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. Call 803-853-0052.

The Center for Women offers support services. 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. For details, call 803-884-0624.

Gamblers Anonymous meets 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.

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.

People Against Rape, serving survivors of sexual assault, their families and friends in the tricounty area, depends on volunteers to provide crisis intervention, advocacy and information. PAR is expanding its services in Berkeley County, where reported rapes increased 47 percent last year, and urgently needs volunteers to provide medial and legal aide to rape victims. Call 803-761-7170 to find out how you can help.

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

The Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry will meet Sept. 21 at the Unitarian Church, 4 Archdale St. at 4:00 p.m. and will feature the talk: "A Humanist's perspective on religions of California and other foreign countries." All interested individuals are welcome. Call 803-763-4505 or visit on the Web at: http://www.serve.com/SECHUMLO.

COLUMBIA

The Airport Codependency Meeting, working for better relationships from a 12-step point of view, meets Sunday and Thursday nights at 7:30 at Willow House on Boston Ave. Call 803-731-5920.

Amnesty International helps eradicate human rights abuses worldwide. In Columbia, call 803-216-0097, and visit the Web site at http://members.aol.com/leighline/index.html.

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 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.

Need a pal? 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 needed.

A Centennial Celebration of William Faulkner will be held Sept. 4 and 5 at the University of South Carolina. All events are open to the public. For details, call 803-777-2340.

Columbia Audubon Society sponsors a variety of free events. Call the Infoline at 803-748-9066.

The Columbia Film Society seeks 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. Call 803-254-9048.

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

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

HELPLINE, a crisis intervention, suicide prevention and referral hotline 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 Tuesdays at 7 p.m.; and PFLAG, a support group for family members, meets the third Thursday of each month at 1108 Woodrow St. Call 803-771-7713.

Hospice Homecare Resources seeks volunteers to provide care to patients with terminal illness. A training course will be held Sept. 10 and 11. Call 800-238-1884 for details.

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. Call 803-779-7257.

Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) meets the third Thursday of each month at St. Martin's in the Field clubhouse at 6 p.m.

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

Rape Crisis Network offers a support group for recent adult rape victims every 4th Tuesday at 7 p.m at Richland Memorial. Support groups in Lexington and Richland counties will begin in August; call 803-252-8394 for details. The Network's 24-hour hotline is 803-771-RAPE.

The Richland County Foster Care Advocate Association needs volunteers tutors for foster children at the Children Center, in the Midlands Shopping Center Mon. - Thur. 4 - 7 p.m. To help, call 803-691-1591 or 803-748-9019. Respond by Sept. 12; program begins Oct. 1.

This year's cleanup effort, River Sweep, at the Congaree Swamp National Monument will be held on Sept. 20, 9 - noon. The Monument is the largest intact tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States. Call 803-776-4396.

The S.C. Committee Against Hunger's advocacy center is located at 1919 Hampton St. Its hotline, 1-800-529-5837, links clients with services. Call 800-529-5837

The S.C. Prgressive Network meets the third Wednesday of each month at the GROW building, 18 Bluff Rd. This month the group, which welcomes all interested persons, will meet at 6 p.m. to discuss SC-ProVote, a voting coalition, and a fall conference. Call 803-808-3384.

The Saluda Shoals Foundation will offer an evening with Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of the legendary ocean pioneer, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Convention Center. For details, call 803-772-3903.

Vis-a-Vis is a confidential support group for bisexual women. Call 803-771-7713 and leave a first name and phone number where and when you may be contacted.

GREENVILLE

Amnesty International - Greenville meets the last Tuesday of every month at 102 Mills Ave. For details, call 864-294-2208.

The Piedmont Chapter of the ACLU will hold a fundraiser Sept. 14 at 4:30 p.m. at Cafe & Then Some, which will include a performance of "Midnight in the Garden of the Mean and Hateful."

STATEWIDE

AWARE (Advocates Working for Animals and Respect for the Environment works to educate about animal abuse and lifestyle changes which promote the environment and health. Animal abuse hotline, bimonthly newsletter, quarterly public meetings featuring leaders in the movement. Call 803-842-8090.

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 groups in your area.

Voters for Choice Education Fund is recruiting young people aged 15 - 24 to take part in the Gloria Steinem North Carolina Pro-Choice Leadership Institute that will run in Raleigh-Durham from September August. Participation is open to young people who support women's right to make reproductive decisions without government interference, and will learn grassroots activist skills needed to make a difference in the democratic process. For details, call 202-588-8775.

Deadline to enter the North American Open Poetry Contest is Sept. 30. The contest is free and open to everyone. To enter, send one original poem, any subject and style, to: The National Library of Poetry, Suite 1993, 1 Poetry Plaza, Owings Mills, MD 21117-6282. The poem should be no more than 20 lines, and must include the poet's name and address on the top of the page.

Grassroots activists of all kinds: Mark your calendars now so you won't miss the Progressive Strategy Conference Nov. 15-16 at historic Penn Center in Beaufort. Sponsored by the S.C. Progressive Network and the state AFL-CIO. For a free brochure, call 803-808-3384.

Public Campaign is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to taking special-interest money out of elections. Find out how you can get involved by calling 202-293-0222 or by visiting its Web site: www.publicampaign.org.

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 help. 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 S.C. Center for the Book has a toll-free number. 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 S.C. 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.

WESTMINSTER

S.C. Forest Watch meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 113 Retreat St. in Westminster. Forest Watch is a citizens' group that educates policymakers and the public on the importance of managing public resources, and facilitates citizen involvement in public land planning. Call 864-647-8804.