Iraq Veterans

We are at *NEW* LOCATION ! - THE MAD HATTER HOTEL, SOUTHWARK. We meet for informal chat about anything you like. Conversation is free flowing and friendly. We always leave knowing something new! So as to find us easily there will be a GREEN BALL on our table.

Hi folks! Welcome to our March Cloud Native London meetup! Join us to hear from our three great speakers and network with your fellow techies over pizza and drinks, or alternatively chat and following along on Youtube! 6:00 Pizza and drinks 6:30 Welcome 6:45 Predictable Systems in an Unpredictable World (Behrad Babaee, Aerospike) 7:15 Observability with HAProxy: detecting what is not working and why (Baptiste Assmann, HAProxy Technologies) 7:45 Break 8:00 eBPF: Revolutionizing Cloud-Native Security (Alam Ahmed) 8:30 Wrap up See you there! Cheryl (@oicheryl) **Predictable Systems in an Unpredictable World (Behrad Babaee, Aerospike)** Modern systems are challenged by volatility. Traffic patterns shift without warning, workloads evolve continuously, and failures are no longer exceptional events. In this environment, average performance is meaningless. What matters is whether systems behave predictably when conditions change. This session explores how system design choices determine behavior under volatility. We will discuss why many modern architectures rely on fragile assumptions about steady-state workloads, cache locality, or predictable growth, and how those assumptions break down in real production environments. Through concrete examples and architectural discussion, we will examine what it means to design systems that remain predictable as load, access patterns, and scale evolve. The goal is not to showcase tools or benchmarks, but to build a shared mental model for thinking about predictability as a first-class system property. *Behrad Babaee is a software engineer who leads Product Marketing at Aerospike, shaping positioning and go-to-market strategy for real-time data systems in the AI era.* *He began his career building scalable, distributed applications for organisations including Barclays and Credit Suisse, before moving into architecture and field leadership roles at Aerospike and DataStax.* *Today, he combines deep engineering expertise with strategic product leadership, focusing on how organisations design systems that remain predictable, resilient and performant under real-world volatility.* **Observability with HAProxy: detecting what is not working and why (Baptiste Assmann, HAProxy Technologies)** Is it the network, the app, or the database? In complex microservices environments, "mean time to innocence" is a critical metric for platform engineers. HAProxy sits at the convergence of these traffic flows, providing a unique vantage point to answer the ultimate observability question: "WTF is going on?". We'll do a deep dive into the metrics that matter, so you can detect anomalies before users complain. You will learn: * The difference between monitoring and observability in a reverse proxy context. * How to access HAProxy’s detailed logs, stats, and stick-tables. * How to analyze the "life of a request" using precise timers to pinpoint latency sources. * How to use HAProxy’s observability features to fix real-world issues (demo) * How HAProxy Fusion provides centralized observability and automation for enterprise deployments at scale. *Baptiste Assmann is Director of Product at HAProxy Technlogoes. He spent his carreer on networking and high performance architecture. Today, he plays a key role on HAProxy's ecosystem evolution: from bare metal to Kubernetes and from load balancing to advanced security at scale and always looking forward for what's next!* **eBPF: Revolutionizing Cloud-Native Security (Alam Ahmed)** eBPF: Revolutionizing Cloud-Native Security from the Kernel Up Cloud-native architectures have fundamentally broken traditional security models. While 67% of organizations now delay deployments due to Kubernetes security concerns, conventional tools remain blind to the dynamic, ephemeral nature of containers—operating from the outside looking in, missing critical kernel-level threats until it's too late. This session reveals how eBPF (extended Berkeley Packet Filter) is transforming cloud-native security by moving visibility and enforcement directly into the Linux kernel. Through real-world case studies from Meta, Google, and Cloudflare—where eBPF processes billions of packets per second and mitigates multi-terabit DDoS attacks—you'll discover how this technology delivers 10x performance improvements with <1% CPU overhead. We'll explore the production-ready CNCF ecosystem (Falco, Tetragon, Cilium) and demonstrate practical security observability patterns: process execution monitoring, network correlation with Kubernetes context, file integrity tracking, and syscall anomaly detection. No kernel modules. No code changes. Complete visibility. Whether you're battling container escapes, cryptojacking, or compliance gaps, this talk provides the architectural blueprint for security that matches the speed and scale of cloud-native—without sacrificing agility. *Alam Ahmed is a Junior Cloud & DevOps Engineer with NOC operations experience and a focus on cloud security. He has spoken at Elastic London and Yorkshire DevOps on Security as Code practices, contributes to open-source projects including Envoy AI Gateway, and is passionate about kernel-level observability and cloud-native defense.* ***Check out [https://www.oicheryl.com/cloudnativelondon](https://www.oicheryl.com/cloudnativelondon) if you're interested in speaking or sponsoring.***

