BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RIF of NOVA's board members are former or current teachers and librarians, small-business owners and authors, parents and grandparents. They bring a wide variety of experience to the job of getting books into the hands of children in Northern Virginia.
The Board of Directors and the Executive Committee meet five times a year, via Zoom in Covid times: September, November, January, and March. An annual luncheon meeting (postponed for now) is usually held in May or June. Please contact us if you're interested in becoming a volunteer board member. New ideas and creativity are so welcome, even if you can devote only a smidge of time!
The Board of Directors and the Executive Committee meet five times a year, via Zoom in Covid times: September, November, January, and March. An annual luncheon meeting (postponed for now) is usually held in May or June. Please contact us if you're interested in becoming a volunteer board member. New ideas and creativity are so welcome, even if you can devote only a smidge of time!
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JUSTINA JOHNSON, President JAMES ABRAMS, Vice-President ELIZABETH PROMEN, Recording Secretary MELISSA HINKSON, Corresponding Secretary JO ANN ABRAMS, Treasurer SHERYL LEEDS, Financial Secretary SHEILA JONAS, Sunshine Secretary |
BOOK ORDERING CHAIRS Paula B. Powell Elaine Liebesman COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR Lisa Keathley FUTURE OF RIF; CONTRACTS CHAIR Nancy King |
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AREA CHAIRS Alexandria Glenna Orr Arlington Ann Godfrey Fairfax East Chris Bury/Liz Promen Fairfax West Chris McLaughlin Prince William Emma Williams/Melba Smith-Dudley |
AT-LARGE BOARD MEMBERS Jeuli Bartenstein Dora Sue Black Carylee Carrington Barbara Foelber Hazeline Harris Nadine James Gloria Johnson Gayle Kelley Maureen McLaughlin Julie McKinney Lois Toomer Bradley Vineyard |
Meet our newest board members: Maureen McLaughlin, Julie McKinney, and Barbara Foelber!
Maureen McLaughlin is delighted to join the RIF of NOVA board by way of her mother, Chris McLaughlin, who has served on the board for many years. Maureen is in her 11th year as a counselor at Gonzaga College High School, so educating and working with young people is a central tenet of her life.
She and her husband live with their 16 month-old son Jonathan in Annandale, and they are joyfully anticipating a new addition to the family in January 2021. In her spare time, Maureen enjoys running, hiking, baking, traveling, and of course, reading for pleasure! |
Julie McKinney recently moved to Alexandria from her long-time home in Indianapolis, Indiana. After a career as a stay-at-home mom, she taught second grade and high ability/gifted children for 20 years. She and her husband Ted are parents of three grown children, and all are graduates of Purdue University – Boiler Up!! She is "Gigi" to six grandchildren.
Julie volunteers at Mount Vernon and serves as a reading tutor with the Alexandria City Public Schools. Her favorite things to do include painting (watercolor, acrylics, pen, and wash), traveling, and exploring her new home in the nation's capital area. Julie understands the extreme importance of reading and placing books into the hands of all children. She is honored and delighted to begin serving on the board of RIF of NOVA. |
Barbara Foelber reads to Ryder, one of her six grandchildren
Barbara Foelber says her most important role has been as a mother for three daughters. "The joy of watching them growing into the young women and mothers they have become is such a joy." She has five grandsons and one granddaughter and sees them as often as she possibly can!
Barbara's thirty-five year career as a communications professional included work in retail, public relations, independent consulting, and media relations for AARP and the DOD. For the past eight years, Barbara has served as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer for Alexandria and Arlington courts and as a patient companion at Virginia Hospital Center. She also volunteers at Bailey's Shelter and Supportive Housing and with Just Neighbors, an organization that provides legal immigration services to low income community members.
Barbara's thirty-five year career as a communications professional included work in retail, public relations, independent consulting, and media relations for AARP and the DOD. For the past eight years, Barbara has served as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer for Alexandria and Arlington courts and as a patient companion at Virginia Hospital Center. She also volunteers at Bailey's Shelter and Supportive Housing and with Just Neighbors, an organization that provides legal immigration services to low income community members.
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Board Member Spotlight:
Dora Sue Black Dora Sue Black was named a Teacher of the Year at Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School in Arlington in 2019. As a librarian, Dora Sue nurtures the love of reading among students who might otherwise visit the school library only once a week. She has been with APS for more than 30 years. When she was librarian at Arlington's Barcroft Elementary School, she also served as a RIF of NOVA liaison, staging book distributions for children at that school who have few to no books at home. During her entire career, Dora Sue has positively influenced the lives of countless students by making education an adventure. Listen to her video to hear her passion about teaching! |
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Board Member Spotlight: Glenna Orr
Author and RIF of NOVA board member Glenna Orr recently celebrated her sixth children's book — Remembering With the Heart, Stories by America's Finest — at a dinner and book signing at St. Rita's Church in Arlington. The book features conversations with veterans who reside at the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) in Washington, DC. During more than 20 years of involvement at AFRH, Glenna has grown to know and love the residents and their stories. With her nonprofit organization, The Kind Kids, she brought veterans and children together with the goal of fostering inter-generational contact and communication. In the resulting book, the veterans tell children about their experiences in the armed forces and bring to life the histories of their lives. |
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD
Rita Blodgett
Pam Jackson
Audrey June
Mia Mason
Maxine McLeod Miller
Ruby Osia
Lynda Johnson Robb
Ramunda Young
Rita Blodgett
Pam Jackson
Audrey June
Mia Mason
Maxine McLeod Miller
Ruby Osia
Lynda Johnson Robb
Ramunda Young
