Barack Obama

**Hi Everyone,** **I'm deeply sorry, but I am cancelling FUTURE FREE HUGS events until such time that I know what's happening regarding the COVID, FLU and RSV hospitalization data!!** **For FREE HUGS events in the past, I have consulted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine if the hospitalizations for COVID, FLU and RSV were elevated or not.** **However, the Trump administration has restricted what CDC communicates to the public and has purged or stopped recent hospitalization data on the CDC website.** **There have been no updates on the chart since September 27, 2025** **[https://www.cdc.gov/resp-net/dashboard/](https://www.cdc.gov/resp-net/dashboard/)** **As a result, I'm not willing to risk people's health, nor mine, unnecessarily and am cancelling FREE HUGS events until the hospital data become available.** **Lots of Hugs and Much Love,** **Jeff** \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* **FREE HUGS on National Mall** **"Spreading More Love"** [FREE HUGS October 2017. 32 sec.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh7v3zucDas) [FREE HUGS Veterans Day 2016. 58 sec.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebTt9Q177zQ) **HEY EVERYONE!** FREE HUGS gatherings generate so much excitement, joy, appreciation, connection, peace, love, smiles, “Thank you’s,” lots of laughter and such positive energy!! Our FREE HUGS movement is all about "Spreading More Love" regardless of political, religious, racial or gender identification or any other identification. **!! IMPORTANT !!** We meet OUTSIDE of the National Museum of Natural History on the NATIONAL MALL SIDE OF THE MUSEUM near the Refreshment stand. ADDRESS: 1306 Madison Dr. NW · Washington, DC **PARKING:** On the street parking OR [Nearest Parking](https://washingtondc.bestparking.com/destinations/national-mall-parking) **METRO:** Smithsonian National Mall Metro Station (NOT Independence Ave.) **We hope you will join us for an AWESOME time!** **Lots of Hugs...jeff** 301-885-8259 (c) \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* Note 1: if you agree to participate in any FREE HUGS Event, you agree to the following terms: By choosing to attend this event, you are acknowledging the risks involved (COVID, etc.), and you are committing to participate nonviolently and in accordance with the law. You agree: (i) not to engage in any act of violence or violation of any applicable law (ii) to obey the orders of authorized event marshals and law enforcement authorities (iii) that any Meetup group will not be responsible to any injury or damage to your person or property resulting from or occurring in the course of your participating in the Event; and iv) to release and forever hold harmless Jeff Maurer, Meetup group and their respective employees and volunteers from liability for any such injury or damage. Note 2: FREE HUGS gatherings are 1. NOT for advertising our businesses; 2. NOT about promoting political or religious or racial or gender issues or any other issues.

* In these turbulent times, it is crucial that we develop peaceful minds to enable the emergence of a more harmonious world. The format of this class was designed by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche so that people have a special method to create the causes for world peace. Classes include a short teaching and advice for life, two guided meditations, and inspiring prayers for world peace. After the class, join us for a pancake breakfast, coffee, tea and other delicious treats! Feel free to browse our bookstore for unique items. Everyone is welcome. Prayers for World Peace is free, you are welcome to make a donation. The pancake brunch following Prayers for World Peace is $7 a person. **Advice from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, 2001** “World peace is very important; we cannot ignore this now. Once something happens, it will be too late. This world is now, as you know, very delicate, very fragile, and very sensitive. It is almost as delicate as the life of a single person; the world situation is so delicate. This is because there are so many disagreements. Political leaders are ready to fight; everybody is preparing weapons ready to fight, and are challenging each other. So we religious practitioners need to offer prayers because prayers are very powerful. This is because of our pure motivation, the powerful words of the prayers themselves, and especially at such times enlightened beings will bestow their blessings upon us, our environment and other living beings. So we should pray for world peace. We have had two world wars. If there is a third world war this will almost destroy the world because every country has very powerful weapons, and it is very easy to destroy the world. So I would like to suggest that every center organizes prayers for world peace at any time when local people can gather and pray for world peace.” **Cost** Free – Donations Accepted Optional Brunch $7 * Event Schedule Sun., Feb. 22 10am-10:45am Meditation & Prayers for World Peace 10:45am: Pancake Breakfast