The International Cafe is a warm, welcoming space where people from all backgrounds come together to make friends, practice English, and have fun in a relaxed setting. Whether you're new to the area or just looking to connect, it’s a great place to meet people, share cultures, and enjoy conversation, games, and activities. come join our friendly international community!

**Hello there!** Our Face-to-Face Afternoon Classes are back this March in London! Are you learning English as a second language and looking for an opportunity to practise your English? Interested in **free, in-person classes**? We’ve got you covered! Here at **Stafford House,** our teachers-in-training are gaining hands-on experience by teaching enthusiastic English learners. Each lesson is interactive and fun, with plenty of opportunities to practise speaking, meet other learners, and improve your English along the way. We also offer **free online English classes (London and Canterbury)**. Check out our other events for more information! Please see the **updated** details below! 🕑 **When:** From **2nd March - 26th March (4 weeks)** ➡️Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ➡️Fridays 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m 📍 **Where:** Stafford House London, 2 Southampton Place, WC1A 2DA (just 2 minutes from Holborn Station) 📚 **Level: Both levels available** **\- Pre\-Intermediate \(A2\-B1\)** **\- Upper\-Intermediate \(B2\)** Spaces are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please arrive **15- 30 minutes early** to secure your spot. We will ask for your name and email upon arrival. *Please note: confirming attendance on Meetup does not guarantee a place in the classroom.* **Please note that class times or dates may occasionally change due to the nature of the course. If this happens, we will inform you by email.** We look forward to seeing you all very soon! Got Questions? send us an email at [teachertraining@staffordhouse.com](mailto:teachertraining@staffordhouse.com)

Hosted by Nadia Monte, Nigel Hunt, and Simon Moir. Headline presentation: * **[Anna Perela](https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaperela/) \- Head of Planning and Projects\, Cityscape Digital** * * Chartered Architect with over 15 years’ experience in architecture, planning, and visualisation. Experienced in leading multidisciplinary teams, combining strong architectural knowledge and technical expertise with innovative use of technology. Education presentation: * **[Solent University](https://www.solent.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/cgi-and-visual-effects-ba/2026/ba-hons-cgi-and-visual-effects-3-years-2026) \- CGI\, VFX & Games Art\.** * * Each year, the students from Solent University make a pilgrimage to 3D London to mingle with industry folks and give short introduction presentations, the majority of whom it's their first time presenting in public. First-time 5-minute presentations: * We offer 3 spots for anyone willing to take to the stage to give a short 5-minute introduction presentation. Sponsored partners [SiNi](https://www.sinisoftware.com/), [Chaos](https://www.chaos.com/), [Itoosoft](https://www.itoosoft.com/), [NTI](https://www.nti-group.com/uk/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=brand-nti-pm&utm_content=adgroup-bluegfx&keyword=bluegfx&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23336319810&gbraid=0AAAABB31zGGrX5M9GuQgtXaFDu8MZSRVN&gclid=CjwKCAiAkvDMBhBMEiwAnUA9BWzTkav1enKz2adGWAV6IUQFXfJ8-QnQh3PaN4JV76OWyuQ7by74jBoCHlIQAvD_BwE), [Heata](https://www.heata.co/).

