BEAUFORT

    Beaufort County Coalition for Choice is building a network. To be added to its Action Alert mailing list, call 803-671-3449.

    CHARLESTON

    52%, a women's political action group, meets the third Monday of each month. The group also meets for happy hour every second Thursday at 5:30 at Kiva Han Cafe & Coffee House, 235 East Bay St., followed by a board meeting (open to all) at 7 p.m. Also, volunteers are needed for clinic defense at the Charleston Women's Medical Clinic Saturday mornings, 7:30 - 10 a.m., to protect women from protesters. Call 803-853-0052.

    The Center for Women offers support services and enrichment programs for women. Hours are 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Mondays; 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tues. - Fri. The Center offers a support group for expectant mothers every 2nd and 4th Monday at 11:30 a.m. at 20 Mary St. Call 803-772-4909.

    East Cooper Democrats hold their monthly Democratic Revival on the first Tuesday of each month. Call 803-884-0624 or 884-6312.

    Gamblers Anonymous holds meetings every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church Community Bldg., Rm. 5, 6650 Dorchester Rd. Call 803-744-4357.

    For information on gay-related events in your area, contact the Lowcountry Gay and Lesbian Alliance at 803-720-8088.

    Lowcountry AIDS Services seeks people to host dinner parties in their homes as part of its major fundraiser Dining With Friends, which will take place on April 19. For details or to host a party, call 803-577-2437.

    Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) meets the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at Metropolitan Community Church, 2010 Hawthorne Dr. Call 803-856-0577.

    Pet Helpers will hold a Grand Ol' Auction on May 4 at 6 p.m. at the Sheraton at Brittlebank Park. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. All proceeds go to help homeless pets. Call 803-795-4450.

    The Poets' Corner is a group for published and unpublished writers. For a calendar of events, send SASE to 5009 Jenkins Ave., N. Charleston, SC 29405.

    COLUMBIA

    The Women's Resource Center offers a Legal Information Clinic for Women. An attorney is available Mondays, 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. Cost is $5 per session. Call the YWCA of the Midlands at 803-252-2151.

    Call the Association for Children for Enforcement of Support for information on collecting child support. Call 803-951-7248 (Lexington County) or 803-755-6713 (Richland). Services are free.

    Adopt a pet from the Animal Protection League, 6080 Old Leesville Rd. Call 803-783-2119.

    Carolina Cats, a pet rescue foundation, needs temporary homes for cats awaiting adoption. Vet care and supplies provided. Call 803-791-7707. Donations of all kinds are gratefully accepted. Write: P.O. Box 210705, Columbia, SC 29221.

    Columbia Audubon Society sponsors a variety of free events. Call 803-737-7204 or the Audubon Society's Infoline, 803-748-9066.

    The Columbia Film Society, a nonprofit community arts organization, is looking for volunteers. Call 803-254-8234.

    The Columbia Shambhala Center offers free meditation instruction on Wednesdays 7 - 8 p.m., and Sundays 9 - noon at 2065 Blossom St. in Five Points. Call 803-254-9048 for details.

    The Columbia Zen Group meets Sundays from 6 - 8 p.m. at 2065 Blossom St. Call 803-779-4902.

    Harvest Hope Food Bank needs volunteers. Call 803-765-9181.

    HELPLINE, the 24-hour crisis intervention, suicide prevention and referral hotline of the Midlands needs volunteers. Call 803-790-4357.

    Hombres!, a support group for gay men, meets at 7 p.m. Mondays; Les Ms., a confidential group for gay women, meets on Tuesdays at 7 p.m.; and PFLAG, a support group for family members, meets the third Thursday of each month at the Center, 1108 Woodrow St. For details, call 803-771-7713.

    The Institute for Southern Studies will present two lectures this month on life and art in the modern South. On April 14 professor William Megginson will speak on "Pendleton's Black Community in 1900" at 3:30 at Gambrell Hall, Rm. 152, at USC. On April 22 professor Miles Richards will present "The Eminent Lieutenant McKaine of Sumter: an Overview of the Life of Civil Rights Activist Osceola McKaine" at 3:30 in Rm. 258. For details, call 803-777-2340.

    The Columbia Branch NAACP meets the third Sunday of each month. Call 803-256-8771.

    Palmetto AIDS Life Support Services offers confidential support groups for people with HIV; one for HIV+ men and women, one for HIV+ women only. Call 803-779-7257.

    Pets Inc., a pet rescue group in the Midlands, needs your help. Call 803-749-9391.

    Rape Crisis Network is offering safety classes for teen girls aged 13 to 19 on April 19 and 26 at Women's Place, Baptist Medical Center, 1501 Sumter St. To register, call 803-252-8393. Rape Crisis also offers a support group for recent adult rape victims every 4th Tuesday at 7 p.m at Richland Memorial. Sessions are free and facilitated by professionals. The Network's 24-hour hotline is 771-RAPE.

    Vis-a-Vis is a confidential social support group for bisexual women. To assure anonymity, meetings and locations may change regularly. Call 803-771-7713 and leave a first name and phone number stating where and when you may be contacted.

    GREENVILLE

    Downtown Residential Neighborhood (DRN) is establishing a citywide neighborhood network to protect communities from rezoning, crime, substandard housing problems and the like. Call 864-271-7678 for details.

    STATEWIDE

    Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse offers 24-hour crisis line counseling, emergency shelter and help with orders of protection. Call 1-800-868-2632.

    Call the GI Rights Hotline at 1-800-FYI-95GI to be connected with organizations in your area for assistance and support.

    Rural Southern Voice for Peace offers The Listening Project, conflict resolution training, public education and action. Call 803-252-2221.

    Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness offers legal assistance with rights violations. For information, call 1-800-922-5225.

    Quaker House offers soldiers help. Want out? AWOL? Homosexual? Call Quaker House at 1-800-FYI-95GI (394-9544) for free, confidential information about your rights and discharge options. Call 803-252-2221 for a Columbia contact.

    The Recycle for Gold program lets you recycle your unwanted car simply by calling 1-800-590-1600. The program benefits the donors, the environment and the 11,000 athletes in the S.C. Special Olympics.

    The S.C. Center for the Book, dedicated to building a "book culture," has a toll-free number. You can fax 803-765-9219 or call 1-888-SC-READS or 803-765-9209 to leave information about a book-related event or to hear a list of upcoming events.

    The South Carolina Organ Procurement Agency offers speakers for groups and clubs. Call 1-800-462-0755.

       The S.C. Sierra Club holds monthly meetings across the state. Find the group nearest to you and help wage the fight to save South Carolina's environment.

Charleston	1st Thursday	Baruch Auditorium, 284 Calhoun St. 7 p.m.
Clemson	1st Tuesday	Unitarian Church, 226 Pendleton Rd. 7:30 p.m.
Columbia	3rd Monday	Unitarian Church, 2710 Heyward St. 7:30 p.m.
Florence	2nd Thursday	John Calvin Presbyterian, 2000 Marsh Ave. 7:30 p.m.
Greenville	3rd Wednesday	Unitarian Church, 37 Hillcrest Dr. 7:30 p.m.
Hilton Head Island	1st Tuesday	Palmetto Electric Bldg., Matthews Dr. 7:30 p.m.
Murrells Inlet	2nd Monday	Belin Methodist Ed. Bldg., Business 17 7:30 p.m.
Rock Hill	2nd Thursday	Wesley Foundation, corner of Stewart and Park 7:30 p.m.