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The Fairfax County Federation of Citizens' Associations requests the pleasure of your company at the Sixty-Eighth Annual Awards Banquet Banquet Program honoring 2017 Fairfax County Citizen of the Year Gary Ambrose Citation of Merit Honorees Barbara Lippa Lyle "Chet" McLaren Richard Raines Special Gratitude Award Honoree Earl Flanagan Sunday, the Fifteen of April, 2018 at the Waterford Reception Center 6715 Commerce St, Springfield, Virginia Cocktails 5:30 p.m. Program 6:30 p.m. Please click here to register for the Banquet

Gary Ambrose, the 2017 Fairfax County Citizen of the Year A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Gary retired from the Air Force in 2000 as a brigadier general and a command pilot following 27 years of service. In 2011, he retired from IBM after 11 years as Big Blue's Vice President for the Department of Defense. Now in the "giving something back" phase of life, he devotes much of his time to advocacy on behalf of people living with mental illness, intellectual disability, and/or substance use disorders. He's a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Concerned Fairfax, a grassroots mental health advocacy group. Gary was an active member of the Mental Health Subcommittee of the Fairfax County Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission. He is also a member of the Steering Committee of the Fairfax County Veterans Treatment Docket. Since 2013, he has been a member of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board's board of directors, and served as the board chairman from 2015 to 2017. He is also the Chairman of Fairfax County's Diversion First Stakeholders Group. In 2016, he was recognized by the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards with the award of the Senator Joseph V. Gartlan, Jr. Award for leadership and advocacy. Presented to one Virginian annually, the award recognizes the recipient's "dedication, commitment and service on behalf of Virginians with mental illness, intellectual disability and/or substance use disorders". For his many and diverse volunteer efforts behalf of people living with mental illness, intellectual disability, and/or substance use disorders, the Fairfax Federation is honored to recognize Gary Ambrose as Citizen of the Year.

Citation of Merit Recipient Barbara Lippa Barbara Lippa has had a long history of service to Fairfax County since moving from New York in the mid-seventies. She served on the Business Curriculum Advisory Curriculum Committee at Northern Virginia Community College from 1994-2010 and a Project Opportunity Board member from 1997-2002. She was also active as a Corporate Volunteer Committee member for Celebrate Fairfax from 1996-2006. Following a 35-year career with the Fairfax County Planning Commission, including the last 14 years as Executive Director, Barbara has focused her retirement activities since 2013 primarily on women's empowerment activities. Since 2013 Barbara has served as the Sully District representative on the County Commission for Women and is Vice Chairman. She played a primary role in the Commission's focus on human trafficking, including a community program jointly sponsored with the Arlington, Alexandria and City of Fairfax Commissions for Women. Since 2016 Barbara has also served as treasurer for the National Association of Commission for Women and as a member of its Executive Board since 2014. A member of Zonta International, which strives to advance the status of women through service and advocacy since 1984, Barbara has served in many leadership roles at the local, District and International levels. These include District Governor and Club President, along with many other positions. Barbara was honored to be named the Fairfax Interservice Club's Volunteer of the Year in 1998 and 2012. Since 2016, she has also served as Zonta's representative at the Fairfax Interservice Club. More recently, Barbara was appointed to the Community Council on Land Use Engagement by County Chairman Sharon Bulova which made its recommendations in June 2017. For her many and diverse volunteer efforts in support of women's empowerment activities, the Fairfax Federation is honored to recognize Barbara Lippa with a Citation of Merit.

Citation of Merit Recipient Lyle "Chet" McLaren Lyle "Chet" McLaren is recognized for his decades of service to Fairfax County and its residents. Not only has Chet served on the Fairfax County Park Authority, the Trails and Sidewalk Committee, the Environmental Quality Advisory Commission, and the Tree Commission, he has also participated in countless meetings in the Braddock District Office. His calm and focused demeanor during discussions (both contentious and calm) pertaining to the environment, land use, the budget, etc., over the years has made the Braddock District and the County as a whole a better place. Chet has served as President of the North Springfield Elementary School PTA, the Annandale High School PTA, the Annandale High School Band Boosters, and the North Springfield Swim Club, and coach for the North Springfield Little League. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the North Springfield Civic Association nearly every year since 1965. Chet has served as Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 694, Grace Presbyterian Church, Chairman, Camping Committee and Director of Scouting Activities, Mount Vernon district BSA as well as Elder, Grace Presbyterian Church. In addition to serving on official volunteer boards, commissions and committees throughout the County, Chet has also volunteered immeasurable hours to his North Springfield community and its nearby schools and parks. Chet organized the creation of the Friends of Lake Accotink Park, a group of volunteers whose efforts benefit the Park. He further served as the emcee during the Braddock Nights concert series at Lake Accotink for many years. He recently retired from his last official County commission in 2017, and plans to devote his future efforts closer to home in his North Springfield community. For his many and diverse volunteer efforts in the areas of environment, land use, the budget, the Fairfax Federation is honored to recognize Chet McLaren with a Citation of Merit.