Join us at SOAS for a free discussion with author Mattin Biglari about his book *Nationalising Oil and Knowledge in Iran* (2025). ***Nationalising Oil and Knowledge in Iran: Labour, Decolonisation and Colonial Modernity, 1933–51* by Mattin Biglari** Iran’s nationalisation of oil in 1951 was a key catalyst for the rise of resource nationalism as an animating force of global decolonisation, expelling the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC, now known as BP) after nearly fifty years of domination in southwest Iran. *Nationalising Oil & Knowledge in Iran* turns attention to the origins of nationalisation in the everyday struggles between the oil company and subaltern actors in the city of Abadan, then home to the world’s largest oil refinery and deeply imbricated in networks of colonialism and racial capitalism. Engaging with energy history, postcolonial/subaltern studies, and science & technology studies, the book focuses on the politics of expertise: how nationalisation reproduced the epistemic coloniality of the oil company, which rested on local dispossession, social engineering, as well as racial and gendered segregation. It argues that nationalisation diverged from subaltern contestations of oil expertise in Abadan, which presented a more fundamental challenge to colonial modernity. Reservation details: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soas-book-discussion-with-mattin-biglari-on-nationalising-oil-in-iran-tickets-1980422394694?aff=ebdssbdestsearch](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soas-book-discussion-with-mattin-biglari-on-nationalising-oil-in-iran-tickets-1980422394694?aff=ebdssbdestsearch%0A%0A) After the two-hour discussion, we’ll hang around for a chit chat. Are you interested in reading world fiction and non-fiction in English, Spanish and French? Join my other groups: -www.meetup.com/gaia-books -www.meetup.com/gaia-libros -www.meetup.com/gaia-livres -French Art Group (send me a request) -Instagram: @persian_culture_ -Persian Culture Whatsapp group: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/EZk35ZbJZ6W6wwyHyuxoS2](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EZk35ZbJZ6W6wwyHyuxoS2)

**Classic Jordan - Amman-Jerash-Dead Sea-Petra and Wadi Rum** **March 8-15, 2026** The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan offers a heady mix of natural wonders and ancient history. Geographically situated at the heart of a region that has influenced history and culture for over 2000 years, Jordan has been influenced by Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders and Arabs. On this tour, we will experience the highlights of this beautiful country, including touring the spectacular and extensive Roman ruins of Jerash, visiting the lowest point on the earth’s surface, the Dead Sea for swimming and floating, exploring the fabled Rose Red City of Petra, luxury camping in the desert of Wadi Rum and a chance to enjoy the modern metropolis of the capital city Amman. **Itinerary** **Day One - Amman** Arrivals in Amman. Transfers from airport to hotel. Dinner at hotel. Most flights arrive late. Overnight in Amman **Day Two - Jerash, Salt and Amman** Breakfast at hotel Transfer to Jerash to visit some of the best preserved Greco-Roman ruins in the world. Jerash gives insight to what this region was like 2000 years ago and includes archways, theatres, public baths, a hippodrome, public fountains and an amphitheater. We continue to the hillside town of Salt on the old main highway leading from Amman to Jerusalem. Salt was an Ottoman Empire trading hub and this is reflected in its Ottoman architecture. Return to Amman for a city tour. Overnight in Amman. **Day Three - Northern Jordan, Pella (Gedara) and Wine Tasting** Breakfast at hotel Full day tour to northern Jordan including a visit to a vineyard to taste Jordanian wines. We then head to Pella which was an ancient city that contains ruins from the Neolithic, Chalcolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Canaanite, Hellenistic and Islamic periods. A massive Bronze and Iron Age temple recently discovered in Pella is one of the best preserved temples from Old Testament times anywhere in the Holy Land. Return to Amman. **Day Four - Dead Sea** Breakfast at hotel. We travel to Al-Maghtas on the east bank of the Jordan River which is reputed to be the location of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. We continue to the Dead Sea where we can enjoy swimming and floating in the dense salt water. This is the lowest point on earth and it overlooks the West Bank. Dinner (included) and overnight at the Dead Sea **Day Five - Madaba, Mt Nebo, Kerak and Petra** Breakfast at hotel. On the way to Petra, we will stop and visit Madaba with its Ottoman-style houses and Byzantine-era mosaics including a 6th century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land which can be seen at St George’s Church. We will travel via the King’s Highway to the historic crusader castle of Kerak and Mt Nebo where Moses was reputedly shown the Holy Land. Overnight and dinner (included) at hotel in Petra. **Day Six - Petra and Wadi Rum** Breakfast at the hotel Early morning visit to the ancient, Red Rose City of Petra. One of the world’s most famous archaeological sites, Petra is a blend of Eastern traditional and Hellenistic architecture. It is one of the seven wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petra is the highlight of any trip to Jordan. We approach via the narrow Siq canyon until we suddenly reach the amazing Treasury. This ancient city is half-built and half-carved into the rock and surrounded by gorges and mountain passages. We will have time to explore this site at leisure. Those who wish can return by horseback or even camel. In the late afternoon we continue to the desert of Wadi Rum for dinner (included) and overnight at a luxury Bedouin camp. **Day Seven - Wadi Rum** Breakfast at the camp. Two hour 4x4 jeep tour in the Wadi Rum desert. Return to Amman. Overnight in Amman **Day Eight - Amman** Breakfast at hotel Transfers to airport Price: £1795 per person sharing (double/twin) £485 single supplement **International Flights Are Not Included** **Price includes:** 7 Nights Accommodation in 4\* hotels and 5\* luxury camp (Wadi Rum) 7 x breakfast, 7 x dinner All ground transportation (18 seater bus) Entrance Fees to all sites mentioned in the programme Private English speaking guide for Day 2 - Day 7 (6 days) Tour leader from 45+ Not Grumpy (Jo) throughout the tour 2 hour Jeep tour in Wadi Rum Standard horse ride at Petra (included in admission ticket) **Price excludes:** International flights Incidental expenses at hotels (telephone, mini bar, laundry etc) Tips and gratuities for guide, driver, horse boy (Petra), 4x4 drivers (Wadi Rum), hotel and restaurant staff Any extra meals and beverages not mentioned in programme Travel insurance

