Conservation

Come out and celebrate the Christmas Holiday Season at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens Regional Park in nearby Vienna, Virginia. Our two mile hike on asphalt and natural surface trails showcases flowers, shrubs, ponds, and a Korean Bell Garden that are decorated for the holidays. Bring a daypack, comfortable hiking shoes, cold weather clothing, trail snacks, and a quart of water. Price of admission: Adults under 60 $8 and over 60 $4. Although not connected directly to the Sierra Club PRO hike, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens offers the Winter Walk of Lights after dark. Reservations required at novaparks.com. Meet at 11AM at the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens Regional Park off of Beulah Road in Vienna, Virginia. Leader: Glenn Gillis 571-217-4477

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

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

**(10-15 attendees average!)** Looking for a dinner out? Join us at Dolan Uyghur Restaurant in Falls Church at 6:00 PM ET for our dinner social! All locals 55 & up are welcome to come and socialize! Don’t miss this opportunity to try some great food and meet others. We can’t wait to see you there! Parking Instructions: Plan parking in advance. Street parking is available close to the venue. Lot parking is available in front of several local venues. Garage parking is available on the top deck of the George Mason Parking Garage at 103 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046.

Who's available on Tuesday morning for another walk in Rock Creek Park? We'll meet at 9:30 at the Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium, 5200 Glover Road Northwest Washington, DC. According to the park website, "if the parking there is full you can park at either Picnic Grove #13 (located at the split for Ridge and Glover roads near Military Rd) or in the parking area for the Maintenance Yard located at 5000 Glover Road NW." Metrobus C81 also goes there. We'll follow the Boulder Bridge Trail loop, which is described online as 3, 3.2 or 4 miles long depending on the source. Here's a description: [https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/boulder-bridge-hike.htm](https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/boulder-bridge-hike.htm) The hike is classified as easy, and it should take us 60-90 minutes to complete. I need to get back afterward for a meeting but some might want to have lunch together, TBD. Please include your cell number so we can be sure to meet up. Hope to see you! Please also join us for FFF>50 on the Mighty Networks platform, for even more in-person events (every member can easily create them), a walled playground for just us, and no pressure to pay or upgrade. [Join the national network (5000 women) here](https://community.fff50.org/share/dbWb9iJu5XwSN2TR?utm_source=manual) and then join our Washington DC area chapter, looking forward to seeing you there!

Regular biweekly walk to find the birds and sights of Lake Artemesia.

Guest Speaker: Patricia Welty, founder of A Vegan Life Post-PAM Animal Action: TBD 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.

Join us either in-person or online for our special New Year's Day service. Dress is casual yet conservative, and everyone is welcome to come listen to the Dharma and learn the Nembutsu, chants and songs associated with our tradition of Shin Buddhism.

Hikers (and non) will continue a long tradition (since 1975) by gathering in Georgetown on January 1 to kick off a new year of hiking! Come join old and new friends in ushering in the New Year, while working off some of the holiday cheer that's starting to show. Leashed pets are also welcome. Photo albums of previous hikes: **[bit.ly/MWS-NYDH](https://bit.ly/MWS-NYDH)**. **THE HIKE:** We’ll walk 5.1 miles along the C&O Canal Towpath to the Little Falls Pump Station, and back. You can walk at your own pace and turn around sooner (or later) if you want to do less (or more) than 10.1 miles. A handout (to download or print) for the hike is posted [here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TQq9zJqpQUVFCVq0pzi_HQQYvE5GCSuD/view?usp=drive_link) and as a photo below. **LEADERS:** Frank Wodarczyk, Paul Elliot, Gabriele Ludwig, & Mike Darzi. **WHAT TO BRING:** Bring snacks or a bag lunch, and water. Dress warmly in layers and wear rain/snow gear or bring an umbrella if there is a chance of precipitation. Feel free to bring leftover holidays treats to share. **WHEN & WHERE:** We’ll meet at 10 am on the west side of Wisconsin Avenue, NW, south of M Street. There is a small plaza in front of the [Pinstripes Bistro](https://www.google.com/maps/dir//38.904376,-77.062848/@38.904049,-77.0642193,17.78z?hl=en) (1064 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC) that is next to and above the C&O Canal. If there is no crowd there, start one. Note that street parking is conveniently free on New Year’s Day. **LUNCH:** If you are so inclined, you may also join some of us for après-hike fare at [Pinstripes Bistro](https://pinstripes.com/georgetown/) (where we start and finish the hike) starting at 1:30-1:45 pm. **SIERRA CLUB** You may join the Sierra Club by clicking the "JOIN" button at the top of the Virginia Chapter’s [website](http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia). Membership is not required for participation.

