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Annual Meeting 2024
May 22
MCA’s 2024 Annual Membership Meeting took place at 7:30pm on Wednesday evening, May 22. It was so nice to have everyone back in person. Thank you to Raj Mehra and the Membership Committee for providing delectable nibbles for our pre-meeting social hour.
Kelly Green Kahn, Acting President of McLean Community Foundation (MCF), MCA's philanthropic arm, started the meeting off by reporting that the MCF's endowment has reached an unprecedented $2.59M and that the Foundation is proud to have been able to award grants totaling approximately $134K over this past fiscal year, including $38.5K to the McLean Volunteer Fire Department for a Stryker PowerLOAD cot, and $25K to the Fairfax County Park Foundation for McLean Central Park renovations.
Dranesville Supervisor Jimmy Bierman, who has been in office for about 5 months, spoke next, emphasizing the continued economic health, vitality, and desirability of Fairfax County, Tysons, and the McLean area, while noting several challenges:
Decline in the office market (though Tysons is bucking that trend)
Need to fight the casino legislation
The low level of financial support Virginia provides local jurisdictions (40th out of 50 states)
Limitations on ways to raise revenue (a meals tax is back on the list of options)
"It's groups like this making that attempt to be the unofficial town counsel of McLean that's really important," Supervisor Bierman said, adding that he looked forward to a rewarding partnership with MCA as he brings the Draneville District's concerns to the Board of Supervisors.
After the President's and Treasurer's reports, elections were held for available positions on the MCA Board of Directors, including two Officer nominations, and the MCF Board of Trustees. The MCA Nominating Committee's slates were elected unanimously.
Committee Chairs then provided highlights of their respective Committee's events and accomplishments, including:
Budget & Taxation (B&T): The Committee's detailed analysis of the County and FCPS budgets have an impact. As one example, the County will be stress-testing its pension plans pursuant to an MCA Resolution recommending that they follow the State's example in undertaking this important step.
Education & Youth (E&Y): The Committee wrote a letter recognizing retiring Dranesville School Board Representative Elaine Tholen and has welcomed her successor, Robyn Lady; researched projected school enrollment numbers; held a youth jobs fair for over 200 students; and honored deserving teens.
Environmental, Parks & Recreation (EP&R): Working with the Transportation Committee, EP&R stayed on top of issues related to the 495 NEXT project; and informed the community on issues affecting homeowners, such as the recent newsletter article about running bamboo.
Membership: Thanks to MCA's leadership on the issue, the threat of a casino in the County brought in a number of new members; and the responses from the Committee-led Membership Survey will help MCA better represent the entire McLean community.
Planning & Zoning (P&Z): Reviewed 20 cases, including the major West Falls Church project and the Tysons Corner expansion; initiated a conversation with County staff about office-to-residential conversions; joined with HOAs on such issues as the proposed Pimmit Hills gas pipeline; and reviewed zoning amendments affecting such matters as affordable housing.
Transportation: Wrote a letter on local sidewalk and intersection improvements; hosted presentations on traffic calming issues; and opined on several local road projects.
Tysons: Held informative meetings, each focusing on a different issue affecting Tysons, including transportation and economic development; and took a strong position in opposition to the proposed Tysons casino.
Public Safety: Held a successful Public Safety Forum to discuss budget issues and a Senior Safety Summit to educate seniors about various issues, including scams and online safety; and brought CERT training to McLean.
Liaison to McLean Planning Committee (MPC): Worked on planning matters affecting McLean's Community Business Center (CBC), for example, the Astoria project on Old Dominion Road, where the group made many constructive suggestions.
Liaison to McLean Revitalization Corporation (MRC): Worked on non-planning matters affecting the economic growth of McLean CBC.
Liaison to McLean Community Center (MCC): Worked on community-building events and other projects; and has begun gearing up for MCC's 50th anniversary celebration.
Liaison to Senior groups: This new MCA group, created to serve the nearly 20% of McLean residents who are "seniors," will host its first event -- a play about dementia -- on June 2nd (see below).
