We live in horse and hound country, right next door to one of the nation's leading hi-tech corridors, and you might like to know about some organizations that interest us.
LOUDOUN HORSE ASSOCIATION.  You may want to join this group and participate with others who are as interested in every kind of horse discipline and every kind of breed, from those who just like horses to professionals.  This is a great opportunity to meet and greet as well as to learn about your horse.  You can write us if you're interested in getting involved (jonflan@aol.com or precious14me2@aol.com )	MASTER GARDENERS Holly is a Virginia Master Gardener, edited the newsletter, and does what she can to help make things grow green.  If you have any interest in gardening and greenery, you might consider becoming involved yourself. The Loudoun County Master Gardener Volunteer Program mission is to develop volunteer educators who provide the public with gardening information that draws on the horticultural research and experience of Virginia Tech and Virginia State University. If you want to know more, visit the web site: http://www.loudouncountymastergardeners.org.
THE SMILE TRAIN - A WORTHY CHARITY    Unlike many charities that do many different things, The Smile Train is focused on solving a single problem: cleft lip and palate.  We have contributed and if you go to their web site by clicking on "worthy charity" (above), you may be hard pressed to ignore what, with a little money, can change the life of a young child.   Clefts are a major problem in developing countries where there are millions of children who are suffering with unrepaired clefts. Most cannot eat or speak Properly.  They also aren’t allowed to attend school or hold a job.  They therefore face very difficult lives filled with shame and isolation, pain and heartache.   The good news is every single child with a cleft can be helped with surgery that costs as little as $250 and takes as little as 45 minutes.   This is Smile Train's mission:     -To provide free cleft surgery for millions of poor children in developing countries.     -To provide free cleft-related training for doctors and medical professionals.   Until there are no more children who need help and we have completely eradicated the problem of clefts, we have to be concerned about this challenge, and even $25 is a step in the right direction.	Jazz is a style of music with a strong but flexible rhythm requiring improvisation while maintaining a tune’s harmony.  Jazz is like a good political campaign. And vice versa.  We are heart sick that Judy Feder lost her race for congress. In the closing days of the 2008 campaign, we gave a fund-raiser for Judy. The CG Duo – comprised of sax, song and keyboard.  Four years ago the CG Duo played in Loudoun in the last presidential campaign, and since then they have received rave reviews at Lightfoot and fine dining venues throughout the tri-state area. Judy was the right person for the job; but the time was not hers.
The Sierra Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. We encourage you to see what they're saying - if not to join.  It's about nothing less than the air we breathe and the water we drink. The Virginia Chapter is 17,000 members strong. They are our friends and neighbors working to build healthy, livable communities, and to conserve and restore our natural environment.  Sign up now -- http://virginia.sierraclub.org/	LOUDOUN COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE It's our local county party organization and we belong because the members believe that the role of good government is to lead our community and provide: a sound education, proper nutrition, quality medical care, a healthy environment, and a strong national defense. The recent election of Obama-Biden with the help of Loudoun County and the LCDC is the latest large step forward to accomplish our shared goals. Visit the LCDC website and consider joining: http://www.loudoundemocrats.org/