Environment

**Greetings! And welcome to our May Gophers @ Muzz event!** This is the first time we'll be hosted by **Muzz**, so come along to marvel at a shiny new office you haven't seen before, and lots of as yet unharassed employees who would like nothing more than to discuss **open roles** with you! And you'll also see all our our usual, less intetesting faces... A big thank you for Muzz for hosting - we can't wait to come and visit! ==== 📓 **Agenda**📓 ===== (Certain timings and orders may be subject to change) **6:30pm:** Arrival, Food & Refreshments **6:55pm:** Introduction **7:00pm:** 🗣️ **Alex Collie @ Muzz** **7:40pm:** Raffle and Break **8:00pm: 🗣️** **Azuan Zira: Building an MMORPG Exchange Bot with Go** What started as a side project to automate an MMORPG marketplace eventually became a lesson in Go, automation, and solving unexpectedly real engineering problems. **8:30pm:** Raffle Winners! **9:00pm:** Pub! ==== 💡 **RSVP Details** 💡 ===== When submitting your RSVP for this event, please be sure to use your **full first name and last name**, as some of our venues require these in order to let you in on the door. Submitting your name as e.g. "John D" won't be enough! We also keep track of no-shows, so **if you can't come, change your RSVP in advance!** ==== 🎉 **Prizes & Discounts!** 🎉 ===== **JetBrains Raffle!** \- We have 3 free JetBrains Product licenses to give away to some of our lucky attendees\! **Ardan Labs Raffle!** \- We're giving away one course license for Ardan Labs' Ultimate Go Bundle\! **Manning Publications Raffle!** \- We're giving away 4 free Go e\-books\! **45% Manning Publications Discount** \- a massive discount provided by the fine people at Manning\! You can also support London Gophers Events by purchasing via our affiliate link [HERE](https://mng.bz/oKqM) \- Use Code "**LGMeetup45**" for 45% off! **GopherConUK Raffle!** \- We're giving away one free ticket\!\!\! **10% GopherConUK Discount** \- The lovely people over at GopherConUK have provided a discount code for [GopherConUK 2026](https://www.gophercon.co.uk/tickets)! At checkout, use code "**GCUK26LGM"** for 10% off! ==== 💡 **Priority Queue** 💡 ===== We reserve 20% of the attendee spots at our events for those who are underrepresented in tech. If they join the waitlist and there is a reserved spot open they will be bumped into going! These spots are reserved until the last Sunday before the event. How do we define underrepresented? We use public surveys done by the tech community such as the ones linked below. https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2022/#section-demographics https://www.jetbrains.com/lp/devecosystem-2022/#gender-and-development ==== [📢](https://emojipedia.org/loudspeaker/) **Become a Speaker!** [📢](https://emojipedia.org/loudspeaker/) ===== Have something to say? We want to listen! We are always looking for new speakers who want to share their adventures with Go and have mentors who can help. You can sign up to be a speaker here: https://gophers.london/apply ==== 🧳**Looking For a New Adventure?** 🧳 ===== On the Gophers Slack (https://gophers.slack.com) there is a **#london-jobs** channel where company and recruiters can post job opportunities. ==== [📞](https://emojipedia.org/telephone-receiver/) **How To Reach Us** [📞](https://emojipedia.org/telephone-receiver/) ===== **Email:** contact@gophers.london **Linkedin:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/london-gophers/ **Twitter / X:** https://x.com/LondonGophers **YouTube:** https://www.youtube.com/c/LondonGophers 📜 **All London Gophers events operate under the Go Community Code of Conduct** \- https://golang\.org/conduct * **Treat everyone with respect and kindness.** * **Be thoughtful in how you communicate.** * **Don’t be destructive or inflammatory.** **Please do not message members without their consent** If you encounter an issue, please mail contact@gophers.london or conduct@golang.org

