Events - Month View

BMAV members, friends and neighbors are invited to a conversation with Professor Michael O‘Hanlon on US history and foreign affairs. He has entertained us with talks on the geostrategic implications of the Ukraine war and developments in Russia and Asia. Now he returns to discuss the past and present character of American defense policy. Join us for light refreshments and socializing, followed by O‘Hanlon‘s insights and ample time for questions. RSVP by February 27 is required.

O’Hanlon is a senior fellow and director of research in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution, where he specializes in U.S. defense strategy and budgets, the use of military force, and American national security policy. He directs the Strobe Talbott Center on Security, Strategy and Technology, and is the inaugural holder of the Philip H. Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy. He is an adjunct professor at Columbia University, and a member of the Pentagon’s Defense Policy Board; he was also a member of the external advisory board at the Central Intelligence Agency from 2011-12. In his new book "To Dare Mighty Things: U.S. Defense Strategy Since the Revolution" O‘Hanlon argues America has dared mighty things and often achieved them: After growing into a continental power, largely through force of arms, during the first half of its history, it then led the way to coalition victories in two world wars, pursued peace in the Cold War, and has contributed to the most democratic period in human history. But it is a more “dangerous nation” than most citizens appreciate, given that its leaders, as well its people, are highly self-confident and activist. O’Hanlon claims that only by understanding this “national DNA” can we hope to steer safely through the twenty-first century.

Teams from BMAV volunteer the first Monday of each month to make lunches for unhoused in our community. Please only sign up if you know you can make it, as Bethesda Cares counts on us being there. IF you find you can no longer make it, reach out to the Helping Hands SIG to find a replacement. Note that the activity involves standing for most of the hour. There is no dedicated parking lot, but county spaces can be found on the street or other lots. Contact SIG lead Andy Brown for more information.

Join in to discuss what you are working on or perhaps be encouraged to start a project. Open to all BMAV members. The first week of the month we meet at the Battery Park Clubhouse.

Bethesda Metro Area Village and Chevy Chase At Home members and friends are invited to weekly Tai Chi classes with internationally recognized Master Nick Gracenin teaching. Nick brings 45 years of experience from China and North America. Study the essentials and forms of traditional Tai Chi, and improve balance, circulation, strength and relaxation. With a diverse repertoire, Nick tailors each class to the participants, allowing him to focus on their specific goals. The classes can be adapted to accommodate all levels of mobility and health.
Classes will meet from 9:30-10:30 am, Wednesdays, at the Town of Chevy Chase hall, 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, weekly February 18 - March 25 The drop-in rate is $20 and the six-week session is $95. Chairs and reference materials will be available. Beginners through advanced practitioners are welcome. Register through your village and payment at the class via cash, check, mobile payment or credit card.

Free. Registration required by February 27. Sponsored by Chevy Chase At Home and Bethesda Area Metro Village and open to all volunteers and members. During this two-part in-person presentation, Jim Resnick and others with MCFRS Fire Safety, will teach current CPR training and emergency response protocols. We will learn about opiate awareness and narcan administration, "stop the bleed" and hands-on CPR training. After a short break, the second hour he will go over potentially lifesaving updates on how to reduce our chances of experiencing a home fire and what to do if one were to occur. This portion will include information on MCFRS free safety checks. You are welcome to attend either or both sessions running from 1-2 pm and 2:15 - 3:15 pm. Jim has more than 45 years of experience as a firefighter, paramedic, chief officer, and fire safety educator. Sessions will take place at the Town of Chevy Chase meeting hall - enter through the doors to the left. Parking is available in the attached lot.

In this class, you will learn about car safety features that are appearing on new cars and how they will enhance your driving ability and safety. In 2018, the car safety features became driver active. They warn drivers of an impending problem so the driver can take action. We will learn how to properly use these new safety features to become better and safer drivers. Register with OASIS here. https://washington-metro.oasiseverywhere.org/product/needs-new-title-and-comment-new-car-technology/

The topic this week will be the situation in Iran.

Hosted by Bob Metzler and Reid Detchon. Themed discussions are held the first half of the lunch and the second half is for catching up.

