Academic Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (AFICE) is looking for individuals to work as Community Representatives, who will find host families for international students and will work with them and their families. Call Anne Ring, 866.462.3423.
The American Red Cross is looking for volunteers. Various positions are available. To volunteer, call Tom Viscount at 310.394.3773 x112 from 1-5 pm, Monday-Thursday.
The Artists’ League of the Santa Monica Bay Woman’s Club invites you to drop in Tuesdays from 11am-3pm to work on independent projects in water color, gouache, and collage. $3 donation benefits the nonprofit “Free Arts for Abused Children.” 1210 4th St., Santa Monica. Info: 310.310.2273.
Baha’i Center in Santa Monica is located at 3102 Colorado Avenue, 310.394.7971 or santamonicabahai.org.
Beyond Baroque offers free writing workshops including Monday night Literary and Experimental Fiction, 8pm, Tuesday night Creative Non-Fiction, 8pm, Wednesday night poetry, 8pm, Thursday night alt screenplay, 8pm, Saturday afternoon poetry 1:30pm, and 4th Saturday of the month morning poetry and prose 11am. Beyond Baroque Literary / Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice, 310.822.3006.
The City of Santa Monica is seeking proposals from artists and/or artist teams for temporary art installations for the city’s biannual all-night event, GLOW. Proposals may be submitted by all professional artists and/or artist teams who live or work in Los Angeles County and must be received no later than Monday, April 12, 2010 at 5pm.For more detailed information, including application requirements, please view the full RFP at: http://www.glowsantamonica.org.
Donate blood on Monday and Wednesdays at the American Red Cross of Santa Monica, 1450 11th St. Hours for donations vary, so call to schedule an appointment. 1.800.GIVE.LIFE or 1.888.POR.FAVOR.
Food Addicts Anonymous has free meetings every Saturday from 11:30am-12:30pm at the Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, 6700 W. 83rd St., Westchester. There are no dues or fees, just the desire to abstain from the foods we crave. foodaddictsanonymous.org.
Kentwood Players is auditioning for “As You Like It,” to be presented in July. Audition dates are April 24, 3-6pm, and April 25, 6-10pm, at the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester. The directors request that you be familiar with the characters and prepare a classical monologue, or be prepared to read a monologue from sides. Please bring a headshot, resume, and your appointment calendar with you to the auditions.
The Marshall McLuhan-Finnegans Wake Reading Club meets first Tuesdays from 6-8pm at the Lloyd Taber-Marina Del Rey Library, 4533 Admiralty Way, MDR, 310.306.7330 or venicewake.org.
Meals on Wheels West needs volunteers to deliver meals to homebound people in Santa Monica. Deliveries are from 11am-1pm, Mondays-Fridays. To volunteer call 310.394.7558.
Mt. Olive Film Night, entertaining and thought-provoking films shown on the second Saturdays of each month, supper at 6pm, films start at 7pm, free, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 1343 Ocean Park Blvd., 310.452.1116.
Musicians invited to meet weekly and perform in concert with the Brentwood-Westwood Symphony Orchestra, Tuesdays, 6:30pm, bandroom, Paul Revere Middle School, 1450 Allenford Ave., Brentwood, 310.829.3149.
Pacific Jewish Center-The Shul on the Beach, has started a free lecture series, “Monday Night Connections,” at 8pm with Rabbi Eliyahu Fink, who will explore connections between Torah concepts. The class takes place at the synagogue’s “annex,” 726 Rose Avenue, Venice, 310.392.8749.
Recovery International provides tools and practice in changing thinking habits so individuals can gain personal control over distressing emotions and improve general well-being. This worldwide non-profit organization, founded in 1937, holds weekly meetings every Saturday, 10:30am at Trinity Church, California & 11th St., Santa Monica. Free, but free will contributions welcomed. For more information, call 310.476.1741 or go to www.lowselfhelpsystems.org.
Relaxation & Visualization for Cancer Patients & Family, intended to help improve the quality of life for people with cancer and their loved ones. Every Wednesday, 6:15-7pm,
The Wellness Community -West LA, 2716 Ocean Park Blvd., Boulevard, Ste. 1040.
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.
Santa Monica’s Solid Waste Division’s website answers many residential and business customer queries. To learn how to set up recycling programs at apartment buildings, what to do with unwanted electronics devices, where to drop off bulky items like refrigerators, and answers to many more questions go to smgov.net/swm.
SMC’s Continuing Education Program is offering free ESL and Citizenship classes, 1-4pm Wednesdays, at SMC’s Bundy campus, 3171 S. Bundy Dr., WLA, and at the Madison campus, 1310 11th St., 310.434.3400.
Sojourn Services for Battered Women and Their Children will begin their Volunteer Training on Tuesday, April 6, 2010. The training is held twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:30pm to 9:30pm and runs through June 2010. *This training is mandatory for anyone who would like to volunteer at Sojourn.* To enroll or for more information call 310.264.6646 x225 or email *sojournvolunteertraining@opcc.net.*
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.
Take a walk through Santa Monica history! The Santa Monica Conservancy conducts downtown walking tours every Saturday at 10am. Tickets are $5 for Conservancy members, $10 for non-members. For reservations, call 310.496.3146 or go to smconservancy.org.
Volunteers are needed for the Docent Training Program for Annenberg Community Beach House. Go to beachhouse.smgov.net for more information.
Volunteers are needed at California state parks on Saturday, April 17th for the 13th annual California State Parks Foundation’s (CSPF) Earth Day 2010 Restoration & Cleanup presented by PG&E. Earth Day is commemorating its 40th anniversary and is encouraging California residents and businesses to actively participate in environmental improvement projects in their communities. Statewide, thousands of volunteers each year plant native trees and community gardens, restore trails and wildlife habitats, remove trash and debris from beaches and parklands and make overdue repairs to fences and boardwalks. Volunteers of all ages are encouraged to help restore the beauty of California’s treasured state parks.For a complete list of project sites, call 1.888.98.PARKS or visit www.calparks.org.
Volunteer to conduct guided programs for school groups and the general public, host a nature center, or patrol park trails. For more information contact Lisa Ann Carillo, 310.858.7272.
UCLA Health System seeks volunteers who must commit to at least four hours per week. Orientation and training are provided to help volunteers become valuable members of the UCLA Health System team. The UCLA Health System’s Volunteer Services department will host an Open House in Santa Monica on April 14 from 3 to 4pm and in Westwood on April 22 from 2-3 pm. Reservations are required. For more information about the upcoming Open House sessions or general volunteer inquiries at the Westwood branch please call 310. 267.8180 or for Santa Monica call 310.319.3580.
Zen meditation group led by Sensei Daishin Buksbazen, teacher at Zen Center of Los Angeles meets weekly on Wednesday evening at the Hill Street Center, 237 Hill Street, Santa Monica. Meditation instruction for newcomers held at 7 to 7:30pm, Zazen from 7:30 to 9pm, Dharma talk the first Wednesday of each month. Contact Sensei Daishin at 310.315.3506 or daishin@zcla.org.