Sierra Club

Social Volleyball Games TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) 7 pm at Melbourne High School South Yarra (entrance from Chapel Street)🤩💪🔥 RSVP in the event by 4 pm and pay only $15 on spot! Confirmation of RSVP is required on spot to get a discount! \*All levels Welcome\* 🟡🔵🏆 BOOKINGS IS NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT. #international #volleyball #club #melbourne This event is for adults only! (18+) The fee is $17 payment by card on spot. Membership available Become a IVC member - get cheaper fees for camps, insurance + IVC game jersey - ask for more info today! [#International](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/international?__eep__=6&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVWqTrC41QG8leik-TstHubA-byf5_UTz2Qo5bQ73HIIc7qB6xsAMS7gJpmbCDggNrqajl4UPwH1y4uocs5NVV9Sjwx9Jpq1z_anmw14HxzWMwIy3x2sTV3vAfgbR5sXuLNDL99e6dM3x4s8y0QoxoP&__tn__=q) [#Volleyball](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/volleyball?__eep__=6&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVWqTrC41QG8leik-TstHubA-byf5_UTz2Qo5bQ73HIIc7qB6xsAMS7gJpmbCDggNrqajl4UPwH1y4uocs5NVV9Sjwx9Jpq1z_anmw14HxzWMwIy3x2sTV3vAfgbR5sXuLNDL99e6dM3x4s8y0QoxoP&__tn__=q) [#Club](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/club?__eep__=6&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVWqTrC41QG8leik-TstHubA-byf5_UTz2Qo5bQ73HIIc7qB6xsAMS7gJpmbCDggNrqajl4UPwH1y4uocs5NVV9Sjwx9Jpq1z_anmw14HxzWMwIy3x2sTV3vAfgbR5sXuLNDL99e6dM3x4s8y0QoxoP&__tn__=q) [#Melbourne](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/melbourne?__eep__=6&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVWqTrC41QG8leik-TstHubA-byf5_UTz2Qo5bQ73HIIc7qB6xsAMS7gJpmbCDggNrqajl4UPwH1y4uocs5NVV9Sjwx9Jpq1z_anmw14HxzWMwIy3x2sTV3vAfgbR5sXuLNDL99e6dM3x4s8y0QoxoP&__tn__=q) To be protected by International Volleyball Club Member Protection Policy and covered by our Personal Accident Insurance, everyone participating in a International Volleyball Club event or with a International Volleyball endorsed club, association, or provider is required to maintain an active membership at the appropriate level with International Volleyball Club. For more information message us

Discover the joy of making stuff up! Our Williamstown improv group is where Melbourne's west comes to play, connect, and unleash creativity. Improv isn't just about being funny (though you'll laugh heaps). It's about: ✓ Building confidence in social situations ✓ Improving listening and communication skills ✓ Meeting amazing people from Hobson's Bay ✓ Reducing stress through play and laughter ✓ Discovering your creative side ✓ Having a screen-free, present-moment experience No theatre experience? Perfect! No prepared material? Even better! The only rule is 'Yes, And...' - supporting each other's ideas and having fun. Drop in any Wednesday, 7-9pm. Location: **Williamstown Community and Education Centre Inc 14 Thompson St, Williamstown VIC 3016**. Suitable for ages 16+. First time is free, and its $10 a class after. ***Free parking out the back. Please come to the front, and we will open the door.***

Hi Architects, Welcome to our next AWS Melbourne Well-Architected User Group Meetup for 2026, including more exceptional speakers and topics! :-D At each meetup we covered off various pillars in detail, best-practices and insights from industry leaders that specialise in the Well-Architected Framework. And giving away drones, of course. Lots of drones. **Please also note that AWS Security now requests a company name and company email where it is available. If you are a student, please list your institution and your student email address at that institution 👍** We’ll be updating throughout the month with more speakers and our speakers so far this month include: * **Mystery Speaker** **Well-Architected Agents** In this talk we will go into the detail of not only the launch of the first Well-Architected agents from both AWS and other AWS partners (and what they can and can't do) but will also go through best-practice agentic architecture as verified by AWS senior architects. This month's menu will include: * Pizzas * Beer: Nastro Azzurro * Wine: Big and red 🤤 NB: Please check in up the stairs from the ground floor to the Mezzanine Level. So come join us at 5:30 for a 6pm **SHARP** start, followed by beer, wine, pizza and friendly networking after our talks :-) (Please note that by registering to attend you agree to your details being shared as and where required with Amazon Web Services and AWS Well-Architected User Group partners)