Great Decisions, America‘s largest discussion program on world affairs, is a nationwide program developed a century ago by the Foreign Policy Association with the goal of informing US citizens about the challenges facing our nation. In this small group format, BMAV members will get together to discuss global issues facing America today, in structured sessions led by member Tommy Lamont. Tommy taught history for nearly four decades at top US independent boarding schools, covering US, European, Chinese, and world history, as well as international relations, the Holocaust, and the Atlantic slave trade. She led a Great Decisions discussion group for several years in Massachusetts and is skilled in helping participants discuss sometimes controversial issues in a respectful, engaging, and meaningful way.

We will meet each week for ten weeks - using the Great Decisions program booklet produced by the Foreign Policy Association. Registration is required for this program and participants will need to purchase the Great Decisions booklet ($35) or download ($25) as well as read the materials before each session.

Registration required on the website or by emailing Elizabeth. Capped at 10.

BMAV‘s newest SIG reads fiction and nonfiction and discusses them in a social, informal setting. The host and moderator switches each month. This month we will be reading "How to Read a Book" by Monica Wood and meeting at Andy Brown‘s. Please only RSVP if you plan to read the books and attend as space is limited. From 4-5 pm the focus will be on the book, and from 5-5:30, socializing. Sign up early as space is limited. If you can‘t make it, contact SIG lead Andy Brown to be added to the group‘s email list and learn about the location and selection next month.

A Convenient Villain is a new biography of Charles Lindbergh written from a unique perspective: a Jewish aerospace engineer. Charles Lindbergh may be the most controversial figure of the twentieth century. His legacy is clouded by apocryphal stories, allegations of anti-Semitism and racism, and efforts to ignore his contributions to American security and society. The constant repetition of allegations, without analysis, has resulted in generations of Jews being convinced that he was evil. The truth is much more complicated and nuanced. While Lindbergh opposed Jewish interests in the run-up to World War II, he never denied the right of Jews to advocate nor minimized German oppression. He canceled visits to Germany as a protest after Kristallnacht, he was the only man who negotiated with the Germans who addressed Jewish grievances, and he used his influence to try to get Jews out of Germany. Dr. Jonathan D. Reich traces Lindbergh‘s contribution to U.S. preparation for World War II, his scientific advances, and his advocacy. Lindbergh‘s pre-World War II advocacy is judged from a distinct vantage point: a Jewish generation that matured after the Six-Day War and carried forward a newly confident, less insecure American-Jewish identity as a result. Lindbergh‘s legacy is compared to President Roosevelt‘s, who obstructed Jewish immigration to the U.S. There are surprising lessons to be learned for those concerned with today‘s anti-Semitism. Register with NNV for Zoom link here https://nwnv.helpfulvillage.com/events/5004-virtual-speaker-series---%22a-convenient-villain:-charles-a_-lindbergh‘s-remarkable-and-controversial-legacy-preparing-the-u_s_-for-war%22/event_participations/new

Join village members to talk about your book recommendations in this discussion led by Jane Boynton on Zoom. Unlike most book clubs where everybody reads the same book, this group encourages participants to share whatever they are currently reading or have enjoyed in the recent past. Members are also invited to come and just listen to get new ideas for books. To see book recommendations the group has discussed at past meetings, check out the forum.

We often get requests for a good Thai restaurant, and this new eatery in the Chevy Chase Lake development may be the answer. It‘s located next to Elena James, a place we visited recently.

Once a month we pick a restaurant and descend en masse – partly for a fun meal out, partly to sample new places (or new choices from old places!), and partly to get to know each other better. We start early to go easy on the restaurant and get a little extra attention before the place fills up. Come at 5:30 for a Happy Half-Hour! We’ll have name tags for all. RSVP is required! Please click on the button on this page or send an email to the co-leads, Reid and Janet, the earlier the better.

