After a two-week postponement due to uncooperative January weather, bright sunshine greeted Supervisor Dana Kauffman (D-Lee), who opened the doors to the Lee District Office for the annual open house on Saturday, Feb. 5
"It's meant to be an informal gathering. Speeches are verboten," said Kauffman. "Folks always look forward to that once-a-year meeting."
The open house was originally scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 29, but after a winter storm dumped over three inches of snow on Fairfax County that weekend, the event, which took place in the Helen Wilson Community Room at the Franconia Government Center on Franconia Road, was pushed back.
Representatives from all levels of government, from Fairfax County Board of Supervisors chairman Gerry Connelly (D) to Elizabeth "Skeeter" Scheid, chair of the Central Springfield Area Revitalization Council and a member of the Springfield Art Guild, attended the event.
"It's also a good way for the artists to come out and meet the community, to put a face with the artist," said Scheid, who was displaying artwork along with nearly 20 other artists around the Government Center. Those who attended the open house were invited to vote on their favorite piece of artwork, and the entry blanks were drawn to choose winners of smaller pieces of art by members of the Springfield Art Guild.
"It gets people coming in who normally wouldn't come to an art show or a gallery. Plus the arts community is a really important part of the community," said Schied. "Naturally we would be here."
THE ART GUILD, which began more than 30 years ago, is a nonprofit arts organization that encourages the appreciation and participation in the arts by those in the Springfield area. It sponsors an annual scholarship for high-school students, and conducts monthly educational meetings.
Open house visitors received information about the various citizens organizations that operate as part of the Lee District governmental framework, such as the Advisory Social Services Board, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Citizens Advisory Council, and Oversight Committee on Drinking and Driving.
"It's that whole notion — that Lee District is not a small group of people, it's a community and we all need to play a part in it," said Christina Manning, a staff assistant in the Lee District Office, who coordinates citizens groups.
Manning said the idea that in the Lee District, Kauffman takes his cues on several issues, including the thorny one of land use, directly from the decisions of the citizens groups, is special.
"So often Dana finds people coming to him, asking what he can do for them. This is an event where people can come together and see what's available for them to help," said Manning.
Kauffman, who recently took over as chair of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) Board, said the open house plays an important role in helping him stay connected to members of the district, especially those who are new to the area.
"I find I learn a lot more just from people walking up and saying, 'Hey, by the way, this is something on my mind,'" said Kauffman. "It allows you to be with folks directly, and all too often in an elected office, that's taken away from you because of all the things you have to do. This is a fun thing to do."