Would you like to improve public speaking and communication skills? At Sandbelt Toastmasters, we provide a supportive environment where you can learn and practice the essential skills needed to communicate with confidence and excellence. We would love you to come along and see what Toastmasters is all about! It is a great way to grow, learn, and work toward your goals in a welcoming environment. There is always space, and guests and new members are always welcome! We are one of Melbourne's longest-running Toastmasters clubs. We hold regular meetings on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. 🕢 Arrive from 7:30 PM for a 7:45 PM start
⏳ We’ll finish by 9:30 PM 📍 Location: 96 Reserve Road, Beaumaris
(Inside the building next to the library) Our meetings take place at Beaumaris Library in a designated meeting room. Our web site: https://sandbelttoastmasters.com.au/ We would love to see you there!

**Hello Unique Events members!** Our 2026 Meetup fee for the group has been paid. If you will be attending any events, please play your part and keep it fair for everyone by chipping in with a one-off member payment of $12pp. Your contribution will keep the events rolling and good times coming! ***And a huge thanks for supporting the group, it’s very much appreciated! We really enjoy organising and hosting events, and will still host many free events with no additional cost on your $12 contribution*** 🎉🥂🙌🏼. **Easy ways to make your $12 contribution -** 1. RSVP here with payments processed through PayPal. 2. Directly to the group's account - Andy Annita UE Account bsb 670864 acc 35256989 ref (your name) Please note, this is separate from events such tours, shows, concerts etc that require a ticket to be purchased, or venue hire fee to be paid. Any further info or questions please feel free to reach out. Thank you! 🙏🏽☺️ **Andy & Annita**

**The Lost Letter Club 📜** A gentle, community gathering for women, centred around letter writing, reflection, and quiet connection. Rooted in soft, Celtic-inspired rituals, the evening opens space for pen, paper and presence. Held in Shellspace, an ethereal bubble filled with wonder and magic 🧚🏻🍭 Thursday 14 May \| 6\.30 PM \- 8\.30 PM Our theme this month is **Impermanence.** *Impermanence reminds us that everything moves, shifts, and changes. Nothing stays the same, not our thoughts, our relationships, or even the versions of ourselves we once were.* What might open if you gave those quiet parts of you time, space, and attention? Through guided prompts and earthy ritual, you’ll be invited to write freely, without pressure, without expectation. **What to expect ✨** * Guided meditation * Celtic-inspired rituals * Curated instrumental music to soften the senses (The Lost Letter Club playlist) * Letter writing * Self-inquiry and sharing element * Tea, chai, chocolate and berries As the evening comes to a close, you’ll be invited to follow what feels right for you: to send your letter, release it through ritual, or place it gently into the *Lost Letterbox* 🌒 🕰️ Only 11 spots left 🕯️. Early bird tickets are still on sale. Click **[here](https://events.humanitix.com/the-lost-letter-club)** to buy your ticket.

*‘Universally, trees have long been perceived as doors or gateways to other levels of consciousness, and humans have always honoured trees for their gifts and their wisdom.’* Fred Hageneder Under the auspicious influence of a New Moon in Taurus, join transpersonal art therapist and tarot reader Rachael Wildman as she turns our attention to the spirit of the Earth by focusing on trees; reminding us how we human beings have searched for Truth through the ages beneath their leafy boughs, providing insights into how we resemble these arboreal beings, and then looking at the symbolism of trees as they appear in the Tarot. The talk will then branch out into a description of the process she took in creating her own Tree of Growth tarot spread; detailing what instigated its creation, the inspirations that fertilized its growth and how the spread is read along with the self-transformative benefits that can be found in seeking its counsel. After the talk, time shall be given to explore the Tree of Growth spread as a collective process wherein everyone shall be granted the opportunity to participate, to divine a card through a simple ritual and then share insights into the reading of the spread for the benefit of a flourishing spiritual community. There is no need to bring along a tarot deck as one shall be supplied, nor is it necessary to be a seasoned theosophist or tarot reader; an open-hearted curiosity, a love of nature’s spirit and our own unique wisdom-seeking nature is all that is required. *‘Trees are the earth’s endless effort to speak to the listening heaven.’* Rabindranath Tagore **The MTS is committed to providing events that align with and further The three objects of The Theosophical Society:** * To form a nucleus of the universal brotherhood of humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour. * To encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy and science. * To investigate unexplained laws of nature and the powers latent in the human being. * However this being stated, the MTS does not endorse any health, spiritual, science-related, philosophical or theological /other assertions or claims made by any facilitator we host.

