Allison Stearns, CEO of CaringMatters, has dedicated her career to the health and welfare of people across the lifespan. She has more than 30 years of experience in community and behavioral health and nonprofit leadership.  Since 2014 when she joined CaringMatters (formerly Hospice Caring) as Executive Director, Allison has grown the organization’s visibility and created effective community partnerships and strategic alliances within the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. During her tenure, the agency’s hospice support and bereavement programs have expanded significantly, and CaringMatters has become a recognized leader for community education on topics related to serious illness, end-of-life, loss and grief, and advance care planning.

Sheriff Maxwell C. Uy was initially elected as Montgomery County’s 62nd Sheriff on November 8, 2022. He officially began his term on December 1, 2022. Sheriff Uy is the first Asian-American to hold the Office of Montgomery County Sheriff.

Prior to his election, Sheriff Uy spent over two years as Chief Deputy, directing every aspect of the daily operations of the Sheriff’s Office. During his law enforcement career, Sheriff Uy rose through the ranks, serving in nearly every section of the Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Uy was raised in Fremont, California. Shortly after graduating high school, he enlisted as an active-duty member of the U.S. Army. He ultimately relocated to the East Coast as a member of the U.S. Army’s Old Guard 3rd US Infantry Regiment, before joining the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy in 1994.

The Sheriff’s Office is the oldest law enforcement agency in Montgomery County, Maryland having been established in July of 1777.  The Maryland Constitution provides that the Sheriff be elected every four years and the Office comes under the Judicial Branch of Government.  The Sheriff is therefore a State Constitutional Officer who functions autonomously from the Legislative and Executive branches of government.

This year’s dry spring and summer months have led to a very low flow in the Potomac River, the main source of drinking water in the Washington area.  With the flow near record lows, local governments in the Washington Area are moving forward on drought monitoring and planning using a system developed over the past several decades by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB). The Executive Director of ICPRB is Michael Nardolilli, our speaker for September 8.

Michael joined the ICPRB as its Executive Director on April 1, 2019. Previously, Mr. Nardolilli served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, President of the Arlington Outdoor Lab, Executive Director of the Montgomery Parks Foundation, President of the C&O Canal Trust, and President of the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust.  Michael has a JD from the College of William & Mary and a BSFS from Georgetown University.

David Searby, newly-installed President of Metro Bethesda Rotary Club, will present his proposal that his club, ours, and other local clubs jointly sponsor the creation of a new kind of Rotaract Club. David invited Pallavi Gowda and Bree Kunzel from Potomac Rotary Club, Varda Fink, new President of Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club and Raquel Micit, a potential Rotaract Club member, to join our meeting on July 21st to hear and consider his proposal. Below is a screenshot of the meeting. The August event will be a continuation of the discussion, in person at the Marriott.

Kathleen Reedy was part of a research team, National Science Foundation Grantees, studying human adaptation to cold climate.  She has made seven trips to Antarctic totaling 10 months. The research has been published in several peer reviewed journals and funded by the National Science Foundation.

At Naval Medical Research Institute, with two colleagues, they began the research in human adaptation to cold climate; in Bethesda laboratories, in Alaska in the field with the Navy SEALs, and in Antarctica.

When she came last time, Kathleen talked about her work at McMurdo station.  Her time expired before she got to the stories about the South Pole, which will be the focus of her August presentation.

New Club President John Waterson’s presentation will include club members’ feedback on the Rotary club they’d like to see and proposed next steps as part of a club assembly on August 4th.  John plans to start the meeting before 7:45 am so that there will be ample time for member comments, questions & proposals.

John’s request for feedback in April generated a variety of replies, which he will summarize. John asked two simple questions:

What attributes of a Rotary Club would be most important in keeping you engaged and committed to Rotary? 

Do you have any other suggestions on how (or whether) our club should evolve and grow?

David Searby, newly-installed President of Metro Bethesda Rotary Club, will present his proposal that his club, ours, and other local clubs jointly sponsor the creation of a new kind of Rotaract Club.

Traditionally sponsored by single clubs, Rotaract clubs bring together people ages 18 and older to exchange ideas with leaders in the community, develop leadership and professional skills, and have fun through service. David will explain his proposal for a joint sponsorship to our members and other invited guests.   David has invited Pallavi Gowda and Bree Kunzel from Potomac Rotary Club, Varda Fink, new President of Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club and Raquel Micit, a potential Rotaract Club member, to join our meeting on July 21st to hear and consider his proposal.  

Captain Sean Gagen joined the Montgomery County Police Department in 1996 and has had a variety of duties in his 26-year career, rising from Sargent to Lieutenant and Commander.

In September 2022, the Montgomery County Department of Police named Capt. Gagen as the new director of its Major Crimes Division after he served as the commander of the police district that includes Bethesda for three years.

The Second District includes North Bethesda, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac and Kensington. The Major Crimes Division includes the following sections:

• Fugitive Section
• Homicide Section
• Missing Persons/Cold Case Section
• Robbery Section
• Victim/Witness Assistance Unit

The Division investigates everything from homicide to bank robberies, carjacking and kidnapping.

Rich Carson is a Past District Governor of Rotary District 7620 and has been active in a variety of District, national, and international projects for Rotary. He has served as Rotary representative to the Organization of American States, worked with the White House and Congress on Rotary Issues, and served as an advisor for Disaster Aid USA. Rich is an old friend of North Bethesda Rotary and had visited our club many times.

Rich will be handling the induction of North Bethesda Officers for the coming year: John Waterston as President, Kevin Flynn as President-Elect; Joe DiPietro as Treasurer, and Linda Berg-Cross as Secretary. Steve Vaccarezza will be transitioning to the Past President’s slot. Steve has volunteered to also be Chair of a reconstituted Membership Committee with Ron Sigelman as committee member.  Paul Arveson will continue as Club Administration Director for his long-serving role in managing our club’s hybrid meeting arrangements and equipment.

If time permits, incoming President John Waterston will give a presentation on the results of a survey of members on the future they want to see for our club and propose next steps.