As a service club, our goal is not to make money for the sake of making money, but to enable us to participate in worthy causes for the good of our community; to support these causes the club decided on two main projects – selling Christmas cards and an annual luncheon and fashion show.

Grace Becraft was our Service Objectives chairman and our first project was financial aid to a child’s plastic surgery.  In January 1964, our International Goodwill and Understanding chairman, Sallie Thomas, scheduled the first foreign exchange student to visit our club, a young man from Argentina.  We were also given a sister club from Lovisa, Finland.

In March 1964 we held our first luncheon and fashion show at the Washingtonian Country Club with Mark Daniel’s providing the fashions.  Members received their pins in April 1964, and wore them proudly.  Members visited and financially supported Smith Nursing Home.  By the end of Beth Lagerson’s term we were busy selling candy to help finance our projects.  We sent our first delegate to the conference at White Sulfur Springs.  Our first summer picnic was held at the home of Betty King.

 The second President, Sallie Thomas, was installed June 1965

During Sallie’s term, we contributed to our usual projects, but also purchased books for the Poolesville Elementary School, donated to the Gaithersburg High School football team, bought equipment for a dental clinic, gave aid to the under-privileged children at Longview Elementary School, purchased an isolette for the Montgomery County General Hospital, and assisted a blind patient suffering from meningitis.

     Connie Field was the third President, serving from June 1966 to 1968

The meetings were changed to the first Wednesday of each month.  Our first official Birthday Party was held in March 1967.  The first roster was made by Helen Bowman.  Gloria Carney investigated obtaining two Soroptimist signs to be placed at the entrances of the City of Gaithersburg.  On October 2, 1966, the Venture Club of Montgomery County, MD was formed.  The Ventures are composed of young business women without classification.  Like Soroptimist, their aims are service and they are sponsored by the Soroptimist Clubs.  During Connie’s second term we sponsored our first Youth Citizenship Award program and also started two nursing scholarships for $250.00 each.  Our first Christmas party was held at the home of member Grace Becraft.

Our fourth President, Helen Bowman, was installed June 1968 

The usual contributions were made to the club’s projects.  In October 1968, we hosted our first Area Meeting of the South Atlantic region.  Also during 1968, the Club took on its biggest project to date – furnishing a Consultation Room for the new Montgomery General Hospital at a cost of $3,000 to be paid over a period of 3 years.  We prepared and donated ditty bags for the boys overseas and contributed to Henryton State Hospital.

The fifth President was Ida Lu Price, installed June 1969

In addition to the usual contributions, we donated to the Poolesville Band Uniforms.  Ida Lu started our Club Monthly Bulletins; Christmas Seal envelopes were stamped by our members; money was sent to the flood victims in Virginia, and our Club contributed to the making of a Soroptimist float in the Rose Bowl Parade.  The theme of the float was “Through the Eyes of the Child”.  Although the float did not come into money, it won honorable mention.

 The sixth President, Rosabell Sandison, was installed June 1970

Everyone remembers the outstanding monthly bulletins Rosie prepared.  This was the Jubilee Year of the Soroptimist –50^th!!!  New projects supported by the Club were the Jeanne Bussard Workshop, Halfway House of Montgomery County, two breathing machines for the Montgomery County Health Department, and the Nursing Scholarship was changed from two –$250 scholarships to one $500 scholarship.  President Rosie represented the Club at the National Convention in St. Louis.

Laura Jamison was installed as our seventh President and served 1971-1973 (2 years)

The years go by and we continue to aide worthy causes that we chose when we were first organized, and each year we add to the list of other worthwhile objectives.  During Laura’s terms we added our identifying project, Retarded and Handicapped Persons.  We donated $1,000 to Montgomery County Retarded Citizens (MCRC).  An added fundraiser was a Wine & Cheese party.  We contributed to the Salvation Army Scholarship fund in memory of Blanche Rogers, the Governor who helped organize our Club.  We hosted our second Area Meeting of the South Atlantic Region at the Washingtonian Motel and Country Club.  Money was sent to CARE for earthquake disaster in Nicaragua.  President Laura attended the Convention in Chicago.

The eighth President, Julia Walker, was installed June 1973 and served two terms until 1975.