Photos and a video of the meeting are available on the MCA website. We look forward to seeing and working with you in the coming months.
-- Linda Walsh, President
| Join Us for a Special Performance
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"Dementia Man, An Existential Journey," Performance & Conversation
Sunday, June 2, 2024
2:00 - 3:30 pm
McLean Governmental Center, Community Meeting Room
1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean, VA 22101
Presented by the McLean Citizens Association
Co-Hosted by Dranesville Supervisor Jimmy Bierman
Written and performed by Sam Simon, a lawyer, husband, grandparent, and proud McLean native who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in 2021, "Dementia Man" is a play like no other. Simon takes the stage as a man facing cognitive decline, a broken medical system and a personal and family challenge. Simon has traveled the country performing his award-winning play hoping to bring attention to the disease and other forms of dementia. This performance is not to be missed.
Be sure to join us after the performance for a Q&A about the play and thoughtful conversation about living with dementia.
Registration for this free event is recommended. Please visit this link to register.
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JUST SAY NO TO A CASINO IN FAIRFAX COUNTY!
Thank you to the many concerned citizens who joined us at the Board of Supervisors meeting on May 21st.
The casino issue is not going to go away on its own.
What You Can Do:
Join the new NoFairfaxCasino Facebook page for the most current news. Just open Facebook and go to NoFairfaxCasino (all one word) and ask to join. When prompted, let the administrators know that you are affiliated with MCA. Then invite your friends and neighbors.
Display a yard sign and/or bumper sticker, and grab one of the remaining bright red t-shirts. Pick up at 1518 Mintwood Drive.
| | |  | McLean Citizens Association Presents Teen Character Award
McLean Day, May 18
The McLean Citizens Association awarded the Teen Character Award to five deserving teens in the 26th annual award ceremony on a rainy McLean Day on Saturday, May 18. Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman (third from left) and McLean Citizens Association President Linda Walsh (far right) presented the awards and thanked MCA Education and Youth Committee Member Jan Auerbach (second from right) for her continued leadership and commitment to the annual MCA Teen Character Award.
MCA created the award to honor teens who, on their own and without compensation, help out in their neighborhood or community and thereby demonstrate outstanding character. MCA is proud to recognize these teens both to honor them and to hold them up as examples for others to follow.
This year's five awardees are:
Aimee Abraham -- Sophomore at McLean High School (inset)
For the past three years, Aimee has organized two food drives -- one in January and another in August -- for the nonprofit Lorton Community Action Center. For one drive she solicits donations from her community list-serve and her club soccer team. For the other she organizes a group of friends, who spend three hours with her collecting donations from McLean Giant customers. Aimee also volunteers at Chesterbrook Elementary School with the Summer Quest program, a summer camp program sponsored by the Chesterbrook Elementary PTA to raise funds for the elementary school. Once a camper there, Aimee is now an Assistant Camp Counselor, helping to conduct the baking, science, and crafting programs. Aimee demonstrates a genuine concern for those who are less fortunate or who are going through difficult times.
Connor Bo -- Junior at McLean High School (fourth from left)
Connor volunteered to be a 9/10th grade house league basketball student-coach. He helped coach his team at weekly practices and on weekend game days. Basketball is a team sport, and a team's success is dependent on every player's ability to understand the value of teamwork. Connor helped his players put forth their best efforts during practice and game day, communicate clearly and concisely, understand and follow game rules, be aware of a fluid environment, be selfless, and show leadership. Connor helped form a championship-winning team from a group of boys who hadn’t played together before. On free Saturdays, Connor helps out at Share of McLean by stocking the pantry, organizing the clothes storage room, and doing general clean-up.
