End Polio Now!

Backpacks for APAH Kids

Packing Apples at AFAC

Welcome to Arlington Rotary Club

Are you an established professional who wants to make positive changes in your community and the world? Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for community service, fellowship and networking. Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group of people who share your drive to give back.

We are part of Rotary International, the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Members of Rotary clubs, known as Rotarians, are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self.

Double Your Donation to Arlington Thrive

Arlington Rotary has received an anonymous offer to provide a one-to-one match, up to $10,000 total, for your donations to Arlington Thrive. Arlington Thrive directly helps keep Arlingtonians in their homes by helping them meet unexpected expenses.

Arlington Thrive is the only organization in Arlington County that provides same-day, emergency financial assistance to County residents who experience a sudden financial crisis such as temporary unemployment or illness. Most clients are the working poor, elderly and disabled people on a fixed income, and the homeless and formerly homeless who need Arlington Thrive’s funds as a “safety net” until they are able to get back on firmer financial footing. Arlington Thrive’s clients are among Arlington County’s most vulnerable residents. Families with children are given the highest priority, and one-third of the individuals served by Arlington Thrive are children. The need is huge NOW because of the pandemic.

To benefit from matching, click DONATE in our main menu, no later than February 28, please.

Speakers, Events and News

Until further notice, all Thursday lunch meetings are Online from 12:15 to 1:30 (room opens at noon).

February 25th Lunch - District 7610 Membership and Rotaract Chair Jonathan Lucus re Growing Membership

Jonathan Lucus is the Managing Director of The Arc@Work at The Arc of the United States. In his role, he is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for the 8th largest charity in the United States. He is also responsible for business development and creating social enterprise programs that support Fortune 500 businesses and federal government agencies with hiring and retaining diverse talent. He oversees the development of workforce programs for The Arc's 670-chapter network around the country.

Before coming to The Arc, Jonathan had over twelve years of senior administration experience that supported marginalized populations that ranged from refugees to under-served women's populations to at-risk youth. He has overseen national technical assistance programs for the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement and created a national job placement and training agency that has supported refugee populations across the U.S. and around the world. During this time, his work on integration and workforce development was recognized as an international best practice by the U.N. Commissioner for Refugees. He has written language for Congressional legislation that was passed into law; create the first ever national refugee recertification program for medical doctors; and has provided consultation to the United Nations, European Union, Department of State, Department of Health and Human Services, and various countries around the world.

PDG Jonathan Thomas Lucus was our District Governor last Rotary Year. He is a member of Alexandria West Rotary Club.

March 4th -- Krysta Jones, Classification Talk*

In addition to being named one of Leadership Arlington's Top 40 Under 40, Krysta Jones has also been featured in Ebony Magazine as a "Hero Next Door".

She successfully represented two associations for eight years as a registered lobbyist, advocating for women’s and socio- economic status issues. Krysta has served as the Director of Outreach for two Members of Congress, designing outreach strategies, developing relationships with key community leaders and communicating their legislative agenda via meetings and over 20 congressional events.

While serving in the Peace Corps in Paraguay from 2000-2002, Ms. Jones helped create student governments, and procured funding and provided training for a community radio station.

Krysta has served in leadership roles for several local, state and national organizations. Krysta hosts her own show, "A Seat at the Table" on Arlington Independent Media. She is a graduate of the Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership and the Women’s Campaign School at Yale.

* "Classification Talks" are an opportunity for new members to tell the club about their personal background, profession ("classification") and experience.

Service Above Self

January 20th, 2021 -- A Successful MLK Day of Service

For the third year in a row, Arlington Rotary Club sponsored a no-sew fleece blanket assembly project during Volunteer Arlington's Martin Luther King Jr. Volunteer Day. Two hundred thirty (230) volunteers assembled 249 fleece blankets!

This year was a little different! Everything was done in a Covid-safe fashion with contact-free pickups and returns of the blanket kits.

The blankets were donated to three local non-profits, who in turn gave the blankets to their clients. They were:

AHC Inc., which develops and manages affordable housing;
Bridges to Independence, which helps individuals and families avoid or end homelessness; and
A-SPAN, an NGO committed to ending homelessness in Arlington.

This volunteer project also made the news: www.fox5dc.com/video/891065

Nov. 22nd, 2020 -- Fall Blood Drive Success

The fall blood drive on November 22nd was a great success, providing Inova Blood Services with 24 good pints -- exceeding the quarterly goal. The drive was co-sponsored by Arlington Rotary and the Rock Spring United Church of Christ. Rotarian donors included Steve Silcox, Tony Weaver, Linda Valentino, Peter Anderson and Hugh Barton. Hugh and Barbara Barton assisted with registration duties. Hugh led the appeal for donors.