## **🔵 Not Just a Meeting—A Launchpad for Impact** ### **🗓️ 1st & 3rd Fridays \| 🕧 12:30 PM \| 📍 Tysons Corner Marriott** Looking for more than another business card exchange? This is where purpose meets power. Join the **Dunn Loring–Merrifield Rotary Club** for our **1st and 3rd Friday meetings**—a space where professionals, leaders, and community builders come together to **take action, build relationships, and grow something bigger than themselves**. *** ### **What Happens at a Meeting:** * **Rotary Business Briefing** – Insight into club projects & upcoming opportunities * **Dynamic Presentations** – Local leaders, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and changemakers share their stories * **Curated Networking** – High-trust, high-value conversations with purpose-driven peers But that’s just the start. *** ### **Beyond the Meetings:** **Evening Networking Events** – Expand your circle at exclusive after-hours gatherings around Northern Virginia **Hands-On Service Projects** – Make real impact with projects that support youth, hunger relief, mental health, and more **Global Reach** – Through Rotary’s 4-star-rated Foundation, your contributions and projects can go statewide—or worldwide—with matching grants and club support *** ### **This is for you if:** * You’re a professional looking to lead with impact * You want to meet others who care deeply about community * You have an idea to help people—and want a team behind it * You’re ready for real conversations, real service, and real results *** 🔗 **Learn More:** [www.dunnloring-merrifieldrotary.org](https://www.dunnloring-merrifieldrotary.org) > 📌 *Rotary is where you grow your network, your leadership, and your legacy.* ***

Join us for a volunteer day helping the animals at Rosie's Farm Sanctuary in Potomac, MD. Before attending this event, you must sign a liability waiver. Please use this link [https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/b5nky2tonaovjqgjn6ap5p/web/](https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/b5nky2tonaovjqgjn6ap5p/web/) The chores you will be doing are physical. You will be working on big projects that require many volunteers like removing old bedding, sanitizing stals and replacing with new bedding, along with the daily clean up chores. Wear boots and clothing you don’t mind getting dirty. Feel free to bring a filled water bottle. On sunny days a brimmed hat and sunglasses may be helpful. Sunscreen is also suggested. Please do not bring any food or yummy-smelling items on your body or in your bag as our animals love to eat and are on special diets. Out of respect for the animals, we do not allow any food with animal products to be consumed at Rosie’s Farm Sanctuary. Please ensure that all edible items are plant-based (no dairy, no cheese, no cow’s milk ice cream, no meat, no fish, no eggs). Thank you for your cooperation and respect for this. It is very important to us. There is a gift shop where you can browse and warm up during the event. Please post your pictures and tag Rosie’s Farm Sanctuary and VSDC! Stick around at the end for a group photo behind the barn. If there is interest, we may go out to eat in one of our local vegan restaurants afterward. We are limited to 30 volunteers, so please change your RSVP if you cannot attend. Rosie's Farm Sanctuary is always in need of volunteers. If you want to volunteer with them outside of VSDC's volunteer days, make sure to visit [Rosies Farm Sanctuary ](https://rosiesfarmsanctuary.org/volunteer/) to sign up. By coming to this event, we expect you to follow the code of conduct found at [Policies - VSDC - Veg Society of DC](https://vsdc.org/policies/). **VSDC: More Than A Meetup** We are so glad to have you as part of The Veg Society of DC Vegan Meetup group, and we enjoy seeing you at our events. Did you know that [VSDC](https://vsdc.org/) 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! [Become a member of VSDC](https://vsdc.org/membership/). **VSDC. Creating communities. For your health, the animals, and the planet.**