Sophia Filipi -- Junior at Langley High School (far left)
Sophia has volunteered at Share of McLean since 2019. She volunteers almost every Saturday in the food or clothing rooms and can often be found there after school on weekdays helping to unload trucks and restock the food pantry. On Saturdays she particularly likes helping clients with their food and clothing selections. Her supervisor at Share wrote that Sophia consistently goes the extra mile to try to meet the clients’ needs, for example by folding clothes they have selected and putting them in bags to take home. She is unfailingly polite and courteous and makes herself valuable in whatever activity she is asked to do. Her mother noted that the volunteer experience at Share has helped Sophia grow into a young adult who values commitment, kindness, compassion and empathy.
Kais Saleh -- Junior at Langley High School (second from left)
Kais is currently the head coach of an 8th grade house league basketball team. Through thoughtful planning for weekly practices, he teaches skills such as positioning, setting picks, the importance of conditioning, and the use of backboards -- all to ensure that the players are ready for game-day scenarios. In addition, for the last three years, Kais has been a member of the Young Men’s Service League of Vienna/Oakton, currently serving as the Life Skills Committee Chairman. Kais organizes monthly presentations designed to equip fellow members with invaluable life skills, such as the ability to change a tire or craft a compelling resume. He has regularly greeted Honor Flights coming into Reagan National and Dulles Airports. As he speaks with the veterans, Kais lets them know that their service is still appreciated by younger generations.
Zachary Speroni -- Junior at McLean High School (third from right)
The director of the food room at Share wrote: "I am thrilled to nominate Zachary for the MCA Character Award for Teenagers. Zachary's unwavering commitment to selflessly serve others in our community embodies the true essence of ethical and compassionate character. Zachary’s time spent volunteering at Share of McLean, our community food pantry, has been instrumental in helping him understand the importance of addressing food insecurity in his community. He found it meaningful to be a part of a team that provides essential nutrition to the needy. He worked in the warehouse, organized the food room, and helped patrons with groceries. In the cold months, he distributed coats, hats, and gloves. He also delivered donated furniture to families in need."
| | Committee Spotlight: Education & Youth Committee
MCA's Education & Youth Committee advocates for the excellence of McLean-area public schools and covers other issues affecting the young people in our community.
The E&Y Committee takes the lead in hosting several annual or recurring MCA events:
- "Dr. Reid with the kids," an opportunity for students to ask questions of Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) Superintendent (photos and video)
- Dranesville School Board [and Supervisor] candidate debate (photos and video)
- Youth Job Fair (photos)
- MCA Teen Award selection and presentation (article at left)
Recent E&Y Committee meetings featured or addressed:
- Kent Gardens overcrowding and proposed boundary changes
- Presentation and Q&A with Dranesville School Board Representative Robyn Lady (video)
- Comparison of MCA and FCPS school enrollment projections
- FCPS school renovation queue
- FCPS Budget
- FCPS Youth Survey
- Mental health and drug abuse issues
- Career Technical Education (CTE)
For more FCPS-related information, the Committee recommends:
The E&Y Committee meets on the third Tuesday of every month. We look forward to meeting you.
Committees: The Heart of MCA
Budget & Taxation (B&T)
Planning & Zoning (P&Z)
Transportation
Education & Youth (E&Y)
Environment, Parks & Recreation (EP&R)
Tysons
Membership
Liaisons: Public Safety; McLean Planning Committee (MPC); McLean Revitalization Corporation (MRC); Seniors
MCA's Committees study issues affecting residents of the McLean Area; develop MCA Resolutions and letters on issues of public significance; and organize public citizen information sessions where local elected officials, Fairfax County representatives and others address specific areas of interest.
Each Committee is made up of volunteers, many of whom have considerable experience and expertise on subjects that the Committee oversees.
You must be a member of the MCA in order to join an MCA Committee.
If you're interested in joining a Committee, or if there is an issue affecting the McLean Area that you think the Committee should investigate, contact the Committee Chair. Thank you for helping to keep MCA an effective advocate for the greater McLean community! | | | Building Community: McLean Day 2024
|  | | Rain or shine,
MCA makes time
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MCA cares about you and your issues
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Support MCA
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MCA has theirs
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