ANNUAL REPORT 2011
THE NEXT SEVEN GENERATIONS
703-435-6530 www.reston.org
Reston For The Next Seven Generations
Table of Contents
by Kathleen Driscoll, President
President’s Welcome
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Board of Directors
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Strategic Goals
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Changing Reston
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2011 Committees
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Highlights and Accomplishments Aquatics 15 RA Camps 16 Human Resources 16 Get Involved 17 Eagle Scout Projects 18 Environmental 19 Communications 20 Special Events 21 Covenants 22 Nature 23 AMSIT 23 Tennis 23
In the last year, we have all heard the question more than once. “What will Reston be like in a few years?” Underlying the question for some is the hope and promise of growth; for others it is the fear of change and what that might bring to the Reston community. We are a community born of change – from quiet farmlands to asphalt, brick and glass. Now we are on the precipice of an even greater change. The first took a couple of decades to achieve. The second that heralds the advent of the Metro Silver Line is hurling at us in the course of less than ten years. Our work at the Reston Association includes anticipating and preparing for those changes, while maintaining the qualities that attracted each of us to Reston. To ensure that we do that, the Reston Association Board and senior staff developed a new five-year strategic plan. It builds upon the goals that Robert Simon set for his “new town” back in 1964 and on the guiding principles that the Reston Association Board created in 2010 to guide the master planning process.
they can do anything – through competing in a Triathlon for kids. Within Reston Association, we have hundreds of volunteers whose talents and vision on specific issues help support the decisions of the Board of Directors. The leadership of the organization and the staff share one common goal – retaining the qualities of Reston while preparing for a day when we will have even more people, more homes, more opportunities for each of us to get involved. Today, the decisions we make are for the next generations. Just like the Reston that the first families of the 1960’s and 70’s has evolved, the community we see today will be very different in another decade. There will new people, new businesses, new opportunity and, yes, change.
“For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future. “ John F. Kennedy
It is nimble enough so that the organization can address unexpected change, yet it provides solid support for guiding the community. Volunteers
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Volunteer Service Awards
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Friends of Reston
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Looking Ahead
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2011 Community Partners
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2011 Financial Statements
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Vision: Leading the model community where all can live, work and play and get involved™. Mission: To preserve and enhance the Reston community through outstanding leadership, service and stewardship of our resources. Core Values: Service • Collaboration • Stewardship • Innovation • Leadership
One of the great strengths that we collectively share is our ability to adapt and to grow, to face our circumstances. Because we are comprised of many organizations, we have learned in our 47 years to rely upon one another. From our county supervisor to Reston Interfaith, which helps our neediest neighbors to the Initiative for Public Art Reston to The Reston Community Center and the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce, and the Fairfax County Y-Reston, we all share in the vision to keep Reston, while preparing for the changes. In 2011, together we shepherded a film festival, welcomed international visitors, planned for redevelopment and helped some children learn
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Board of Directors Strategic Goals and Objectives Changing Reston 2011 Committees
Board of Directors Kathleen Driscoll McKee, President South Lakes District Representatives Kathleen.driscoll.mckee@gmail.com
Paul Thomas, Vice President At-Large Representative pabloreston@gmail.com
Joe Leighton, Secretary At-Large Representative JoeLeighton@comcast.net John Higgins, Treasurer Reston Association Member john.higgins@fairfaxcounty.gov Amanda Andere Apartment Owners’ Representative amanda.andere@gmail.com
“Passion rebuilds the world for the youth. It makes all things alive and significant.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Andrew “Andy” Sigle, Board Director At-Large Representative awsigle@gmail.com Tom Vis, Board Director At-Large Representative tvisrasoc@hotmail.com Ken Knueven, Board Director Lake Anne/Tall Oaks District Representative kknueven@hotmail.com Mike Collins, Board Director North Point District Representative mike4ra@gmail.com Milton Matthews, Chief Executive Officer matthews@reston.org
Cheryl Beamer, Board Director Hunters Woods/Dogwood District Representative cherylbeamer@verizon.net
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Strategic Goals and Objectives Change & Opportunity To promote the Essential Elements of Reston as standards for the development, redevelopment, and revitalization of our community. Prepare Reston Association (RA) to incorporate additional residential and mixed use properties into the Association, as development occurs. Continuously advocate for, an increase in the number of multi-modal transportation facilities in the Reston Community.
By 2013, establish procedures that will ensure Reston Association’s interests are considered in redevelopment and revitalization of our community.
Sustainability & Community Viability To effectively manage all resources, resulting in a sustainable and viable community.
Technology To actively meet the needs of our Members, staff and community through the effective use of technology. Daily and without interruption, provide Members, staff and the community reliable and secure access to RA information, services and facilities. Continuously use integrated technologies to improve service delivery, including more efficient and timely communication and faster financial transactions.
Annually, develop and allocate appropriate financial resources to sustain and enhance the Association’s physical infrastructure. Continuously protect, enhance and restore environmental resources.
