Tax Reform

*Please ensure that you have READ THE SUBMISSIONS before attending the session. Contact Graig in advance for the submissions document and the exact location in NEW CROSS.* This session will focus on FEEDBACK for members' writing. We ask that people attend two meetings before submitting their own work. Read, read, read- and be ready to give thoughtful and detailed feedback at our meeting! We aim to finish at 10 each session, but several of us will often continue to socialise with a drink or two.

It would be great to see you again in-person, for the latest edition of **HR Roundabout**: **networking and knowledge-share opportunity for People professionals.** Over a coffee and croissant, we will talk through the latest ET rulings, and workshop a case study in order to share ideas about best practice. There will also be the opportunity to ask questions and discuss and sense-check your approaches with peers. 08:15 - Arrivals 08:30 - Session start 09:30 - Session end, time for a quick chat before you head off! **📍 Where: Personio,** **151 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8AL** 🚂 Nearest tube: Tottenham Court Road or Covent Garden Closer to the time we'll ask you to confirm your RSVP so we can share names with the Personio reception team. See you soon!

Join Champs Within for an energizing lunchtime Boxercise session aimed at promoting a healthier lifestyle and supporting weight loss goals. This event is not only a fantastic way to stay active and fit, but also provides a social opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who are focused on their well-being. Boxercise is not just a physical workout, but also contributes to mental health support by helping you de-stress and boost your mood. Come sweat it out, release some endorphins, and feel the empowerment and positivity that comes with taking charge of your health. Let's punch and kick our way to a healthier and happier you together!

Looking to improve your **flexibility**, relieve **stress** and enhance your overall **well-being**? Join us for a welcoming and supportive stretching class designed specifically for women! What to expect: Gentle stretches suitable for all levels. Focus on relaxation and mindfulness A positive environment to connect with other women Where: The Living Room, Soho 3 Green’s Ct, London W1F 0HD Cost: Free Contact: Vanesa Romero +44 7394804891

Poker at the Globe is a great low stake poker tournament which was running at a the Globe in Brentford since 2023 We welcome any new players to join us & we range from beginner to wannbe poker players! We're a friendly bunch who just love a game of cards. We have a fun game which starts every Tuesday at 7:30pm & we have food at the break & the game usually finishes at 11:15pm So why don't you come on down & join us at the Globe Pub Brentford. For more details see our website: [https://www.gillys-poker.co.uk/](https://www.gillys-poker.co.uk/) Right Of Admission Reserved

SOLD OUT (sorry!) Hello all! For our next outing, we're heading to the Institute of Contemporary Art for one of their amazing film screenings. Meet at 6PM just inside the front entrance for a 6:20 start to the film. Amid the unrest of the West Bank, a confrontation between Noor, a Palestinian teenager, and Israeli soldiers prompts his mother to revisit her family’s long tradition of resilience. Her recollections stretch back to the Nakba of 1948 and flow into the present day, revealing how courage is shaped by loss, exile, and survival. In Dabis’ film, history and memory intertwine to form a restrained yet deeply affecting meditation on displacement and shared humanity. This Preview screening is followed by a Q&A with director Cherien Dabis. **This is a ticketed event.** Please purchase your tickets here: https://ica.art/films/preview-all-that-s-left-of-you-q-a The screening will take place in Cinema 1. It has step free access from The Mall and is accessible by ramp. There is one wheelchair allocated space with a seat for a companion. All seats are hard back, have a crushed velvet feel and they do not recline. Seat dimensions: W42 x D45 x H52 Arm rest either side of the seat dimensions: L27 x W7 x H20 Ticket information: All tickets that do not require ID (full price, disabled, income support) can be printed at home or stored in email. For aged-based concession tickets (under 25, student) please bring relevant ID to collect at the front desk before the event.

