CHAMBER GALA SETS STAGE FOR SECOND CENTURY: The Arlington Chamber of Commerce turned the page on its first century and began moving into its second at the organization’s 100th annual Arlington Business Gala.
Held Jan. 27 at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City, the event attracted more than 320 members of the region’s business and civic communities. Sponsored by Washington Gas, it was presided over by 2024 Chamber chair David Kinney of Clarendon LLC.
The celebration included a video commemorating milestones in the history of the Chamber, a champagne toast and a slide show of past galas.
“We stand on the shoulders of the visionaries who created the Arlington Chamber and grew it over the last 100 years,” said Kate Bates, the Arlington Chamber’s president and CEO.
“While our mission statement and offerings have evolved, our core purpose remains steadfast,” Bates said. “We strengthen businesses and the economic environment for all who work, live, and do business in Arlington. We take immense pride in our history while eagerly anticipating the future.”
‘EQUALITY NOVA’ TAPS NEW PRESIDENT: Roland Watkins, who since 1994 has played a role with EQUALITY NOVA (formerly the Arlington Gay & Lesbian Alliance, or AGLA), has been tapped as the organization’s president for 2024.
He succeeds longtime president Daniel Hayes.
“Roland has been an integral part of the Arlington community for over 25 years,” the organization said. “Beyond his work with EQUALITY NOVA, Roland’s community involvement runs deep.”
An attorney with the National Mediation Board, Watkins also has held a number of civic roles in the community and “has consistently advocated for equal-employment opportunities,” EQUALITY NOVA noted.
“His leadership has left an indelible mark,” it added. “His journey from [childhood in] Norfolk to breaking barriers in the legal field exemplifies resilience and excellence.”
For more information, see the Website at www.equalitynova.org.
‘WOMEN OF VISION’ NOMINATION PERIOD OPENS: Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 16 for the 2024 Women of Vision Awards, sponsored by the Arlington Commission on the Status of Women.
“These awards honor women for their accomplishments and contributions to improving the lives and opportunities for Arlington residents especially women,” the county-government advisory body said in putting out a call for nominees.
Past honorees “have communicated their vision for women and engaged community members and other leaders to realize this vision,” noted the advisory body, which turns 50 years old in 2024.
Awards will be presented in three categories: business, non-profits and government/politics.
The honor originated in 1988 as the Person of Vision Award. (Fun fact: Arthur Gosling, at the time the superintendent of the county school system, was the male recipient before the award’s name and selection criteria were changed to focus exclusively on women.)
For information and nomination forms, see the county government’s Website at www.arlingtonva.us and search for “Women of Vision.”
CIVIC FEDERATION SETS BANQUET DATE, APPROVES NEW MEMBER: A date for its revived annual banquet, a new member and an upcoming forum on deer-management options are keeping the Arlington County Civic Federation busy.
The federation’s annual springtime banquet was canceled in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 owing to COVID, but will make a return appearance on Friday, April 12 at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, the organization said in a recent e-mail to delegates.
More details will be forthcoming.
The event also serves as the location for annual awards, including the GazetteLeader Cup, which since the 1930s (under various media-outlet sponsorships) has represented the high-water mark for those engaged in civic activism. The federation’s leadership is setting up an awards committee.
At its January meeting, Civic Federation delegates voted 47-0, with one abstention, to accept the Arlington Artists Alliance as a new member. The current ranks of member organizations now total more than 80.
The organization’s environmental-affairs committee has announced that, on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m., it will host a town-hall meeting on Zoom to address deer-management options.
The goal is to “provide different perspectives” among the options currently under consideration, while providing most of the meeting time for audience questions.
The Feb. 27 program is free but registration is required and can be obtained via bit.ly/480fMkp.
LEADERSHIP CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE PREPS FOR UPCOMING PROGRAMS: The application period is now open for the summertime Youth Leadership Program and the 2024-25 Leadership Arlington and Ignite Young Professionals programs of the Leadership Center for Excellence.
Programs are designed to support those of different age groups and levels of experience in connecting with the various facets of the community.
The Youth Leadership Program, designed for rising 11th- and 12th-grader high-school students, will run from June 24-28 at the Arlington campus of George Mason University. The Leadership Arlington program begins in September and the Ignite Young Professionals program in October; both run into the spring of 2025.
For full details on all three programs, see the Website at www.leadercenter.org.
CHAMBER OFFERS ‘ARLINGTONOPOLY’ GAMES FOR SALE: The Arlington Chamber of Commerce has begun distribution of an updated “Arlingtonopoly” game that draws on the basics of Monopoly – and adds a local twist.
“Enjoy the memorable gaming experience that celebrates the spirit of Arlington with friends and family,” Chamber officials said, noting that the game can be played by two to six competitors and is suitable for ages 8 to adult.
The cost is $40 and copies can be picked up weekdays at the Chamber office, 2009 14th St., North.
Those wishing to purchase 12 or more games should contact Will Mulligan at (703) 525-2400, ext. 201, or e-mail engagement@arlingtonchamber.org or call (703) 525-2400 ext. 201.
DOMINION STAGE TO WRAP UP PRODUCTION OF ‘TORCH SONG’: Dominion Stage wraps up its current production of Harvey Fierstein’s “Torch Song” with performances Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 8-10, at Gunston Theatre II, 2700 South Lang St.
Centered around the life of Arnold Beckoff, a torch-song-singing Jewish drag queen living in New York City in the 1970s-80s, “we join Arnold on his all-too-human journey about the families into which we’re born, the families we choose, and the struggles to reconcile them,” producers said.
Curtain time is 8 p.m.; the production deals with mature subject matter and is recommended for adult audiences.
For tickets and more information, see the Website at www.dominionstage.org.
MASTER GARDENERS FOCUS ON CONTROLLING WEEDS: Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia will present “How to Safely and Effectively Control Weeds” on Friday, Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. online.
Master Gardener Joyce Hylton will discuss weeds that are common in the local area.
“While a weed may just be a wildflower in the wrong place, learn why they may like your lawn and garden, and how you can safely and effectively control them,” organizers said.
The event is free; for registration, see the Website at https://mgnv.org/rsvp-for-public-education-classes.