Community Leadership & Engagement To be the leader, representing Reston’s interests, promoting partnerships, and fostering community involvement.
Continuously advocate Reston’s interests to and with key stakeholders of our community.
Programs & Services To provide high quality programs and services to meet the needs of the Reston community. Establish and maintain an annual process for evaluating existing and potential community amenities. Continuously evaluate the quality of programs and services to ensure they are valued by the Reston community. As appropriate, develop cost-effective new programs and services.
Regularly tengage the diverse elements of the community on issues and opportunities that impact Reston.
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Changing Reston by Robert Simon Jr. Founder Changing Reston Robert E. Simon, Jr. Founder As Reston approaches its 50th Anniversary, a special task force appointed by Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins has been joining with Fairfax County staff to focus on plans for Reston’s next 20 to 30 years. Other community civic and philanthropic organizations are working on their own estimates of the situation. “Change“ seems to be the dominant motif. Normal residential population increase, from the present number of some 60,000 residents, enhanced by the arrival of Metro, will, over time, no doubt exceed the 75,000 set forth in the 1963 Reston Master Plan. Today the media focuses on the coming “change” to Reston. In print and over the airways we Restonians are reminded, as we embark on our second half-century, that before long, rail will be coming to our community, causing our population to increase even more than anticipated. This is undeniable. The question is will this cause the most important aspect of Reston to change our sense of community. Reston started as a community, and has continued as such during successive decades of growth, welcoming young and old as well as people of any and all colors and creeds. Accommodations have been made so that programs are available to people regardless of their ability to pay for them. As a whole, these programs have, from day one, offered a comprehensive collection of ways for young and old to stimulate their minds and bodies. If we plan thoughtfully for our future, the programs can be enlarged to accommodate the
increasing numbers of residents; there is no lack of space for this. But we must increase community spaces. Reston’s Master Plan provided for village centers in addition to a Town Center. Each village center was to be focused on a mixed-use plaza enclosed by dense residential and commercial development. The Reston Town Center, inspired by Rockefeller Center in New York City, was to be a major retail and entertainment destination, not only for Restonians, but also for much of Northern Virginia. Town Center fulfills its mission splendidly; its core, the plaza known as Fountain Square, is the very hub of what has become Silicon Valley East. But with the exception of Lake Anne, shopping centers were substituted for the village centers with their plazas. So, just as in the completion of the second half of Town Center, inappropriate and ageing buildings are scheduled for demolition and replacement, so must the five so-called village centers, for the most part, be demolished and replaced by mixed use plazas enveloped by dense residential and commercial buildings. Completing Town Center and reconstituting the village centers could go far to accepting Reston’s share of the expected population increase forecast for Northern Virginia without weakening the bonds that spell “community.”
What is Reston Association?
When Mr. Robert Simon first arrived in Northern Virginia in the early 1960’s, the New York real estate developer saw only fencing and bulldozers on the site of what would become the Dulles International Airport. Mr. Simon believed he could make the dream of a planned residential community, modeled after Radburn, New Jersey, where his father had invested, a reality. So he invested in Reston with the proceeds from the sale of Carnegie Hall to the city of New York, which bought the building to preserve it. Today, Reston Association is a community interest organization with responsibilities for managing the community’s assets and maintaining design standards within the community. The association advocates for members within the 11 square miles boundaries and 134 homeowners’ associations of Reston Association, which is a world-renowned planned community.