This place gets crowded so let’s meet early and enjoy their very authentic Chinese food! 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse! https://www.mamachangva.com/

D.C.’s healthcare system, like the rest of the U.S., is profit-driven and structurally racist. Black residents—especially those east of the Anacostia River—suffer from higher rates of chronic illness and maternal mortality and life expectancy gaps of over 15 years compared to white residents. On Sunday February 22nd Pan-African Community Action (PACA) will launch a revolutionary survival program to provide practical services while building political power. The **[People’s Pan-African Wellness Front (PPWF)](https://pacapower.org/our-work/programs/ppwf/)** is a community-based grassroots program led by PACA to confront the health disparities impacting African/Black working-class communities in Southeast Washington, D.C. Inspired by revolutionary legacies like the Black Panther Party’s People’s Free Medical Clinics and the Cuban healthcare model, this program seeks to deliver immediate relief while organizing toward long-term self-determination and community control of health. **The PPWF will provide:** * Free high blood pressure screenings * Free glucose tests (diabetes screening) * Free hygiene products and medical supplies, * Free health information and guidance for preventative care As well as political education on community control of health and radical health programs, including the Black Panther Party’s Free Medical Clinics and the Lincoln Detox Center. Medical professionals will also be available to answer health-related questions. Come out February 22nd either to receive services and/or to learn how to come involved with later phases of the program to scale up services, expand into more neighborhoods, and anchor broader campaigns around community control. This effort is part of PACA’s broader strategy to build forums for participatory democracy and build a mass movement for power. *This is more than a health program—it’s a step toward Black self-determination. We welcome healthcare workers, students, community members, and all who are ready to organize, learn, and build power*.

Top level Backgammon Tournament play. Have fun and improve your game. Free lessons to new and inexperienced players. Club been active over 30 years, posting on Meetup is new.

**Join us in Falls Church for conversations that go beyond small talk.** Higher Grounds – Falls Church is where this growing network of gatherings began: a space for thoughtful, authentic dialogue about what matters most. Whether we’re exploring the nature of happiness, the challenges and possibilities of midlife, spirituality, culture, capitalism, parenting, or the role of art and travel in a meaningful life, every conversation is shaped by the people in the room. There’s no set leader or rigid agenda—just a shared commitment to listen as much as we speak. We start with brief introductions focused on what makes you *you* (not your LinkedIn bio), then dive straight into whatever is on people’s minds. The direction of each meetup emerges organically, making every event unique. MANDATORY: PLEASE REVIEW OUR COMMUNITY GUIDELINES IN THE GROUP DESCRIPTION. Everyone is expected to engage in respectful conversations and listen deeply as well as share. We have a zero tolerance policy of sexual harassment and hate speech. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others in Falls Church who are also seeking deeper conversations. **Suggested Questions: Life Stages & Transitions** 1. What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging? 2. When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists? 3. What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about? **Suggested Questions: Identity After the Roles** 1. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you? 2. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed? 3. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted? **Suggested Questions: AI & Being Human** 1. What human experiences will AI never truly understand? 2. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do? 3. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated? **Suggested Questions: Belief & Meaning** 1. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space? 2. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live? 3. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self? **Suggested Questions: The Modern Psyche** 1. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have? 2. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire? 3. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept? **Suggested Questions: Work & Purpose** 1. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you? 2. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors? 3. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years? **Suggested Questions: Relationships & Connection** 1. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why? 2. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best? 3. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others? **Suggested Questions: Time & Mortality** 1. What are you running out of time to say or do? 2. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite? 3. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail? **Suggested Questions: Society & Culture** 1. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense? 2. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing? 3. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years? **Suggested Questions: Personal Philosophy** 1. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way? 2. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out 3. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?