Northwest Neighbors Village is partnering with Chevy Chase Community Association for an informative program on home care. A panel of local experts will introduce various home care options available, such as hourly and live-in care, care management and companion models, and respite. Explore methods to pay for home care, including long-term care insurance, Medicare-covered respite care, the Elderly and Persons with Physical Disabilities (EPD) Waiver Program, and home care funded by local Area Agencies on Aging and the Veteran’s Administration. Register with NNV for Zoom link https://nwnv.helpfulvillage.com/events/5063

Bethesda Metro Area Village and Chevy Chase At Home members and friends are invited to weekly Tai Chi classes with internationally recognized Master Nick Gracenin teaching. Nick brings 45 years of experience from China and North America. Study the essentials and forms of traditional Tai Chi, and improve balance, circulation, strength and relaxation. With a diverse repertoire, Nick tailors each class to the participants, allowing him to focus on their specific goals. The classes can be adapted to accommodate all levels of mobility and health.
Classes will meet from 9:30-10:30 am, Wednesdays, at the Town of Chevy Chase hall, 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, weekly February 18 - March 25 The drop-in rate is $20 and the six-week session is $95. Chairs and reference materials will be available. Beginners through advanced practitioners are welcome. Register through your village and payment at the class via cash, check, mobile payment or credit card.

Neighbor Melissa Watts will be teaching up to 12 village members this historic game in three sessions March 11, 18, and 25. Registration is required and participants should plan to attend all three dates as each class builds on the last. Registrants also must provide their own set of tiles. There will be time to stay after class and practice games.

Melissa will give instruction so you can begin to play with confidence - through lecture, hands on practice, and video examples going over the tiles, cards, rules, flow of play, and strategies for a winning hand.

Melissa enjoyed a long career as an architect and city planner, designing major projects across the US and teaching aspiring architects to master the complexities of bringing order to chaos. Mah Jongg became her passion three years ago as 152 tiles form hands much as the variables of construction form a building. She has taught beginner Mah Jongg at OLLI and at the Woman‘s Club of Chevy Chase and was a longtime volunteer for BMAV.

The group chooses movies to watch ahead of time, and then gather to discuss. This month we are discussing Tom Hanks movies Sleepless in Seattle, Big, and Splash. All are welcome. Hosted by Diana Kitt.

A new series of 6 sessions starting Wednesday, Jan 28, 4-5:30 pm (continuing Wednesdays Feb 11, 25, Mar 11, 25, Apr 8). Registration required by January 23 and limited to 15.

With Walters Museum Docents. Fantastical creatures seem to be everywhere these days. Our first introduction to these creatures may have been through fairy tales—think of the little mermaid, for example. Or it may have been from books, movies, TV shows, or video games. This tour explores the roots of modern fantastical creatures through objects from the ancient worlds of China, the Americas, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome. Participants will also consider why different cultures, including our own, have fantastical creatures. Our popular docents will be Jan Thorman and Jill Reynolds. ?Register with Little Falls Village for the Zoom link here www.littlefallsvillage.org/creatures

Weather permitting, BMAV members are meeting in-person at Bethesda Lane by the fire pit in the pedestrian paved area between Elm St and Bethesda Ave off Arlington Rd.

BYO coffee. RSVPs are not required. Hosted by Diane Goldman and Hanne Caraher.

If the weather is uncertain, we will send out an email by 9am on the day of the event to those on our email list to confirm or switch to meet at Marriott International (MI cafe), entered from Woodmont or from 7750 Wisconsin.

Parking near Bethesda Lane is in the fee-based County garage between Bethesda Row and Waverly.
Parking near MI cafe is most convenient below Pancake House and Lidl grocery (7650 Old Georgetown). Parking is free but please stop in Lidl to make a small purchase..

Great Decisions, America‘s largest discussion program on world affairs, is a nationwide program developed a century ago by the Foreign Policy Association with the goal of informing US citizens about the challenges facing our nation. In this small group format, BMAV members will get together to discuss global issues facing America today, in structured sessions led by member Tommy Lamont. Tommy taught history for nearly four decades at top US independent boarding schools, covering US, European, Chinese, and world history, as well as international relations, the Holocaust, and the Atlantic slave trade. She led a Great Decisions discussion group for several years in Massachusetts and is skilled in helping participants discuss sometimes controversial issues in a respectful, engaging, and meaningful way.

We will meet each week for ten weeks - using the Great Decisions program booklet produced by the Foreign Policy Association. Registration is required for this program and participants will need to purchase the Great Decisions booklet ($35) or download ($25) as well as read the materials before each session.

Registration required on the website or by emailing Elizabeth. Capped at 10.

We will be meeting at Black’s, 7750 Woodmont Ave, this week. RSVP required on website or to Kathy Wiggins by noon the day before so she can make a reservation.