👀 Something is happening… The best way I can describe it is like one member said to me: ‘Tim - It’s like freshers week, every week, but better, with bands and stuff…’ and that’s how it’s been over the last 7 years since we created this group. It’s honestly the most fun we’ve had and I’m inviting everyone of you because something’s been happening for a while now and you just don’t know about it…It’s a Showcase of some of the Best London bands playing their music in London - and it’s also a MEETUP group, so you can watch the gig with a mix of regular members and newcomers. Feel free to come on your own or bring your friends and meet new people. Look for the ‘MEETUP SIGN’ or ask the Host on the Door when you arrive. It’s an awesome line-up and at one of the Top Venues in London - Great place for a beer, meet new people and see some amazing unsigned bands! 🔥🔥🚒🍻 \* ‼️ THE ULTIMATE LONDON GIG MEETUP! ‼️ LONDON MUSIC SHOWCASE Presents: STRONGROOM in OLD STREET - FREE ENTRY May 26th TUESDAY [GARGANTUAN](https://open.spotify.com/artist/2KEYDs5JxOzeLLtN14P75i) \- Headliner [THE HERONS](https://www.instagram.com/theheronss/ ) [HANI](https://open.spotify.com/artist/43zDIEKUeb3PPZ1hj7Z4Po ) [PUNCH DRUNK PIRATES](https://open.spotify.com/artist/57P1RhoTDMIXDzlk1s748R) \* There aren’t enough emojis for this, so I’ll keep it simple: BE THERE. If you’ve been to the MEET-UPS over the last 7 years, you’ll know what it’s all about so come down, bring your friends, bring your foes, cancel your wedding, book Granny out of the retirement home. Whatever it takes, she won’t want miss it 😄🍻 \* WHATSAPP GROUP: We’re a friendly mix; English, French, Australian, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish and Japanese people so I’m sure you will meet someone that shares a passion for Rocking Music. Don't worry if attendance looks low, we are meeting other Meetup / WhatsApp / Facebook Groups and a lot of my friends don't RSVP. I can also add you to the Event’s WHATSAPP GROUP if you are interested in joining - Just message me your number. \* \*\*\*IMPORTANT\*\*\* This is a Free Entry Event however it’s best to download a Ticket from DICE as these events are popular and sell out fast. \* TICKET LINK HERE: [https://link.dice.fm/va2ec6c52b94](https://link.dice.fm/va2ec6c52b94) \* DISCLAIMER: I work for the Venue / Promoters. It’s just for fun nights and meeting people. We are not responsible for you or your belongings. By attending this event you agree to waiver liability for the Host :) Please bring ID to events as some are 18+. You may appear in photos/videos of the gig. Thank you \* All Gig Meetups here 👀‼️👇 [https://dice.fm/promoters/london-music-showcase-6ko3](https://dice.fm/promoters/london-music-showcase-6ko3) [https://www.instagram.com/londonmusicshowcase/](https://www.instagram.com/londonmusicshowcase/) [https://www.meetup.com/London-Music-Showcase-Gigs-Drinks/](https://www.meetup.com/London-Music-Showcase-Gigs-Drinks/) [https://www.facebook.com/LondonMusicShowcase](https://www.facebook.com/LondonMusicShowcase)

