The American Red Cross is looking for volunteers. Positions are available for desk and telephone receptionists, blood services, computer and web design, public relations, class instructors, fundraising, working in disaster preparedness, and assisting the chapter’s youth program. To volunteer call Tom Viscount at 310.394.3773 x112 from 1-5 pm, Monday through Thursday.
Ananda LA offers free Thursday Night Lectures. Join us every other Thursday at 7:30pm. See web site anandala.org for dates and topics.
LA Arts Academy is offering classes in Art for Kids, Art for Teens, Ceramic Functional Art and Sculpture, Haunted House Workshop and Winter Art Camp. Call 310.829.arts.
The Assistance League of Santa Monica is celebrating their 70th anniversary. Help the ALSM by shopping at their thrift shop, the Assistance League Bargain Bazaar, 1453 14th St., 310.395.2338.
Baha’i Center in Santa Monica located at 3102 Colorado Avenue. For calendar information, call 310.394.7971 or go to santamonicabahai.org.
Beyond Baroque offers free literary workshops, including weekly Tuesday night Creative Non-Fiction, 8pm, weekly Wednesday night Poetry, 8pm, and 4th Saturday Poetry and Prose, 11am, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice, 310.822.3006.
Bilingual Computer Literacy Classes are now being offered, Saturdays, 8:30am-12:45pm, free, University High School, 11800 Texas Ave., WLA, 323.477.2084.
Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Los Angeles and the Inland Empire (BBBSLAIE) is looking for male volunteers to become Big Brothers to boys in need. Call Jenny Biechele at 310.338.0055.
Building inspections are now available online. The City of Santa Monica has launched eInspections.smgov.net, enabling homeowners and contractors to schedule building inspections online. Another option is to call interactive voice response (IVR) system at 310.458.2202.
California Adult Education Center has classes in citizenship, computer skills, ESL, GED preparation and testing, math and reading labs, and high school diploma labs and testing. Classes are available for adults 18 and older, 310.664.6222.
Community Art School is now open in Santa Monica. Classes are offered in a garden setting and are in conjunction with an online learning center, 310.804.0335 or go to campbellart.com.
The 12 Steps for Everybody’s writing meeting, Thursdays 7-8pm, 16730 Bollinger Dr., PP. Call Frank L. at 310.454.5138.
Hire A Hero is a nonprofit program which helps the military community to network and find careers, hireahero.org/donate.
“I’ve Got 7” is a campaign to alert Santa Monicans to disaster preparedness, launched by the Santa Monica Red Cross, the Santa Monica Fire Department and the City of Santa Monica, ivegot7.com.
Santa Monica’s Jiffy Lube Service Center is participating in the Household Batteries Recycling Program. Used batteries can be dropped off at Jiffy Lube, 2344 Pico Blvd., 310.392.1994.
Leads Club is an international organization that offers a weekly forum for business people. The Santa Monica branch meets for breakfast every Thursday from 7:30-8:45am at Bravo Cucina, 1319 Third Street Promenade, 310.442.5752.
Mother’s Prayer Group meets Wednesdays at 10am and allows mothers to get together for prayer, teaching, camaraderie, and support. Childcare provided for small fee. Westside Vineyard, 3838 S. Centinela Ave, LA, 310.391.7366.
Mt. Olive Film Night, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Blvd., entertaining and thought-provoking films shown on 2nd and 4th Saturdays, supper at 6pm, films start at 7pm, free, 310.452.1116.
Free Music Lessons, with Ryan, all ages and levels, by audition only, 310.804.0138.
Recovery Inc. is a nonprofit self-help mental health group that conducts free (donation requested) weekly meetings. Meetings are Fridays, 6pm at Share, 5521 Grosvenor, LA, 310.306.6766.
Recycle your old electronics. To request a pick-up go to californiarecycles.com.
Relief Beads are handmade bead bracelets that raise money for Relief International’s work in Darfur. To purchase a bracelet go to reliefbeads.org.
Sand and & Sea Speakers is a top-ranking Toastmasters club. Learn to become a more confident, poised speaker, Best Western Gateway Hotel, Carousel Room, 1920 Santa Monica Blvd., Monday nights, 7-9pm, 310.474.7704.
The Santa Monica Conservancy’s walking tour of downtown Santa Monica is offered weekly. Tours, led by docents from the Conservatory. Meet at 10am every Saturday at Hostelling International, 1436 2nd St. Cost $10 general, $5 for Conservancy members, RSVP to 310.496.3146.
Santa Monica Oceanaires barbershop harmony chorus invites men of all ages and voice parts to sing each Tuesday, 7-10pm, Church of Christ, 9733 Venice Blvd., WLA, oceanaires.org, 310.202.1380.
SMC’s Continuing Education Program is offering free ESL and Citizenship classes, 1-4pm Wednesdays, at SMC’s Bundy campus, 3171 S. Bundy Dr., LA, and at the Madison campus, Santa Monica Blvd. and 11th St. 310.434.3400.
Soroptimist is a service organization available to help women and children, meetings are held the first and third Wednesday of each month, 310.395.6168.
Stitches from the Heart needs volunteers to knit, crochet or quilt blankets and baby sweaters and hats for those in need. Call Kathy Silverton at 866.472.6903.
Toys For Tots’ 60th annual toy drive is now on. Woodlawn Cemetery & Mausoleum, at 1847 14th St., is an official toy drop-off location. Donations of unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the cemetery business office through December 13, Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-4pm.
Treepeople’s Gift of Life program offers a chance for people to honor loved ones by planting trees dedicated to them. A single tree is $25 and a grove of five is $100, treepeople.org.
The West LA Bird Club meets the second Wednesday of every month, 7:30pm, at the Culver City American Legion Hall, 5309 S. Sepulveda Blvd., CC. Members can bring their feathered friends as long as the birds are clipped, caged, or harnessed. There are speakers, refreshments and camaraderie with bird lovers. Bring this listing to a future meeting for complementary one-time guest admission, 310.345.0800.
Write Away, share your existing work in a supportive, constructive, free weekly meeting, noon-2: 30pm, Tuesdays and third Monday of the month, Fairview Branch Library, 2101
ZenErotic Writing Group for Women meets Thursday, December 6, 7-9:30pm. For location and other information e-mail Carola at CarolaRoswitha@gmail.com