**Kindly note that this is a paid event and the average number of attendees for our events is 60-70 people. You can register on [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/international-expansion-connector-global-trade-business-networking-event-tickets-1980628894340?aff=meetup](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/international-expansion-connector-global-trade-business-networking-event-tickets-1980628894340?aff=meetup)** Connect with global trade experts at our London International Trade & Business Networking event. Build partnerships & grow your business **The Business Networking Event for Global Ambition** The International Expansion Connector® is the ultimate networking event for entrepreneurs, business professionals, and solution providers who are ready to think beyond borders. ✈️🌐 Whether you're exploring new international markets, navigating cross-border operations, or offering services that support global expansion, this event connects you with the right people to accelerate your success. 🤝 ### **Sponsored by APGB Boutique Consultancy** APGB is a specialised London-based advisory firm connecting UK investors with development projects across Portuguese-speaking African countries. 🇦🇴🇲🇿🇨🇻 They also support businesses from Africa and the UK in securing investors, entering new markets, and scaling internationally. 📈 Expect meaningful conversations, practical insights, and high-value connections to help you build partnerships, discover solutions, and expand your global footprint. 🌏✨ **Join us to connect with like-minded professionals and build the bridges you need to thrive internationally.** 🌉 ## **👥 Who Is This Event For?** Ideal for professionals involved in global growth and international business, including: * 🚀 **Entrepreneurs, Startups & SMEs** expanding abroad * 🌐 **International Trade Specialists** * ⚖️ **Legal & Compliance Experts** * 💼 **Tax & Accounting Professionals** * 🧭 **Market Entry & Localization Consultants** * 🚚 **Logistics & Supply Chain Experts** * 🎯 **Marketing & Branding Agencies** * 🌎 **Recruitment & HR Professionals** * 🏢 **International Real Estate & Infrastructure Advisors** * 💳 **Financial Institutions & Fintech Providers** * 💻 **Technology Companies** enabling cross-border operations * 🏛️ **Government & Trade Bodies** * 💸 **Investors & Venture Capitalists** * 🎓 **Education & Training Providers** * 📰 **Media, PR & Communications Professionals** * 🤝 **Network Builders & Global Community Leaders** A diverse, high-energy environment designed to inspire collaboration and global opportunities. ## **📱 Exclusive WhatsApp Networking Group** All confirmed attendees receive access to a dedicated WhatsApp group, opened **24 hours before the event**. Inside the group, you can: * 👋 Introduce yourself early * 💬 Discuss your goals and challenges * 📅 Plan who you'd like to meet in advance A simple way to maximise your networking success. ## **🎙️ Meet the Host** **Alice Santos**, founder of **APGB**, a market-entry consultancy specialising in Lusophone countries (Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Guinea-Bissau). APGB connects professionals, projects, and opportunities — supporting compliance, partnerships, and sustainable growth. 🌱🌍 ## **🎉 Complimentary Access to Director Connector®** Your ticket includes **free entry** to the Director Connector® event from **6pm**. Two synergistic events, **one ticket** — double the connections, double the opportunities! 🔗✨ ## **📸 Event Disclaimer** Photos and videos may be taken during the event for promotional use. If you prefer not to appear, please let the host know when you arrive — your preference will be respected. 🙏 * [United Kingdom Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom/events/) * [Greater London Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--greater-london/events/) * [Things to do in London](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/ttd/united-kingdom--london/) * [London Networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/networking/) * [London Business Networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/business--networking/) * [#finance](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23finance/) * [#investment](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23investment/) * [#trade](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23trade/) * [#entrepreneur](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23entrepreneur/) * [#networkingevent](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23networkingevent/) * [#london](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23london/) * [#august](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23august/) * [#businessnetworking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23businessnetworking/) * [#international_trade](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23international_trade/) * [#international_business](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23international_business/)