Data Engineers London is partnering once again with the [London Snowflake User Group](https://usergroups.snowflake.com/london/) to bring you a data engineering event in the heart of the City of London this May 🎉 Sign up is either through this Meetup event or on LSUG's event. Agenda is as follows: **6:00pm:** Doors Open & Networking at [Kubrick](https://kubrickgroup.com/) **6:30pm:** Talks Start 🗣️The Speakers🗣️ ***Utilising Snowflake Openflow for Regulatory Reporting*** **Lucie Gamby**, Data Engineer at Entain ([Lucie's LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/luciegamby/)) ***Talk Abstract*** Regulatory reporting often comes with a large list of requirements (in our case, an 80-page document full of them) alongside specific and complex business logic as a given. With a large volume of sensitive data to handle, we wanted a solution that would help keep our data within the same environment - hence the choice to explore Openflow as an option to facilitate our delivery to regulators. This session will cover what it took for our team to go from no prior knowledge or experience of Openflow to deploying a production-ready system with it. Demonstrations, What Went Wells, Pitfalls, and what we’d do differently next time! ***Speaker Bio*** Lucie graduated from Lancaster University with a degree in Computer Science in 2023 and joined the Sigma Labs graduate scheme in January 2024. After a 15-week coding fundamentals course, she specialised in Data Engineering, and then placed at Entain in June 2024. Having been exposed to a wide range of tools and platforms since, Lucie has since been tasked with leading the charge for her team to adopt Snowflake Openflow into the tech stack. ***Data Engineering: People, Patterns, Platforms*** **Yomi Bazuaye**, Data, Analytics and ML Engineering Leader ([Yomi's LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/yomibazuaye/)) ***Talk Abstract:*** What should *your* data platform *do*? What should it *not* do? How should it harness AI? Stories and examples from building and scaling data platforms across multiple industry sectors and organisations. ***Speaker Bio:*** Yomi is a Data professional with many years of experience in data and analytics engineering. In recent years he has focussed on helping organisations build self-service data platforms, create data products and design and implement a data culture. He has worked within multiple sectors including online banking, e-commerce and supply chain, using multiple tech stacks, including: AWS, Snowflake, GCP, Azure, Databricks. See you all on the 26th May 🤩 Happy Networking 🍻 If you would like to help keep us running, please support us on [Buy Me A Coffee](http://buymeacoffee.com/dataengineerslondon). By attending this event, you agree to the following conditions & rules of conduct: * Admittance into event is as long as places last. * Respect others' opinions which may differ from your own. * Keep it appropriate - no harassment of fellow attendees will be tolerated. * If you see something or have a complaint, please reach out to one of the organisers on LinkedIn or email events@dataengineerslondon.com.

Have you ever wanted to gather together and talk about insightful topics which broadens your thinking and knowledge? If so, this may be the right event for you. Welcome to the ‘Deep conversations’ event where you get the opportunity to share your views based on the topics that we may cover. The last time this was executed, it not only went well but we managed to learn from one another which broadened our thinking. We have a new twist: The event will take place at Green park and it won’t be capped. The way it works is you’ll be numbered from 1 - 5 and then you get together in your groups based on your number. The process repeats itself after each topic until the event is finished so it’s opportunistic to interact with new faces and hear interesting views. With this particular event, the topics we’ll discuss are: * What does family mean to you? * What do you appreciate from your parents the most? * They say ‘blood makes you related and loyalty makes you family’. What’s your take on this? * Do you think character is important or time when it comes to knowing people? * Was there ever a time where someone close to you broke your trust and if so, what did you learn? * Name someone special who entered your life and changed you for the better. We get so preoccupied with daily life that we hardly have a chance to sit back and think as well as discuss many topics in such depth. When was the last time you sat back and thought about anything in depth which opened your eyes to so many possibilities and broadened your thinking? Now is your chance to share your views and learn from one another. By participating in this, you could broaden your ways of thinking, learn new lessons or even heal if you have your hidden struggles. My fellow explorers, if you enjoyed the event, I’m more than happy to accept any donations which of course are optional but will go a long way to help me unlock and deliver even more exciting and engaging events and resources: https://www.paypal.me/calvinjoy WHAT - Deep conversations
WHERE - Green Park
WHEN - 7:15pm - 9pm
MEETING POINT - Outside Green park station near the fountain
NEAREST STATION - Green Park station
REQUIREMENTS - Just your good behaviour and respect on one’s opinions. Disclaimers: Please be on your best behaviour and respect one another. This group doesn’t tolerate any misbehaviour and misconduct. Should such a thing take place, you will be removed. If you ask a question that either already has the answer to it or doesn’t relate to the event at all, I won’t respond. Whenever an event takes place, I will cut off contact 20 minutes after the event commences. If you message even 1 minute after the cut off time, I won’t be available as I’m conducting the event. There will be photography and videography by myself so if you are photo conscious and/or do not want to be in the video, do kindly inform me and I’ll try my utmost best to not involve you in the picture. Let’s all be responsible but please be aware you come at your own risk. Do be mindful of your possessions, belongings and most importantly, your safety. The ‘London society of explorers’ accept no risk of liability at this event.