Guest Speaker: Sara Dollen from City Wildlife Post-PAM Animal Action: Ritz Carlton cage-free protest Presentation: “The Wildlife of Washington, DC: Biodiversity, Threats, and Coexistence." Sara Dollen is a wildlife rehabilitator at City Wildlife, the District of Columbia's first and only wildlife rehabilitation resource. City Wildlife's non-profit mission is trifold, to manage a rescue center for wildlife in need; to promote the enjoyment of and coexistence with wildlife; and to protect the DC's wildlife habitats. This talk will explore City Wildlife's work, local biodiversity, and ways we can all live more harmoniously with our wild neighbors. Please be sure to RSVP here! https://stampede.proanimal.org/events Join your fellow animal lovers and DC Animal Protection to discuss what’s happening in the animal advocacy scene in DC! This series is a weekly meetup, with guest speakers from all of the major animals rights orgs. We’ll host non-profits such as Pro-Animal Future, International Council for Animal Welfare, DC Voters for Animals, The Humane League, Mercy for Animals and Direct Action Everywhere as well as local grassroots groups like the DC Coalition Against Foie Gras and sanctuaries. We’ll also have special sessions related to health, nutrition and mindfulness! We encourage anyone who is interested in helping animals to attend- no need to be vegan! Come learn about our rich variety of local activism. With protests, outreach, wheat-pasting, signature collecting, leafletting, lobbying, tabling etc. there’s something to match everyone’s comfort level and skill set. Coffee, bagels and community will be provided! Feel free to bring any extra treats to share (no animal products please.) Hope to see you soon! :) Note: Unfortunately, animals are not allowed at our venue. Please leave your furry friends at home.

The Oscar Awards Ceremony is one of the best ceremonies, where fashion designers show off their talent. Let us watch it together. The full list of nominations for the 2017 Oscars (http://oscar.go.com/nominees). Every nominee, every category, every detail you need is right here. What was nominated for Best Picture (http://oscar.go.com/nominees/best-picture)? Arrival, Fences, Hacksaw Ridge, Hell or High Water, Hidden Figures, La La Land, Lion, Manchester by the Sea and Moonlight all secured Best Picture nominations. The nominees for Actor in a Leading Role (http://oscar.go.com/news/nominations/best-actor-nominations-2017-oscars) include Casey Affleck, Andrew Garfield, Ryan Gosling, Viggo Mortensen and Denzel Washington. For Actress in a Leading Role (http://oscar.go.com/news/nominations/best-actress-nominations-2017-oscars), Isabelle Huppert, Ruth Negga, Natalie Portman, Emma Stone and Meryl Streep were nominated. Check out the complete list of nominations below. Let the glitz, glamour and prestige begin! Watch The Oscars LIVE! OSCAR SUNDAY FEBRUARY 26 7e|4p on ABC. Ruth Negga is an Ethiopian-Irish actress who has appeared in the films Capital Letters (2004) (also released as Trafficked in some countries), Isolation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isolation_(2005_film)) (2005), Breakfast on Pluto (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakfast_on_Pluto_(film)) (2005), Warcraft (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warcraft_(film)) (2016) and Loving (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loving_(2016_film)) (2016). She has also played roles in television, such as in the BBC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC)'s mini-series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini-series) Criminal Justice (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_Justice_(TV_series)), RTÉ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RT%C3%89)'s Love/Hate (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love/Hate_(TV_series)), E4 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E4_(channel))'s Misfits (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misfits_(TV_series)), and ABC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Broadcasting_Company)'s Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel%27s_Agents_of_S.H.I.E.L.D.). In 2016, she began a starring role as Tulip O'Hare in AMC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMC_(TV_channel))'s Preacher (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preacher_(TV_series)). For her portrayal of Mildred Loving (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loving_v._Virginia) in Loving (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loving_(2016_film)), Negga was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Actress), Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Globe_Award_for_Best_Actress_in_a_Motion_Picture_-_Drama), Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Spirit_Award_for_Best_Female_Lead), Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critics%27_Choice_Movie_Award_for_Best_Actress), and a BAFTA Rising Star Award (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAFTA_Rising_Star_Award). http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/7/f/b/600_458018907.jpeg We will have the whole venue by ourselves, with a humongous projection screen and several TVs. Drinks and food specials (5-7pm) : - Domestic Beers and Wings Pairings $ 1 0 - Mer-Tini $ 8 - Bottle Service (Bottle of Ciroc with Chicken Platter) $ 250 http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/e/9/e/f/600_446699887.jpeg http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/c/8/e/600_442471886.jpeg http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/c/b/9/600_442471929.jpeg METRO & PARKING INFO : Stonefish Grill is a short block away from Farragut North Metro Station (take the L St. exit) and two blocks from Farragut West (take 18th St. exit). Street parking might be difficult. But there are parking garages around. http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/d/1/e/600_442472030.jpeg http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/d/4/e/600_442472078.jpeg