**Kindly note that this is a paid event and the average number of attendees for our events is 60-70 people. You can register on [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exclusive-london-business-networking-director-connector-at-iod-champagne-tickets-1980541469851?aff=meetup](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exclusive-london-business-networking-director-connector-at-iod-champagne-tickets-1980541469851?aff=meetup)** Network with like minded company directors, founders and entrepreneurs in a reserved area at the Institute of Directors Join **entrepreneurs, directors, investors, and professionals** at the prestigious Institute of Directors in London for high-level connections, strategic partnerships, and premium networking opportunities. Looking to make powerful business connections in London? Join **London Connector®** at the **exclusive Champagne Bar, Institute of Directors (IoD), 116 Pall Mall**, for a premium networking evening in one of the city’s most prestigious venues. This is not your average networking night. Hosted in the historic IoD building, usually reserved for members only, this event gives you a **rare opportunity** to step inside a venue that symbolizes professional prestige and British business excellence. Surrounded by refined interiors and an elegant atmosphere, you’ll be part of an evening designed to help you build **meaningful relationships, discover new opportunities, and grow your network** at the highest level. ## **Who You’ll Meet** Our events are carefully curated to ensure quality conversations and valuable connections. Expect to meet: * **Entrepreneurs & Startup Founders** – looking for investors, collaborators, and strategic partners * **Company Directors, CEOs & Executives** – seeking growth opportunities and alliances * **Investors & Advisors** – scouting new ventures and partnerships * **Professionals across industries** – including tech, finance, law, media, sustainability, marketing, and healthcare * **Business Owners & Consultants** – expanding their client base and building trusted connections Every London Connector® event brings together **forward-thinking, opportunity-driven professionals** who believe in collaboration and supporting one another’s growth. ## **Why Attend?** ✅ **Prestigious Venue Access** – Network at the Champagne Bar inside the Institute of Directors, a landmark in London’s business world that is rarely open to non-members. ✅ **High-Caliber Networking** – Connect with entrepreneurs, decision-makers, and innovators who are shaping the future of business. ✅ **Pre-Event WhatsApp Group** – Start networking before the event with fellow attendees in our private group. ✅ **A Hosted, Structured Evening** – With facilitated introductions and a relaxed yet professional setting, everyone feels included. ✅ **Premium Experience** – Limited capacity (60 guests) ensures quality interactions instead of crowded, impersonal networking. ⚠️ This event has **sold out more than once in the past**. Early booking is strongly advised as tickets are limited and non-refundable. ## **Who Should Attend?** This event is perfect if you are: * An entrepreneur or startup founder seeking investors or collaborators * A director, CEO, or executive looking for new partnerships and opportunities * An investor, consultant, or advisor scouting fresh talent and ideas * A professional in tech, finance, law, sustainability, or marketing expanding your network * A business owner looking to meet like-minded achievers in an elegant setting ## **What Makes London Connector® Events Unique?** Unlike traditional networking events that feel rushed or overcrowded, **London Connector®** creates experiences where genuine conversations and valuable relationships flourish. We focus on **quality over quantity**, ensuring each attendee gets the chance to build connections that matter. Our track record speaks for itself: * Consistently **sold-out events** at prestigious venues * A curated guest list of **decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and investors** * A welcoming atmosphere where introductions are facilitated, and no one feels left out * Post-event connections supported through our curated WhatsApp groups 📸 **Photography & Video Disclaimer** Please note that photos and videos may be taken during the event to capture the energy of the evening. These may be used on our website, social media, and future promotional materials. If you prefer not to appear in any content, simply inform one of our event hosts upon arrival and we will ensure your preference is respected. * [United Kingdom Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom/events/) * [Greater London Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--greater-london/events/) * [Things to do in London](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/ttd/united-kingdom--london/) * [London Networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/networking/) * [London Business Networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/business--networking/) * [#networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23networking/) * [#startup](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23startup/) * [#investors](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23investors/) * [#entrepreneur](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23entrepreneur/) * [#london](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23london/) * [#director](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23director/) * [#october](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23october/) * [#businessnetworking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23businessnetworking/) * [#business_growth](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23business_growth/) * [#business_professional](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23business_professional/)

**En’hittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What To Do About It** by Cory Doctorow https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/enshittification-4 (also available via Spotify premium) Misogyny, conspiratorialism, surveillance, manipulation, fraud, and AI slop are drowning the internet. For the monopolists who dominate online - X, TikTok, Amazon, Meta, Apple - this is all part of the playbook. The process is what leading tech critic Cory Doctorow has dubbed en'hittification. First, the platform attracts users with some bait, such as free access; then the activity is monetized, bringing in the business customers and degrading the user experience; then, once everyone is trapped and competitors eradicated, the platform wrings out all the value and transfers it to their executives and shareholders. Book is available at Hatchards and elsewhere. https://www.hatchards.co.uk/book/enshittification/cory-doctorow/9781836742227 Other related books: \- Ten Arguments For Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now\, by Jaron Lanier \- Empire of AI: inside the reckless race for total domination\, by Karen Hao (https://xigxag.co.uk/audiobook/empire-of-ai-9781837311262/) \- Taming Silicon Valley: How to Protect Our Jobs\, Safety\, and Society in the Age of AI\, by Gary F\. Marcus \([https://www.hatchards.co.uk/book/taming-silicon-valley/gary-f-marcus/9780262551069](https://www.hatchards.co.uk/book/taming-silicon-valley/gary-f-marcus/9780262551069)) \- The New Empire of AI: The Future of Global Inequality\, by Rachel Adams \- The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech's Hype and Create the Future We Want\, by Emily M\. Bender \- More Everything Forever: AI Overlords\, Space Empires\, and Silicon Valley's Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity\, by Adam Becker \([https://open.spotify.com/show/36wi0Xfr6C5eoJnA0WCISN?si=177a406de3014913](https://open.spotify.com/show/36wi0Xfr6C5eoJnA0WCISN?si=177a406de3014913)) \- Rebooting AI: Building Artificial Intelligence We Can Trust\, by Ernest Davis \- Dark Patterns\, Deceptive Design\, and the Law\, by M\.R\. Leiser \- Genius Makers: The Mavericks Who Brought A\.I\. to Google\, Facebook\, and the World\, by Cade Metz **Venue** Blooms Coffee & Pizza https://maps.app.goo.gl/Yy7etKb94vU1wC5m6 Russell Square is the closest metro (underground) station. **Book Club Rules** * Reading the book is required, even if you read a single chapter. * Discussion is centred around the book and its theme. * No show is not appreciated. Please sign up if you are interested in reading and discussing books. In case you cannot make it anymore to the meeting, do let us know in time.

