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Latest from Vale Club's President:
Many thanks for 2022 and best wishes for 2023!
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season with family and friends and that 2023 turns out to be your best year yet.
In January, Betsy Rock will be the contact person for any issues that should arise while I am on vacation.
In January, Betsy Rock will be the contact person for any issues that should arise while I am on vacation.
The Holiday Party at Lauri Rustand’s was a lovely evening. Lauri’s home looked so festive with all her Christmas decorations and she was a wonderful host. Thank you to the Hospitality Team of Ann Richardson, Susan Reeves and Patti De Teresa for all their preparation. It was great to get together without COVID restrictions at this and the other Vale Club end-of-year parties held by the Morning Book Club and Wine Tasting One.
Vale Club is known for its socialization, sense of community, preservation of the historic Schoolhouse, and its compassion for others. I want to thank Patti Cooksey and her co-chair, Nancy Singer, of the Outreach Committee, for the incredible work they did in making the Holidays bright for the 29 Family PASS families in need. Patti has been doing this for many years now and each year is more successful than the last. Thank you to all who donated and volunteered to sort, pack and deliver gifts. In addition, thank you for the food items that were collected for Helping Hungry Kids. There will be more opportunities to help in 2023, as the current economic climate is difficult for many in our community.
I also want to thank Sue Bowers, the Sunshine Committee Chair, for her role in managing the needs of Vale Club members who have had ongoing medical issues. Leslie Dupree-Culman has kept the Sunshine SUG page constantly updated which has made it easy for everyone. Thank you to all who have offered to help with whatever is needed. To see requests for assistance fulfilled almost immediately speaks to the calibre of women who are part of this club and to the friendships that have formed within it. Vale Club is truly “a place to tie to.”
Stay warm. See you in February.
Lee Ellis
Vale Club President
FVS History Highlights: “a place to tie to”
‘Early libraries and the Vale Club’
This busy Vale woman also served on the board of the Chamber of Commerce. In 1938 a committee was created to consider a free public library to serve the rural as well as urban sections of the county and Mrs. Jodzies managed the committee. In 1939 this was accomplished and our free library system was established. In 1938 Florence wrote “so necessary are books to humanity’s progress and happiness, that one is shocked to learn that in Virginia over one- half her citizens do not enjoy the privileges of library facilities....
Vale Book Clubs are a very popular activity in our club, reflecting an interest in books and reading. Did you know that the Vale Club also played a role in establishing libraries in Fairfax County?
A woman named Florence Jodzies moved to Vale in 1933 and lived in our community for only eight years before moving back to Arlington. But her accomplishments in those eight years were plentiful. She was instrumental in starting a women’s club officially called the Vale Home Demonstration Club which was part of a network of clubs affiliated with the Virginia Extension Service.
Mrs. Jodzies led the campaign by the women of Vale to purchase the abandoned schoolhouse that we continue to preserve. In 1936 Florence began serving a term as the State Library Chairman and, while serving in this position she was responsible for creating and implementing a state-wide system of libraries for the Home Demonstration Clubs.
Mrs. Jodzies led the campaign by the women of Vale to purchase the abandoned schoolhouse that we continue to preserve. In 1936 Florence began serving a term as the State Library Chairman and, while serving in this position she was responsible for creating and implementing a state-wide system of libraries for the Home Demonstration Clubs.
This busy Vale woman also served on the board of the Chamber of Commerce. In 1938 a committee was created to consider a free public library to serve the rural as well as urban sections of the county and Mrs. Jodzies managed the committee. In 1939 this was accomplished and our free library system was established. In 1938 Florence wrote “so necessary are books to humanity’s progress and happiness, that one is shocked to learn that in Virginia over one- half her citizens do not enjoy the privileges of library facilities....
particularly among the rural population; free libraries are essential instruments of education, information, research, culture and recreation – all necessary factors in any democracy which expects to remain a democracy.”
The strength of our Book Clubs is evidence that we embrace the necessity of books; we should be proud that one of our Vale Club founders was instrumental in the libraries we appreciate today.
Darlene Williamson
Historic Preservation officer
Vale Club
Vale Club is dedicated to enriching the lives of women in the Vale community. Our goal is to provide our members with a variety of social, educational, and volunteer opportunities throughout the year. The majority of our members live within the Oakton community. We have multiple member activities each month, primarily scheduled from September through May, with a few Special Interest Groups meeting during the summer months ...s
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Vale Schoolhouse
A brief history of The Vale Schoolhouse as recorded by the Fairfax County Public Schools of Yesteryear and Today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Vale Schoolhouse, at the corner of Vale and Fox Mill Roads in Oakton, VA, was built c.1884 as a one-room public school. A second room was added in 1912. The school closed in 1931 when many Fairfax County schools were consolidated ...read more
Friends of Vale Schoolhouse, Inc. is Vale Clubs 501(C)3 charity for the maintenance and preservation of the historic Schoolhouse property which was placed on the VA Landmarks Register and the National Register ...read more
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Time to renew your membership
It’s that time of year again! Vale Club memberships are now being accepted for 2022-2023. See membership form on the next page! For returning members, the address/phone/etc. information on the membership form should ONLY be filled out if it has changed or is incorrect in the current directory. Dues ($40 check to Vale Club) and your Historic Preservation donation ($40 check to FVS) remain the same. Please add your buyout of $40 (to Vale Club) if you did not complete volunteer hours this year. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Liz Brouckman (liz. brouckman@verizon.net) if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you, as always, for your continued support of the Vale Schoolhouse!
It’s that time of year again! Vale Club memberships are now being accepted for 2022-2023. See membership form on the next page! For returning members, the address/phone/etc. information on the membership form should ONLY be filled out if it has changed or is incorrect in the current directory. Dues ($40 check to Vale Club) and your Historic Preservation donation ($40 check to FVS) remain the same. Please add your buyout of $40 (to Vale Club) if you did not complete volunteer hours this year. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Liz Brouckman (liz. brouckman@verizon.net) if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you, as always, for your continued support of the Vale Schoolhouse!
Vale Schoolhouse welcomes back Stan Proffitt, former Vale School student:
https://thewashingtonpost.pres
https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/a
Sunshine Committee
“When “I” becomes replaced by “we” even illness becomes wellness.”…… Comforting those through an injury, an illness, or loss of their loved one is a role we, as Vale Club members, have taken pride in for many years. I am very happy to be the liaison for those members who may need our support. Contact me if you hear of a member who could use a visit, a card, or other help. I will do my best to see that this is conveyed through a mass email. I will also organize meals for those who could use that gesture by setting up on SUG. Remember, I will contact the member first to get their permission to share the information. Together, we can offer our fellow members support in their time of need. Chairman Kathy Z.
Contact Us
- The Vale Schoolhouse is located at the corner of Vale Rd and Fox Mill Rd in Oakton, VA
- P.O. Box 6, Oakton,VA 22124
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For other information contact our President at leehellis2@gmail.com