During her first year the Club gave an isolette to Montgomery County General Hospital costing $1,400 to be paid over a period of 2 years.  Nursing and financial aid was given to a local kidney patient.  Julia attended the Convention in Portland, Oregon, at which time our Club received the “That’s Who?” Federation Award.  As an added fundraiser, we sponsored two musicals at the Montgomery Players Theater with great success.  Career night was observed and we were especially happy that as a result, we gained 7 new members.  Our Club also received the Region’s “Joy of Achievement” award from SAR Governor Lee Muth.

Margaret Fox was installed June 1975 as the Ninth President

This was a busy year with the usual services projects.  $200 was sent to the Soroptimist Endowment Fund.  We endorsed the proposed Community Life Center in Poolesville, MD.

“Annie Get Your Gun” was a fundraiser at the Montgomery Players Theater, as well as holding the 13^th annual luncheon and fashion show.  The theme of our Fashion show was Fashions of “76” to celebrate the Nation’s Centennial.

Our Tenth President, Bea Nicewarner, served from 1976 to 1978

Our Club had to find new meeting places following the disastrous fire of the Washingtonian Hotel and Country Club in the summer of 1976.  We were delighted to have Janet Harner, our first four-year nursing scholarship recipient to graduate.  We had contributed a total of $2,600 to her education through scholarships.  A memorial of $1,000 was given in memory of our first President, Beth Lagerson, to furnish a room in the Respiratory Wing at Wilson Health Care Center.  International Friendship Days, a memorable occasion was held at the Washington Hilton.  We assisted with the decorations for the banquet.  Our Club History was incorporated into the City of Gaithersburg Centennial Book.  $875.00 was set aside for the Adventist Hospital to be built on the site of the County Medical Center.  We celebrated our 15^th birthday honoring our sponsor, the Montgomery County Club.  Connie Field was given our first Life Membership.  President Bea attended the Convention held in Boston, MA.

Our Eleventh President, Cindy Manarin, was installed June 1978 and served two terms until June 1980

We contributed $2,650 to purchase a public address system for the Noyes Detention Center, to emphasize our participation in the International Year of the Child.  We held our first Youth Seminar sponsored by Soroptimist International of the Americas (Federation).  Three out of the five schools in the area participated with eight students attending.  Two of these attended the Regional Seminar in Fairmont, W.Va.  We held a theater party for the benefit of the Cystic Fibrosis Research.  The night’s efforts amounted to $768.00.  We participated in our first Training Awards Program with three applicants.  The recipient was given $500.00.  Catherine Rhodes, the County Extension Agent was honored by our Club in the Women Helping Women Program.  $1,000.00 was given to the Ascension Chapel for a memorial to our third president, Connie Field.  Margaret Fox, a past president, was our first honoree at the United Nations Human Rights Day Luncheon.  President Cindy attended the Convention at Calgary, Canada.

KoKo Wittenburg was installed as the twelfth President in June 1980 and served until June 1982

We held our first square dance at Smokey Glen Farm.  $1,000 was given to the Maryland Sheriffs’ Boys Ranch in memory of one of our members, Ethel Wilson.  At the United Nations Human Rights Award Luncheon, we honored Isabel Chisolm and later honored Mary Manarin (Cindy Manarin’s Mother).  Youth Youth Seminar winner, Janet French, received the Regional Award at Norfolk Virginia Beach Regional Conference.  President KoKo attended the Convention held in Denver, CO.  Our Club received an award at Convention. 

The Thirteenth President, Betty King was installed in June 1982

Betty attended the Convention held in Los Angeles, California.  Some of the things we accomplished are: Elizabeth Talbert, Mayor of Barnesville, Maryland, was honored at the United Nations Human Rights Luncheon.  $750 was given in memory of Sam Eig to the Montgomery County Social Services Department.  $1,000 was given in memory of Grace Becraft, a Charter Member.  The annual luncheon and fashion show was held at the Washingtonian.  We celebrated our 20^th Anniversary in May 1983.

The fourteenth President, Penny Mullican, was installed June 1983

Accomplishments were donations to the Kendra Hawthorn Kidney Fund, Volunteer Services, Department of Social Services in memory of Sam Eig;  honored the Training Award winner, Christine Urick.  The winner of the Club’s Youth Citizenship Award, Chris Beegrut, competed in the Regional Youth Seminar.  We were fortunate to have Gunhill Nordling from Sweden, a visiting Soroptimist, join us for almost a year.  Donald King, husband of Charter Member and Past President, Betty King, was honored at the United Nations Human Rights Award Luncheon.  Our present on-going project, Coloring Books for the Pediatrics Unit of Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, was started during President Penny’s term.  The books were designed and drawn by Emily Robertson, daughter of Soroptimist member, Nancy Doseff, and printed by the Club.

