Tuesday, Oct. 24

Computer classes

The Venice Area Chamber of Commerce's Senior Outreach Committee, in conjunction with the Venice High School Future Business Leaders Club, offers free classes to area seniors on basic computer instruction, the Internet, e-mail, and Internet product purchasing to senior citizens, 2-3:30 p.m., in the high school's computer center at 1 Indian Ave. VHS students conduct the instructional classes on an individual basis with the seniors. Each senior will have a computer to operate with a student alongside. RSVP to Dave Pierce or Michelle Ryan at 488-2236.

Meditations

Serenity Gardens hosts Connecting to your Core, morning meditations with Kim Braun, 8:30-9:30 a.m., at 602 E. Venice Ave. Donations welcome. Call 486-3577 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The great outdoors

* The Venice Area Audubon Society meets at the Venice Community Center, 326 S. Nokomis Ave. Social at 6:30 p.m., meeting at 7 p.m. Owen Comora, senior volunteer bird interpreter at Myakka State Park, discusses Confusing Shorebirds of the Gulf Coast. The public is welcome to this free event. Call 496-8984.

* The Manatee-Sarasota Sierra Club holds a conservation meeting at 7 p.m. in the second-floor conference room at Selby Public Library, 1331 First St., Sarasota. Topics include candidate interviews and endorsements, red tide update, conservation plans and more. All are welcome. Call Gayle at 923-5903.

'Partners for Life'

A free class for couples, based on the prevention and relationship enhancement program, meets 6-8 p.m., Tuesdays, Oct. 24-Dec. 5, at Loveland Center, 157 South Havana Road in Venice. To register, call Vince at 953-5507, Ext. 127, or sign up online at http://childrenfirst.net/programsclasses/classsignup.cfm.

Candidates forum

The Nokomis Area Civic Association hosts Cookies and Candidates, Part II, at 7 p.m. at the Nokomis Community Center, 234 East Nippino Trail. Meet the final candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressional Districtt 13 and the Florida House of Representatives, District 70. Visit naca-nokomis.com.

Railway society

The Suncoast chapter of the National Railway Historical Society meets at 7 p.m. in the public meeting room of the Sarasota Fire Station, 2070 Waldemere St., Sarasota. Allen Jelks will present a program on Australian railroads. Call 497-6356.

Golf tournament

The Sarasota Manatee Council of the Navy League of the United States is sponsoring its first charity golf tournament at 11 a.m. at Misty Creek Golf & Country Club, 8954 Misty Creek Drive, Sarasota. All golfers welcome. Cost is $100 per person and includes 18 holes of golf, a buffet dinner and great prizes. Format is best 2 of 4 balls with a shotgun start. Proceeds support scholarships for students at local high school Navy and Marine Corps JROTC units; U.S. Coast Guard Station Cortez sailors and their families; and "welcome" receptions for U.S. warships visiting the Port of Tampa. Call Al Burda at 493-9376 or Jerry St. Germain at 492-6266.

Pre-Thanksgiving potluck

Senior Friendship Centers holds its fifth annual early holiday potluck luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Venice Community Center, 326 S. Nokomis Ave. Last names beginning with A-K, bring a main dish; L-R, a salad; and S-Z, a dessert. All are welcome. No RSVP required. Call Kathie McMurrian at 584-0052.

United Nations Day

Dr. Jerry Pubantz, professor of political science at University of North Carolina/Greensboro, is the featured speaker at the United Nations Association's luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at Michael's On East, 1212 S. East Ave., Sarasota. Pubantz discusses The New U.N.: Promoting Nation-Building, Human Rights and Civil Society. RSVP to 923-2108. The public is invited to UNA's Young Professionals for International Cooperation Model U.N. Security Council Session at 6 p.m. at Sudakoff Hall, New College, 5700 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, followed by a reception. This portion of the day's events is free.