Join us on Monday to talk tech with BMAV volunteer Tony Mastria. He can answer your questions about computers, smartphones, anything tech-related. We discuss advice on universal problems. Open to Full and Social members. You can drop in to as many sessions as you‘d like, but an RSVP by the day before with your question will be most helpful to give Tony time to prepare.

This month we will discuss how to unsubscribe from emails and texts.

BMAV‘s Helping Hands group will be making soup together for Kindworks. Teams make homemade soup, following Kindworks recipe and joining others on Zoom if so desired, then donate it to local causes.

On this date, up to 3 people can join Sandra Fucigna in her kitchen to make soup, then package it for delivery to Bethesda Cares. More groups can also meet at other homes or you can even make soup individually and join in by Zoom. Signup on the website if you would like to attend at Sandra‘s apartment in the Cheval.

If you can host a group in your kitchen on this or a future date, or would like to make the delivery to Bethesda Cares, contact Elizabeth. Kindworks holds this event the third Monday of every month, but BMAV will only run a group if we have a host.

Read more about Kindworks and their soup program here. https://dokindworks.org/get-involved/kindsoup/

Join in to discuss what you are working on or perhaps be encouraged to start a project. All are welcome. Contact lead Sandi Ross for details.

Bethesda Metro Area Village and Chevy Chase At Home members and friends are invited to weekly Tai Chi classes with internationally recognized Master Nick Gracenin teaching. Nick brings 45 years of experience from China and North America. Study the essentials and forms of traditional Tai Chi, and improve balance, circulation, strength and relaxation. With a diverse repertoire, Nick tailors each class to the participants, allowing him to focus on their specific goals. The classes can be adapted to accommodate all levels of mobility and health.
Classes will meet from 9:30-10:30 am, Wednesdays, at the Town of Chevy Chase hall, 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, weekly February 18 - March 25 The drop-in rate is $20 and the six-week session is $95. Chairs and reference materials will be available. Beginners through advanced practitioners are welcome. Register through your village and payment at the class via cash, check, mobile payment or credit card.

Neighbor Melissa Watts will be teaching up to 12 village members this historic game in three sessions March 11, 18, and 25. Registration is required and participants should plan to attend all three dates as each class builds on the last. Registrants also must provide their own set of tiles. There will be time to stay after class and practice games.

Melissa will give instruction so you can begin to play with confidence - through lecture, hands on practice, and video examples going over the tiles, cards, rules, flow of play, and strategies for a winning hand.

Melissa enjoyed a long career as an architect and city planner, designing major projects across the US and teaching aspiring architects to master the complexities of bringing order to chaos. Mah Jongg became her passion three years ago as 152 tiles form hands much as the variables of construction form a building. She has taught beginner Mah Jongg at OLLI and at the Woman‘s Club of Chevy Chase and was a longtime volunteer for BMAV.

Do you want to build a community that values people of all ages? Are you interested in helping your older neighbors? Would you like to donate your time or expertise to help a local nonprofit? If so, become a volunteer for Bethesda Metro Area Village. BMAV is a volunteer-driven local nonprofit dedicated to providing services and community support that allow people to remain in their homes as they age. In this orientation, Executive Director Elizabeth Haile will go over the services offered (rides, deliveries, friendly visits, in-home assistance with technology or light repairs, vacation checks, snow shoveling and garbage can placement), how requests are made and filled, and answer questions about common scenarios. Open to all friends and neighbors interested in learning about the village and the services our volunteers provide. RSVP and application required. Zoom link will be sent to registrants.

Many current members are also volunteers - if you are a new member with the ability to volunteer on any of the types of tasks, we encourage you to apply.

Current volunteers who would like a refresher are also welcome.

Check out our website or contact director@bmavillage.org for more information.

Dealing with the legal and financial tasks after the death of a spouse can be an overwhelming process. Join us for a comprehensive seminar designed to provide guidance and clarity during a difficult time, and how challenges can be simplified by some basic advance planning. We will also discuss what to do if you are responding to, rather than planning for, this difficult circumstance. We’ll talk about essential steps such as managing immediate expenses, understanding Social Security and pension benefits, avoiding the probate process, retitling assets, and updating your own estate planning documents. Learn how to gather necessary paperwork, communicate with financial institutions, and protect yourself from common pitfalls. This class is sponsored by Sunrise of Fox Hill. Free. Signup with OASIS here https://washington-metro.oasiseverywhere.org/product/when-a-spouse-dies-legal-and-financial-considerations/

How to identify, avoid and navigate online scams. From fraudulent emails, to suspicious websites and convincing phone calls, scammers are getting more sophisticated by the day. In this Zoom presentation, one of BMAV’s excellent tech volunteers will give us the tools needed to identify and avoid the potential pitfalls that can lead to theft or hijacked accounts. This session is for BMAV members and volunteers only and will be an opportunity to ask questions and learn the basics in a discussion format.