Citation of Merit Recipient Richard Raines Reserve Deputy Richard Raines has volunteered over 23,500 hours with the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office since Oct 2003. Initially assigned to review and update all the Sheriff's Office emergency plans and standard operating procedures, he assisted in the submission of applications for federal grants for the enhancement of security of the Fairfax County judicial center. These projects provided much needed enhancements to the facilities. He and his partner, formulated a plan for and conducted a full scale exercise for the emergency evacuation of the Fairfax County Confinement facility. This plan became the basis for the National Sheriff's Associations class for the emergency evacuation of jails. The American Jail Association named him the association's volunteer of the year in 2005. He has taught classes on emergency response and jail evacuation at the local, state and national levels. During the period 2006 - 2009, he supported an ATF Task force who was responsible for the apprehension and conviction of numerous individual for illegal firearms and drug transactions and transportation and sale of other illegal items. He has also been responsible for the monitoring of the inmate calling system and responding to requests for evidence collection. He also is responsible for the processing of applications for new and renewal of ATF Class 3 and dealer's licenses. Since 2010, he has been assigned to the Internal Affairs Sections where he supports that section's activities. The Fairfax County Board designated 25 March 2014 Richard Raines Day in recognition of his service to the county. In addition, Richard is a retired Marine with over 34 years of service. For his many and diverse volunteer efforts in the enhancement of security of the Fairfax County judicial center, the Fairfax Federation is honored to recognize Richard Raines with a Citation of Merit.

Special Gratitude Award Recipient Earl Flanagan Earl Flanigan has been active in public service for decades and particularly with land use and community activities in the Mount Vernon District, and countywide with the Fairfax County Planning Commission. He has served as Mount Vernon District member of the Fairfax County Planning and Fairfax County Transportation Advisory commissions, and on the planning commission Policy & Procedures, Land Use Process, Housing, Parks and Telecommunications committees. Earl has served as President of the Riverside Estates Civic Association and of the Mount Vernon Council of Citizens Associations, on the boards of the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations and the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation. He has participated as a member of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge stakeholder panel, the Richmond Highway Revitalization study, and the District of Columbia Prison replanning. He was honored as Mount Vernon District Lord Fairfax and Citizen of the Year. In addition, Earl was an artillery non-commissioned officer with General Patton's 3rd Army in Europe during the Second World War. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for an advance landing of the 71st Division at Le Havre, France. Earl was one of the American soldiers involved the liberation of Gunskirchen Lager, a German concentration camp north of Lambach, Austria. He has spoken to audiences across the country about his experience and has been interviewed for a documentary film about that historic event. After combat, he served in the military government of Germany, attended the Nuremberg War Crimes trials, and toured Europe as a member of the SHAEF GI Symphony Orchestra. He was commissioned as an Air Force officer during the Korean War, serving as a psychological warfare officer and an airbase commandant. He currently serves as the President of the 71st Infantry Division Association. For his many and diverse efforts land use and community activities in the Mount Vernon District, and countywide with the Fairfax County Planning Commission, and on the occasion of his retirement from the Planning Commission, the Fairfax Federation is honored to recognize Earl Flanagan with a Special Gratitude Award.

The Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations, established in 1940, is the countywide voice for homeowner, civic, and community associations. An all-volunteer organization, The Federation works on issues that impact Fairfax County residents, including education, transportation, the environment, human services, land use, the county budget, and state and federal legislative issues.

PRESS CONTACT: Jeff Parnes, COY Chair, FedCOY2018 @ Fairfaxfederation.org Phone: 703-424-2956

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