**Advanced booking is required** \- find out more on our website [https://www.silverfit.org.uk/kingston/](https://www.silverfit.org.uk/kingston/) **Meet Up is a means for promotion and *not a way to sign up* to this session.** **Fun, fitness sessions with Silverfit Charity for the over 45s!** **Activity:** Bollywood Fusion Dance Bollywood Fusion is fitness through a blend of Bollywood and other dance styles to suit all levels. **Time:** 11.15am for 11.30am - 12.15pm **Instructor:** Georgia of Bollywood Magic. **Venue**: Room 21, Richard Mayo Centre, **Kingston United Reformed Church**, Eden Street, Kingston, KT1 1HZ **Price:** £3 *** For more information about this session please email the Project Manager at - **info@silverfit.org.uk** Learn more about **Silverfit Charity** on our website [www.silverfit.org.uk](http://www.silverfit.org.uk/)

Welcome back ramblers, rovers, loungers and loafers and happy 2026! It's a new year, but we're picking where we left off, in the onetime capital of cockney London with its dockworkers and gangsters, the Isle of Dogs - which became the landing-pad for an invasion of alien Thatcherites in the 1980s with the construction of Canary Wharf, which now towers over the council estates and parklands of this misunderstood peninsula. From there we'll head west, looking eventually to end up in the Brutalist wonderland (featured in Kubrick's *Clockwork Orange*!) of Thamesmead, possibly by way of the free Woolwich Ferry service from north shore to south. Meet at Canary Wharf station, out in front of the big curved class canopy. Elizabeth Line services at Abbey Wood will get us home. See you there! Check planned TfL disruptions here - our day should be all clear for most everybody: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/planned-track-closures.pdf A little background on our City Drifting project here: **Now just wait a minute. What the hell is a drift ([dérive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A9rive))?** A drift is any unplanned journey through the urban landscape in which participants practice a form of radical mindfulness, collectively exploring new ways of relating mentally, ideologically and materially to the "ordinary" urban environment we all think we know so well. First theorised publicly by Situationist thinker, artist and provocateur Guy Debord in his 1956 essay *[Theory of the Dérive](https://libcom.org/article/theory-derive-guy-debord)*, drifting is a sort of *critique of ideology* done by walking, looking, and feeling. **The urban environment of London is not a neutral space:** it is packed with surveillance equipment, anti-homeless architecture, consumerist [Gruen transfers,](https://www.smartcapitalmind.com/what-is-the-gruen-transfer.htm) crowd management systems and security perimeters, among a thousand other subtle and not-so-subtle methods of population control. Moreover, our everyday relationship to the city and its pathways is conditioned deeply by our habits of movement and our habitual perceptions: our commute to work, to school, our nips down to the shops, etc. **All these routines create what Marxists call a *reified* relationship with the urban environment: through over-familiarity it becomes something seemingly natural, "just there", ordinary, unchangeable - boring.** This boredom and familiarity kills the radical imagination, without which we're fucked. To be able to start to imagine how society could be transformed, we also need to imagine how spaces, buildings, their use, their whole purpose (and who these serve) could themselves be transformed. A necessary step in this process, according to Debord and the Situationists, is the drift. Like the 19th-century gentleman *[flâneur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fl%C3%A2neur),* by wandering the city with an attitude of "fresh eyes", we can shake loose our ingrained sense of what London and its streets are like. **As a collective, we will work to "estrange our senses" and see the streets, buildings and people differently, as if we were encountering them for the first time.** That is to say: these aren't just random walks around London - with the right frame of mind, they will be opportunities to turn the world upside down, if only for a moment! But don't take it from me - as Debord observed: *"In a dérive one or more persons during a certain period **drop their relations, their work and leisure activities, and all their other usual motives for movement and action, and let themselves be drawn by the attractions of the terrain and the encounters they find there.** Chance is a less important factor in this activity than one might think: from a dérive point of view cities have [psychogeographical](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychogeography) contours, with constant currents, fixed points and vortexes that strongly discourage entry into or exit from certain zones."* See you on the streets comrades, and remember, as [Raoul Vaneigem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raoul_Vaneigem) once wrote: *"All space is occupied by the enemy. We are living under a permanent curfew. Not just the cops — the geometry".*