May is here, and we’re heading back to **The Volley** for this month's meetup. It’s incredibly easy to get to, just a minute's walk from Old Street station. Even better, this month's event is sponsored! That means there will be a limited bar tab behind the bar, so make sure you get down early to grab a free drink before it runs out. **A massive thanks to our sponsor: [Zuno](https://zuno.tech/)** [Zuno](https://zuno.tech/) is building the platform powering home energy installations - things like solar, home batteries, electric-vehicle chargers, air-conditioning and more. We connect brands, customers and a nationwide engineer network, orchestrating everything from sale through to installation and beyond. Our mission is to make complex installations simple to deliver at scale. **What is Product Pints, anyway?** It's simple: Forget the stuffy presentations, Product Pints is all about meaningful connections and stimulating conversations for product people. Our diverse crowd includes everyone from aspiring PMs to seasoned CPOs, entrepreneurs, developers, designers, and tech enthusiasts. Need advice on a tricky problem? Curious what other PMs are building? Or just want to share a beer with your peers? This is the perfect opportunity to grow your network and launch some genuinely great chats! **P.S. If your company is interested in sponsoring future events in 2026, please reach out to us at [hello@productpints.com](mailto:hello@productpints.com) \- thanks\!**

[Eventbrite link here](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1988670959373?aff=oddtdtcreator) This event is run by 'Ve Social' A Small Independent Vegan Events company 🥰 Follow our Instagram: [@vesocialevents](https://www.instagram.com/vesocialevents/) or visit our website: [www.ve-social.co.uk](www.ve-social.co.uk) 🌱 **Dates and Mates** **A plant-based speed dating & friending night for 20s and 30s** Looking to meet new people — for romance, friendship, or both *Dates and Mates* is a relaxed, inclusive social night designed for folks in their 20s and 30s who are into connection, conversation, and veganism (or curious about it!). We’re blending **speed dating** and **speed friending**, so whether you're single, new in town, or just want to vibe with cool people, there's a space for you here. ### 🥂 What to expect: * **Algorithmic Match-Making**, with our compatibility quiz! * **Human bingo** to break the ice and get you mingling * **Come solo or bring a mate — either way, you’ll leave with new faces in your circle.**

**Our new Tuesday night aerial relaxation & yoga nidra experience with live ambient music, aromatherapy, and aerial hammocks.** **An Oasis of Calm in London** ### **AERIAL RELAXATION PODS - YOGA NIDRA 7:30pm-9pm session** **UPCOMING DATES:** * TUE, 8 Feb * TUE, 22 Feb * **IMPORTANT:** Please note your space is only confirmed once booked through Eventbrite. An RSVP on meetup is not sufficient to reserve a space, please book a ticket via Eventbrite, thank you! * **Please Book here:** [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/730pm-9pm-aerial-relaxation-pods-yoga-nidra-sound-meditation-in-hammocks-tickets-258233953707](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/730pm-9pm-aerial-relaxation-pods-yoga-nidra-sound-meditation-in-hammocks-tickets-258233953707) **💙 We also offer Aerial Relaxation Sessions on Thursday evenings:** * **For 7:15pm-8:30pm session, please book here:** [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/84883457707](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/84883457707) * **For 8:45pm -10pm session, please book here:** [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/84878729565](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/84878729565) **💙 We offer monthly 7:15pm-10pm 'System Reset' workshop** featuring Bioenergetic, Creative Flow & Aerial Relaxation Pods, next session on Thu, 17 Feb & 17 March - details and bookings here: [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/123649855045](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/123649855045) *➡️See all our upcoming wellbeing events calendar:* [ecstaticdancelondon.com/events](https://ecstaticdancelondon.com/events) **More details about Aerial Relaxation Pods, what to bring & safety guidelines - please scroll down. \*Respectfully Socially Distanced & Covid compliant\***