Please join the [Veg Society of DC (VSDC)](vsdc.org) with your fellow LGBTQ+ veg and veg-curious folks at an event where we'll have some warm conversation and get in touch with our creative sides. We'll be meeting at **[Southwest Neighborhood Library](https://www.dclibrary.org/plan-visit/southwest-library)** (900 Wesley Pl SW, Washington, DC.) in the **Large Meeting Room** on **February 22 from 2pm-4pm**. The host will bring some magazines, glue, paper, and scissors if you want to do some 2026 visioning or just make some collage art. There will also be some colored pencils and activity books available. Feel free to also bring your own crafting supplies if you'd like, as long as they don't make a mess (no permanent markers, paint, etc.) This event will be a combination of chatting and quiet time, depending on the group’s preference. There will be a few vegan snacks as well, but please bring your own water. (The library has strict rules on what refreshments are allowed in the meeting room, so please don't bring in additional food or drink items.) This event is indoors so will proceed unless the weather is so inclement that the library closes, and attendees will be notified in that instance by an important Comment on this meetup page. **Transportation** The library is just a short walk from [Waterfront Metro Station](https://www.wmata.com/rider-guide/stations/waterfront.cfm) on the Green line. There is limited parking in a lot at the library as well as street parking (Sunday street parking should be free but be sure to check and follow all parking signs). **WHEN**: Sunday, Feb 22nd, from 2 pm to 4 pm. **Update Your RSVP** Please change your RSVP if you can no longer make it. **VSDC: More Than A Meetup** We are delighted to have you as part of The Veg Society of DC Vegan Meetup group, and we look forward to seeing you at our events. Did you know that [VSDC](https://vsdc.org/%20) is a nonprofit organization with membership benefits? With VSDC membership, you will save money at area restaurants and businesses, attend VSDC member-only events, and, most importantly, support us as a clear and consistent voice for improving the lives of all beings through community building and education centered on the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle. The membership fee is minimal, but the impact is significant! [Join today](https://vsdc.org/membership/)! **Ways to Stay In Touch with Us** Thank you for being part of our Meetup presence and bringing like-minded people together. We invite you to: * Become a [VSDC member](https://vsdc.org/membership/) to save money at area restaurants and support us in being a clear and consistent voice for improving the lives of all beings through community building and education centered on the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle. * Sign up for our[ monthly e-newsletter](https://vsdc.org/about/newsletter/) to hear more about our activities. * Follow us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/vegsocietydc/) or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/vegsocietydc/) to engage with us. **Interested in Volunteering with VSDC?** VSDC offers many events each month, thanks to the dedication of our event planning team. Would you consider volunteering? To learn more and get started, [please visit our website](https://vsdc.org/volunteer/). **Only Vegan Food, Please** While VSDC welcomes people wherever they are on the path to an all-plant, vegan diet and lifestyle, it is our policy that only vegan food be served and consumed at our events. If you would like to [explore a vegan diet or get support in making lifestyle changes, consider these resources](https://vsdc.org/exploringvegan/). **Liability Waiver and Code of Conduct** When you sign up to attend, you automatically acknowledge [VSDC's Liability Waiver](https://vsdc.org/activity-waiver/) and commit to follow the code of conduct found at [Policies - VSDC - Veg Society of DC](https://vsdc.org/policies/). **VSDC. Creating communities. For your health, the animals, and the planet.**