Judy Smith, Fifteenth President, was installed in 1984

President Judy attended the Convention held in Nashville, TN.  Cindy Manarin, past President was elected Lot. Governor of the South Atlantic Region.  The Club awarded a Gerontological Nursing Scholarship in the amount of $1,500 for a graduate nurse; we hosted the Foundations Luncheon at Spring Conference held at the Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia.  A book sale was held at Gaithersburg Olde Towne Days.  All members were saddened this year by the closing of the Washingtonian Hotel and Country Club, resulting in the Fashion Show and luncheon being held at the Brooke Manor Country Club.

Beverly Iannone, Sixteenth President, installed June 1985 and served until June 1987

Square dances were held both years as well as the annual luncheon and fashion shows as fundraisers.  In 1986 Cindy Manarin became Regional Governor of South Atlantic Region, prompting a large group of our members to attend the Spring Conference held in Greenville, NC.  A potluck supper was held at the home of Margaret Fox in honor of Governor Cindy.  Each member filled a Wishing Well with money for the Federation Senegal Water Project.  A memorial of $1,000 was made in memory of Rosabell Sandison, Past President, for a furnished room in the Rehabilitation/Short Stay Unit at the Wilson Health Care Center.  Contributions were made to the City of Gaithersburg Substance Abuse Program as well as to the Montgomery County Substance Abuse Program. 

Our Seventeenth President, Jean (McGuire) Doran, was installed in June 1987

Unfortunately, President Jean broke her leg and worked under difficult circumstances.   We contributed to the Montgomery County Hospice; celebrated our 25^th Anniversary, held at the Potomac Sheraton.  Participated in Gaithersburg Olde Towne Days.  We held career night and honored winners of the Youth Citizenship Awards and Training Award Program.  We also held a very successful Youth Seminar.

The Eighteenth President, Nancy Doseff, was installed June 1988 and served two years.

Life membership was extended to three of our members – Helen Bowman, Betty King and Sallie Thomas.  These three members were all Charter Members.  We held and celebrated our 25^th Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show, which was entitled “Silver Jubilee of Fashions.”  All money raised at Gaithersburg Olde Towne Days went to the LUPUS Foundation.  Contributions were sent to Hurricane Hugo victims in Charleston, SC and to the California earthquake.  Cindy Manarin was honored at the United Nations Human Rights Luncheon.  $500 was contributed to the Pediatric Drug Abuse Program at Shady Grove Hospital.  A memorial of $1,000 was given in a memory of Anna Gannett Young, for a gazebo in Constitution Gardens, Gaithersburg, MD.  The Club received recognition from the City of Gaithersburg at the “Gaithersburg is Great” luncheon.

Susan Urban, our Nineteenth President, was installed June 1990 and served only four months.  President-Elect Esther Streusand completed this term.  Esther was elected our Twentieth President and installed in June 1991.

Esther commenced her term as president under difficult circumstances.  But, under her very capable leadership and great enthusiasm, she led the Club on with many worthwhile accomplishments.  Two new Service Objectives projects were begun – the Lord’s Table and the Friendly Visitor Program.  The Club was awarded the “Joy of Achievement” award from the Region for the Lord’s Table Project.  Both Youth Citizenship and Training Award for Women were made.  A $1,000 contribution was given to the Maryland Sheriffs’ Boys Ranch in memory of JoAnn Thomson, a former member.  We hosted the South Atlantic Regional Fall meeting at the Holiday Inn, Gaithersburg, MD.

The Twenty-first President, Bea Nicewarner was installed June 1992

Life membership was given to Nancy Doseff and Laura Jamison.  We continued the Lord’s Table and Friendly Visitor Programs.  Awards have been made to the Youth Citizenship winner and the Training Award Program winner.  “Soroptimist Celebrating Success” will be held in July 1993.  For this meeting, all Clubs were invited to submit to the Federation reports on their projects.  The Coloring Book project for the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital was submitted and was awarded a patch from the Federation as a Semi-Finalist in the category of Education.  The LUPUS Foundation support is continued by our Club.  Our 30^th Anniversary was celebrated May 5, 1993 at the Gaithersburg Holiday Inn.  Governor Betty Nester attended with other guests.   