PLEASE ENSURE YOU BUY YOUR TICKETS AT [www.esgnetwork.co.uk](https://www.esgnetwork.co.uk/) **ESG Network is a Business Network dedicated to professionals working within London’s many Environmental, Social /Sustainable and Governance sectors**. Join us at the Private Room at the **Famous Jaks of Mayfair** for our **May 2026 Networking Breakfast** and join us in sampling their wonderful Food, Drinks and the opportunity to **chat about the ESG sector, learn more about the many related topics and make new friends and seek out fresh business leads**. PLEASE ENSURE YOU BUY YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE AT [www.esgnetwork.co.uk](https://www.esgnetwork.co.uk/)

The weather is getting absolutely gorgeous in London ☀️ It has been a long winter, and now it is time to go out and enjoy nature. Join us on this unique UXers Nature Walk and learn about the area we are focused on this year to drive social impact through our [Responsible Design for Change Fellowship](https://www.ux4change.org/responsible-design-for-change-fellowship/). Get a chance to meet our founder, Sandra Gonzalez, and some of the fellows who are currently enrolled in the third cohort of the Fellowship. This is a very lovely opportunity to connect with nature and our community. You are welcome to bring your pet and/or your children, especially if you are juggling half-term at the moment. We will end the walk at the Princess of Wales to share a drink and network a bit. We look forward to spending a lovely afternoon with you.

Join the Eco Around Community for a litter-pick walk in Downham, facilitated by Biljana. Downham Woodland Walk is a local nature reserve and a narrow strip of mostly ancient woodland. It's part of the Green Chain Walk and stretches for about a mile. Rich in flora and fauna, it’s home to old oak and ash trees and a variety of birds. The area is frequently enjoyed by Downham residents and their pets. While maintained by Lewisham Council, contributing to the nature reserve's additional clear-up would be much appreciated. **When:** Saturday, 30 May, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm **Where:** The litter pick will start at the Moorside Rd entrance to Downham Woodland Walk, and we’ll make our way through to the Oakridge Rd exit near Barnardo’s. Use the What3Words navigation below to see the exact meeting points. Start: what3words: [///flown.rounds.agents](https://w3w.co/flown.rounds.agents) Finish: what3words: [///famous.drag.tuned](https://w3w.co/famous.drag.tuned) We are planning to have some optional drinks/food afterwards, most likely at the Beckenham Place Park. **How to dress and what to bring:** Appropriate footwear, no open-toed shoes and we recommend some waterproofs (just in case). We have some gloves, bin bags and litter pickers but feel free to bring your own and a refillable water bottle in case you get thirsty. Hand Sanitiser is also useful. **Updates:** Unless there is a heavy rain forecast, we will stick to our plans. Please check the event for updates. **Photo Consent:** We plan to take general pictures and a group picture to document the activity and help us promote future online events. If you wish not to be in the pictures, let us know.

**ELECTRIC DREAMS** is at a **NEW VENUE** – The Star of Kings, Kings Cross – in the "BOOKCASE BASEMENT" downstairs. Meet friendly, sociable, like-minded people who are into the same music. **FIRSTLY**... Please say **"HELLO"** on the door as you walk in and you will be introduced to other meetup members – **POSITIVE** feedback is appreciated. **ELECTRIC DREAMS** is a long running, very well established friendly and sociable club night for all fans of the electronic / alternative 80s. Meet new like-minded friends and dance the night away to club classics. Expect to hear the likes of Depeche Mode, The Human League, La Roux, OMD, Japan, Ultravox, PSB, Soft Cell, Blancmange, Goldfrapp, Visage, Blondie, Duran Duran, The Cure, NIN, Daft Punk, Adam Ant, Ladytron, Fischerspooner, Erasure, New Order, Joy Division, Yazoo, Eurythmics, Alphaville, Devo, Talking Heads, Roxy Music and many, many more. **Open from 9pm - 1am** The Star of Kings is towards the top of York Way, about a 10-15 mins. walk from Kings Cross rail station, and also close to both St. Pancras and Euston rail stations. **Door time: 9:00pm, Start time: 9:00pm** 18 and over.

