CHARLESTON

The 52%, a women's political action group, will meet on Feb. 12 for Happy Hour at 5:30 p.m. at Kiva Han Cafe and Coffeehouse on East Bay Street. It will hold its monthly business meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 16 at Lance Hall at the Circular Congregational Church on Meeting Street.

Ad executive Rachel Gaunt will speak on "Badvertising: The Distorted Images of Women in Advertising" at the College of Charleston on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. in the Stern Center Ballroom. Call 803-953-5522 for details.

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. 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.

Join Lowcountry AIDS Services to kick off Dining With Friends 1998 on Feb. 24 at 6 pm in the Gold Room of the Francis Marion Hotel. Find out how you can be a host. You'll ever have a better excuse to throw a party! To sign up, 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.

People Against Rape, serving survivors of sexual assault in the tricounty area, depends on volunteers to provide crisis intervention, advocacy and information. PAR needs volunteers to provide medical and legal aid to rape survivors. 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.

Amnesty International helps eradicate human rights abuses worldwide. In Columbia, call 803-216-0097, or 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 for information.

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 Alliance for Fair Employment is holding a Midlands chapter meeting on Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m. at Richland County Library. Call the CAFE office in Greenville at 864-235-2926 for details.

Carolina Cats needs temporary homes for cats awaiting adoption. Vet care and supplies provided. For more information on how you can help, 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.

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.

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 your help. Call 803-739-9333.

Rape Crisis Network offers a support group for recent adult rape victims every 4th Tuesday at 7 p.m at Richland Memorial. Call 803-252-8394 for details.

A reading and discussion of the works of Gloria Naylor will be held at the Koger Center at 3:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

Saturday Morning Out is an opportunity for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgendered and transsexual individuals to meet and fellowship. SMO is held the 2nd Saturday of each month, 10 - noon, at the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship at Heyward and Woodrow in Shandon.

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

Vis-a-Vis is a confidential support group for bisexual women. Call 803-771-7713 and leave a first name and phone number.

GREENVILLE

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

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 for information.

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

Call the GI Rights Hotline at 1-800-FYI-95GI to be connected with groups in your area.

Planned Parenthood of South Carolina is offering a variety of events the week of Feb. 14 - 21 to mark National Condom Week. To promote responsible behavior and to raise awareness about the efficacy of condoms in preventing sexually transmitted diseases, Planned Parenthood in Columbia, Hilton Head and Beaufort is sponsoring condom giveaways at local bars, nightclubs and businesses, is distributing information on college campuses and is selling "condomgrams" at clinic sites. Free HIV testing at the Hilton Head clinic is also offered; appointments necessary. Call 803-681-7774 for more information.

   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.