Our Twenty-second President, Bev Iannone, was installed June 1993 and served until 1995.

Our Club continued the Lord’s Table and Regional Projects of Training Awards Program for Women and Youth Citizenship Award Program.  Contributed $1,000 to the Children’s Inn at National Institute of Health.  New projects supported were Chesapeake Foundation, Laytonsville Home for Women (Mothers and Tots) and Laubach Literacy.  We held the annual luncheon and fashion show and continued the Coloring Book project.

The Twenty-third President, Mary Ann Denham, was installed June 1995 and served until June 1997.

 The Club furnished Christmas dinner at the Children’s Inn at NIH.  We continued the Lord’s Table, the Laytonsville Home for Women, Youth Citizenship Award and Training Award Programs, support LUPUS, Laubach Literacy and contributed to Federation’s Foundation projects.  We began a four-year nursing scholarship for a High School student desiring the nursing profession.  This will be in the amount of $1,500 per year, providing grades are maintained.  Together with the Frederick County Soroptimists, we hosted the South Atlantic Region Spring Conference in April 1997 at the Gaithersburg Hilton.

The Club’s Twenty-fourth President, Myrtis Brame, was installed June 1997.

We continued to support the Federation’s projects, i.e., President’s Appeal, Foundations Women’s Opportunity Award Program, Youth Citizenship Program, United Nations and Laubach Literacy.  Our Club projects – the Lord’s Table, LUPUS, Coloring Books and Nursing Scholarship are continuing.  A new project was started, wherein members are visiting Montgomery General Hospital Transitional Care Center and having lunch with the patients.  The Annual luncheon and fashion show was held in March 1998.  On May 13, 1996, we celebrated the 35^th Anniversary of our Club’s Charter.

Judi Moline, twenty-fifth President was installed in June 1999 and served until June 2001.

Our major projects these two years were our Nursing Scholarship, the Women’s Opportunity Award and the Youth Citizenship Award that in 2001 became the Violet Richardson Award.  We continued the Lord’s Table, Cystic Fibrosis, President’s Appeal, Foundation, United Nations, LUPUS, and added the American Cancer Relay for Life, Poolesville Food Bank, Fields Road, LAM and Secret Santa for the City of Gaithersburg, MD.  Copies of our newly printed Coloring Book were presented to Montgomery General Hospital.  At our holiday dinner we honored Betty King, Charter Member, for her long years of service to the Club.  Our annual fashion show was held at the Golden Bull Restaurant.  In January 2001 we moved our meeting venue from the Gaithersburg Hilton on the 1^st Wednesday of the month to the Willow Tree Inn on the 1^st Tuesday of the month.  In the spring 2001 we held a tea to recruit new members.  President Judi represented our Club at the Convention in Hawaii.

Our Twenty-sixth President, Bonnie Lasky, served from June 2001 to June 2003.

Our Club continues to support the Federation Projects of Foundations, President’s Appeal, Women’s Opportunity Award, and Violet Richardson Award.  Our additional service projects include the Lord’s Table (tenth year), Suited for Change, United Nations, LAM, LUPUS, Cystic Fibrosis and others.  We continued to participate in the Relay for Life and published our first cookbook.  At Thanksgiving we furnished dinner for a family and at Christmas we sponsored two families.  In 2001 we contributed $500 to Casey Hospice House in memory of our former Venture and Soroptimist member, Helen Hansen.  Marissa Gallianni, recipient of our four-year Nursing Scholarship, graduated in June 2002. We continued our Fashion Show as our main fund raiser.  Our Club presented $500 to Asbury Benevolent Fund in memory of our Life Member, Laura Clagett, who passed away September 2, 2002.  In our recruiting drive, we added seven new members.  President Bonnie attended the 37^th Convention in San Diego, CA.  On May 6, 2003, we held our 40^th Anniversary at the Willow Tree Inn.

The Twenty-seventh President, Becky Mathias, was installed June 2003 and served to June 2005.