Welcome to Gaslighting Recognition & Recovery Group. **This is a peer-to-peer support group dedicated to recovery from emotional abuse.** **\*\*FOR ESTABLISHED MEMBERS \*\*** Imagine this scenario: Suppose your partner, parent or friend made a little joke at your expense, and it hurt your feelings. Perhaps you thought to yourself “I’ll let it slide because they probably didn’t mean it. Or maybe I just misunderstood. It’s just not worth the consequence of having this argument.” But as days and weeks pass, the buried emotions resurface, demanding to be dealt with. So you decide to express your feelings to this person, only to hear this response: *"Wow, you're so sensitive that I can't even joke with you anymore. I didn't mean it like that, but of course you need to make me look like a jerk. Why are you bringing this up NOW? I've moved on, but I guess you just can't let go of the past. I don't understand why you get offended so easily. You said you loved my sense of humor, but I guess my jokes just aren’t funny anymore. I mean, I could sensor myself for you, but how sad it is to be silenced and forbidden from being myself? You must not love me for who I am. You have sloppy habits and mental health issues, but I love you anyway. So why can't you just accept me for who I am? Maybe I should just go away. If you want me to go away, just tell me, and I will. Free yourself and finally be rid of me.”* This is a DARVO, and it's also gaslighting. It is word salad nonsense designed to leave you feeling confused, tongue tied and self-blaming. Although subtle and difficult to detect, gaslighting can present this way. Perpetrators are skilled in evading detection, and nearly impossible to identify without external support. Gaslighting isn’t “just a pop psychology term.” It’s a very real form of emotional manipulation that often flies under the radar because we’ve been conditioned to see it as normal. This is especially true if we grew up amidst toxic family dynamics. We’ve learned to doubt ourselves before questioning someone else’s behavior. We say, *“Maybe I’m just too sensitive.”* Or *“Maybe I’m overreacting.”* And that’s exactly how gaslighting works — it teaches us to question our intuition, doubt our own emotions, silence and shrink ourselves, making us more digestible for the other person. But no — you are not “too sensitive.” You are not “being defensive" or "unable to handle constructive criticism.” You are having a normal human response to emotional abuse. Gaslighting thrives in the disguise of normalcy, often framed as “care and concern” or “just trying to help”. And the first step in dismantling it is naming it for what it is: emotionally abusive. It’s not your fault, not imagined, and definitely not normal. This group is a safe space dedicated to supporting one another as we confront the faulty, gaslit self-concepts imposed upon us by others. Together, we can practice self-compassion, reclaim our voices and empower ourselves. This group offers support for every stage of recovery. This group runs 6PM EST- 7:30PM EST (5PM-6:30PM CST, 3PM-4:30PM PST AND 11PM-12:30AM BST) **every other Saturday** I did schedule this group with the assumption that those attending are well-versed in gaslighting but would still like to provide a brief definition for anyone who may be uncertain; *Gaslighting is an intentional, subtle, psychological manipulation tactic where the perpetrator plants seeds of doubt in the victim's mind. This leads the victim to question their perceptions, memories, feelings, abilities, and even their mental health. The perpetrator is often a person with high narcissistic **and*** *sociopathic traits. It’s designed to evade detection and is therefore one of the most insidious tools in the pathological narcissist's arsenal.* \*Important Notes\* ***If this is your first time here, please sign up for a First Timers event.*** ***This event is for established members only. You must have attended a First Timers event prior to signing up for this one. If you have not attended a First Timers event, you will be removed from the meeting.*** These meetings are to ensure the safety of our members and our hosts as we share sensitive details about our experiences. We also do this to ensure all new members will get a chance to share and introduce themselves right away, this is a way for us to properly meet each of you. Instructions are posted in the **First Timers** events and we appreciate your cooperation in advance! Please Review The Following Before Joining: I am a peer supporter, not a mental health professional, physician or attorney. Information shared in these groups is not to be construed as professional advice. * **Cameras must be ON.** If you need to briefly turn your camera off, please inform the host. If your camera remains off after being asked to turn it on, you will be removed from the meeting. * **Mute your microphones** unless it is your turn to speak. * **Raise your hand to share.** Shares will be heard in the order hands are raised. * **Offer advice ONLY when it’s explicitly asked for.** Supportive words of validation, understanding, and affirmation are encouraged. Unsolicited advice and tangential rants of personal opinions are not. * **If your think your share might trigger others, please advise the group with a trigger warning and wait a moment.** This moment of pause allows members the chance to mute their speakers. * **Manage triggers by muting your speakers** or taking a break from the meeting as needed. If you need to leave, the host will re-admit you as many times as necessary, no questions asked. * **Solicitation is prohibited.** Please refrain from pedaling products or services. * **Please refrain from contacting or DMing other members without prior approval from an organizer.** If you’ve connected with someone and would like to exchange contact information, reach out to an organizer, and we’ll facilitate the exchange. \*\*Although we care deeply about the safety and wellbeing of our members, we are not equipped to intervene in crisis situations. ***IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT FEELS SUICIDAL OR UNSAFE, PLEASE DIAL 911 (US & CANADA) OR 999 IN THE UK. OR SEEK CARE AT YOUR NEAREST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.\*\**** Crisis Hotline: 988 (US)