Join us for our monthly series where **Offline Women Explore the Royal Parks**, visiting one of the eight different royal parks each month. The fourth walk in this series will be through **Greenwich Park.** This is a dedicated, phone-free, quiet space where you can disconnect from digital distractions and reconnect with nature and each other. It is a simple way to enjoy the park and engage in real conversation. We will have plenty of time to talk, share stories, and get to know one another without any digital interruptions. Leave the event feeling energized and refreshed, with a heart full of good conversation and the peaceful feeling of a walk spent in great company. Follow us on [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCZyvCD38CTaXBpQ72V) to be notified early for our upcoming events.

Come anf try your first taster session. Receive tools from an expert and practice in front of others in a friendly and supportive environment, and then receive feedback. Become confident and influence others with communication skills.

Hosted by Licking County Soil and Water Conservation District **Stream Team Sampling Events** Are you interested in the health of local rivers and streams? You can join the Licking County Soil and Water in a Stream Team assessment. These events are a night filled will fun in the water. We look at habitat, biology, and chemical parameters in waterways that indicate how healthy our water is! We would love to see you at one of these events! Family friendly. Free to attend. June Wildwood Park, Granville Where: 785 W Broadway, Granville, OH 43023 Date: 6/11/2026 Time: 5:30 - 7:30 P.M. July Velvet Ice Cream, Ye Olde Mill Where:11324 Mount Vernon Rd, Utica, OH 43080 Date: 7/9/2026 Time: 5:30 - 7:30 P.M.

The number of ticks and tick diseases in Ohio have quickly multiplied over the last 10 years. Dean Kreager discusses tick species, tick pathogens, tick-borne diseases, tick bite prevention, and proper tick removal. Kreager is an Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator with OSU Extension in Licking County * Lakewood Public Library (in Hebron)- May 26 at 7pm [https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/tick-talk-29621](https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/tick-talk-29621) * Johnstown public library at 7:00 pm June 8 [https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/ctick-talk-29622](https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/ctick-talk-29622) Free to attend, no RSVP needed

Community Backyards Workshop .Community Backyards Workshop - Westerville Join us for the Westerville Community Backyards workshop! This is a FREE class on how you can protect our waterways and environment with small changes in your gardening habits. We will discuss rain barrels, rain gardens, composting, and native plants. This workshop is presented by Friends of Alum Creek. By attending, any participating community resident can receive a voucher for a rain barrel, compost bin, or native plants for attending. Vouchers are limited to one per household per year. Registration in advance is encouraged but not required. * Location: Westerville Community Center, 350 N Cleveland Ave, Westerville, OH 43082 * Date and time: Sat, May 30, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM * Organizer: Community Backyards Program, (614) 486-9613, communitybackyards@franklinswcd.org (Free Workshop Registration: Registration is free. Registering in advance provides your information to Franklin Soil and Water ahead of time, so when you come to the workshop, we will have your voucher ready for you when you arrive) https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/h2w5ms8 **FAQs** **Our Community Backyards workshops are FREE and a great way to participate in the rebate program. Our workshops are typically 1 to 1 and a half hours long and held in-person. Our workshops cover the same content as the online course, but they are more detailed and allow the chance to ask questions and have discussions with the presenters and other residents. We occassionally have "advanced topics" classes where you dive deeper into one topic of Community Backyards such as invasive vs. native plants or rain gardens.** **Registration is encouraged but not required.** You can register in advance to receive your voucher at the workshop. If you don't register in advance, that's okay - you can still show up (unless otherwise noted - which is very rare) and sign up for a voucher at the class, and we will send you one via email or mail within a few business days after the workshop. **"Do I have to be a resident of that community to attend that workshop?"** Nope! Our workshops are open to everyone (unless otherwise noted - which is extremely rare). You can attend a workshop that best suits your schedule even if it is in a different community than your own. **"Why is registration closed?** Can I just show up?" Yes, you can show up without registering! We close registration typically 1-2 days before the workshop to give the vouchers and materials to the presenters. However, you are always welcome to just show up and fill out a short form to request a voucher at the workshop. If eligible, we will send one to you within 1-2 business days after the workshop. **Voucher note**: Classes are free for everyone but vouchers are for residents of Franklin county or participating community (list here: https://www.communitybackyards.org/participate) 2026 Participating Vendors: City Folk's Farm Shop, Fisher's Gardens, Leaves for Wildlife, Scioto Gardens, Hoover Gardens & Gift Center, and the FSWCD/SWACO Compost Bin Sale. *when redeeming your voucher at a vendor, Please bring a physical copy of your voucher to receive an immediate discount on your purchase. Additionally, to keep up with number of vouchers that are given out, we have changed the expiration date on the vouchers to 30 days

