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President's May Message

VALE CLUB MEMBERSHIP NOW AT 220 AND COUNTING
May brings a wonderful sense of renewal, and it’s been so nice to see the energy and enthusiasm throughout our club. With so many activities underway, I hope you’ll find time to join in. Thank you for continuing to make this such a welcoming and vibrant group.

April was a fun and active month. Members are back on the pickleball courts, and our hiking group has been enjoying trails for all levels. If you haven’t joined either yet, I encourage you to give them a try. The exercise, camaraderie, and fresh air make it a great experience.

The Outings Committee arranged a private tour of Morven Park, followed by a lovely luncheon provided by Deb Cohen. Thanks!

Our membership continues to grow, now at 220 and counting. It’s wonderful to see new faces and friendships forming. Thank you to Coleen Oberhofer and Mary Ann Korwarski for hosting a welcoming luncheon for new members.

Thank you also to our Culinary Escapes Committee, led by Lindsey Iacovino, along with Eileen Kenny and Lori Trumble, for a terrific season and for introducing us to so many great dining spots.

Coming up on May 12 is our General Meeting at 9:15 a.m. Come and enjoy our last meeting of the season.

On May 13, visit Blocker Farm to enjoy peonies in bloom, followed by lunch at Hillsboro Winery, Brewery, and Vineyard. Please sign up on SignUpGenius.

The Summer Social will be held June 6, hosted by Sue and Chip Bowers. Please sign up on SignUpGenius.

Our End of Year Luncheon is June 9 at Wildfire Tysons Galleria. Please sign up on SignUpGenius.

The 2nd Annual Car Show will be held June 13. It is the Club’s major fundraiser for the Schoolhouse.

If you still need to complete your two-hour volunteer commitment, a couple of opportunities are coming up. Signing up early will give you the best choice. If you are unable to participate, you may submit a $40 check payable to Vale School House to our treasurer, Julie McGraw.

Wishing you all a wonderful spring.

Warm regards,
Kathy Sullivan
Vale Club president

FVS History Highlights: “A Place to Tie To” 

Space Flight History in the Vale Community’
I know we were all riveted by the recent Artemis II history-making space flight. So exciting, such possibilities, and such bravery and service to our country by the astronauts.

Did you know that we have an astronaut within our community who made history in space? I’m sure many of you know Liz Jones, Vale Club member since 2002. Liz’s husband, Tom, is a former Unites States astronaut. After graduating with distinction from the United States Air Force Academy, Tom served active duty in the Air Force for six years flying strategic bombers.

Resigning as a captain, he then earned a doctorate degree from the University of Arizona. He was selected by NASA in 1990 and became an astronaut in 1991. Tom was a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Endeavour (1994). He flew on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1996, helping set a Shuttle endurance record of nearly 18 days in orbit. He was also aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis in 2001 delivering a Lab to the International Space Station and installing it in a series of spacewalks lasting over 19 hours. Tom has logged over 53 days (1,272 hours) in space.

After leaving NASA he has worked as a planetary scientist and consultant in space operations. His career has merited numerous awards including being inducted into the United States Astronauts Hall of Fame in April 2018. In 2006 Tom published a book titled “Sky Walking: An Astronaut’s Memoir” which the Wall Street Journal named one of the top five books on the subject of space. History in our midst. We thank Liz for her service to Vale Club and honor and thank Tom for his service to our country.

Learn more about Tom here: www.AstronautTomJones.com 

Darlene Williamson
Historic Preservation Chair

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 ...
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Vale Club Winter Community Outreach Programs

HHK AND FAMILY PASS DIRECTORS THANK VALE CLUB FOR ITS GENEROUS HOLIDAY DONATIONS

Once again, the women of the Vale Club have demonstrated their goodwill and generosity through our Outreach projects—Helping Hungry Kids and Family PASS—providing extra food to kids living with food insecurity, and warm clothing and generous gift cards to families experiencing hard times. Although we may not see it, the needs are greater than ever!

Looking back…In support of Helping Hungry Kids, over the last few months Vale Club women collected and distributed 2,393 granola bars, 1,424 oatmeal packets and 76 other food products to Helping Hungry Kids!

The HHK co-directors greatly appreciate the generosity of Vale Club women! In support of Family PASS, we wrapped up a very successful Winter Giving Project! Vale Club women provided 66 new beautifully wrapped winter coats and $100 in gift cards to every Family PASS client from infant to adult ($6650 in total) as well as a packet of essential toiletries, and hats, gloves and other items to keep warm. Family PASS directors have expressed their sincere gratitude for all the effort Vale Club women put into buying, wrapping and bagging all the gifts, as well as their extreme generosity!

Looking forward…It’s not too soon to start talking about our Spring Project! We will be providing food bags filled with all of the items (11 recommended food items in all). HHK provides weekly to each child living with food insecurity across eight local elementary schools. These food bags will coincide with spring break, when kids are out of school and in even greater need of a backup supply of food. We will be collecting money to purchase the food items needed. No amount is too small! As we have in prior years, we will be setting up an assembly line at the schoolhouse to fill bags and pack crates for delivery to the participating schools. Please keep your eyes open for a SUG sign up.

Vale Club Outreach projects are entirely voluntary. 100 percent of your donations go to Helping Hungry Kids and Family PASS.
Remember: Volunteering for Outreach projects is unrelated to and does not satisfy your two-hour volunteer commitment to the Vale Club.

Stay warm,
Patti and Nancy

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?v=yUOCcwvqBB0

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