We'll meet at the spot where Fed Square meets the Princes Bridge over the Yarra (near the pedestrian crossing closest to the river from Flinders St, on the Fed Square side). We'll walk for about 6km along the Yarra River, through the Botanic Gardens and back along the river to Federation Square for a coffee after the walk. This month, we're reading and talking about 'Hollow Air' by Verity Borthwick The blurb: **"Isolation can be hard on a person. It can be hard on the mind, especially when the bush closes in on you in the darkness of night.** In the tin fields of Far North Queensland, Sarah, a fly-in-fly-out geologist, is working alone at a remote mine site. She spends her time in a sort of limbo, never quite fitting into her life at site or back home in Sydney with her fiancé. Strange things keep happening at the mine site, and Sarah can try to explain them away as the ramblings of a lonely mind, but there are dead bodies from a mining accident a century ago at the old Dulcie Ada mine, still buried beneath more than a hundred metres of rock. **A deeply moving novel that explores the friction that comes with the desire to understand the secrets of the Earth coupled with the knowledge that this can exact a toll.**" Goodreads rating: 3.94 How does a walking bookclub work? Like a normal bookclub, we talk about the book, what else we're reading, have read, or want to read (as well as a few tangents into life outside literature!) but we do it while walking around Melbourne and then over a coffee. We often split into smaller groups as we walk, but we also regroup through the walk. Should I read the book beforehand? The conversation will be more interesting if you do, but you can still come along if you haven't finished it yet! Do I need to bring anything? **Comfy** walking shoes, drinking water, some money for coffee or a bite to eat after if you wish. No need to bring the book unless you want to. No shows No shows (RSVPing yes and not attending) mean the group waits unnecessarily for those who are not coming, thinking you are running a little late. It’s absolutely fine to change your rsvp for any reason up until the walk begins, and you don’t need to leave a comment, send a message or give a reason, but if you don't click that 'change rsvp' button, you may be removed from the group. Membership Fee Did you know that while it is free to attend most events, Meetup charges organisers about $600 a year to organise a group? Members of the Walking Book Club are asked to pay a membership fee of $10 per year (not per event) to help cover this cost. When you join the group, you'll be automatically given a three month trial so you can see what the group is like, without needing to make any payment. If you would like to continue attending events after this, please follow Meetup's instructions to pay the $6.50US/approx $10AUD fee once per year (or contact group organisers if you would prefer to make payment using paypal, payID, cash or bank transfer).

Hello and welcome back to all our past members and welcome to our new members! This is going to be our **last meetup on Meetup.com**, as some of you know we are moving away from the platform. It has become quite expensive **(around $600 per year!)**, and we’ve also had issues with the software with members being removed, which made it hard to stay in touch with everyone, which is why for most of you this would be first time in a while that you've heard from us. Nevertheless, 12 years of minimalist meetups are not going to come to stop - we will still keep going but via the simple and free email list! So if you are still interested in Melbourne Minimalist Meetups please reply with your best email address or email me on **nyamkab@protonmail.com** *(Sorry for those who I have already messaged about this, we've been having some issues with this platform).* So for one last time this month we'll come together to discuss minimalism, with a focus on **frugal winter hobbies** given the increase in costs and decrease in temperature. It would be great to share and learn from each other about what gives us joy and meaning during fall and winter. As usual we will also have a **swap & declutter,** so bring anything you no longer need/want that is still in good condition. Anything that is not wanted will be donated at the opshop at the end of the event. Looking forward to seeing you! Nyamka & Aidan