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2011 Committees Board Liaison: Joe Leighton
Communications Advisory Committee Chair: Lisa Bader Co-chair: Jane Howard Members: Sharon Goetz, Nathaniel Dickert, Eric Weinstein and Melissa Knueven Board Liaisons: Ken Knueven and Kathleen Driscoll McKee
Legal Committee Chair: Kathleen Driscoll McKee Members: Ken Knueven, Tom Vis, Milton W. Matthews, and Mike Collins General Counsel: Ken Chadwick
Reston Neighborhood Advisory Committee Co-chairs: Mai Huynh and Rengin Morro Members: Lloyd Bartoszek, Ben Perchik, Bobbi Beck and Virginia Vennett Board Liaison: Amanda Andere
Design Review Board Chair: Barbara Byron Vice chairs: Michael Miller, Sara Sinclair and Joe Enrico Members: Richard Newlon, W. Neal Roseberry, Nelson Kirchner, Jennifer Byl and Ed Abbott Board Liaison: Paul Thomas
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Elections Committee Chair: Ellen Graves Vice Chair: Sam Stalcup Members: Ed Robichaud and Anna Pizzo
Environmental Advisory Committee Co-chairs: Carolyn Badila, Diane Blust and Carol Ivory Members: Nicole Wynands, Mike Sanio, Robert Mowbray, Gavin Small, Sue Beffel, Eric Weinstein, Freya De Cola, Ron Rubin, Brandon Ashby, Irwin Flashman, Nick Bauer and Ben Perchik Board Liaison: Kathleen Driscoll McKee Fiscal Committee Chair: Shawn E. Endsley Members: John Higgins, Frank Boucher, Donna Miller, Brian Daum, Michael Werner Robert Swartz and Mark Stepple Board Liaisons: Andy Sigle and Joe Leighton
Covenants Committee Chair: Bob Stein Co-chair: Eileen DuBose Members: Jay Thierry, Danny Bobrow, Victor Van Rees and Kara Wills Board Liaison: Tom Vis
Parks & Planning Advisory Committee Co-chairs: Jay Monroe and David Robinson Members: Bill Bouie, John Farrell, Amiee Freeman, Leon Kolankiewicz, Michael Rierson, Bill Keefe, Jeff Thomas and Vicky Wingert Board Liaison: Mike Collins
Pedestrian & Bicycling Advisory Committee Chair: John Rosner Members: Joe Stowers, Doug Pew, Aric Line, Burton Griffith, Nicole Wynands and B.J. Silvey Board Liaison: Mike Collins
Seniors Advisory Committee
Tennis Advisory Committee Chair: Sridhar Ganesan Members: Swanee Busic, Heather Maclellan, Dick Bishop, JoAnn Baynes, Jean Roberts, Donna Harris,Tyrone Gillum, Elaine Killoran, Roseann Kuryla, Robin Morris and Dan Krugler Board Liaison: Joe Leighton
Transportation Advisory Committee Chairs: Kathryn Martin Co-chair: John Bowman Members: Timothy Donohue, Patty Nicoson, Dan McGuire, Michael Martin, Robert Stein and Loren Bruce Board Liaison: Paul Thomas
Co-chairs: Elizabeth Bolton and Virginia Vennett Members: Cyndee Hochstrasser, David Ralston, Marilyn Dicke, Mia McNaughton, Pat Williams, Connie Rudacille, Bonnie Elliott, Eileen Spinella, Luci Koizumi and Mihaela Burdubos
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Highlights and Accomplishments Aquatics RA Camps Human Resources Get Involved Eagle Scout Projects Environmental Communications Special Events Covenants Nature Administration, Member Service’s & IT Tennis
Highlights and Accomplishments Aquatics 180,000-plus people visited the 14 pool facilities. (Dogwood Pool was closed for renovations.) 1,100 swim lesson participants. RA provided free swim lessons to the children enrolled in Laurel Learning Center.
More than 1,000 people swam, biked and ran, in the 28th Annual Reston Triathlon and the 5th Annual Reston Sprint Triathlon, hosted by Reston Association.
RA Camps
Co-sponsored three Community Cookouts at various RA pools with Reston Community Center.
69 scholarships went to Reston families who could not afford to send their children to camp.
New Initiatives in 2011 250 Lifeguard & Safety Training participants.
Brought the Latin dance-inspired fitness program to the pools in the first and very popular Water Aerobics Zumba program.
28,000 pool and tennis passes. 31 organizations rented pool time. 250 maintenance projects completed by August by only three aquatics maintenance team members.
Here are just a few of the major community events that the aquatics department hosted or helped with: The Reston Sprint Triathlon, Reston Triathlon, Master Lake Swim Event Reston Swim Team Association, Water Aerobics, Scuba Camp and Guard Start programs.
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First Annual Reston Kids’ Triathlon saw more than 200 kids – many who would not have had the opportunity to be in a triathlon – train, compete and get in shape. Reston Association partnered with the YMCA Fairfax County Reston to host the Reston Kids Triathlon. The event was a huge success and example of the power of partnering with other Reston organizations. Parents and caregivers had the opportunity learn how to protect their children from drowning through the Drowning Education Awareness Program, or DEAP, jointly launched by Reston Association and Reston Community Center.
RA Camps served over 1,450 campers in eleven programs for children ages 3-16.
Campers enjoyed more fun activities such as boating on Lake Anne, cookouts, all camp carnival, instruction from USGS scientists, exploring Reston streams, camp festivals and a hula dancer show. There were lots of arts & crafts, games and cookouts too. Field trips to the Natural History Museum, National Zoo, Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre, Smithsonian Botanical Gardens, Glen Echo Park, Massanutten Water Park, Wolf Trap Theatre-in-the-Woods, River Bend Park, and an Orioles game.
Human Resources A special in-service training session taught all staff methods for management of crises situations.
Recognized as one of the Washington, D.C. region’s 40 Healthiest Employers by the Washington Business Journal in collaboration with Healthiest Employer LLC.
A 78% rehire rate for seasonal employees.
