What’s Big at MBR
What’s Doing @MBR in March & April
Spring is springing! Here’s what’s on tap for MBR in March & April:
We’ve got several interesting speakers scheduled: Geeta Manek for International Women’s Day (March 4), Fiona Hill on foreign policy challenges (March 11), staff members from Adventure Theatre MCT (March 18), Eileen Filler-Corn, the VA Speaker of the House (March 25), Thomas Tang, CEO, Co-founder Valera Health (April 8), Danielle Amato-Milligan, Director AKA Strategies on philanthropy fundraising (April 15), and Dr. Horacio Grigera Naon on international commercial arbitration (April 29).
Thu., April 1 is New Member Day! We’ll learn more about our new members and hear from several long-time members.
A team of MBR volunteers will volunteer for the Nourishing Bethesda food distribution project on Friday, April 1. See Ellen Singer for more details.
Join us for a socially distanced walk around the beautiful Kenwood cherry blossoms on Sunday, April 4 starting at 4pm. Meet at the Westbard Shopping Center Parking lost and we’ll walk over from there.
MBR is pleased to be a sponsor of A Wider Circle‘s 2021 Virtual Race to End Poverty this year. On Saturday morning, April 17, we’re sponsoring our own mini race/walk to support the effort. Meet at Norwood Park (4700 Norwood Dr., Chevy Chase) at 11am for a socially distanced walk with members and friends of MBR. Registering with our team and making a $25 donation will help support A Wider Circle’s important work – we’ve missed working with them to help set up refugee apartments during the pandemic but hope to continue those efforts soon. Note that parking is tight at the park entrance. More details in your Weekly Wheel or on our website.
Rotarians for the Equality of Black People – this Social Justice committee works with the Rotary Club of Washington, DC to help eradicate systemic racism. Meetings are every other Tuesday at 6 pm, and immediately after every other MBR meeting.
Interested in connecting with #Rotary members around the world who share your interests and passions? Rotary Fellowship Groups are a great way to connect, especially during COVID times. Whether you’re passionate about golf, wine, cultural heritage, jazz, surfing, Esperanto, or much much more, you can find other like-minded Rotarians. Check out the list of Fellowship Groups and join one or a few. Even better – our Club earns credit towards a Rotary International Citation for each member who joins. One of our members has offered to donate $5 to our MBR Foundation for every MB Rotarian who joins a Fellowship, so let’s get him to write a check for $250!
We’re viewing and discussing classic films every Monday at Rotary at the Movies: Rafiki (Mar. 1); Seven Beauties (Mar. 8); And God Created Women (Mar. 15); 2001 A Space Odyssey (Mar. 22), The Elephant Man (Mar 29), Once Upon A Time in Anatolia (April 5), Il Gattopardo (April 12), Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (April 19), and The Grand Illusion and Casablanca (April 26). View the film at your convenience the week before, then join us for discussion.
Travel Tales (and ‘Tails) will gather (virtually) on March 4 and April 1.
Happy Spring!
What’s Doing @MBR in February
We ❤️ MBR! Here’s what’s coming up in February for MBR:
We’re continuing our fundraising for Head Start. We’re coordinating a fundraising drive for books, and we’re well on our way to the $5,000 match goal. You can help by making a contribution here.
We’ve got several interesting speakers scheduled for this month: District Governor Designate Delores Edwards Harding (Feb. 4); travel media entrepreneur Darley Newman (Feb. 11); MoCo Council VP Gabe Albornoz (Feb. 18); and Lisa LaFontaine and Joan Rogers on pets during COVID (Feb. 25).
Thu., Feb. 11 is Guest Day! Please invite anyone you think might enjoy the meeting, or who might be interested in joining the Club. Also, look for an Interest & Skills Inventory from the Service Committee.
Thu., Feb. 25 is Family Pet Day! Bring your pet to your breakout room. Funny pet photos are welcome. Our speakers will talk about pet adoption and training.