**This talk has completely sold out in advance and no door tickets will be available.** [Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Everyday Supernatural,”** a discussion of how folklorists and anthropologists view our belief in uneasily explained beings, forces, and experiences, with Benjamin Gatling, folklorist, scholar of belief and everyday religion, and associate professor of English at George Mason University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-everyday-supernatural](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-everyday-supernatural) .] Profs and Pints debuts at [Highline RxR](https://www.highlinerxr.com/) bar in Arlington’s Crystal City with a talk that will both teach you and leave you thinking about your relationship with the unknown. Have you ever wondered why people believe in the supernatural? Or where do such beliefs come from and what purposes do they serve? On hand to offer answers will be Benjamin Gatling, who teaches a course on folklore and the supernatural, studies various cultures’ oral traditions, and serves as editor of *Folklorica: the Journal of the Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Folklore Association.* You’ll gain an understanding of how the supernatural isn’t something strange or extraordinary. It’s part of the everyday lives of most people around the world, and it’s fundamental to virtually all cultural traditions. Here in the United States, three out of four people believe in some aspect of the supernatural such as astrology, telepathy, clairvoyance, or communication with the dead. About half attest to having personally had a mystical experience. In discussing the nature of supernatural beliefs, Dr. Gatling will talk about how our experiences are inexact and ambiguous and how we operate on incomplete information. In many ways belief in the supernatural represents an affirmation that human understanding extends beyond empirical observation and that we live in an imprecise, infinite, irrational, and mysterious world. The goal of folklorists and anthropologists studying such beliefs is not to prove or disprove them, but rather to understand various peoples’ lived experiences and gain insight on how individuals make sense of the uncanny around them. Dr. Gatling will talk about such researchers’ findings in terms of how such beliefs are expressed in dream interpretation or the stories people tell about encounters with ghosts or their relationship with the dead. He’ll talk about visits to haunted places and touch upon subjects such as UFO sightings, encounters with the divine, and magic in our everyday lives. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: A deck of 22 Tarot cards. (Photo by Roberto Viesi / Wikimedia Commons.)

Shilohites Toastmasters meets every 2nd and 4th Sundays. Meetings start at 4:00 pm, and last one hour. We are a community club open to all. Parking is free. We focus on personal goals for professional development.

Join our ASL Brunch on Sundays in Greenbelt! All ASL users and learners are welcome. Brunches are alternately held at two restaurants in Greenbelt, both in the same town plaza. ODD WEEKS: 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays, we meet at Cedars of Lebanon, 103 Centerway. EVEN WEEKS: 2nd and 4th Sundays, we meet at New Deal Café,113 Centerway. We are the Greenbelt ASL Community, a group of both Deaf and hearing people who hang out, chat about everyday goings on, trade stories, get to know each other better, and of course, enjoy food together. Many members use ASL as their primary language, several are interpreters or other fluent ASL users, while others are ASL learners who wish to improve their skills while making new friends. Before or after brunch, you can visit the farmer's market and small coop grocery store in the plaza. Please RSVP so we can contact you via email if needed. Our group is on Facebook as Greenbelt ASL Community. Some long-time group members don't mark their attendance here, so feel free to stop by even if you don't see others who have RSVP'd on Meet-up.