BOOKING NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT ! Games start 7 pm at Melbourne High School South Yarra (entrance from Chapel Street) \*ALL LEVELS WELCOME\* This event is for adults only! (18+) The fee is $17 payment by card on spot. Membership available Become a IVC member - get cheaper fees for camps, insurance + IVC game jersey - ask for more info today! [#International](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/international?__eep__=6&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVWqTrC41QG8leik-TstHubA-byf5_UTz2Qo5bQ73HIIc7qB6xsAMS7gJpmbCDggNrqajl4UPwH1y4uocs5NVV9Sjwx9Jpq1z_anmw14HxzWMwIy3x2sTV3vAfgbR5sXuLNDL99e6dM3x4s8y0QoxoP&__tn__=q) [#Volleyball](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/volleyball?__eep__=6&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVWqTrC41QG8leik-TstHubA-byf5_UTz2Qo5bQ73HIIc7qB6xsAMS7gJpmbCDggNrqajl4UPwH1y4uocs5NVV9Sjwx9Jpq1z_anmw14HxzWMwIy3x2sTV3vAfgbR5sXuLNDL99e6dM3x4s8y0QoxoP&__tn__=q) [#Club](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/club?__eep__=6&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVWqTrC41QG8leik-TstHubA-byf5_UTz2Qo5bQ73HIIc7qB6xsAMS7gJpmbCDggNrqajl4UPwH1y4uocs5NVV9Sjwx9Jpq1z_anmw14HxzWMwIy3x2sTV3vAfgbR5sXuLNDL99e6dM3x4s8y0QoxoP&__tn__=q) [#Melbourne](https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/melbourne?__eep__=6&__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVWqTrC41QG8leik-TstHubA-byf5_UTz2Qo5bQ73HIIc7qB6xsAMS7gJpmbCDggNrqajl4UPwH1y4uocs5NVV9Sjwx9Jpq1z_anmw14HxzWMwIy3x2sTV3vAfgbR5sXuLNDL99e6dM3x4s8y0QoxoP&__tn__=q) To be protected by International Volleyball Club Member Protection Policy and covered by our Personal Accident Insurance, everyone participating in a International Volleyball Club event or with a International Volleyball endorsed club, association, or provider is required to maintain an active membership at the appropriate level with International Volleyball Club. For more information message us

**You're invited to join local Columbus animal advocates as we watch PETA's workshop together on cage-free campaigns. Free vegan pizza will be provided! After the workshop Q&A, we'll have a group discussion and brainstorm on future activism plans. Hope to see you there!** **Here are the details:** **WHEN: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 6pm EST** **WHERE: KTC Columbus** **If you cannot attend in person, you can still view the workshop virtually at https://www.facebook.com/events/1567122777711333** **Here's some background on the workshop:** **Please join us for an eye-opening online PETA Playbook discussion with PETA’s Associate Director of Vegan Campaigns, Amber Canavan, where we’ll ask the hard-hitting questions about the cage-free campaigns and their impact on both hens and vegan efforts.** **Whether you’re looking to strengthen your outreach or sharpen your messaging around the egg industry’s humane-washing tactics, this workshop will give you practical tools to help others understand what “cage-free” really means for hens and why the label is misleading.** **We’ll explore how to keep conversations respectful, fact-based, and focused on the animals’ reality while encouraging others to take effective action.** **Please join us for this important workshop to learn how you can cut through cage-free marketing and help animals.** **Come ready to learn, ask questions, and ignite your activism for animals!**

**Our May novel is: *The Quiet Librarian* by Allen Eskens** **This month’s book is set in the 20th century and mixes historical fiction with suspense and thriller elements. It also centers on women’s stories and relationships. The novel is 368 pages in print or 8 hours and 12 minutes on audiobook.** Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared. Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head\*\*.\*\*

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/

We meet at lunch each week and each meeting follows a fairly organized agenda. First all participants pass their business cards around. Then each member and guest is invited to give a one-minute overview of their company and what is a perfect referral for the week. We always have a 10 minute presentation from one of the members about their business in more detail. And finally we pass referrals. You're welcome to visit. Nobody is ever put on the spot. Bring plenty of cards!

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

The theme for May is Thriller. • The book we will be discussing is A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. (determined by votes from April Book Club. Let me know if you'd like a free digital copy of the book) • This event will be at the main library. Feel free to come whether or not you've started or finished the book. • Small snacks will be provided. You're welcome to bring your own snacks & drinks too! Let me know if you’d like to volunteer to bring snacks or drinks for the group.

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