Sadiq Amini is an expert in Public Diplomacy and International Security, with over a decade of experience shaping U.S. foreign and security policy in Afghanistan and South Asia. Through his YouTube podcasts, “Afghanistan Impact” and “Herat Talks”, he delivers in-depth analysis of Afghanistan’s challenges, highlighting the consequences of Taliban rule, especially on women, and advocating for the country’s liberation and democratization.

From 2022–2024, Mr. Amini served as a Non-Resident Fellow and Program Manager for Outreach at ORF America, a Washington D.C.-based think tank focused on U.S.-India relations. Prior to that, he spent nearly nine years as a Political Assistant at the U.S. Department of State/U.S. Embassy Kabul, where he performed sensitive roles in policy analysis, outreach, and crisis response, including advising on the U.S.-Afghanistan Bilateral Security Agreement. During Operation Allies Refuge, he played a key role in evacuating American citizens, Green Card holders, and over 3,000 locally employed staff and their families after the Taliban takeover of Kabul. In recognition of his services, the U.S. Department of State presented him with the Heroism Award in June 2022.

Mr. Amini began his career in 2010 with the Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan, later joining the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations … Read More »

Our upcoming Club Assembly is a chance for members to come together and review key club business, updates, and plans for the months ahead. This meeting is held exclusively on Zoom, making it easy for everyone to join the discussion, share input, and stay informed about our club’s direction.

A Research Scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. He uses data collected from satellites to understand how our planet is changing. His focus is on measuring the Earth’s ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica and developing models that predict how they will change in the future, as the Earth’s climate warms.

Understanding this is critical because, as the ice sheets shrink, sea level rises and this will impact hundreds of millions of people around the world.

Dr. Felikson also leads a NASA satellite mission called ICESat-2, which collects laser measurements that are used to estimate the thickness of the ice sheets, sea ice, as well as tree height all around the globe. This unique satellite is one of many that NASA uses to collect data about our changing planet.

Kevin Flynn will be giving his Classification Talk this week, sharing more about his background, his professional journey, and what brought him to our club. This is a great opportunity for all of us to get to know Kevin better and learn about the experiences that shape his perspective. 

Bob Webster has over 20 years of emerging and frontier market small business impact investing and development experience as an impact fund manager, chief operating officer, and project director/team leader. Since January 2024, he has been working in Ukraine on investment and humanitarian projects.His financing experience includes capital and grant raising, with development finance institutions and donors (DFC, FMO, IFC, DEG, EBRD, USAID, DFAT, local investors, etc.), equity and debt deal generation, due diligence, structuring and closing, impact strategy and management, and fund management. He is an innovative and blended finance expert, having designed and implemented several such funds, investment vehicles, and programs.Bob has also managed economic growth projects that supported financial institutions and small businesses. His international work has included residential and short-term work in Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.He is a proud, active member of Rotary Club International Lviv, Ukraine, which mobilizes humanitarian response and support for the Ukrainian people, such as medical equipment and supplies, fire trucks and ambulances, and programs and gifts for war-affected children.Bob resides in Lviv, Ukraine, although he has had a home in Silver Spring, Maryland since 2000. He is originally from the State of Maine.

Arianna Ross, CEO of Story Tapestries, and Kellie Butsack, the organization’s Operations Director, bring more than six decades of combined nonprofit leadership, strategic vision, and community impact to their work. Arianna is a nationally recognized executive in communication, nonprofit leadership, corporate visioning, and community improvement. For nearly 30 years, she has inspired audiences across corporations, nonprofits, conferences, colleges, libraries, and school districts. A graduate of Leadership Montgomery’s CORE Class of 2021 and Leadership Maryland’s Class of 2025, she is also an active member of the Metro Bethesda Rotary Club and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a Standards for Excellence Licensed Consultant.

Kellie complements this leadership with over 30 years of experience strengthening nonprofit operations, program delivery, volunteer engagement, data analysis, and strategic partnerships. Since joining Story Tapestries in 2022, she has provided essential administrative, outreach, and program support while managing scheduling, accounting, and project coordination to ensure smooth day‑to‑day operations.

Together, Arianna and Kellie guide Story Tapestries with a shared commitment to excellence, collaboration, and community empowerment.