**Start the new year with a Braver Angels gathering focused on speaking openly and listening deeply.** **In small, structured groups, each person will have five minutes to share a political or social issue that matters to them and why- no debate, no interruption, just genuine curiosity.** **Participants will practice curiosity, reflecting back values and emotions they hear, asking thoughtful questions, and- only with permission- offering their perspective.** **It’s a simple and powerful way to connect with one another and begin the year with a respectful and courageous conversation.** **Date: Saturday, January 10, 2026** **Time: 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm** **Place: Columbus Metropolitan Library, Southeast Branch, 3980 Hamilton Rd, Groveport, Ohio** **All are welcome- bring a friend!** For additional information contact: Lee Evans at [LEvans@BraverAngels.org](mailto:LEvans@BraverAngels.org)

Wild Ones: Annual Native Seed Swap January 10, 2026 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Join Wild Ones Columbus for their annual native seeds swap. If you have native seeds to share, please label them with the Latin name and common name. The seeds don’t need to be removed from the seed head if you aren’t sure how to do it, but remove as much stem as possible. Bringing seeds is not required. Bring bags or envelopes to store seeds. Inniswood Metro Gardens 940 S. Hempstead Rd. Westerville, OH 43081 Phone (614)895-6216 This event will be held in the Greenhouse/Multipurpose Building located near the east end of the parking lot. Click here to see the Inniswood map. If you have native seeds to share, label each species with this information: * Botanical Name * Common Name Species we will accept: * Species native to our ecoregion (8.2.4) - Best * Species native to Ohio and surrounding states - Good * Straight species only - no cultivars. The seeds don’t need to be removed from the seed head if you aren’t sure how to do it, but don’t leave much stem on the seed heads. Please email the list of species to Mary May so we can prepare information for attendees. You can bring the seeds on the day of the swap, or we can arrange to have them picked up beforehand - just let her know in the email. If you don’t have any seeds to bring, no worries. If you are new to native plants or didn't have time to collect seeds, there are ALWAYS plenty from those that do bring them! We love to see "newbies" at our seed exchange! Also, remember to bring something to put seeds in such as envelopes, paper bags or containers.

First Sundays are free admission at Franklin Park Conservatory. Sunday, January 4th, is also the last day The Palm House will be open before renovations begin. Let’s meet, enjoy a respite from January weather, and wander the gardens. Free neanthe bella palms are available to guests, beginning at 10am, while supplies last. Afterwards, we can visit the nearby East Market (212 Kelton Avenue).

**Caller: Gaye Fifer** **Band: Hot Coffee Breakdown** **Big Scioty Contra Dance** **temporarily returning to our long ago location for Jan-March - First Congregational Church, 444 E. Broad St., Columbus 43215** WHAT IS CONTRA DANCING? Picture the Grand Ball scenes like you’ve seen in period films such as “Pride and Prejudice”, where the dancers are lined up in long lines, across from each other. That’s English Country Dancing, the predecessor of contra dancing. Now, add moves like “swing your partner” and “do-si-do,” like you’ve seen in square dancing. Set it to fabulous, high energy, live music with fiddles, guitars, percussion and more, alá “Riverdance.” Finally, set the whole scene down in the middle of Woodstock, with a hip, groovy atmosphere, a bit of tie-dye, and hints of counter-culture attitude. THAT’s Contra Dancing! Wear cool and comfortable clothes (you will get warm) and clean shoes that won't mark up our nice wood floor. Be sure to come for the beginner's lesson from 7:30 - 8:00, followed by dancing 8:00 - 10:30. All dances are taught; we will help you learn! Beginners always welcome, no need to bring a partner. Cost is $10.00 adults, $5.00 ages 12-26. Under 12 free. Free parking in church lot. For more information contact me or check out our website: [www.bigscioty.com](http://www.bigscioty.com/) Please bring your own refillable water bottle. Snacks to share are always welcome!

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 :)