Hosted by Bob Metzler and Reid Detchon. Themed discussions are held the second half of the lunch; the first half is for catching up.

Great Decisions, America‘s largest discussion program on world affairs, is a nationwide program developed a century ago by the Foreign Policy Association with the goal of informing US citizens about the challenges facing our nation. In this small group format, BMAV members will get together to discuss global issues facing America today, in structured sessions led by member Tommy Lamont. Tommy taught history for nearly four decades at top US independent boarding schools, covering US, European, Chinese, and world history, as well as international relations, the Holocaust, and the Atlantic slave trade. She led a Great Decisions discussion group for several years in Massachusetts and is skilled in helping participants discuss sometimes controversial issues in a respectful, engaging, and meaningful way.

We will meet each week for ten weeks - using the Great Decisions program booklet produced by the Foreign Policy Association. Registration is required for this program and participants will need to purchase the Great Decisions booklet ($35) or download ($25) as well as read the materials before each session.

Registration required on the website or by emailing Elizabeth. Capped at 10.

Recent science has shown that there is a reason a third of our life is spent unconsciously. Our speaker, Sylvan Mintz, DDS, will discuss what defines a good night‘s sleep, and how the quality and quantity of sleep affects longevity, safety, dementia, heart disease, cancer and other health related consequences. He‘ll also address snoring, noting that while snoring can seem harmless, it is one of the most frequent signs of obstructive sleep apnea, which causes periodic lack of oxygen during sleep. In children, snoring by itself can cause harm. Dr. Mintz will discuss simple strategies for obtaining restorative sleep, along with medical and dental interventions if needed. Registration is strongly suggested. All are welcome to attend this free and open-to-all talk. https://pcv.helpfulvillage.com/events/2207

The Woman‘s Club of Chevy Chase is proud to announce its upcoming 50th Annual Community Art Show and Sale! This 3-day event will feature 140 local artists and display over 400 pieces of artwork, showcasing the amazing art talent in our community and offering appealing original art at affordable prices. Artwork will be exhibited and judged in 10 categories: Oil, Acrylic, Pastel, Watercolor, Mixed Media, Portraits, Prints & Drawings, Photography, Smalls, and Other Media (for 2-D works in fine craft media such as glass, wood, metal, and paper). The judge for the show is Dr. Jack Rasmussen, Director and Curator of the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center. The show will be open as follows: Friday, March 20, 1:00 – 5:00 pm Saturday, March 21, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Sunday, March 22, 11:00 am -- 5:00 pm This annual event is free and open to the public and takes place at The Woman‘s Club of Chevy Chase, located at 7931 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 . The club has ample free parking off Dunlop Street. Proceeds support scholarships for art students. For more information, contact: wcccartshow@gmail.com or visit: wcccmaryland.org

Join hosts Paul Thorn and Barbara Reese for a series of curated TED Talks. This month‘s topic is regret. After watching videos together, we will discuss our reactions and the most important takeaways. Come for what is always an enriching conversation with other BMAV members.

The Aging Well group continues to meet in-person at Chris Palmer‘s and Gail Shearer‘s home. RSVP is required on the website or to Chris and attendance is capped at 12. Join in for socializing and a program of discussions over wine, hot cider, cheese and small bites.

The discussion topics will vary depending on what attendees want to discuss. Likely topics include flourishing in retirement, building friendships, decluttering, memories of our grandparents, end-of-life options, or any issues that interest people. Chris will facilitate an engaging discussion.

Talking about death and dying may seem like a challenging conversation, but in our Aging Well meetings, it is fascinating, constructive, and useful.

$15 donation offsets the cost of the wine and accompanying cheese, etc. RSVP is required. Register on the website or by contacting Amy Young. If you can‘t attend but would like to be added to the group‘s email list to learn about future meetups, contact Amy.