**Whose knowledge is centred in design? Whose voices are heard, and whose are overlooked?** Join us for an interactive workshop that goes beyond surface-level inclusion to critically explore power, culture, and equity in design practice. **What’s the event about?** We want to create a space where we can talk honestly and practically about what it means to go beyond inclusive design — to question who design is for, how it’s done, and how we might do it differently. It’s not a lecture, nor is it about having the “right” answers. It’s about exploring the topic together in a way that’s open, hands-on… and a bit of fun too. This event will include an interactive activity designed to provoke thought and discussion about what it means to design beyond inclusivity, creating space for deeper shared reflection. **Who’s it for?** This is for anyone working in or around design — whether you’re in services, research, strategy, policy, or community roles. You might: •⁠ ⁠Be curious about the term “decolonising” but not sure where to start •⁠ ⁠Feel a bit disconnected from this kind of conversation •⁠ ⁠Be looking for a more grounded, less academic way in •⁠ ⁠Just want to meet others thinking about design and equity in new ways **What can you expect?** •⁠ ⁠A hands-on group activity inviting you to explore an unfamiliar world, challenge assumptions, and think differently about power, culture, and design •⁠ ⁠Facilitated group reflection and conversation on how we talk about — and act on — the idea of decolonising design in our work •⁠ ⁠Informal conversations and networking at the pub to follow What you’ll take away •⁠ ⁠A practical framework you can adapt or reuse in your own work •⁠ ⁠A more grounded sense of what “decolonising design” can mean in everyday practice •⁠ ⁠A chance to connect with others exploring similar questions Whether you're completely new to decolonising design or already working with these frameworks, you'll find space to reflect, learn, and connect with others navigating similar questions. **About the Ticket** The ticket cost is to hold your place and ensure commitment from attendees. **All participants who attend the event will be offered a full refund of their ticket price.** This approach helps us plan effectively while remaining accessible to those with financial constraints. Come ready to participate, question, and imagine design differently.

