Spring has flown by, here we are at the start of Summer. We had another wonderful FLING and are already planning for Fling 2014, on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at The Crowne Plaza in Herndon. Please circle the date on your 2014 calendar to join in the fun.

We are excited to report that we raised our assistance maximum to over $600 for the first time ever. Families in need of assistance will be able to get more funds towards their outstanding bills and keep their housing and/or utilities. Those needs are the primary assistance we are asked to provide. Our working relationship with Fairfax County is mutually beneficial and we appreciate the ongoing support and encouragement we get from them.
  

In early April, Inga Marler, our Assistance coordinator and Board member, moved to North Carolina. We are truly missing all the wonderful things she did to assist FISH. Diane Mandel has kindly taken over coordinating the Assistance Volunteers Schedule.

We had two Board members leave the Board at the end of this term. Kristina Baumler, a corporate member representing Freddie Mac, has become the Regional Coordinator of the Relay for Life. Kristina has brought much to our organization as Publicity Chair; giving FISH a new presence on social media sites. Susan Gerstel, lives in Reston only part time, so will continue to work with and support Herndon-Reston FISH as an Adjunct Board Member during her Virginia time. Her contributions to our fundraising efforts are most appreciated.

As this goes to press, we are preparing for our Annual Meeting which will take place on Monday, July 15th at 6:00 PM. We are planning a Pot Luck Supper at the site of our new office in the Reston Interfaith Offices, at 11150 Sunset Hills Drive, Reston, in their conference room. I truly hope that many of you will choose to attend, to mingle with all of us and share your thoughts and ideas with the Board of Directors to make FISH stronger than ever.

I look forward to serving as President of the Fiscal Year 2014 Board of Directors, working with the many continuing members and integrating our new members into the joys of volunteering on the Board of Directors. The new Board of Directors List is elsewhere in this newsletter.

Here's to another year of making Herndon-Reston FISH an organization we can all be proud of for its continuing dedication to assisting our neighbors in their times of need.

Most sincerely, 

Janet L. Hyman

President

picture by Jennifer Davis of Vita Images 

Each year at the Fling, we recognize "Star Fish" who have provided outstanding service over the years to FISH. In 2013 the awardees were, from the left,  Claire Dessart, a Bargain Loft volunteer since 2009 who works several shifts per week and is willing to sub at the last minute; Kay Walter a volunteer in the Family Assistance Program handling phone calls and a driver for people needing to get to medical appointments; Peggy LeReche, a FISH volunteer and employee of Dominion Power, who serves on the Board and coordinates the FISH Financial Workshops; and Lisa Kelly and Sarah Birmingham, representatives from the Bradley Farms Homeowners Association, which sponsors the Bradley Farms Haunted House and donates the proceeds to FISH.  This year they donated $8,000. 

The Bargain Loft is sorry that Linda and Art Yengling moved this year. They decided to make Florida their permanent residence. Linda was a volunteer for the Bargain Loft since the late 1980s and Art was always willing to lend a hand. Linda provided many years of service to FISH, serving on the Board of Directors and volunteering at the Bargain Loft. She served as both co-manager and manager, and later was always willing to step in as manager to fill temporary gaps. We miss her cheerful presence and vast knowledge about pricing items at the Loft. We hope she and Art enjoy the Florida sunshine.