As we welcome 2025, many are wondering what this year will be like. While we can't control what happens, we can all do what is possible to make this year as good as it can be. Your NoVES board has been working hard to find more ways that we can help to bring out the best in NoVES, our local Virginia community, and our nation.
January 5- To build our community, we will start the new year on with an in-person only Winter Festival. We will gather to share our feelings about winter through readings, enjoy a potluck lunch together, make some crafts and talk about the year ahead. More information is in the last NoVES newsletter and online.
January 12 - this will be a zoom only event to discuss "Forgiving Others", an important topic to address as we navigate working towards a better NoVES Society.
Saturday, January 18- everyone is encouraged to join the People's March in Washington, DC, to affirm our commitment to human rights. This march will send a message to the incoming administration that there are many Americans that are still fighting to further human rights. A meeting place will be announced on the website, so please register if you want to get the latest updates.
Sunday, January 19- we will work on helping our local Fairfax community. Speakers from SURJ, a No VA chapter of a national network of groups and individuals organizing white people for racial justice, will talk with us about what we as a society can do to help this important cause. We hope members and friends of NoVES will show up in person to listen to these speakers, but a zoom option will be available.
Tuesday, January 21- The next event will be participation in Democracy Day in Richmond. This is a day to lobby our state government representatives with a clear message in support of campaign finance and ethics reform, ranked choice voting, and access to the ballot. Iris and I have already signed up to go and we hope some others of you will join us at this important event.
For those unable to participate in these special events, there are other ways you can be supportive. If you have time to volunteer for NoVES, we have many committees that can use help such as the Sunday morning Platform team, the Sound Team, the Membership committee and more. Please talk to any board member if you can help out. And if you are unable to participate in these events, but have the resources to help out financially, that is always appreciated by these organizations.
Whatever you choose to do, just know that the actions of one person can make a difference and will be greatly appreciated. And to those who have been working already to make NoVES the best, many thanks for all you do, And Happy New Year to all NoVES Members and Friends from your President, Chris Van Dyke