April 24th, 2020 -- Food for Local Families in Need

Arlington Rotary Club recently raised over $10,000 to alleviate hunger in Arlington. One half of the funds raised was passed on to Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) and the other half to Bayou Bakery's participation in the Real Food for Kids initiative.

WJLA has a piece on Bayou Bakery and Real Food for Kids.

Packing Beans for AFAC

On September 30^th, Rotarians (and three future Rotarians) were at Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) packing beans for distribution. (AFAC buys in bulk; we package.)

Backpacks for Students—Delivered!

We have met our goal of 20 backpacks, filled with school supplies. Special thanks to David Sutfin who personally handled all – yes, all – the logistics. Julie Booth, APAH Volunteer Program Manager joined us at our last meeting, and departed with the well-stuffed backpacks.

Empowering Enrichment for Arlington Schools

Arlington Rotary Club provided $5,000 in scholarships for Key Elementary School students

and Oakridge Elementary school students for the 2018-2019 school year. The scholarships were used to pay students' tuition for Empowering Enrichment, an after-school program that provides students with learning opportunities on a wide range of subjects, including math, science, dance, slight of hand, and more. The goal: Assist students who otherwise would not have been financially able to participate in these enriching programs to share these opportunities with their fellow students. Validated comments below:

Dear Rotary,

I cannot express how grateful I feel as a teacher that I’m able to offer scholarship enrichment opportunities to our students. You have been such an integral part of their development and growth outside of the normal school day. The recipients are those who don’t have access to Legos or technology at home, so now they’re able to utilize these resources to build their creative and analytical minds. On a personal level, they are so excited to take these classes. Second graders often need reminders to be responsible for their actions, but my students are fully aware of their schedules. They actually remind me and say, “Today I’m going to take the Minecraft class!” sharing their enthusiasm for all who are willing to listen. So, it is with extreme humility and gratitude that I say, “THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!”
-- Key Elementary Teacher

Many of our students have benefitted from the Rotary scholarships your group has generously provided over the years. The little girl in kindergarten, who was so obsessed with ballet that she wore skirts everyday and called them tutus, is the 4th grader who still loves dance classes. The shy, new student who came last year is an outgoing artist in the sketching class. The student who told me that she loves sewing and weaving because she learned it from her grandmother, is continuing to grow her skills in the sewing class. Thanks so much for all you do,
-- Key Elementary Teacher

“It is very fun to learn new things that you don’t know. We learned about codes that will control computers and tell them what to do.”
-- Key Elementary Student and Scholarship recipient

“I love dancing with Ms. Shona!! Even if you get the steps mixed up, she will always help you get it right. She really makes sure everyone is comfortable and confident!!”

-- Oakridge Elementary Student and Scholarship recipient

When Rotary Club donates to enrichment programs members are funding independence, joy, mentoring, friendships and learning. These scholarships make it possible for a kid to pick her own class, explore what she wants to explore. The support the 2nd grade boy in his magic class receives is invisible to him and to others. They just get a chance to be regular kids instead of recipients of aid, and experience what it’s like to have their own agency and choices. This is a basic human need as children become the adults they are destined to be. Experiences like Enrichment may seem small but they set these young people up for success in life and help them with confidence. And, exploring cooking, yoga, dancing or chess or magic is fun and also a way to learn and interact with interesting adults who can mentor and engage with them in smaller groups.
-- Jenny Sammis, Oakridge Elementary School PTA President, 2018

I have had the pleasure of teaching dance to Empowering Enrichment Rotary Club Scholarship students at both Key and Oakridge Elementary. The Oakridge scholarship student had already been given a PTA scholarship in years past, which meant she was not eligible to take my class through this means again. The Rotary scholarship allowed the student to do her favorite thing - dance! She served as a leader in the class by helping to lead warm ups and by taking a front row spot in the performance dance. I know that her participation in the class boosted her confidence and gave her a real sense of pride in her hard work. At Key, I had multiple scholarship recipients in my dance class. Without the Rotary scholarships I believe we would have been under enrolled, which would have led to the class being cancelled. So, from that perspective the Rotary scholarships, directly and indirectly, helped all 13 students participate in an active, creative arts activity. We had a great group of students who really bonded. They learned a dance using flags as props. We decorated these flags to represent our own personalities and then waved them proudly as we danced. The dancers showed so much enthusiasm and pride for their final performance dance.
-- Shona Colglazier, Urban Kangaroo Owner