Join us as we get together to get together to help those in need at this CMG Gives Back event! For this event, we’ll help prepare food, serve meals, assist residents, wash dishes and clean surfaces at Fath Mission – Grant Kitchen. We have a great little community of Movie Group friends so rather than see a movie this time, we’ll help “Create a better world” by helping serve those in need. Here are complete details and our plan for this event: FAITH MISSION – GRANT KITCHEN: The Faith Mission kitchen and dining room serves residents 3 meals a day, every day of the year. Our group will help prepare food, serve meals, assist residents in the dining room, wash dishes, and clean surfaces. PLAN: We will be preparing / serving / cleaning for BRUNCH from 10:30am to 12:30pm and have space for a total of 7 volunteers. Please arrive at 10:15am and wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. LOCATION: Faith Mission – Grant Kitchen is located at 245 N. Grant Ave. Enter the kitchen at Dock 1, indicated in the attached map. On-site and street parking are available in the surrounding area. Below are some links / attachments with additional info/details: \* LSS Volunteer Guidelines: Uploaded to photos. \* Parking Map Info: Uploaded to photos. \* LSS Faith Mission Orientation Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp46_6ay6iA \* Link with Additional Details / Info: https://lss.vomo.org/opportunity/faith-mission-grant-kitchen-2025 IMPORTANT REMINDER: Our group will be providing the all of the volunteers on this day so a firm RSVP count is essential. Please only sign up if you are certain you’ll be able to attend. If something unavoidable comes up, please update your RSVP no later than one week prior to the event. With very few exceptions, no shows or cancelations within 1 week of the event will not be eligible for future CMG Gives Back events. I appreciate your understanding as we try to ensure the agencies have the volunteers needed to provide the essential services they provide to the vulnerable population they serve. THANK YOU: This CMG Gives Back event provides an opportunity for YOU to get involved in helping others! Benefits go well beyond the help we give to others. Volunteering provides a wide range of personal benefits, including positive effects on mental and physical health, reduced stress/depression/anxiety, increased happiness and improved purpose, life-satisfaction and personal well-being! Plus, the opportunity to get involved, connect with others and help those in need. PARTNER AGENCY: This event is hosted by Lutheran Social Services (LSS), which serves thousands of people in need each day in 27 Ohio counties by addressing the four core societal issues of food, shelter, safety and healing. LSS offers food through the LSS Food Pantries, housing and supportive services through LSS Faith Mission and LSS Faith Mission of Fairfield County homeless shelters, domestic violence services through LSS CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence, senior living and health care, affordable housing communities, and other services that uplift families and strengthen communities. Look forward to seeing you there, Dan

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.