We will be hiking the Valley Trail off of Wide Water. We will meet at Ann‘s home at 9:30 then carpool to the parking area across fro Old Angler‘s Inn, 10801 MacArthur Blvd. Contact Ann to RSVP and be added to her email list.

BMAV Board game nights are back. Small groups meet from 4-5:30 on the 4th Monday of each month. This month we are meeting at Andy Brown‘s home.

If you would like to participate, email SIG co-lead Jane Boynton to be added to the email list. RSVP on the website here.

Bring your favorite game to play. Street parking available.

Bethesda Metro Area Village and Chevy Chase At Home members and friends are invited to weekly Tai Chi classes with internationally recognized Master Nick Gracenin teaching. Nick brings 45 years of experience from China and North America. Study the essentials and forms of traditional Tai Chi, and improve balance, circulation, strength and relaxation. With a diverse repertoire, Nick tailors each class to the participants, allowing him to focus on their specific goals. The classes can be adapted to accommodate all levels of mobility and health.
Classes will meet from 9:30-10:30 am, Wednesdays, at the Town of Chevy Chase hall, 4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, weekly February 18 - March 25 The drop-in rate is $20 and the six-week session is $95. Chairs and reference materials will be available. Beginners through advanced practitioners are welcome. Register through your village and payment at the class via cash, check, mobile payment or credit card.

It’s never too early to think about safe driving—for yourself or for those you care about. This session will explore how to assess driving skills, adapt driving habits, and consider alternative transportation options. We’ll also share strategies for having thoughtful, caring conversations about driving safety with loved ones. Drivers, spouses, caregivers, and family members will all find this discussion valuable. Special thanks to MileOne Cares/MileOne Autogroup for generously supporting this program. Signup with OASIS here https://washington-metro.oasiseverywhere.org/product/safe-driving-for-the-road-ahead/

Neighbor Melissa Watts will be teaching up to 12 village members this historic game in three sessions March 11, 18, and 25. Registration is required and participants should plan to attend all three dates as each class builds on the last. Registrants also must provide their own set of tiles. There will be time to stay after class and practice games.

Melissa will give instruction so you can begin to play with confidence - through lecture, hands on practice, and video examples going over the tiles, cards, rules, flow of play, and strategies for a winning hand.

Melissa enjoyed a long career as an architect and city planner, designing major projects across the US and teaching aspiring architects to master the complexities of bringing order to chaos. Mah Jongg became her passion three years ago as 152 tiles form hands much as the variables of construction form a building. She has taught beginner Mah Jongg at OLLI and at the Woman‘s Club of Chevy Chase and was a longtime volunteer for BMAV.

A new series of 6 sessions starting Wednesday, Jan 28, 4-5:30 pm (continuing Wednesdays Feb 11, 25, Mar 11, 25, Apr 8). Registration required by January 23 and limited to 15.

BMAV members are invited to virtual coffee talk. Hosted by Diane Goldman. Note our new schedule where we meet in-person on the first Thursday of the month and on Zoom the third Thursday of the month.

Just because you no longer drive doesn’t mean you need to be stuck at home. Connect-A-Ride (CAR) is a free service that helps older and disabled adults find the transportation they need. A CAR representative will discuss a variety of transportation options available in Montgomery County including public transit, the CallNRide subsidized cab service, Metro Access for the disabled, volunteer driving programs from local Villages organizations, escorted transportation, the Senior Connection, and private driving firms. Seniors are encouraged to consider a mix of transportation options to meet their many getting-around needs. Special thanks to MileOne Cares/MileOne Autogroup for generously supporting this program. Free. Signup with OASIS here https://washington-metro.oasiseverywhere.org/product/leave-the-driving-to-someone-else-2/

Great Decisions, America‘s largest discussion program on world affairs, is a nationwide program developed a century ago by the Foreign Policy Association with the goal of informing US citizens about the challenges facing our nation. In this small group format, BMAV members will get together to discuss global issues facing America today, in structured sessions led by member Tommy Lamont. Tommy taught history for nearly four decades at top US independent boarding schools, covering US, European, Chinese, and world history, as well as international relations, the Holocaust, and the Atlantic slave trade. She led a Great Decisions discussion group for several years in Massachusetts and is skilled in helping participants discuss sometimes controversial issues in a respectful, engaging, and meaningful way.