**GRADE Level 🥾🥾🥾3.5/5** —— **📖SUMMARY:** 22km \(13\.7mi\) \| Point\-to\-point \| Ascent: 473 m **🚊Train:** London Waterloo **⇆** Bentley (Hampshire) \*via Farnham ⛳️ **Meeting Point:** **2 Options** **1-** London Waterloo train station \- Opposite platform 15 \| **08:40** **2-** Bentley \(Hampshire\) train station \| **10:20** ⚠️This is a **Point-to-Point (not circular)** Hike **🏁Hike** **start:** Bentley \(Hampshire\) train station \| **10:30** **🔚Hike** **finish:** Farnham \| approx\. **\~16:30-17:00** —— **📕ABOUT:** This is a ***new*** ⭐️gorgeous *point-to-point* countryside adventure **from Bentley to Farnham**, weaving through the peaceful trails of **Alice Holt Forest**. We’ll take our time under **towering pines and woodland paths**. After lunch, we continue into a stunning stretch of open woodland and heathland—a **cinematic landscape** that’s been used as a filming location for major productions including **Gladiators, Thor and Napoleon**. Expect big skies, wide sandy tracks, and that “wait… are we on a film set?” kind of vibe . A relaxed, scenic finish brings us into Farnham, with plenty of chances for photos, good chats, and forest-bathing energy along the way. ✨ —— **⭐️HIGHLIGHTS:** * **Point-to-point adventure**: Bentley (Hampshire) to Farnham (proper journey feel, not a loop) * **Deep pine forest immersion** through Alice Holt Forest – tall pines, soft trails, proper woodland atmosphere * **“Gladiator woods” vibes:** open woodland/heath-style scenery used as filming locations (big, cinematic landscapes) * **Varied terrain:** shaded forest tracks → wider sandy paths → open clearings * **Great for photos:** pine corridors, dramatic open woodland, golden light through the trees —— **💷COST: Free** This hike is completely free to join but participants need to purchase their own transport tickets. —— ️🚊**TRAIN TICKET INFORMATION:** I would recommend you get: **🎟️Sunday Out \*Return\*** ticket \| **London Waterloo ⇆ Bentley (Hampshire)** \*via Farnham with a Network Railcard is £14.65 (instead of £22). * **➡️Outbound:** London Waterloo **09:04 → 10:20** Bentley (Direct) * **⬅️Inbound:** Farnham **any Off-Peak time →** London * If you’d like to join other hikers using a Network Railcard, please arrive earlier so we can organise small groups. Note that each card can cover up to 4 people. * Visit **[National Rail](https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/)** for details —— **🎒WHAT TO BRING:** * 1-2L Water * Packed lunch and snacks * Comfortable walking/hiking shoes * Weather-appropriate clothing (layers, waterproofs, hat, sunscreen) * Optional: trekking poles, camera —— *✅***WHO CAN JOIN:** • ‍‍ Our hikes are open to adults aged 21 and over. • For safety reasons, we’re not able to include children. • We love animals, but pets (including dogs) can’t join our —— **🚨RSVP & ATTENDANCE**: RSVP only if you plan to attend. Please cancel as early as possible if you can no longer make it so others can join. A no-show means you RSVPed but did not attend or cancelled just before or after the start time. Repeated no-shows or late cancellations without a valid reason may lead to removal. Reliable regulars who end up on a waitlist may message the host for priority consideration. —— **☯️STAYING TOGETHER:** A dedicated back marker is not always present, so please keep others in sight and avoid moving too far ahead or falling too far behind. Faster walkers should wait at junctions. The hike leader will pause at key points to regroup and reduce the chance of anyone becoming separated from the group. —— ⚠️ **DISCLAIMER:** By joining, you confirm that you have read and accepted the group policy on the About page. You are responsible for your own safety, and neither the host nor the group can be held liable for injury, loss, or damage.