**Level up mentally and physically** Join our growing community this Sunday. * Storm leads a bespoke yoga session from 11am. * AnnieV guides the group through another literature roundup, with readings and writing challenges from 1pm. First time entry free / £15 cash on the door / Advance tickets [here](https://btcpay.btc.aw/apps/rvvVwGSSSiJ7UgtzjmBdxy1Uq6a/pos "https://btcpay.btc.aw/apps/rvvVwGSSSiJ7UgtzjmBdxy1Uq6a/pos") No unsolicited photograhy. Stay humble.

We see alarming rise in excesses of policing, whether it's ICE's terror operations in the US, or oppression of the pro-Palestine movement or climate activists here in the UK. We see unjust sentences and immoral laws throughout the world, guided by systems set up by a small number of privileged people. Is there an alternative? **Let's discuss** what the anarchist theory suggests for mitigating anti-social behavior in a way that is humane, kind, and focused on repair and rehabilitation. We will use [the chapter on crime](https://theanarchistlibrary.org/custom/458965.pdf "https://theanarchistlibrary.org/custom/458965.pdf") from an Anarchist FAQ, please give it a read. Here is a small excerpt: > *by reorganizing society so that it empowers everyone and actively encourages the use of all our intellectual, emotional and sensuous abilities, crime would soon cease to be the huge problem that it is now. As for the anti-social behavior or clashes between individuals that might still exist in such a society, it would be dealt with in a system based on respect for the individual and a recognition of the social roots of the problem. Restraint would be kept to a minimum. Anarchists think that public opinion and social pressure would be the main means of preventing anti-social acts in an anarchist society.* A few questions that will get the conversation started: 1. What are the pros and cons of the specialized justice systems prevalent in Western societies? 2. What ideas from the text do you like? What do you disagree with? 3. How do you imagine a perfect justice system? Please join the discussion, and see you there!

If you are interested in selecting investment choices for your 401(k) or other workplace savings plan, minimizing your income tax liability, or identifying the most effective investments for your brokerage account, we are the group for you. We are a local chapter of Bogleheads**®**, whose investment strategy can be found here: https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Bogleheads%C2%AE_investment_philosophy Or you can peruse the Boglehead forum here: https://www.bogleheads.org/index.php Rob will lead this month's meeting in my absence. Mark Vonder Haar

Polarity Reflexology (PR) Certificate Course: (2026) February 21-22 March 21-22 April 25-26 May 30-31 June 27-28 Students must attend all 5 weekends to receive Certificate Classes run from 8:30am-5:30pm each scheduled day Information & Registration Link can be found here: [Polarity Reflexology (PR) Certificate Course](https://www.gafee.org/#/polarity-reflexology-pr/) *[Global Academy for Energetic Education (GAFEE) is Registered with the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools and is authorized to teach Diploma and Certificate Programs. (Registration #2091)](https://oh.edvera.com/directory/institutions)*

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

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!

Join the Columbus Ski Club for a First Friday Happy Hour! If you're new in town or just looking to socialize, this is the event for you. Connect with fellow sports enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers while sharing travel stories and tips for the best ski slopes or hiking trails. Contact: Herb Beidel, 614 -619-7808 [Dec_2025_CSC_Track Newsletter.pdf]() CSC Membership not required for happy hour!

**Understanding the Columbus Housing Market: Let’s Talk Downsizing for Seniors** Understanding the Market to Make Your Best Move Yet Thinking about downsizing or helping a parent prepare for a move? Join us for a friendly, educational seminar designed specifically for seniors in Central Ohio. We’ll break down what’s happening in today’s Columbus housing market, explore timing and planning for downsizing, and discuss easy ways to prepare a longtime home for sale—without overwhelm. You’ll also learn about low‑maintenance housing options, financial considerations, and simple steps to make your next move smooth and stress‑free. This is a relaxed, no‑pressure event where you can ask questions and get practical advice tailored to seniors and their families. Hosted by: Katie McCartney, Broker & Senior Real Estate Specialist® (SRES)

**Caller: Dan Kappus** **Band: Trillium** **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!