CHARLESTON

52% is a women's grassroots political action group. Come to the monthly business meeting at 7:30, Oct. 20, at the Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. The group will discuss current and upcoming legislation, and suggest ways in which you can make life difficult for unresponsive politicians. Bring a friend. 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.

Charleston Habitat for Humanity builds homes in partnership with people from all walks of life to eliminate poverty housing and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Call 803-722-7145.

East Cooper Democrats hold their monthly Democratic Revival on the first Tuesday of each month. For details, call 803-884-0624.

Gamblers Anonymous meets Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 6650 Dorchester Rd. Call 803-744-4357.

For information on gay-related events, contact the Lowcountry Gay and Lesbian Alliance at 803-720-8088. National Coming Out Day will be observed in Charleston with a week of local events beginning on Oct. 12. Call 803-577-3312.

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 in the tricounty area, depends on volunteers to provide crisis intervention, advocacy and information. PAR is expanding its services in Berkeley County and needs volunteers to provide medical and legal aide to rape survivorss. Call 803-761-7170.

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

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.

Allergy and Asthma Community Education, a free session, will be offered on Oct. 23, 7-9 p.m., at Richland Memorial Hospital. Call 803-788-7004.

The Midlands chapter of American Business Women's Association and The Pilot Club of Columbia Foundation will hold a benefit auction at the Capital Senior Center at 1650 Park Circle on Oct. 9, 6:30-9 p.m. Call 803-733-1800 or 803-739-9448.

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

Carolina Cats needs temporary homes for cats awaiting adoption. Vet care and supplies provided. Call 803-791-7707. Donations of all kinds needed.

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.

The Midlands Crop Walk will be held on Oct. 19 beginning at 2:30 p.m. at Finlay Park. The 10K walk, in its 19th year, has raised more than $350 thousand to fight hunger. Call 803-781-5901.

Eckankar, the religion of the Light and Sound of God, will hold its monthly worship service on Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian Church, corner of Woodrow and Heyward. Call 803-771-6874.

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.

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

"Owl Prowls" are being held this fall at the Congaree Swamp National Monument to give pavement dwellers the chance to see the sights and hear the sounds of a bottomland hardwood forest at night. The walks last about two hours and are free. Reserve your space by calling 803-776-4396 ext. 304.

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 Network is recruiting volunteers to attend a four-session training in October to prepare them to provide support and information to survivors of sexual assault.

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

S.C. Democratic Women's Council will hold a statewide forum on Oct. 18 for women interested in becoming candidates for public office. The event at the Sheraton Hotel at 2100 Bush River Rd. will include a panel discussion, a training session and speaker Brenda Reddix-Smalls, executive director of the S.C. Conference NAACP. Call 800-841-1917.

The S.C. Progressive Network meets the third Wednesday of each month at the GROW building, 18 Bluff Rd. The group welcomes all persons interested in the democratic process and in creating a more equitable South Carolina. The coalition of grassroots groups, in cooperation with the state AFL-CIO, will hold a strategy conference Nov. 15-16 at Penn Center in Beaufort. Call 803-808-3384. (See ad next page.)

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.

YWCA of the Midlands invites the Midlands to join them for the third annual Week Without Violence. Call 803-252-2151 ext. 22.

USC's Women's Studies research series this month will feature "Color, Gender and Class: a Guided Tour Through a Greater Antillean Maze," by anthropology professor Faye Harrison. The event is free, and begins at 3:30 in Gambrell Hall, Rm. 250.

GREENVILLE

Amnesty International-Greenville meets the last Tuesday of every month at 102 Mills Ave. Call 864-294-2208.

SC-NOW will hold its statewide conference, "Patchwork Majority Fighting the Right," on Oct. 18, 9-5 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist fellowship, 37 East Hilcrest Dr. Call 864-297-0152.

STATEWIDE

ACLU-SC will hold its annual membership meeting and legislative forum on Nov. 1. The group's foundation benefit will be held that night at the Holiday Inn Coliseum at USC-Columbia. Call 803-799-5151.

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.

   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.