During President Becky’s term we supported our Federation Projects as usual, but became a club with a more “hands on” approach.  We continued the Lord’s Table, Relay for Life, Cystic Fibrosis, Thanksgiving and Christmas donations to needy families, and started reaching out to a woman in Afghanistan through Project Independence (Women for Women), visiting young men and women serving in the military at Walter Reed Hospital, women supporting their families through the Heifer Project, nursing scholarship, supplies to local elementary schools and coats to domestic violence victims.  Our service projects were funded by our annual luncheon and fashion show, sale of White House Christmas ornaments, basket bingo and Weekenders sale of merchandise.  We had an addition of five new members.

Ivery de La Cruz was installed as our Twenty-eighth President in June 2005 and served until January 2006.

We continued the Violet Richardson Award, Women’s Opportunity Award, the Heifer Project, the Lord’s Table, Thanksgiving food basket for needy family, nursing scholarship and Cystic Fibrosis.  We added Pleasant View Nursing Home.  Each month members visited patients, served them cookies and drinks, and took little personal gifts.  We also sent greeting and birthday cards.  The Club donated to a family for Christmas at the Betty Ann Krahnke House, a shelter for domestic violence victims.  We participated in the Regional Village Dispensary Kits by sending three complete kits.

Unfortunately, President Ivery (Lt. Col., US Army) was transferred to Georgia.  President-Elect, Ann Choate was able to come forth and lead the Club in the annual luncheon and fashion show, Relay for Life and planning for hosting one of the Regional Fall Meetings.  Our fund raiser for these events was the fashion show, sale of White House Christmas ornaments and sale of Weekenders merchandise.

Our Twenty-ninth President, Ann Choate Milanchus, was installed June 2006 and served until June 2008.

President Ann continued to lead the Club, sponsoring the Regional and Federation Projects.  These included the Violet Richardson Award, Women Helping Women, Women’s Opportunity Award and Village Dispensary Kits.  Locally, we continued Relay for Life, Cystic Fibrosis, Operation Second Chance, which is aid in the recovery of wounded service men and women at Walter Reed Hospital, making bears for INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia.  Our annual luncheon and fashion show and sale of White House Christmas Ornaments were successful fundraisers.

Bea Nicewarner, thirtieth President was installed June 2008 and served until 2010.

President Bea lead the Club’s support and donations to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life Program, Betty Ann Krahnke Center for New Beginnings, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, IMA World Health Safe Motherhood Kits, including handmade baby blankets for newborns and the Women for Women International Project as well as the Women’s Opportunity and  Violet Richardson Award Programs.  In September 2009, the Club initiated the SIUMC Girls club in support of teen volunteer mentoring. The goal of this project is to provide girls 13-16 the opportunity to support SIUMC’s community service projects in an atmosphere of mentorship and friendship that will lead to a lifetime of community service through affiliation with Soroptimist International.  Four new members were inducted to the Club.

Myrtis Brame, thirty-first President was installed in June 2010 and served until 2012.

President Myrtis continued supporting the Annual Fashion Show, White House Ornament fundraisers and other service projects started in prior years. Program support was expanded to allocate additional funding for the SIUMC Girls Club, “Betty’s Closet” in memory of charter member Betty King, the City of Gaithersburg Holiday Giving program, Operation Second Chance, Inc. annual fundraiser in support of wounded troops, Gaithersburg Help in partnership with the Fannie Mae, participation in the Homeless Mini Walk, Grace United Brown Bag Lunch Program, Heifer International, Manna Food Center, Innocents at Risk, Inc. and the Stop Modern Day Human and Sex Trafficking project. The Club initiated the five-year Betty Rudasill Nursing Award as a result of a $5000 bequest left by Betty Grubb Rudasill, long time former member. President Myrtis attended the SIA Convention in San Francisco, California and served as the South Atlantic Region chair for the Violet Richardson Award for two years. SIUMC’s Girl Club was selected 1^st place recognition for the SAR Soroptimist Celebrating Success award and SIA finalist.

Johann Dretchen, thirty-second President was installed in June 2012 and served until 2014.

President Johann led the SIUMC’s Girls Club for middle school girls to earn 20 hours Student Service Learning (SSL) hours toward high school graduation.  The girls participated in the Homeless Mini Walk, Grace United Brown Bag Lunch Program, and Manna Food Center sorting of canned goods. The Girls formed a Soroptimist Team at the American Cancer Society Relay for Life Program, camping out all night and raising more than $1500. 

