relaxing time drawing a painting. Please keep on mind that **ENGLISH i**s the official language we will use to integrate everyone in our conversations. ⭕⭕⭕➡️ **IMPORTANT ⬅️** ⭕⭕⭕⭕ ### 👩🏻‍🎨**Book formally your Seat 🪑via [WHATSAPP](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f)** **If you want to confirm officially your attendance and separate your seat🪑. Book your seat in meet-up, and contact us via [WHATSAPP HERE](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f) to receive more information on the address of our activities.** **Thanks a lot for your understanding!** 💐🥰 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### 👩🏻‍🎨**How Does It Work?** This event is simple, this initiative takes 2 Hours. Most of the participants use pencils, water pencils or watercolours. Main aim is to socialize while we draw. There will be plenty of time to talk and get to know each other. We have to mention that this event is suitable for all levels. Many have started to draw in our event actually. Also it is very important that you **[JOIN US AT OUR WHATSAPP COMMUNITY](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f),** to stay up to date on our upcoming events and participate in our Drawing and Painting Contests! **👉: [https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f)** 🍀 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### ☕**Where?** We will meet in different cafes mainly in the *center of Amersfoort ( and some occasions in other cities around)*. I will inform you of the exact place some days in advance this event. The place will depend on the number of attendees. ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### **🎟️ What is included?** 🟢 **2 HOURS TO HAVE FUN!** 🟢 **15 mins warming-up creative activity and paper material**🖌️🎨 🟢 New friendships and **conversations in ENGLISH** in a relaxed atmosphere 🟢 **Souvenir picture** with you and the rest of Art Lovers 📷 🟢 Exclusive **access to our Art Lovers Community** on which you will receive: ***\~\~\~ Drawing challenges,*** ***\~\~\~ Training content,*** ***\~\~\~ FREE Entries only to members*** ***\~\~\~ Drawing Competitions*** 🟢 Time to **create alongside fellow artists and amateurs** 🟢 The freedom to **work at your own pace** 💃🕺🎈 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### 🖼️**Art Materials?** Bring your own practical art materials to be adaptable to sketch on a coffee table. Like your sketchbook, pencils, watercolor, markets, pencils, your Tablet..etc ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ## **See you to Paint, Draw, and drink together!🌟☕🍷🍪🍰**

**Do you enjoy walking in nature?** Would you rather do it **together** than alone? And are you someone who’s open to meeting new people, without the small talk? Then you’re warmly invited to join this **Walk & Talk** through the beautiful *Sonsbeekpark* and *Park Zypendaal*, a mix of forest and elegant landscape. Along the way, I’ll hand out **conversation cards** with thought-provoking questions. The goal? **Real human connection**, not just “Where are you from?” but deeper questions that help you discover common ground, shared values and maybe even new friendships or business sparks. ### What to expect: * A relaxed, open-minded group of locals & internationals * A beautiful walk through one of Arnhem’s most stunning green areas * Inspiring questions that help break the ice in a natural way ### Practical details: * **Start time:** 15:00 (3:00 PM) * **Meeting point:** In front of StadsVilla in *Sonsbeek Park (Big white building, de Witte Villa)* * **What to bring:** Comfortable shoes, a bottle of water and a smile :) See you then! Warm regards Julia

🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️

Welcome to the second edition of the Cafe Crawl series! 🥐☕ After a succesful first cherry blossom edition, we will continue to use a theme for every cafe crawl. That way you can find the crawl that fits you best, and this time we're exploring the (hidden) bakeries of Utrecht's city center. We meet at Domplein and from there we'll take a beautiful walk along canals and through some of the prettiest corners of the center, stopping at two carefully selected bakeries along the way. One of them serves vegan options, so there's something for everyone! This edition we skip the sitting down, instead we eat, drink and chat on the go, taking in the city as we walk. If the weather is kind we'll make a little stop in a park along the way. You'll be put in small groups that switch a few times, so by the end you'll have had genuine conversations with a good mix of people. **How it works:** We walk, we discover, we eat something delicious, and we meet new people. The focus is on being in the moment, enjoying the city, and good company. ⚠️ If you're unsure whether you can make it, please free up your spot for someone else.

Welcome to the second edition of the Cafe Crawl series! 🥐☕ After a succesful first cherry blossom edition, we will continue to use a theme for every cafe crawl. That way you can find the crawl that fits you best, and this time we're exploring the (hidden) bakeries of Utrecht's city center. We meet at Domplein and from there we'll take a beautiful walk along canals and through some of the prettiest corners of the center, stopping at two carefully selected bakeries along the way. One of them serves vegan options, so there's something for everyone! This edition we skip the sitting down, instead we eat, drink and chat on the go, taking in the city as we walk. If the weather is kind we'll make a little stop in a park along the way. You'll be put in small groups that switch a few times, so by the end you'll have had genuine conversations with a good mix of people. **How it works:** We walk, we discover, we eat something delicious, and we meet new people. The focus is on being in the moment, enjoying the city, and good company. ⚠️ If you're unsure whether you can make it, please free up your spot for someone else.