Some trained COUNT volunteers work together once a month at RMH (http://www.rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer.php) as Housewarmers (usually on the 1st Sunday from 1 – 5 PM). Some schedule other shifts at their convenience. You may try this out with less fuss by following a "Fast track" or go through the normal process. Fast track • Arrange a time to shadow a COUNT volunteer. Call Dave Nohle at 614-268-9558 (cell). • Show up and try it out. • Complete application, etc. later. Normal process • Complete an online application (http://rmhc-centralohio.org/volunteer/). • Attend orientation in advance. • At orientation you will complete forms agreeing to keep family/patient info private and allowing a background check and tour the facility. • Complete one training shift. Daily shifts are: morning 9 AM - 1 PM, afternoon 1 - 5 PM and evening 5 - 9 PM. • Schedule shifts online using the on the RMH scheduling system (http://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/?FROM=32895). The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) provides housing and meals for families with sick children. The Columbus RMH is the largest in the world with 137 rooms. COUNT has been volunteering there since May 2014. Housewarmers work with RMH guests to provide a home-like environment - greet, assist with family needs, answer phones, give tours, assist with checkin/checkout, prepare guest rooms after checkout, clean facility, laundry, restock supplies and staff the front desk. RMH Housewarmers volunteer at least one four-hour shift a month. All Housewarmers must complete an application and agree to a background check before they can be full fledged volunteers.