The Club held its 50^TH Gala Fundraising Fashion Show Luncheon on March 30, 2014.  The Mayor of the City of Gaithersburg read a Proclamation honoring the Club for 50 years of international and community service.  More than 150 people attended the Gala.  The 50^th Gala set a new standard for the Club’s annual fundraiser and the involvement of the Mayor and City Council in the presentation of our awards.

Katie Sternad, our thirty-third President, was installed June 2014 and served until 2015 when she retired and moved to New Jersey. President-Elect Johann Dretchen completed her term until 2016. 

During President Katie’s tenure from 2014-2015, and President Johann’s tenure from 2015-2016, the club’s engagement in SIA pillars of Programs, Membership, Fundraising and Public Relations was greatly increased.  In January 2015, we applied for and received our first City of Gaithersburg School Based Nonprofit Youth Grant For Soroptimist’s new Dream It Be It: Career Support for Girls program for Gaithersburg High School, which launched in September 2015.   We also applied for and received that same year a grant from SIA to provide the DIBI program at Interfaith Works to women who were part of their Vocational training program and were transitioning to work. 

Johann was elected our thirty- fourth President and was installed in June 2016 and served for 2 consecutive terms until 2020.

President Johann continued the Club’s emphasis on SIA Dream Programs throughout her tenure from 2016-2020.  In Club year 2018-2019, President Johann prepared a Club Assessment Survey.  Feedback from the survey supported the development of the FY2018 Club Roadmap.  Membership Retention remained a top priority.  To enhance the membership experience for all club members, monthly hands-on projects and Business Dinner Meeting continued and we applied for and received grants to provide our Dream It Be It: Career Support for Girls program to three more high schools. This opened up the opportunity for 20 more of our Club members to participate in the DIBI program. Our Club also coordinated a collaborate effort between Washington Metropolitan Area clubs SI Woodbridge, SI Manassas, and SI Montgomery to do a full day DIBI venue at one of our local high schools.

In the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the closing of schools, the end to face-to face meetings, the end to hands on community service work and the cancellation of our 56^th Gala.  It became clear that for the Club to remain vibrant, continue its mission and maintain its membership, it would have to adjust to the new environment. 

By losing its major fundraiser, the Club had to adjust significantly its planned FY2021 budget.  More than 200 people planned to attend the Gala.  The Club collected and wrapped more than 100 gift baskets and gift cards.  There were two attempts to reschedule the Gala, all of which failed, as the pandemic was not under control. 

In Q4 of FY2020, the Club embarked on two new initiatives to develop a Virtual Dream It Be Program to be ready for launch in the fall of 2021 and the development of an Online Auction site to sell the Gala baskets.

Danielle Bograd was elected our thirty-fifth President and was installed in June 2020

President Danielle’s tenure began in July 2020 in the midst of a deadly worldwide pandemic.  This unprecedented event severely affected Club operations.   The Virtual DIBI initiative and Online Auction, both scheduled for launch in October 2020, were the club’s primary focus in Q1. 

The Virtual DIBI initiative required significant utilization of the Zoom technology features of Breakout Rooms and Polling.  The Club enhanced the DIBI curriculum by addressing COVID-19 challenges and developed new material for the Rising above Obstacles, Balancing Your Stress and Developing Resilience sessions.  Four Virtual Dream Be It programs successfully launched in the 2^nd quarter of FY2021.  Twenty-three members served as mentors.

For the Online Auction initiative, a technical team selected the online auction platform, designed the site, and utilized the development tools to build the user interface.  Another team of members unwrapped the 100 baskets to take pictures of the items in the baskets and uploaded the pictures and description of items to the online site.  A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document for visitors to the site and an online Program Book featuring those vendors who had bought advertisements, donated gift items and gift cards was developed.   

During this time, the Club initiated a campaign to ask prepaid Gala ticket holders to allow us to keep as a donation to our Dream Programs the prepaid Gala ticket money.  The success of this initiative as well as the proceeds from the Online Auction succeeded in restoring our revenue base.

At the same time, we reached out to the community by participating in the Gaithersburg Holiday Gift Giving.  We also reached out to three senior living homes with Thanksgiving decorations, knitted scarves, and Christmas and Valentine cards.  We additionally reached out to local first responders with homemade snacks and a food drive for Gaithersburg Help.