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

Bienvenue! Columbus French Conversation group invites you to our Saturday morning French conversation club. Expect a casual and welcoming atmosphere in which to learn french! I will bring my laptop so we can look up new vocabulary as needed! The venue is a beautiful French restaurant so you can really get into the zone :)

Come assist Van Buren Shelter (https://ymcacolumbus.org/locations/vanburen) staff in serving dinners and cleaning up on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Dinner for the women is 5-6 pm and for the families is 6:15-7:15 pm. There is ample free parking available in the shelter's lot. The recommended area to park is in green in the image above. There will be a new entrance for the time being. We are asking all volunteers to enter through the Donation Dock door, the orange mark on the image above. This door is located between the Single Adults and Family Shelter. You will see 2 large garage doors with a large green trash compactor in the center. Please head to the closest garage door to the building wall, with a ramp leading up. There, you will see a door with a sign stating instructions on how to enter the building. Please ring the doorbell, and a staff member will come and escort you into the building. If a staff member takes longer than 5 minutes, please call the front desk at 614-689-2020. This is a new process for us, and we do not want to keep you waiting! We appreciate your patience as we navigate this temporary change. The shelter needs a volunteer count the day before the event so sign-up ends Monday at 4:50 PM. Afterwards some of us go to the Omnipresent Atheists Weekly Meetup in progress to have a bit to eat or drink (http://www.meetup.com/omnipresentatheists/). Volunteers must be 14 or older. Since we will be working around families, the YMCA does not permit volunteering by individuals with convictions for violent or sexual crimes. The YMCA reserves the right to run background checks on volunteers. For questions, comment on this page or contact: Andrew, awhit12@yahoo.com, (614)937-5802 (cell). Please let Andrew know if you volunteer anytime other than our COUNT events so that he can count your hours toward our service record.

**✨ St. Louis Zoom Speed Dating – Personality & Age Matched** The point of this online speed dating event is not just the content. It is the room, the host, and the feeling that people are joining something they can return to. Speed dating from home — connect with real St. Louis singles on Zoom. Each round is a brief one-on-one Zoom chat with a St. Louis local paired by age and personality. A host keeps the pace comfortable. **Pick your age group and sign up:** - 💡 **Ages 18-32** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=464.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Louis&groupurlname=spark-new-gay-friendships-every-night&ar=18-32&face_v=15.0) - **Ages 30-46** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=464.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Louis&groupurlname=spark-new-gay-friendships-every-night&ar=30-46&face_v=15.0) - **Ages 40-58** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=464.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=St.%20Louis&groupurlname=spark-new-gay-friendships-every-night&ar=40-58&face_v=15.0) **⚠️ Your RSVP doesn't guarantee a place.** Click your age group link below, register, and take the personality quiz to lock in your spot. Limited places. --- 🎯 **Especially useful for:** - First-timers new to speed dating - 🚀 Introverts who shine in one-on-one conversations - People re-entering the dating scene after a break ⭐ *"The personality matching genuinely works. My matches were spot on."* – St. Louis local 📍 **Event snapshot** - **Format:** Virtual on Zoom – hosted and well-structured - 🎉 **Location:** Online from home – no need to go anywhere - **Host:** Professional host keeping the evening smooth and relaxed 🔄 **What to expect** 1. **Sign up** – Tap the link for your age range above. 2. **Fill in the matching quiz** – Helps us find your ideal matches for the evening. 3. **Log in** – Connect to the Zoom session from home. The host runs the show. 4. **Meet your matches** – Cycle through short chats with compatible St. Louis singles. 💡 **Tip:** Check your Zoom setup and pick a quiet, well-lit spot ahead of time. **Frequently Asked Questions** **Is my info private?** Absolutely. Contact details are only exchanged on mutual match. **Do I need anything besides Zoom?** --- ✨ Meet St. Louis singles from home. Sign up and we'll take care of the rest. 🫶 ✨ Quick version: this one gets straight to the point. Concise by design so people can decide quickly. 🤝 **Community angle** - The atmosphere is guided, social, and easy to join - The community matters as much as the session itself - The host keeps the pace clear and the room welcoming It is meant to feel like the start of ongoing relationships, not just a single session on the calendar.

Welcome, readers! Our April read is **_Martyr!_ by Kaveh Akbar.** The story follows a young Iranian American poet grappling with grief, addiction, and the aching question of what makes a life meaningful. Drawn into an unexpected friendship with a terminally ill artist, he begins to confront faith, love, and the seduction of self-destruction. Lyrical, darkly funny, and emotionally piercing, the novel wrestles with beauty and despair in equal measure. It’s a story about longing—to be seen, to be forgiven, and to matter. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

Some trained COUNT volunteers work together once a month at RMH (http://www.rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer.php) as Housewarmers (usually on the 1st Sunday from 1 – 5 PM). Some schedule other shifts at their convenience. You may try this out with less fuss by following a "Fast track" or go through the normal process. Fast track • Arrange a time to shadow a COUNT volunteer. Call Dave Nohle at 614-268-9558 (cell). • Show up and try it out. • Complete application, etc. later. Normal process • Complete an online application (http://rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer/). • Attend orientation in advance. • At orientation you will complete forms agreeing to keep family/patient info private and allowing a background check and tour the facility. • Complete one training shift. Daily shifts are: morning 9 AM - 1 PM, afternoon 1 - 5 PM and evening 5 - 9 PM. • Schedule shifts online using the on the RMH scheduling system (http://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/?FROM=32895). The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) provides housing and meals for families with sick children. The Columbus RMH is the largest in the world with 137 rooms. COUNT has been volunteering there since May 2014. Housewarmers work with RMH guests to provide a home-like environment - greet, assist with family needs, answer phones, give tours, assist with checkin/checkout, prepare guest rooms after checkout, clean facility, laundry, restock supplies and staff the front desk. RMH Housewarmers volunteer at least one four-hour shift a month. All Housewarmers must complete an application and agree to a background check before they can be full fledged volunteers.