Great Falls Group Meetings

Great Falls Group Meetings are open to all and held year-round on the third Monday or Tuesday of each month, with a summer recess from June-August. Although some meetings will continue to be held at the Lake Anne Community Center in Reston, a new rotating system for monthly programs began in October 2008. See bottom of page for meeting addresses and directions for Reston, McLean, and Fairfax.

Fall 2009 Schedule

Date	Topic
July 25	Family Guided Bird Walk, Picnic, and Farm Tour - Join the Great Falls Group for a day of outdoor fun for all ages at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship (BRCES) in Loudoun County. Begin at 8 AM with a guided bird tour by the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy (LWC). A potluck picnic lunch will follow at about 11:30 AM. After lunch, join a tour of the organic farm and see what baby animals were born this spring! Event will end at 2 PM. BRCES is located just north of Neersville, at 11661 Harpers Ferry Road/Route 671. Directions from Leesburg: travel west on US Rt 7, turn right on Rt 9, then turn right again on Rt 671/Harpers Ferry Road. Go six miles to the BRCES entrance on the left, just past the Neersville Fire Station. Check out www.brces.org. Want to carpool? Contact Linda Burchfiel at 703-506-4310 or larva@attglobal.net.
September 21	Water Consciousness - We take our water supply for granted. Yet, the world we live in is rapidly degrading--with everything subject to change. Water Consciousness expands the mind beyond its ordinary pre-occupations to seek answers to questions that now must be asked. Where does our water supply come from? Who owns it, and why? Are there threats to it in the future? Are there steps to take to protect access to it for the future? What about water conservation? What threat does Global Warming pose to the water supply in this area? We invite you to join us as such questions are addressed at the September meeting, which will feature a combined slideshow presentation and group consciousness-raising event with ample opportunities for discussion and engagement. Brian Morrissey will facilitate. He is a long-time educator, author, workshop leader, brain wave researcher, and student of Consciousness. Meeting will be at *Lake Anne Community Center*, 1609 Washington Plaza N., Reston, VA. Socializing and refreshments start at 7 PM with program at 7:30 PM. Contact is Linda Burchfiel at 703-506-4310 or larva@attglobal.net.
October 5	Elections and the Environment - What the elections mean for the environment, and where the elections stand. Meeting will be at *McLean Government Center*, 1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA. Socializing and refreshments start at 7 PM with program at 7:30 PM. Contact is Bob Pearson at 703-690-3071 or bob_pearson@cox.net.
November 14	Tools for Change Workshop: Conservation Advocacy Skills - Expand your advocacy skills and learn the tools needed to move our elected officials to work for a healthy community! Sierra Club's National Organizer for Climate Change Programs will update us on what Congress is doing, followed by workshops on the Media (Tony Iallonardo, National Wildlife Federation), Lobbying Congress (Glenda Booth, National Audubon Society), and Advocacy for the Active Person (Lauren Glickman, Chesapeake Climate Action Network). Refreshments will be served. Program will be from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM on November 14 at *Braddock Hall* (Beltway exit 54), 9002 Burke Lake Road, Springfield VA. See http://www.chesapeakeclimate.org/NOVAclimate to RSVP. For more information, contact Linda Buchfiel at 703-506-4310 or linda@lburchfiel.com.
December 21	Sierra Holiday Party - Enjoy music and a potluck dinner with membrs and other like-minded people at *Lake Anne Community Center*, 1609 Washington Plaza N., Reston, VA. Contact Linda Freimark at LHFJ@Cox.net to coordinate food contributions.
January 11	Upcoming General Assembly Session

View Archive Meeting Information (Fall 2006-Fall 2008)

Directions to Lake Anne Community Center (Joanne Rose Gallery Room), 1609 Washington Plaza, N., Reston: From Route. 7, take Baron Cameron Avenue. From Baron Cameron, turn south (left) onto Village Road, left onto North Shore, then immediate right into the Village Center parking lot. From Fairfax County Parkway, go east on Sunset Hills Road, left onto Reston Parkway, right on Temporary Road, left onto North Shore Drive, about 1 mile, right into the Village Center parking lot. (Exxon Station will be on your left.). The Center is also served by the following Fairfax Connector bus routes: RIBS 1, RIBS 3 and 552. Please see the Fairfax Connector website or the Linkinfo website for detailed schedules.

Directions to McLean Government Center, 1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean: From I-495 N, take exit 46B, then merge onto Route 123 N. Turn left on Great Falls (AKA Lewinsville Road), then right onto Balls Hill Road.

Directions to Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway: From Route 50 E, turn right on Waples Mill Road, turn right on Lee Highway, then make another right turn onto Forum. The Fairfax County Government Center will be on the right.