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Highlights and Accomplishments Get Involved In celebration of Earth Day 2011, employees from Centennial Contractors Enterprises, Inc. and Verisign worked with RA staff on a native wildlife habitat restoration project in the Glade Stream Valley and a stream and natural area cleanup near Becontree Lake Drive. A team of volunteers from LightSquared worked with RA’s environmental resource staff on a natural area restoration and beautification project by Stirrup Road and Steeplechase Drive. Fannie Mae volunteers spent a day with RA’s environmental resource staff restoring our natural areas. The team removed Oriental Bittersweet and Burning Bush from the Buttermilk Creek Nature Trail. Students from South Lakes High School National Honor Society, International Baccalaureate Program and the Herndon Keyettes students were instrumental in the success of the Halloween House and Trick or Treat Trail event. Volunteers braved the weather to make the annual event possible for the Reston community.
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CA Technologies volunteers spent half a day spreading woodchips along the nature trails at the Walker Nature Education Center. Treacherous weather had washed away most of the wood chips along the nature trails. This annual global initiative by the company engages employees in a half-day of volunteer service with local nonprofit organizations. A team of volunteers from GMAC spent a day making improvements to the pathways at Golf Course Island Garden Plots. These paths had become very uneven, making walking on them unsafe. Working with RA environmental resources staff, the GMAC volunteers dug, moved and flattened soil to make level pathways for the 120 community gardeners. Youth groups from two churches worked with several RA staff on an educational, environmental Weed Warrior projects. The groups from St. Anne’s Episcopal and Floris United Methodist removed English Ivy from common areas. Friends of Reston received a $500 grant to support NeighborWoods Month-October 2011. Its purpose is to draw attention to the value of trees. RA environmental resource staff
and volunteers joined forces on a Weed Warriors project. They removed English Ivy and planted native trees. The grant from the Alliance Community for Trees helped purchase new directional signs to guide volunteers to future Weed Warriors project sites, as well as a “Thank You” banner to show appreciation to Reston’s invaluable volunteers.
Eagle Scout Projects Boy Scouts provide valuable volunteer service to the community through managing projects as they earn their Eagle Scout badges. In 2011, six scouts’ contributions restored habitats, rejuvenated groundcover, and improved water flow. Ben Lynch organized a large group of volunteers to remove invasive exotics in the Glade Stream Valley to help protect the newly restored stream. Lucas Acosta coordinated efforts to help restore the Colts Neck Road underpass near Hunters Woods Shopping Center by removing invasive exotic plants and scraping and repainting parts of the underpass.
Ed Whaley worked with RA environmental resource staff to coordinate a habitat restoration project in the Glade Stream Valley, which included removing invasive exotic plants. Matthew Heffernan organized and led a Habitat Restoration Eagle Scout project in Reston, which included the removal of Linden Viburnum from the natural area near Colts Neck Tennis Court. Megg Gawat organized and led an Eagle Scout project, which included installing water bars, mulching and installing a sign at a rain garden, and removing debris from a rock drainage swale at the Generation Cluster. Alexander Boelcskevy’s work improved the flow of water from the Ridge Heights Pool and Ridge Heights Road This project involved trimming and removing tree branches, invasive vines and plants. These intruded on the 150-yard long swale. His work realigned the swale.
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Highlights and Accomplishments Environmental In spite of a light rain, 138 eager young kids participated in the first Kids’ Trout Fishing Day. The event was made possible by a partnership with RA, Northern Virginia Trout Unlimited, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and Wetland Studies, and Solutions, Inc. The stream restoration project completed work on the section of Buttermilk Creek stream that leads to Lake Fairfax. For the 17th consecutive year, Reston received the Tree City Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation. Landscape contractors learned about creating and maintaining natural, self-sustaining turf and how Reston Association can assist companies in making the transition from traditional chemical-based turf programs to natural turf programs. Chip Osborne, nationally-known organic horticulturist spoke at the event. The Environmental Advisory Committee developed a Pesticide and Fertilizer Policy for Reston Association that minimizes the need for the use of pesticides and fertilizers when possible and promotes good environmental stewardship.
Communications Reston magazine doubled its audience in 2011 with an average readership of 20,000 online in addition to the 21,000 copies that were mailed to members. Produced for the same cost as the former A-Z Guide and the Reston Resource newsletter, Reston magazine raised five times the revenue in 2011. E-Notices became RA News in 2011. The redesigned electronic newsletter reaches 3,000 people. The new format includes news briefs, event information and programs. Communications organized and supervised visits from international delegations from Brazil, South Korea Saudia Arabia and Japan. The groups included urban planners, university professors, engineers and international developers who sought out Reston to learn how the community is successfully sustained. The Communications Advisory Committee helped the Tennis Advisory Committee promote the two successful fund-raising events, Raise a Racquet for Kids and Rally for a Cause that raised money for Laurel Learning Center, Reston Interfaith and The American Cancer Society.
The Reston Association environmental staff took steps to control the burgeoning Canada Goose population with the humane method of addling 152 eggs. This was done with a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Experts from the National Wildlife Federation talked about the importance of keeping cats indoors on a segment of Reston Today, the association’s video news program.
