Friday, January 5: Noon. Lunch with the Legislators. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters at the Boar's Head Inn, Rte 250 west of Charlottesville. Email lwv@avenue.org or call 970-1707 by 3:30 pm on December 29 to make reservations for the luncheon; $25.

Friday, January 5: 4:30 p.m."What exactly is a Liberal?" at Gravity Lounge on the Downtown Mall. The Young Liberals will be hosting a panel entitled: The word "Liberal:" Profanity or Praise?

Panelists include: Delegate David Toscano, Former Delegate Mitch Van Yahres, Virginia Democratic Party Finance Director Dave Mills, blogger & activist Waldo Jaquith.

Questions and discussion will be encouraged. Come and bring a friend! We are lucky to have this active, engaged younger generation of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Democratic Parties. Please support them at this event.

Tuesday, January 9: 7:00 pm. Left of Center on Reproductive Rights in Virginia. Starr Hill gallery space, West Main Street, Charlottesville.

Every year in the Virginia General Assembly, roughly twenty bills are introduced to restrict access to reproductive healthcare, including contraception! Come learn about this year's anti-choice measures, the pro-choice, proactive strategy to expand access to healthcare in Virginia and how you can get involved!

Featured speaker: Becky Reid, Grassroots Organizer at Planned Parenthood This is a free event. Questions? Contact us at leftofcentercville@gmail.com or 466-9610. Or check our our website at www.leftofcentercville.org.

Wednesday, January 10: 1:30 to 3:00 pm. Senior Statesmen of Virginia meeting will feature Jim Heilman discussing "Democracy Comes to Afganistan? An insider's look at the recent elections for President and Parliament in this eternally war-torn country." At the Northside Library in Albemarle Square Shopping Center. Free and open to the public.

Thursday, January 11: 7:30 pm. Monticello Bird Club meeting in the Education Building, Ivy Creek Natural Area, Earlysville Road, Charlottesville.

The Program topic is “Virginia’s 14 Important Bird Areas”: The Audubon Society has identified the most essential habitats for birds worldwide, and 14 of these “IBA’s” are here in Virginia. The Society’s Aimee Weldon presents a stunning slide show of Virginia’s special birds and habitats. Also at this meeting: information about upcoming winter bird walks and trips led by MBC experts.

Information: Ellen Dudley: 244-2688, Pat Wilczek: 985-4444, Jenny Gaden: 293-6275.

Friday, January 12: Second Friday. Details TBA.

Wednesday, January 17: Equality Virginia's annual Lobby Day at the Legislature in Richmond. Register early by clicking here. No experience is required. We begin the day at aproximately 8 am with a training and issues briefing and then go in teams to meet with elected officials. All materials will be provided to you.

We then end the day with the annual Legislative Reception at the Library of Virginia. Mingle with literally dozens of General Assembly members as you wind down from lobbying.

Both of these events are free and open to all supporters. Further information from info@equalityvirginia.org

Friday, January 19: 11:00 am. Miller Center Forum, "A Conservative Reflects on the 2006 Elections." David A. Keene, former Chair of the American Conservative Union. Further information, directions, (434) 924 0921 or http://www.millercenter.org/

Saturday, January 20: 9:30 am. Regular monthly Charlottesville Albemarle Democratic Breakfast. This month's topic is Electronic Voting Machines. A panel will review serious software issues as well as recent controversies--errors in counting, confusing displays and lack of documentation--and discuss possible paths forward. The moderator will be Election Consultant (and former Albemarle Registrar) Jim Heilman. Panelists include Prof. David Evans of the UVa Computer Science Department, Charlottesville Electoral Board Secretary Rick Sincere and Will Harvey, Secretary of the Albemarle County Electoral Board.

Evans was a citizen member of the Virginia voting equipment subcommittee that led to the Hugo/Davis voting bills currently pending in the legislature.

At JABA, 674 Hillsdale Drive, Charlottesville (Behind Fashion Square and adjacent to the Marriott Suites Hotel) A light breakfast is offered, the event is free and the public is warmly invited.

Wednesday, January 24: 11:00 am. Miller Center Forum, "Aging and the Elephant." Mark E.Williams, M.D., the Ward K. Ensminger Distinguished Professor of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, considers aging from multiple perspectives. Further information, directions, http://www.millercenter.org/ ('Elephant' reference is from the parable of the blind men)

Thursday, January 25th Pro-Choice Lobby Day in Richmond. Buses leave Cville at 8:00 am and return at 3:00 pm

This is the biggest pro-choice event of the year and we need everyone there! Plan to join us in Richmond to lobby your state legislators, see votes and testimony on important issues at committee hearings, and rally with hundreds of pro-choice Virginians from around the state!

Register now at http://www.ppaction.org/ppav/events/2007lobbyday_clone_889001/details.tcl

Thursday, January 25th 11:45 am for Noon start. Vigil of Fasting and Prayer for Redemption and Reconciliation a the Federal Building (intersection of Water, Ridge, and West Main Streets) Sponsored by Clergy and Laity United for Justice and Peace www.CLJP.org . Join other people of faith concerned about the United States' actions in Iraq Contact info@CLJP.org

Monday, January 29: 11:00 am. Miller Center Forum, "Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell." Karen DeYoung, who has reported on the George W. Bush administration's foreign policy since 2001, is an associate editor at The Washington Post. A book signing will follow her Forum. Further information, directions, http://www.millercenter.org/

Wednesday, January 31: 6:50 am meetup at Pantops Giant. Annual Date on the Hill sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Richmond and the Washington DC office of Hadassah. Anyone may attend--male or female, Jewish or not. We will hear talks by our state leaders and have individual meetings with our representatives. We will discuss US-Israel relations, separation of church and state, and women's health concerns. Please contact Phyllis Koch-Sheras, Hadassah American Affiairs Chair, to arrange carpooling 434-973-3536. Leaving Richmond at 1:30 pm.

Wednesday, January 31: 11:00 am. Miller Center Forum, "A Republican Looks at the 2006 Midterm Elections and Contemplates the Future." Edward W. Gillespie, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia. Further information, directions, (434) 924 0921 or http://www.millercenter.org/