BCV co-founders Eric Cohen and Jonathan Blumenthal on the cover of Metro Weekly.

Current BCV Board (Rob McGuire, Steven Rentz, Janie DeVries, Ray Daniels, Rebecca Roose, Russell Foster, Christine Bartle, Eric Cohen, and Jonathan Blumenthal; not pictured: Phil Carson):

BCV Social Committee members Laurel Lea, Co-Chair, Eric Cohen, Co-Chair, Holly Vaughn, Brian Porter, Sy Harris, Laura Hart, and Deena Fidas (not pictured: Bob Jennings, Jackie Waite, and Caitlin Heavey; new photo coming soon!):

The Board includes Jonathan Blumenthal, Eric Cohen, Christine Bartle, Ray Daniels, Janie DeVries, Phillip Carson, Russell Foster, Rob McGuire, Steven Rentz, and Rebecca Roose. In addition, we have a Social Committee (Rob McGuire and Christine Bartle, Co-Chairs) and a BurGREENdy Committee (Rebecca Roose and Ken Moore, Co-Chairs).

Biographies for the Board members follow:

• Jonathan Blumenthal is co-founder and President of the Board of BCV. He lives in Silver Spring with his partner, Eric Cohen, and two basset hounds (ok, one is half beagle).  Jonathan's day job is at the National Institutes of Health, where he is a research psychologist.
• Eric Cohen is Vice President and co-founder of BCV, and currently is a co-chair of the Social Committee. He is also the partner of Jonathan Blumenthal. As much as he gives to the organization, he feels he gets it all back, and then some - in the great volunteer experiences and the wonderful people he meets. By day, Eric works as an Information Technology manager for the Federal Government.
• Christine Bartle is a healthcare project consultant for the Advisory Board Company in Washington, DC.  Moving to DC about two years ago, Christine found BCV as an organization that caught her eye and sparked her attention. In Christine’s words, “Every day I am constantly thinking about how I can make this world a better place.  What is my role in ensuring this world is as great as I know it can be?  Community service. BCV is such an exemplary organization, and am proud to call myself a Board member.” Christine would like to continue BCV’s values through the community service and social awareness.  It is truly a passion she shares and is excited to be a part of the organization.  She currently lives with her partner, Jen, in the Dupont area where they enjoy bike riding, running, swimming, working out, dancing and friends.
• Ray Daniels is a marketing and communications professional, mostly for local non-profits. He has been in DC for so long, that he feels like a native. He is an avid softball player and has been involved in the local softball scene for over 15 years. Ray is excited about the many volunteer opportunities provided by BCV to meet the needs of our community and is very excited to be joining the Board of Directors. Through his previous volunteer efforts with Burgundy Crescent, he discovered Food and Friends and Reel Affirmations and regularly volunteers there. Daniels was previously on the board of DC Black Pride and looks forward to using that experience in his work at Burgundy Crescent.
• Janie DeVries is the Treasurer of BCV. A native Washingtonian and now living in Silver Spring, Janie is retired from a wonderful and satisfying career in the federal civil service in the fields of social justice and IT budget and contract oversight. In addition to golf, dancing, and travel, she also enjoys volunteering with BCV which gives her more opportunities to have fun, contribute to the community, and spend time with like-minded people.
• Phillip Carson is an attorney and CPA with a national trade association.  Before moving to DC, Phil spent most of his professional career in Chicago, working for a major public accounting firm and later for a major airline.  In his spare time, he volunteered with a variety of community organizations, including the Cabrini-Green Tutoring Program and Junior Achievement.  Those experiences have helped drive his concern for youth at risk.  He is very happy to be joining the BCV at a time when the U.S. President is calling for a renewed commitment to community service.  He is pleased to see that BCV continues to lead the way in volunteerism, assisting with a diverse community of needs.  Just as BCV has recently extended its efforts to senior citizens, Phil hopes there will be a way for BCV volunteers to help the other end of the spectrum, the students of the DC school system.  There are many challenges there and Phil will be looking for ways BCV can assist the struggling school system while providing a rewarding opportunity for BCV volunteers.
• Russell Foster is a federal contractor who also holds a Virginia real estate license. He's an Army brat who considers his hometown to be Augusta, GA, where his mother is from. He lived in Richmond from 1983 until 1992 when he moved to Northern Virginia and currently resides in Arlington. In Russell's own words, "I started volunteering with BCV in March of 2003 and have found it to be a great way to meet new people and make new friends. You'll find me acting as the BCV Coordinator at DC Central Kitchen every second Sunday of the month. I enjoy my role as Coordinator in that it allows me to walk around making sure that everyone is having fun and is comfortable, which lets me avoid any real work. Kidding, kidding......."
• Rob McGuire is excited to join the Board of BCV and serve as Co-Chair of the Social Committee.  Rob feels that BCV is an excellent avenue for someone to realize their volunteer potential through a “no-pressure” approach to donating time in a positive and organized format.  Rob believes in the way BCV provides the framework for a person to engage in a volunteer opportunity that touches their heart in a personal way.  Originally from Ohio, Rob is currently an interior designer with projects on four continents.  He lives in Arlington, VA and enjoys cycling, the arts, cooking and entertaining.
• Steven Rentz is known as the BCV Coordinator to many of you who have been volunteering for the PFLAG mailings and Thursday evening men's shift at Food & Friends for the past few years. Steven and his partner David recently represented BCV at the HRC “GLBT Back to College Expo.” In Steven’s own words, "As an appointed board member I'm excited to help out Burgundy Crescent in a new way. I've been involved with Burgundy Crescent for the past five years and I really have a passion for volunteering. I love DC and am growing to love West Hyattsville, MD my new home of one year and two months. Living in my own house with my partner and two dogs is the best. I work for that Washington National Cathedral School for Girls in educational technology and I really enjoy it. I'm sure I have met many of you over the years at different BCV volunteer events, I look forward to seeing you again or meeting you for the first time. Check out some of my favorite volunteer opportunities: Food and Friends, Equality Maryland, PFLAG, animal adoptions, Miss Adams Morgan, Pride, One in Ten Reel Affirmations, Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Washington, Gay Men's Chorus, Ganymede Arts (Actors Theater of Washington), Pride of PetsDC, and HRC."
• Rebecca Roose is an attorney and environmental protection specialist at the U.S. EPA. She is originally from a small town in northern Indiana and has been living in the DC area for over three years following law school in Albuquerque, NM. She now lives in College Park with her partner, Jackie. Her hobbies include hiking and karaoke. She believes that volunteerism is one of the easiest ways to direct our own energy toward making others' lives better. Rebecca appreciates the diverse volunteer opportunities provided by BCV to meet the needs of our community and is very excited to be joining the Board of Directors.

If you have any questions or would like to make a contribution, please contact our Board President or Treasurer.