**History** The [Franklin Park Conservatory](https://www.fpconservatory.org/)’s roots trace back to 1852 when the Franklin County Agricultural Society purchased 88 acres of land to host the Ohio State Fair. After the fair moved to its permanent home, the city of Columbus transformed the grounds into Franklin Park in 1884. This transition shifted the space from a temporary event site to a dedicated public green space for the growing community. The park became a central hub for outdoor recreation and early civic gatherings in the neighborhood. In 1895, the landmark Victorian-style Palm House opened its doors, drawing heavy inspiration from the Glass Palace of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This iron and glass structure became an immediate icon, housing exotic plants that residents would otherwise never see in the Midwest. It remains the oldest part of the facility and serves as a primary link to the conservatory’s 19th-century origins. For decades, it stood as a singular testament to grand horticultural architecture in Central Ohio. A major turning point arrived in 1992 when Columbus hosted AmeriFlora '92, an international horticultural exhibition. This massive event prompted a $16 million renovation and expansion, adding significantly more greenhouse space and the Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse. The festival put the conservatory on the international map and fundamentally changed its scale and ambition. Following the event, the facility transitioned from a city-run park to a private, non-profit organization. In 2003, the conservatory’s identity was further defined through a long-term partnership with world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. After a successful exhibition, the Friends of the Conservatory purchased most of the glass installations, creating the largest permanent collection of Chihuly’s work in a botanical setting. These vibrant glass sculptures are now woven throughout the biomes, blending art with nature. This addition helped cement the conservatory as a premier cultural destination rather than just a botanical garden. Recent years have seen the site expand beyond the glass walls to emphasize community engagement and outdoor education. The 2018 opening of the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden added two acres of interactive landscape designed for hands-on learning. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus also provides local residents with space to grow their own food and learn sustainable practices. Today, the conservatory balances its historic Victorian charm with modern commitments to local ecology and the Columbus community. **Maps of the Conservatory** Here is the [main map](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/franklin-park-zones-scaled.jpg) of the Conservatory grounds. Here's a [map of the areas](https://www.fpconservatory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ConstructionMap-2026.jpg) in which the Conservatory has ongoing construction (see below). **Summary** For this event, we'll explore Columbus's highly-rated and very popular Conservatory. As mentioned above, the Conservatory is doing renovations on parts of the facility. These renovations are scheduled to be ongoing until the Fall of next year. Basically, no matter when you go to the Conservatory over the next 18 months, you're going to see some metaphorical orange barrels. So let's just go now. **Tickets and pricing** On the first Sunday of every month, the Conservatory is free for residents of Franklin County and the city of Columbus. You must bring an ID to receive this discount. (Yes, they do check.) Otherwise, tickets are $25.20. Members of the Columbus Zoo (of which I am one) do get a discount on tickets, though I have never actually bought a ticket to the Conservatory (I've always gone on free days). I believe the discount is $4. Parking is always free. If you have additional questions about pricing or whether and for what you qualify, you can reach the Conservatory at 614-715-8000. **Where we'll meet** We will meet just outside the main entrance. I guarantee there's going to be a line. The Conservatory is always popular on free days, and especially in nice weather. **Your GPS is stupid!** Be careful simply typing "Franklin Park Conservatory" in your GPS and going where it tells you. The only way to access the parking lot to the Conservatory is off of Broad Street. Unfortunately, since Google Maps is unable to find its way out of a wet paper bag, it has a tendency to want to take people to a mythical, non-existent Conservatory entrance on Nelson Road. If your GPS does this, just drive to the north side of the Conservatory along Broad Street. Your GPS should then redirect you to the main Conservatory entrance. If your GPS doesn't, then throw your phone away\* and look for the big Conservatory sign on the south side of Broad Street between Nelson Road and Franklin Park West. You also should be able to use the map pin I've provided, below, and it should properly direct you to where you need to drive. \* Don't really do this. **After the event** After stopping to smell the roses, for those that are interested, we'll head to the nearby [Columbus Brewing Company Beer Hall](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/) for [drinks](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#draft-list) and [lunch](https://columbusbrewing.com/location/beer-hall/#food-menu). The Beer Hall's actual address is [200 Kelton Ave, Columbus, OH 43205](https://www.google.com/maps/place/200+Kelton+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43205/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x883889a94ac4acad:0xadb2e60240dbc38b?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111) (it's literally just on the south side of the Conservatory). Be sure this is where your GPS is taking you when you use it, as the Brewing Company has a taproom on Harrison Avenue that is *not* what you want for this event. We should be at the Beer Hall by 1 if you can't make the Conservatory and just want to join us for drinks.

The number of ticks and tick diseases in Ohio have quickly multiplied over the last 10 years. Dean Kreager discusses tick species, tick pathogens, tick-borne diseases, tick bite prevention, and proper tick removal. Kreager is an Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator with OSU Extension in Licking County * Lakewood Public Library (in Hebron)- May 26 at 7pm [https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/tick-talk-29621](https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/tick-talk-29621) * Johnstown public library at 7:00 pm June 8 [https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/ctick-talk-29622](https://events.lickingcountylibrary.org/event/ctick-talk-29622) Free to attend, no RSVP needed