The Northern Virginia Volksmarchers were founded in 1983 by Ralph Hibler and Tom Ogles, US Army officers, recently returned from Germany and who lived in Burke, Virginia. Originally called the Burke Centre Volksmarchers, the club's first walk was on the April 31 and May 1, 1983 weekend in Burke; we had 1,137 participants. After holding 3 volksmarchs in Burke, the club decided to broaden the location of events and changed its name to the Northern Virginia Volksmarchers. The club's events were held mainly in Fairfax County, Virginia, until we decided to cross the county line and hold a walk in Winchester, Virginia, during the Apple Blossom Festival in April 1988. Since then, the club has held walks in the total northern Virginia area.
The Northern Virginia Volksmarchers have always been known for the selection of interesting places to walk in and the careful marking of their trails. The club's mascot, Charging Charlie, has appeared on many of the club's awards and sales patches in many different activities and costumes. The Northern Virginia Volksmarchers were the first club in the AVA to offer a t-shirt award -- Charging Charlie directing the Wolf Trap Animal Symphony. This shirt can still be seen on the trail.
Northern Virginia Volksmarchers club members have been very active in the national, state, and local volkssporting arena. It was the Northern Virginia Volksmarchers who led the effort to win the 1991 AVA Convention for the Atlantic Region. The convention committee was chaired by Mary Lou Benzel and Northern Virginia Volksmarchers club members held many of the club chair positions. Northern Virginia Volksmarchers have held positions on the state level in the Virginia Volkssport Association, serving as President and Vice-President.
Numerous club members have been awarded Certificates of Service, Meritorious Service awards, and a special President's Award at the AVA conventions.
We meet on the second Monday of the month except for July, August, and December. You are welcome to attend our meeting and partake of refreshments. The meeting place for September 2000 through June 2001 will be Fairfax Villa Elementary School. Location Map.
The present club officers are:
President: Jim Truscott
Vice-President: Pat Hyland
Treasurer: Barry Plott
Recroding Secretary: Mary Lowe
Other involved club members:
Awards chair: Cheryl Eavey
Brochures: Carene Clark
Corresponding Secretary: Karen Plott
Membership: Erwin Bedarf
Newsletter: Joe and Joyce Beene
Sales: Bob McLean
YRE Alexandria: Tom Baerwald
YRE Arlington: Tom Baerwald
YRE Burke and Burke Lake: Dan and Donna Roy
YRE Dyke Marsh: Tom Baerwald
YRE Fairfax: Barry and Karen Plott
YRE Mount Vernon: Pat Hyland
YRE Reston/Herndon: Bill Wenrich
YRE Springfield: Dan and Donna Roy
YRE Vienna: Bonnie Recore
For a free issue of our monthly newsletter, please send your name and address to our club address:
NVV
P O Box 7096
Fairfax Station, VA 22039