Many of us are craving in-person social interaction with Club members. Join us for our first Fireside Chat on Sun., Feb. 21 from 2-5 pm. Enjoy some socially-distanced time with your fellow members at David Searby’s home. A different nonprofit will be available to talk at each fire pit.
Rotarians for the Equality of Black People – this Social Justice committee works with the Rotary Club of Washington, DC to help eradicate systemic racism. Meetings are every other week (Feb. 12 & 26) at 6 pm.
Travel Tales (and ‘Tails) will gather (virtually) on Feb. 4 and Feb. 18.
Last but definitely not least, congratulations to Erika Dickstein on her unanimous election to serve as president-elect in 2021-22 and become our president in July 2022. We are very grateful for her willingness to serve.
Happy February!
What’s Doing @MBR in January
Happy New Year! Here’s what’s coming up in January for MBR:
We’re continuing our fundraising for Head Start. We’re coordinating a fundraising drive for books, and we’re almost halfway to the $5,000 match goal. You can help by making a contribution here.
January 15-19: Members will have the chance to vote on our president-elect (president term starting June 2022). Watch your email for the invitation to vote. Don’t forget — the deadline for this cycle of grant applications for the MBR Foundation is Feb. 1.
We’ve got several interesting speakers scheduled for this month: M. Charito Kruvant, Chairperson of the Board and co-founder of Creative Associates International (Jan. 7); Senan Ebrahim, Founder & Chair, Hikma Health (Jan. 21); Alex Nyerges, Director of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Jan. 28).
Our January 14 meeting will feature updates from all of our committees. All members are encouraged to join any committees that interest them. Also, look for an Interest & Skills Inventory from the Service Committee.
Many of us are craving in-person social interaction with Club members! Plans are underway for a socially-distanced social event around an outdoor firepit. Keep an eye on your email for more details.
We’re viewing and discussing four classic films for Rotary at the Movies: Magnificent Seven (Jan. 4); Le Notti di Cabiria (Jan. 11); Wild Strawberries (Jan. 18); and The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (Jan. 25).
Travel Tales will gather (virtually) on Jan. 7 for the Holiday edition.
Happy January!
What’s Doing @MBR in December
Even though it’s a short month due to the holidays, we already have a lot of service and social activities planned:
This month, we are launching a major initiative with Head Start. We’re coordinating a fundraising drive for books. We’ve already provided 120 MBR facemasks for teachers and we’re about to order student facemasks for 650 preschoolers.
In our continuing effort to help with local food insecurity, ten Rotarians will volunteer to load cars and direct traffic at the “Nourishing Bethesda” food drive at BCC Rescue Squad on Fri., Dec. 18. MBR has already contributed $3000 in support from the Foundation and remaining global grant funds to Nourishing Bethesda, which is being spearheaded by St. John’s Church.
Through Dec. 11, we are collecting canned cranberry sauce and boxed stuffing mix for Bethesda Help (different from Bethesda Cares). They are providing December holiday baskets to families in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Kensington, and Silver Spring. We are hoping for 50 cans and 50 boxes. Not a problem for Rotarians!! Drop your items off at the Greifs’ house.
On Dec. 9 at 7 pm, we’re celebrating the Club’s 14th anniversary (outdoors!) at Surfside/Tenleytown. More information and signup is available at this link. If more than 18 people are interested, the restaurant can set up additional dining.
We’ve got two great speakers scheduled for this month: Teri Cochrane, Integrative Practitioner, CCP will speak about weight management (Dec. 3) and Major Mark Woodcock of the Salvation Army will speak about their current challenges (Dec. 10).
And don’t miss our Ugly Sweater Contest at our Dec. 17 meeting!
We’re viewing and discussing four classic films for Rotary at the Movies: The General (Dec. 7); Best Years of our Lives (Dec. 14); Seven Samurai (Dec. 21); Magnificent Seven (Dec. 28).
Travel Tales will gather (virtually) on Dec. 10.
Last but not least, please welcome new members Heller An Shapiro, Clarissa Harris, and Akhil Maheshwari!
Happy December!