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Highlights and Accomplishments Special Events
Over 42,000 people participated in 95 RA events in 2011. Most events were free or low-cost, designed for families, youth and seniors. Four of these events were new this year. Events were: Ariel’s Adventures, Almost Back to School pool party, Senior Fitness Swim, Container Planting at the Nature House. Special Events, Reston Community Center and Reston Festival, Inc., co-sponsored the Reston Festival at Reston Town Center, a celebration of Reston’s 47th Birthday. The 16th Annual Bicycle Safety Rodeo was cosponsored by State Farm Insurance and the Reston Bicycle Club.
1000 participants attended Totally Trucks an annual event at our Central Services Facility. Children learned about the RA trucks that keep Reston Beautiful. Fairfax County Fire & Rescue, Fairfax County Police, Virginia Army National Guard and the USPS also participated.
Covenants
Two Community Yard Sales brought over 2,900 people to the Reston Corner location.
When international delegations wanted to learn how Reston retains such high standards for the properties, RA Covenants shared ideas and its procedures. Urban planners and developers from Brazil, academics, professional planners and provincial government leaders from South Korean and board members from the Brandermill Community Association in Virginia learned about RA’s approach to covenants enforcement and member outreach.
Events Coordinator Ashleigh Soloff was accepted into the Emerging Leaders Institute of Fairfax County. She graduates in June 2012. Special Events also helped with provisioning the following community events: Reston Festival, Multicultural Festival, Bicycle Safety Rodeo, Reston Town Center Parade, Halloween event at the Nature House, Kids Triathlon, Harvest Festival at the Westin Reston Heights and our annual Older Americans Month Celebration.
Launched an educational campaign on “party walls” to help members understand their joint responsibility of adjoining property owners. Members were provided handouts, an article appeared in both Reston magazine and The Advisor newsletter and a video ‘Home Tip” explained owner responsibilities for maintenance and upkeep and RA procedures for these shared elements. Such awareness should improve covenant compliance, cluster appearance, and assist in the operational efficiency of the Covenants Committee.
Hosted a meeting of a local real estate brokerage featuring an overview of the RA’s process for ordering resale disclosure documents in accordance with the Property Owners Association Act, providing an understanding of the regulations to assist front-line professionals in showcasing Reston. Promoted efforts to assist property owners in understanding the benefits and responsibilities of living in a community protected by covenants including the production of Home Tips video segments shown on YouTube, public access channels, and the RA website and publication of a quarterly e-newsletter, The Advisor, which keeps our Members current on covenant-related issues and industry news. Coordinated a comprehensive all-day workshop on the “Essentials of Community Association Volunteer Leadership” as an educational/networking opportunity for RA’s neighborhood association board officers.
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Highlights and Accomplishments Nature
8,300 people of all ages took part in the 300- plus environmental education programsand special events at the Walker Nature Center. Annual visitation at the center’s education building, known as Nature House, increased to over 20,000, including drop-in visitors, meeting attendees, and private rental groups. Nature House welcome desk volunteers surpassed a combined 1,000 hours of service. Since its opening in November of 2009, 21 adults and teens have been trained to perform this function. The nature center created a new sustainable living series of adult programs in partnership with the Reston Community Center and a new environmental film series in partnership with Sustainable Reston. The film nights are one example of the many programs, making use of the new audiovisual system installed in Nature House. For a second year, RA environmental staff partnered with the United States Geological Survey to conduct watershed education field trips for all seventh grade students from Langston Hughes Middle School. Over 350 students conducted field studies in the Snakeden Branch Stream Valley and the Beaver Management Area of The Glade Stream Valley.
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“A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease.” John Muir
On Reston’s Arbor Day, volunteers and environmental staff planted over 300 native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, ferns and grasses to augment the habitat gardens around Nature House. The planting included a dogwood tree honoring Reston’s founder, Bob Simon, funded by the Reston Garden Club. More than 150 participants helped to raise over $7,000 for Nature House during the 8th Annual 5K Fund Run/Walk, conducted in partnership with Friends of Reston. Administration, Member Service’s & IT Sponsored the 19th Annual South Lakes High School Ethics Day Program hosted by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. In coordination with the Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team, developed the organization’s 2012-2016 Strategic Plan.
Tennis
75 tennis enthusiasts saw the Washington Kastles compete against the New York Sport Times. The Tennis Advisory Committee organized two charity tournaments that supported the American Red Cross, Reston Interfaith and the Laurel Learning Center. For the third year in a row tennis fans witnessed the worlds top tennis professionals compete in the U.S. Open Championship. Reston fans traveled by bus to this “crown jewel” event.
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Volunteers 2012 Reston Association Volunteer Service Awards Friends of Reston Looking Ahead 2011 Community Partners 2011 Expense Report
Volunteers Volunteer Snapshot 825 Volunteers 15,000 volunteer hours 30-plus volunteer opportunities Volunteers assist with nearly every aspect of the association and play an important role in the Reston community. Many services, programs and events we provide would not happen without the support of our volunteers community partners. RA volunteers range in ages, come from diverse ethnic backgrounds and have a multitude of skill levels. Our volunteers all have one thing in common - they care about the Reston community. Without our volunteers, the association could not provide all the high-quality programs and services it currently delivers to our members. They make an immeasurable impact on our community as a whole.