We will meet each week for ten weeks - using the Great Decisions program booklet produced by the Foreign Policy Association. Registration is required for this program and participants will need to purchase the Great Decisions booklet ($35) or download ($25) as well as read the materials before each session.

Registration required on the website or by emailing Elizabeth. Capped at 10.

Sugarloaf Mountain almost ended up with a modernistic structure designed by Frank Lloyd Wright sitting atop its peak. This extensively illustrated talk explores these and other historical oddities of this tiny mountain that sits all by itself just over the Montgomery County line in Frederick County. Join historian Ralph Buglass for a fascinating presentation about Maryland‘s iconic Sugarloaf Mountain. Ralph Buglass is a member of the Montgomery County Speaker Bureau and an avid history buff. With Peerless Rockville, he is co-author of Images of America: Rockville, a pictorial history of the city’s 250 years. An FHNN/LFV cooperative program. Register for Zoom link here https://www.fhneighbors.org/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=635669&item_id=2899682

We will be meeting inside at a restaurant TBD. RSVP required on website or to Kathy Wiggins by noon the day before so she can make a reservation.

Please join us for an always enjoyable ladies lunch. Contact contact lead Lynn Barclay to RSVP.

People, community and culture mold us into the unique individuals we are today. And, as we move through the world as adults, research suggest that 85% of sensory input – how we perceive the world -- is through sight. Yet sight often allows us to judge our world and others from afar without a full perspective. Drawing from snippets of her life story, speaker Cynthia Bryant will challenge these visual perceptions and interactions, suggesting the critical need today to move in close using all senses to master our stories as a catalyst for understanding and change. Practicing empathy becomes essential. We will explore empathy; sensory mindfulness and the joy of being blind through a mental walk with her and her guide dog, and solutions on how we move beyond our visual 85%.

Cynthia Bryant is certified as a mediator/negotiator from the Harvard Negotiation institute, Clifton Strengths coach and diversity practitioner. She presently conducts workshops on the art of practicing empathy and keynotes on sensory mindfulness- engaging all senses- for elevated perception and understanding.

Co-sponsored by Connie Morella Library. Free and open to the public.

Join Tommy Lamont and Suzanne Mintz on a tour of this new AI-driven immersive exhibit transforming how visitors engage with history. The American Story will showcase items and records in the National Archives that tell important moments in our nation‘s history. Visitors will get up close to more than 40 original artifacts and documents, including a rare 1823 Stone Engraving of the Declaration of Independence, George Washington‘s annotated copy of the Constitution, and presidential gifts including horseshoes to President Bush from Queen Elizabeth II. The American Story will be the first and only museum in Washington, DC to use artificial intelligence (AI) to bring each visitor a special, individualized opportunity to explore the records of the American people and engage with American history. This exhibit brings more than two million historic records to life, offering a personalized journey through our nation‘s past. This new museum experience provides all Americans with a special opportunity to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. BMAV has reserved 15 tickets for 10:30 am entrance. Registration is required on the website or to Tommy, first come first served, and no later than March 30. Meet Tommy and Suzanne at the Bethesda Metro train platform at 9:15am. Full Service members contact Elizabeth for a ride. The group can decide whether to stay for lunch in the area after.

Feeling eco-anxiety? What actions could you take today that would help solve the climate and waste crises? In this talk, we will cover the easy steps that busy people can take to reduce their carbon and waste footprint and live more sustainably. Drawing on the messages in her book, Zero Waste Living, the 80/20 Way, Stephanie Miller will discuss actions that fall within what she calls the “magic three”: focus on food, purge plastics and recycle right. You will leave the conversation feeling empowered to take action today and help others around you do the same. Stephanie J. Miller is the former Director of Climate Business at the World Bank Group and the author of Zero Waste Living, the 80/20 Way. She founded Zero Waste in DC where she reaches a wide audience through sustainability consultations, keynote presentations, and learning events. She is also the founder of DC Reduces, a grassroots initiative that helps businesses and consumers in the DC community reduce single-use packaging. Register with NNV for Zoom link here https://nwnv.helpfulvillage.com/events/5051-virtual-speaker-series---zero-waste-living:-aiming-for-progress,-not-perfection/event_participations/new