Join us as we get together to see SIRAT, an Oscar-nominated Best International Film from Spain that follows a father, accompanied by his son, goes looking for his missing daughter in North Africa. Here’s a description, trailer and our plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: A father, accompanied by his son arrive at a rave deep in the mountains of southern Morocco while searching for his daughter who vanished months ago at one of these endless, sleepless parties. As their search continues, the journey forces them to confront their own limits. The film is directed by Oliver Laxe and stars Sergi Lopez, Bruno Nunez Arjona and Richard Bellamy. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww-IXHXvS70 BUZZ & ACCLAIM: SIRAT has already won numerous awards, including 4 at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, along with the Chicago, Montclair and Toronto International Film Festivals! It also earned a whopping 11 nominations at the 40th Goya Awards, including Best Film and Director, and was nominated for Best International Feature Film and Best Sound at this year’s Academy Awards. The film is earning a stellar 92% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes which calls it “an unforgettable exercise in tension” and “a brutal reminder that the journey can be more important than the destination.” PLAN: Please purchase your ticket for the 7:00pm showing and we’ll meet inside the upstairs lobby between 6:40 and 6:50pm. Super Tuesday ticket price is just $6.50 (including online fee)! Advance ticket purchase is advised (via Gateway website preferred). Once you have yours, please list your seat number in the Comments section of this event! This one will be a “movie only” event. PARKING: Close, convenient parking is available in the nearby garage (located between 9th and 11th, just off High St). Bring your ticket with you and have it validated at the theater and for $2, you’re covered for the night! Look forward to seeing you there, Dan

Interested? Contact Preston Moore k.preston.moore@gmail.com 614-300-5989 ———————————— Engaging in men’s work is the new way to forge friendships while being open-minded to personal growth. Many men experience healthier relationships, personally and professionally, by engaging in this work. Open Men’s Group is a container for men to share vulnerably without receiving judgment or feedback. We believe that emotionally mature, powerful, compassionate, and purpose-driven men will help heal some of society’s deepest wounds. We support the powerful brilliance of men and we are willing to look at, and take full responsibility for, the pain we are also capable of creating – and suffering. We care deeply about men, our families, communities, and the planet. Visit ManKind Project USA to discover more. https://mkpusa.org/

**The idea for this group is to build a community where men can gather together and build connections & learn and grow from each other.** How we start each meeting is by each of us checking in with our "roses and thorns" aka what are the good things and the bad things going on in your life recently? Then we will go into a topic discussion. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS** \*\*THERE WILL BE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR NO-SHOWS. IF YOU RSVP TO A MEETING AND FAIL TO SHOW UP WITHOUT NOTICE, YOU'LL BE REMOVED FROM THE GROUP. THIS IS TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THE GROUP\*\* 1. Confidentiality - EVERYTHING that is shared NEVER leaves this space so that this space remains safe and sacred. There is a zero tolerance policy for this. If a man is in violation of this, they will be permanently removed from the group. 2. Non-Judgement - we respect and honor every man’s truth so that we may receive the same from others. While we may not agree on everything, we commit to respecting every man’s perspectives and engaging in honorable discussion with one another. 3. Be committed - honor your commitment to this group and to yourself. If you attend a meeting, please commit yourself fully to the meeting. Also be committed to your own journey. When we fail, we own it & clean it up. 4. Speak from the heart - this is NOT a space to “look good”, have the “right” answers, and have it all together. Relax and know you are not alone. Be exactly who you are within the safety of this space. 5. Be supportive - This means always willing to provide encouragement to your fellow men, encourage action and momentum in each other’s lives.. Be willing to challenge each other. Be willing to hold each other accountable. 6. Participation - what you receive from this community will be a reflection of what you put into it. Period. We ask that you share your perspectives, reflect on others, and give/receive support when and where it’s needed.

Join the CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group for a dynamic afternoon of B2B networking! This event is perfect for professionals looking to expand their business connections, share insights, and foster collaboration within the community. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this event offers a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, build relationships, and grow your network in a supportive environment. Connect with like-minded individuals, explore potential partnerships, and discover new opportunities for professional growth. Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your business network and take your career to the next level with CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group! We meet the 4th Monday of every month from 11am-1pm. Welcome and general networking from 11am - 11:30am with core meeting 11;30 - 12:30 and a final round of networking from 12:30 - 1pm.

WQC has weekly Thursday night social nights at the Westerville Java Central. Come and grab a coffee and connect with the community: low stakes, chill environment, and tasty drinks. No registration is required; come as you are.

Join other experienced and aspiring agile coaches and professionals to: * develop and practice your coaching skills in a peer-to-peer environment * share current successes and challenges in your work environment and get support from each other * learn from each other, build better relationships and experiment with new ideas