As part of the Verisign Cares program, Verisign employees from all over the world regularly take part in community service projects. “This program reflects our continued commitment to making a positive and lasting impact on the communities around us, and where our employees work and live. “ Mark McLaughlin, Verisign President and CEO
Thank you to all our volunteers for the time you give and have given to our community and for making Reston the best place to live, work, play and get involved.
Just a Few of the Projects in 2011 “It was extremely gratifying to celebrate Earth Day by working on such an important environmental project in our own community. The knowledgeable staff from the Reston Association made this a wonderful experience for our team and we look forward to volunteering again in the near future.” Laura Roland, Sustainability Program Officer for Centennial’s Corporate Office.
5K Fund Run/Walk Administrative and office support Adopt-a-Spot Program Arbor Day Bike Safety Rodeo Bird Box Monitors Board of Directors Brochure Box Volunteers Advisory Committees Community Workdays at the Nature Center Corporate Day of Service Drain Marking Project Eagle Scout Projects Fall Cleanup Festival on the Square FIDO Dispenser Halloween House & Trick or Treat Trail Lake Cleanup Multicultural Festival
Potomac River Watershed Cleanup Reston Festival
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Reston Town Center Holiday Parade Reston Kids’ Triathlon Senior Movie Day Spring Festival Summer Series Events Kids’ Trout Fishing Day Virginia Invasive Plant Removal Day Weed Warriors Program
Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/volunteerReston
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2012 Reston Association Volunteer Service Awards 2012 Volunteer of the Year – Shawn E. Endsley, Chair of the Fiscal Committee Shawn E. Endsley has served as Chair of the nine-member, RA Board-appointed Fiscal Committee for the past four years and has donated 150 hours in 2011. The Fiscal Committee is tasked with the following responsibilities: reviewing existing assessments and financial resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors and suggesting new resolutions for adoption; participating in public meetings held to receive information on the budget preparation process and providing comments on proposed budget during public hearings held prior to the board’s adoption/consideration of the budget; may assist in evaluating or investigating specific budgetary issues and the request of the CEO; conducts an annual review of the association’s insurance programs and report its findings to the Board of Directors; review’s RA’s investment policy and the state of RA’s investments; make recommendations for changes to investment strategy, as needed; evaluate the need for an audit of the Association’s system of internal controls; and recommend an independent Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who shall prepare an annual report and render an opinion on the association’s books and records of accounts. In addition to the above responsibilities, the RA Board tasked the Fiscal Committee on several projects that demanded significant additional time. Under Shawn’s leadership, the committee worked with RA staff on the following accomplishments:
• • • • • • •
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Shawn has done an excellent job as chair. He has spent many hours than typically required on two very important issues: a) Indoor tennis - researching/ discussing and presenting in an understandable way the work his committee did on financing options, as well as reviewing consultant opinions on operations - often meeting more than twice a month to meet deadlines. b) Reserve study and 10-year capital - he brings clarity for the board and staff on realistic long-term projections and does so in a non-finance speak way, which is helpful - often meeting more than twice a month to get this done in a short time frame. His leadership of the Fiscal Committee has transformed it into an invaluable asset to the Board of Directors. Reston Association is honored to present Shawn E. Endsley with the 2012 Reston Association Volunteer of the Year.
Presented to the RA Board a revised Fiscal Committee position qualifications. Presented to the RA Board projections and three financing options for proposed indoor tennis facility. Developed and presented to the RA Board the new monthly financial sum mary report on one page. Responded to RA Board resolution on Repair & Replacement (R&R) fund. Presented to the RA Board recommended amendments to Assessment & Finance Resolution 3; Repair & Replacement Fund. Presented Fiscal Committee Report to the RA Board every quarter. Presented to the RA Board recommended amendments to Assessment & Finance Resolution 6; Reston Association Investment policy.
