Homewood Blood Drive -- The next blood drive on the Homewood campus will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 10 and 11, in the Glass Pavilion. To schedule an appointment, call 410-516-0138.

Genealogy Workshops -- The JHU Black Faculty and Staff Association is presenting two workshops on genealogy research. The "How to Begin Tracing Your Family Tree" workshops are scheduled for Feb. 8 on the Homewood campus and Feb. 10 at the East Baltimore campus. For information or to register for the workshops, call Martha Jackson at 410-516-4677.

Hospice Volunteer Opportunities -- Johns Hopkins Home Hospice is a nonprofit home hospice program serving patients in Maryland. The hospice provides support to patients and families during end stages of a terminal illness.

The hospice is currently seeking volunteers to work in a variety of capacities, including direct patient service, bereavement care and administrative/office support. Volunteer training is provided. The next volunteer training and orientation program begins in late January or early February.

For more information, contact Jean McHale at 410-288-4692.

Minority Prehealth Professions Conference -- "Breaking Down Barriers: Healthcare in the New Millennium" is the topic of a two-day conference scheduled for Fri., Feb. 25, and Sat., Feb. 26.

The conference will introduce college students to a wide variety of career opportunities and equip them with knowledge of how to overcome barriers that may keep them from attaining their career goals.

There is a registration fee of $10 that will admit attendees to all lectures, panels, a Saturday luncheon and health professions fair. For more information, call the Office of Academic Advising at 410-516-8216.

Hopkins Toastmasters -- The Hopkins Toastmasters is open to all members of the Johns Hopkins community. The public-speaking group usually meets on the first Monday and third Tuesday of each month, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

There will be a special meeting on Feb. 22, when the group will receive its charter from the national organization of the Toastmasters. All members of the Hopkins community are invited to come and find out more about the Toastmasters. For information, contact klucas@jhsph.edu or pmuntner@jhsph.edu.

School of Nursing Open House -- The School of Nursing is hosting an open house, scheduled for Sat., March 4, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Anne M. Pinkard Building, 525 N. Wolfe Street (corner of McElderry and Wolfe). The open house is for students interested in undergraduate, master's, doctoral and certificate programs. Refreshments and tours of the new School of Nursing building will be offered.

For more information, call the Office of Admissions and Student Services at 410-955-7548.

Animal Testing Alternatives -- The Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing is soliciting projects focusing on investigating and developing alternative methods to the use of whole animals for safety/hazard evaluation, risk assessment and efficacy. In vitro approaches to evaluate cellular and target organ toxicity are encouraged. CAAT does not fund projects relating to carcinogenicity or mutagenicity.

The deadline for applications is March 15. Preproposal forms may be submitted online through the CAAT Web site at http://altweb.jhsph.edu, or mailed to the CAAT grants coordinator, Suite 840, 111 Market Place, Baltimore, Md. 21202-6709.