**Hello Columbus!** **The community is buzzing and growing well.** **We are thrilled to bring our third BrowserStack QA Meetup on March 12th!** We are creating a space for deeper insights, meaningful connections, and a vibe you won't want to miss. **What to expect:** * **Connect:** Network with Columbus' top engineering and QA minds. * **Learn:** Real-world tactics and trends you can use immediately. * **Enjoy:** Food, drinks, and great community spirit. **Agenda** * **[Sam Gomez](https://www.linkedin.com/in/samueljgomez/)** is presenting "AI is more than LLMs: Choosing the right AI for your needs." **RSVP Essential:** Space is limited, and we want to ensure a great experience for everyone. **RSVP now to secure your spot!** 📍 **Venue:** Leading EDJE, 6515 Longshore Loop, Suite 300, Dublin, OH 43017 📍 **Free Parking:** 6725 Longshore Street, Dublin, OH 43017 📅 **Date & Time:** March 12, 6:00 PM **Stay Connected!** Want to continue the conversation beyond the meetup? Join our **BrowserStack Discord Server** to get updates, connect with fellow QA professionals, and be part of an ongoing discussion. **Don’t miss out—click below to join!** 🔗 [\[](https://discord.gg/6SdCyWTNyW)**[Join the BrowserStack Discord Server](https://discord.gg/6SdCyWTNyW)**[\]](https://discord.gg/6SdCyWTNyW) **A Few Notes:** ✅ This is an **in-person event** ✅ **RSVP does not guarantee a seat** – A confirmation email will be sent one day before the event. **TALK ABSTRACT:** AI is all the hype these days; however, despite (or maybe because of) the excitement around it, a high percentage of AI projects fail. Projects that are over budget, delayed, or that fail to scale past the POC phase are very common. In many of these scenarios, choosing the right approach can be as critical as the solution itself. Should you build a tailored machine learning model, leverage the power of large language models (LLMs), or integrate with AI copilots? Each option has unique strengths, trade-offs, and resource requirements, and the key to success lies in aligning your choice with your business goals and technical constraints. In this talk, we will go beyond the basic concepts and definitions to provide a practical guide that allows attendees to navigate these decisions through real-world case studies. We will examine scenarios in which different AI paradigms were chosen, discuss the factors that influenced those decisions, and outline the process for evaluating needs, constraints, and outcomes. From assessing data availability and team expertise to balancing cost and scalability, you'll gain insights into the critical considerations that guide the selection process. By the end of this session, you’ll have a clear process for determining whether machine learning, LLMs, or copilots are best suited to your AI challenges and understand the resources and strategies needed to bring your chosen solution to life. This talk is ideal for decision-makers, technical leads, and innovators seeking to demystify AI implementation and maximize the impact of their investments.

Our next much-awaited **COLUMBUS** meetup is **Tuesday February 24 from 7-10 pm at ACE OF CUPS**. Meet patients, cultivators, processors, dispensary managers/staff, physicians, home growers, educators, activists, nonprofits, artists, attorneys, business owners, writers, students, and supporters to network, share our knowledge, collaborate, support each other and make new friends! WE HOPE TO BE COLLECTING SIGNATURES TO OVERTURN SB56. BRING YOUR FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO JOIN US AND SIGN! Hope you will be there too! Save the date and pass the word. **Please RSVP** so we know who is coming and how many to expect. Find us to say hi and we will introduce you to others. We should be easy to spot. (The happy-looking group wearing cool nametags! See photos from our past events.) Sign in, grab a name tag, start your own bar/food tab, meet old friends and make new ones! Everyone is welcome. SEE YOU THERE!

Salsamante Dance Academy will be at Swerve Every Tuesday Night to share the Rhythm & Energy of Bachata & Salsa. These are Beginner Level lessons to get you comfortable and understand the two dances. Spread the Good News to all. Swerve Dance & Fitness Complex 640 Lakeview Plaza Blvd A, Worthington, OH 43085 Bachata 7pm-8pm Salsa 8pm-9pm $15 - One Lesson $20 - Both Lessons

Always an overachiever, David Bayer didn't settle for being Number Two in just about anything. Whether a runaway entrepreneurial success as a teenager, the leading online director for Ducati with over $70 million in sales, or as an early mid-life crisis overachiever with at least three wildly self-destructive behavioral addictions, whatever David did, he did it wholeheartedly. Not surprisingly then, when it came to facing his failures and determining his next course of action, David sought health and healing with the same full-strength effort he had previously used to bring about his own ruination. Seeking to learn from the best of the best, David's pursuit of tangible, practical, actual change from the mind and emotions, outward, brought a new passion--that of encouraging others to learn from his mistakes and to be able to strive after and achieve healing and success in their own lives. We are reading *A Changed Mind*, by David Bayer, and can't wait to enjoy the group discussion on **Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 6:30 pm**, at **True Food Kitchen, Easton Town Center**. Come join us! Get your tickets on [EventBrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-changed-mind-columbus-ohio-tickets-1978437853879)! Check us out on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/events/1390625182655746)!