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2012 Reston Association Volunteer Service Awards 2012 Youth Volunteer Group of the Year South Lakes High School National Honor Society South Lakes High School National Honor Society (SLHSNHS) has participated in many RA events and programs throughout the years and has put in over 1,000 hours in 2011. In addition to raising money for charity, councils and chapters annually, they also engage in a great variety of service projects at their school and in their communities. It’s truly remarkable that these students can maintain strong grades, participate in school activities, and still find time to give back to the Reston community. Each year, RA is invited to talk to this prestigious society about volunteering and ways they can make a difference in their community. SLHSNHS assists us with the promotion of our programs on Blackboard and in their school newsletter. They are a supporter of RA’s events and programs, and without their participation we would not have the successful programs and events we currently hold for the community. SLHSNHS volunteers contribute over 1,000 hours each year at RA’s events and programs. They participate in the annual Halloween House & Trick or Treat Trail, 5K Fund
Run, Spring Festival, Nature House Teen Naturalist Program, Kids’ Triathlon, Potomac River Watershed Cleanup, Reston and Multicultural Festivals, Weed Warriors and many more. Their time is invaluable to RA as they help with numerous important tasks at each event. They provide the energy and support to RA and help keep the streams and our natural areas clean, healthy and beautiful. SLHSNHS members enjoy sharing their time, talents and energy with us. They don’t mind getting dirty, sharing their skills and doing manual labor. They show up eager to work and support our staff. Rain, snow, sleet or shine they come prepared to work and do whatever it takes to help the Reston community. Reston Association is honored to awards South Lakes High School National Honor Society the 2012 Reston Association Youth Group of the Year Award Volunteer.
2012 Business Partner of the Year Bow-Tie Cinemas Bow-Tie Cinemas donates its space and staff each month to the Reston Association for our Senior Movie Day program. Bow-Tie took over from the RAVE theater company in April 2011 and graciously continued our program which is held at the Reston Town Center. Bow-Tie staff arrive early to help set up and to have the movie ready for participants when they arrive at 9 am. Working with this company has been a seamless transition and we look forward to continuing this successful partnership. Bow-Tie Cinema’s donation of theater space saves RA $10,200 in rental fees annually. Without this donation, RA would not be able to continue to provide this event to the senior community. Each month the seniors look forward to meeting friends and socializing while enjoying their coffee, orange juice and donuts prior to the movie. In 2011, 2,300 senior adults enjoyed coming to the theater for this monthly social event. Most seniors are on a fixed income, so this event has been well received. Reston Association is honored to recognize Bow-Tie Cinemas as the 2012 Reston Association Business Partner of the Year.
“Desire is creation, is the magical element in that process. If there were an instrument by which to measure desire, one could foretell achievement.” Willa Cather
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Looking Ahead
Friends of Reston 2011 Projects include Funding for: Special thanks to those individuals and organizations in the Reston community that donated $1,000 or more in cash, goods and services to the Friends of Reston for Community Projects, Inc.
Administration, Member Service’s & IT
On-going support of Nature House RA Camps Scholarship Program Adopt-A-Bench Program for Recreation Areas and Pathways Demonstration Stormwater Management Trail at Brown’s Chapel Park Stream Monitoring in Snakeden Branch with South Lakes High School Habitat Restoration in the Glade Stream Valley Invasive Exotic Plant Removal at the Pony Barn Pavilion and Old Trail Drive Memorial Tree Program Arbor Day Tree Planting Bluebird Trail Nest Boxes RA Tennis Scholarship Program Life Guard Olympics
Host biannual or quarterly networking dinners with the Association’s committee leaders. Establish a plan for pilot program to be launched in 2013 for on-site scan entry into the Association’s pool facilities.
Board of Directors
In partnership with the Reston Garden Club, the nature center will conduct a new Native Plant Sale in April.
Nancy Herwig, President Ellen Douglas, Vice President Ray Leonhard, Secretary David Hopkins, Treasurer Jennifer Arezzo Aurelia Dinoso John Gasson Bonnie Haukness Monika Jansen Jessica Piscitelli Pam Tobey Kathleen Driscoll-McKee (Ex-officio) Milton Matthews (Ex-officio) Katie Shaw (Executive Director)
Major Donors Fairfax Water Long & Foster Realtors The Peterson Development Companies Reston Garden Club The Sallie Mae Fund Wetland Studies & Solutions, Inc.
Identify Reston Association’s “Value Proposition” so that the Association proactively prepare for changing demographics and diverse needs of future residents.
Transition to paperless distribution of board and committee meeting materials through the use of mobile devices.
Nature Major facility improvements at the Walker Nature Education Center will include installation of acoustic panels in the multipurpose room of Nature House and renovation of the pavilion.
After having successfully raised and released its first group of Brook Trout, Virginia’s state fish, the nature center will participate in a second year of the Trout in the Classroom program, a project of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Funding for its participation is provided by Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. In partnership with Sustainable Reston and the Reston Community Center, the nature center will launch a new program format for adults at Nature House. The new programs will be offered as a series of discussion courses on topics related to sustainable communities.
Communications & Community Outreach New advertising opportunities will offer those who advertise in Reston magazine additional media, such as RA News, other publications and online. This is anticipated to bring in a new stream of non-dues revenue. Communications will be working with the CEO to develop a community-wide survey on a broad range of topics. The team will also plan and manage community district “town hall” meetings in each of Reston’s four districts. A new newsletter for volunteers and community outreach debuts.
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Looking Ahead Special Events Dogwood Pool grand re-opening celebration Expanding Newcomers’ Night Creating 2 new summer events with Reston Community Center.
