WHEREAS, for 50 years, Dulles Chapter 1241 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association has supported federal employees in Northern Virginia by offering information and assistance with benefits programs and providing opportunities for community service and personal growth; and

WHEREAS, Dulles Chapter 1241 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) held its first formal meeting in May 1972 and received its charter the following June; the chapter was established with nine charter members under its first president Bill Pegues; and

WHEREAS, in its early days, Dulles Chapter 1241 of NARFE met at several locations throughout Sterling, Herndon, and Leesburg; the chapter welcomed several distinguished members of the United States Congress as speakers and began publishing a newsletter to help members stay engaged and informed; and

WHEREAS, by the mid-1990s, Dulles Chapter 1241 of NARFE had grown to more than 300 members and conducted a survey on times and locations for meetings; in 1997, the chapter held a meeting at Amphora Diner Deluxe in Herndon, where it has proudly continued to host regular events until the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, Dulles Chapter 1241 of NARFE had nearly 800 members by 2005 and was recognized by the Virginia Federation of NARFE for increasing its membership by more than five percent in one year; the chapter subsequently welcomed members of the Leesburg Chapter after it closed in 2015; and

WHEREAS, Dulles Chapter 1241 of NARFE continues to host speakers covering a wide range of topics, including local, state, and federal government officials, as well as experts on travel, health care, insurance, taxation, law enforcement, and estate planning; it has also sponsored travel programs for its members to interesting locations throughout the United States and around the world; and

WHEREAS, Dulles Chapter 1241 of NARFE is an active participant in the Northern Virginia Caucus of NARFE Chapters, and several of its members have held leadership positions in the Virginia Federation of NARFE and the national organization; and

WHEREAS, the members of Dulles Chapter 1241 of NARFE have generously volunteered their time in support of local outreach activities like health fairs, food drives, and other community events, and the chapter has raised money for Alzheimer's research through various programs; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Dulles Chapter 1241 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association hereby be commended on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Dulles Chapter 1241 of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the organization's ongoing support for federal employees in Northern Virginia and contributions to the community as a whole.