Marlene Bekey has been a member of ARCS Metro Washington Chapter (ARCS MWC) since 2005 and was sponsored by Lana Yarymovych and Karen Meyers. MWC salutes and thanks Marlene for her continued commitment to ARCS MWC over the past 20 years! Marlene treasures the mission of ARCS and her friendships within MWC!

Marlene first learned about ARCS by asking Lana about the MWC President’s necklace she was wearing. She says that the first MWC event she and her husband Ivan attended before she joined was surprising because Ivan knew many of the husbands through his work with NASA and The Aerospace Corporation. It was a great surprise for the two of them and Ivan encouraged Marlene to join. Then, at the first MWC Membership Meeting she attended (chaired by Karen Meyers), Toni Schierling asked Marlene to run for the position of Assistant Treasurer because of her strong bookkeeping skills. Marlene was elected and became MWC’s Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer multiple times over the years. 

Marlene has stayed in ARCS because she fully endorses its mission and because of the wonderful ladies she has had the honor of calling friends. Although she regrets that her poor health has not allowed her to attend meetings or events in person since 2020, she has attended some chapter events virtually. She says that her proudest achievement in the MWC chapter was when she was chosen as an ARCS Light!

In closing, Marlene would tell her fellow ARCS MWC members, especially those who have joined more recently: “Welcome to ARCS MWC! This is a dynamic group of very special women who might become your very best friends while enjoying raising funds to support our brilliant scholars.”