Covenants A bigger and better 2012 Reston Home Expo will feature more innovations in home improvement, showcase more products and services and provide opportunities for neighborhood association boards to learn about association management products and services. The Reston Neighborhood Advisory Committee is hosting the event on Saturday, October 6, 2012 Reston Community Center – Hunter’s Woods. Establish an effective outreach to encourage non-owner residents to get involved in Reston Association and take better advantage of their member benefits. Develop a visual and print media campaign promoting the Design Review Board (DRB) to provide RA Members better understanding of the design review process, to highlight the services and expertise of DRB members, and to facilitate appropriate submission and efficient review of DRB applications.
Environmental
As a result of the Sustainable Forum organized by the Environmental Advisory Committee in early 2012, look for more initiatives and projects for the community.
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“The youth gets together his materials to build a bridge to the moon, or, perchance, a palace or temple on the earth, and, at length, the middle-aged man concludes to build a woodshed with them.” Henry David Thoreau
RA is working with Reston Interfaith, The Friends of Reston, Sustainable Reston and Cedar Ridge apartments to create a community gardening space on the Transco easement near Cedar Ridge. Also, there will be 20 more plots added at the Hunters Woods Garden plot. The 9th Annual 5K Fund Run/Walk will be held on Saturday April 21 at the Walker Nature Center Nature House. In May, Reston will be participating in the National Wildlife Federation’s Backyard Habitat Garden Tour. Reston staff will monitor the success of the weevil that was released to assist in controlling Mile-a-Minute Weed. In 2011, the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service under the U.S. Department of Agriculture provided Reston with the weevil in a program to control the weed. The remainder of the streams to be restored in Colvin Run (totaling approximately 12,500 linear feet) are in various stages of design and approval. There is currently no ongoing construction and future construction will be dependent upon the improvement of the economy to generate the necessary demand for steam credits to fund the work. Since February of 2008, over 45,000 stream restoration have been completed, including all of the Snakeden Branch and The Glade watersheds, as well as about 4,800 in the Colvin Run Watershed (in the communities of Forest Edge and Hillcrest Clusters, and down to Lake Fairfax.)
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2011 Community Partners 2011 Community Partners Thank you to those organizations that donated $1,000 or more in cash, goods and services to the association’s programs, events, volunteer projects and special meetings. Advanced Systems Engineering Corporation (ASEC) Alliance for Community Trees Atrium Catering & Design Boofie O’Gorman Team Bow-Tie Cinemas Boy Scouts of America CA Technologies CARR Workplaces Centennial Contractors Enterprises, Inc. David Madison Photography Don Atreides Photography Dr. Tisseront, DDS, MS Fannie Mae First Virginia Community Bank Floris United Methodist Church Friends of Reston for Community Projects, Inc. Girls Scouts of America Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) Herndon High School Jim Kirby Photography Langston Hughes Middle School Matrix Consulting, LLC
Northern Virginia Trout Unlimited Phifer Fitness Reston Community Center Reston Hospital Reston Lions Club Reston Festival, Inc. South Lakes High School Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church State Farm Insurance Tall Oaks Assisted Living Thai Tennis Association Thrive The Bike Lane USTA Mid-Atlantic Verisign, Inc. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Vocelli Pizza Volunteers for Change Wetland Studies & Solutions, Inc. YMCA Fairfax County-Reston Reston Hospital
2011 Financial Statements Reston Association & Friends of Reston for Community Projects, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheet As of December 31, 2011 Assets Cash and cash equivalents Investments Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts Prepaid expenses Net property and equipment Total Assets
$
8,470,849 281,380 955,828 210,427 19,244,499 $ 29,162,983
Liabilities and Fund Balances Liabilities Accounts payable Accrued wages and benefits Deferred obligations Revenue collected in advance Total Operating Fund Liabilities Fund Balances Total Liabilities and Fund Balances
$
216,853 552,349 2,834,146 1,622,861
$ 5,226,209 $ 23,936,774 $ 29,162,983
Reston Association & Friends of Reston for Community Projects, Inc. Consolidated Statement of Revenue and Expenses For the Year Ended December 31, 2011 Revenue Homeowners assessments Recreation programs Open space programs Late fees, penalties, and service charges Interest and other Covenants administration and POAA Contributions – Friends of Reston Total Revenues
$ 11,006,325 1,013,472 699,819 697,496 139,783 189,631 68,732 $ 13,815,258
Expenses
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Management and staff services Operating programs Recreation programs Depreciation expense Friends of Reston Total Expenses
$
5,228,159 5,060,153 2,153,461 1,539,767 24,609 $ 14,006,149
Excess (deficit) of Revenue over Expenses
$
(190,891)
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www.reston.org • 703-435-6530 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive • Reston • VA • 20191 Annual Report Photography by: Jim Kirby, Don Atreides, Pete Staples, Katy Defoe, David Madison, Sean Bahrami, Ha Brock and Mohamed Ali. Special Thanks to Comstock Partners