Howard Community Events May 15-22, 2008

Thursday 15

PRESENTATIONS WORKSHOP,"How to Make an Effective Presentation," by Jian Wang, president and chief executive of BioFortis, on content preparation, data presentation, techniques used to hold audience attention, delivery and handling questions; sponsored by the Howard Technology Council. 8-10 a.m., Center for Business and Technology Development, 9250 Bendix Rd., Columbia. Free, registration required. 410-313-6550, http://www.hceda.org or ttaylor@hceda.org.

EXERCISE CLASSES, for seniors, a drop-in class, "Age Well Exercise." 8:30-9:20 a.m. Thursdays and Tuesdays, Elkridge Senior Center, 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. $2. 410-313-5192.

TAI CHI, for people 50 and older with arthritis, a beginner class led by instructor Diane Bishop. 10-11 a.m. Thursdays and Tuesdays, East Columbia 50-Plus Center, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. $32 a month; registration required. 410-313-7680.

NOONTIME CENTRAL BOOK CLUB, a discussion of Hilma Wolitzer's novel, "Summer Reading." Noon, Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. Free. 410-313-7860.

SOROPTIMIST CLUB MEETING, for business and professional woman, a dinner meeting of Soroptimist International of Howard County, with remarks on "Howard County Going Green," by Joshua Feldmark, director of the newly created Howard County Office of Environmental Sustainability. 6:15 p.m., Cafe de Paris, 8808 Centre Park Dr., Columbia. Meeting, free; dinner not included; reservations required. 410-750-9413.

DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION, for ages 13-17, play the dance video game. 6:30-8 p.m., Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. 410-313-1955.

AUTISM SOCIETY MEETING, sponsored by the Howard County Autism Society. 7-9 p.m. Thursdays, Oakland Mills Interfaith Center, 5885 Robert Oliver Pl., Columbia. Free. 410-290-6231 or http://www.howard-autism.org.

ELKS JR. BOOK CLUB, for ages 7-9 with an adult, a discussion of Brian Selznick's book "The Invention of Hugo Cabret." 7 p.m., Elkridge Branch Library, 6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. Free, registration required. 410-313-5085.

Friday 16

DROP-IN GAMES, bring lunch. Bridge, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; pinochle, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; duplicate bridge, 12:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Fridays; mah-jongg, 1-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Kiwanis-Wallas Recreation Center, 10481 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Free. 410-313-7279.

CHEMISTRY IN THE LIBRARY, for age 7 and older (children ages 7-8 must be accompanied by an adult), hands-on experiments with chemists from the Army Research Laboratory and the American Chemical Society. 10 a.m., Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Free, registration required. 410-313-1955.

CHEMISTRY PROGRAM, for children 7 and older, hands-on experiments with chemists from the Army Research Laboratory and the American Chemical Society. 1 p.m., Savage Branch Library, 9525 Durness Lane, Laurel. Free, registration required. 410-880-5980.

POETRY WORKSHOP, for poets, Sue Ellen Thompson examines different approaches to writing free verse; funded in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 1 p.m., Ellicott City Senior Center, 9401 Frederick Rd., Ellicott City. Free. 410-313-1400.