Margaret Shanklin (Margie) became an ARCS MWC member in 1985. We thank Margie for her long involvement with the chapter and her many contributions to ARCS MWC over the last 39 years!

Margie was sponsored by Maureen Martin. She met Maureen through the “McLean Newcomers,” an organization for new McLean residents, and they became good friends. Margie introduced Maureen to “THIS for Diplomats,” the diplomatic hospitality group with which Margie volunteered, and Maureen introduced Margie to ARCS. 

Margie calls ARCS MWC “a wonderful group,” adding that it resonates with her on so many levels. She likes supporting the emerging scientists and engineers, particularly the aerospace engineers. Also, ARCS Foundation was started in Los Angeles after the launch of Sputnik by a group of wives of TRW Inc. employees and, when Margie met her future husband, Richard, in LA, he was working at TRW. Margie and Richard were married a year after TRW moved Richard back to McLean. Richard was very involved in science and engineering (in addition to TRW, Richard also worked for Synthetic Fuels and the Department of Energy) so ARCS MWC was a great fit for both of them. 

Margie says that there are many wonderful ladies in the chapter with fascinating backgrounds. She was on the Board for about four years in her role of VP of Field Trips (as the Activities Council was called in the 1990s), organizing about 6 field trips each year with her committee’s members.  

The field trips she organized are among her proudest achievements! Four examples of field trips she planned were: (1) touring Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland and seeing the Abrams tanks, followed by a luncheon hosted by the wife of the head of the base; (2) a tour of the Navy’s David Taylor Model Basin, where research was conducted on ship design; (3) a tour of Naval Air Station Patuxent River; and (4) a tour of an air traffic control tower. Spouses often joined ARCS MWC members on these field trips. 

Margie says to the new ARCS MWC members that, as with the original founders of ARCS, this is your chance to support our American science and engineering students who contribute so much to American innovation! She says that anyone who joins ARCS MWC makes an amazing network of friends, including many women who are outstanding in their fields. She added that ARCS MWC members are incredibly intelligent and lots of fun!