The Rotary Club of Downtown Silver Spring

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Silver Spring, MD
The Rotary Club of Downtown Silver Spring

Action-oriented individuals committed to positively impacting our community and building fellowship; key themes include literacy, service, and partnership.

Meetings occur 1st and 3rd Fridays at 8am via Zoom, and 2nd and 4th Fridays in person.

04/27/2026

✨ MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Meet Theresa Testoni!

When Theresa was a student at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, a nun named Sister Claire Joseph would stand on the porch every day during class changes waving and smiling showing that someone cared. That lesson never left her.

Throughout her life, Theresa has shown a commitment to serve and spread kindness. She served on Governor O’Malley’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism and has supported organizations including Rainbow Community Development Center, Community Bridges Inc., and A Wider Circle.

Theresa is a Charter Member and current President of the Rotary Club of Downtown Silver Spring. Theresa and other Rotary members created Storytown, a literacy initiative she calls “a magical happy place” which has distributed 90,000 books from Montgomery Knolls to Pine Crest Elementary Schools and as far as Cuba and Zimbabwe.

Her awards include Montgomery Serves Volunteer of the Year (2021), the Corporate Volunteer Council Exceptional Service Award (2014), and most recently the Georgetown Visitation St. Jane de Chantal Alumni Service Award (2026).

Theresa didn’t set out to be a leader. But when you spend your life connecting people to their own capacity for compassion, leadership finds you. From the halls of Visitation to the shelves of Storytown, the through line is the same: show up, ask, identify the need and make it easy for people to donate their time, talent and treasure. That’s Theresa’s passion and purpose.

We’re so proud to call Theresa one of ours. ❤️

04/14/2026

What a wonderful evening! 🎉 Thank you to everyone who came out to All Set Restaurant & Bar last Tuesday for our fundraiser dinner. Over a dozen Rotary members gathered for great food, great conversation, and a great cause — with 20% of every check going right back to support our club's community work.
A special highlight of the night was welcoming our Rotary Exchange Student, Manisha, who will be studying in Thailand next school year! We're so glad to have you here and to support you as you travel abroad with Rotary next year. 🌍💛
Grateful for a club that shows up — at the table and for the community.

04/01/2026

Come join us next Tuesday!

03/23/2026

In 1987, the Supreme Court ruled that Rotary clubs could not exclude women based on gender. That same year, Dr. Sylvia Whitlock became the first female club president. By 1989, women were officially welcomed into Rotary International worldwide. What started as a hard-won legal victory has become something much bigger, a transformation in who gets to lead, serve, and shape our communities. Today, 61% of the Downtown Silver Spring Rotary Club's active members are women, and women hold key leadership roles, including President Theresa Testoni, Co-Secretary Lindsey Flick Sullivan, Treasurer Cindie Renee Shadow and iPast President Sarah Burnett. Inclusion isn't just a policy, it's what makes us stronger!

03/18/2026

Each week, members of the Rotary Club of Downtown Silver Spring volunteer at the Rainbow Community Development Center food distribution program. We’re rolling up our sleeves to pack boxes and bags of groceries for families across the area. From sorting produce to organizing staple items, these hands-on efforts help ensure that nutritious food reaches those who need it most.

Each week, the Rainbow Community Development Center provides food to hundreds of households across the Silver Spring area, and Rotarians are proud to help their team pack groceries for families in need. Together, we are working to fight food insecurity in our community.

For our members, the experience goes beyond simply packing food. It’s a chance to connect with fellow volunteers, see the immediate impact of service, and live out Rotary’s commitment to “Service Above Self.”

Partnerships like this show how local organizations and volunteers can come together to make a tangible difference—one box, one bag, and one family at a time. If you’d like to be part of projects like this and meet people committed to improving our community, consider visiting the Rotary Club of Downtown Silver Spring.

03/09/2026

Meet new Rotarian Mei Powers! Mei joined Rotary to find new ways to serve her community. She's jumped in to help sort books for Storytown, pass out books at the Silver Spring Thanksgiving parade, distribute food at Rainbow Community Development Center, and wrap presents for Community Bridges Inc. Mr. Rogers said to look for the helpers, but Mei wants you to know you can BE a helper by joining and volunteering with Rotary!

03/02/2026

Chuma joined Rotary to contribute to his community, support meaningful projects, and connect with people committed to positive change. With roots in Nigeria, Chuma brings a global perspective and a heart for service to DTSS Rotary. Since becoming a member, Chuma has wasted no time getting involved, distributing books at the Thanksgiving Parade (his favorite event so far!), sorting books at Storytown, and tackling hunger at Rainbow Community Development Center. For Chuma, service means using his time and talent to help others and contribute to projects that improve lives and communities. Chuma serves as a Technology Attorney, focusing on Data privacy and Artificial Intelligence governance. His work in AI governance and consumer protection privacy has been recognized by leading organizations and institutions. For Chuma, service means “using my time to improve lives and communities.”

02/25/2026

Our monthly Fenton Street cleanups are about more than picking up trash, they reflect who we are as Rotarians and what we stand for.

The Rotary Club of Downtown Silver Spring believes that strong communities are built through service. Caring for shared spaces like Fenton Street helps create a safer, more welcoming, and more vibrant Downtown Silver Spring for residents, families, and local businesses. When we show up consistently, we demonstrate pride in our community and a commitment to being part of the solution.

This project directly reflects Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self, and aligns with the mission of Rotary International to provide service, promote integrity, and advance goodwill and peace around the world. Environmental stewardship is one of Rotary’s key areas of focus, and local cleanups are a tangible way we live out that commitment right here at home.
By taking care of our streets, we’re not just removing debris, we’re modeling civic responsibility, building connections, and showing that service starts where you are.

02/18/2026

Last Friday, the Rotary Club of Downtown Silver Spring was honored to welcome Ariel Eckblad as our featured speaker in recognition of Rotary International’s monthly theme, Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention.

A Silver Spring native, Ariel Eckblad currently serves as a Distinguished Visitor from Practice at Georgetown Law. She shared insights from her work at the U.S. State Department, offering a powerful perspective on how equity and justice must be central to conflict resolution.

Her remarks explored the intersection of theory and practice, particularly how Alternative Dispute Resolution and negotiation strategies can move us toward more just and sustainable outcomes in our communities and beyond. As Rotarians committed to service above self, her message was a meaningful reminder that peacebuilding begins locally, through thoughtful dialogue, courageous leadership, and a commitment to understanding.
Thank you, Professor Eckblad, for challenging and inspiring us. 💙✨

02/13/2026

The Rotary Club of Downtown Silver Spring is excited to host a Red Line Happy Hour for Rotary District 7620!
📍 Silver Branch Brewing Company
📅 Tuesday, March 24
⏰ 5:00 – 7:00 PM

Join fellow Rotarians from across the Red Line corridor for great conversation, new connections, and community building. Whether you’re a long-time member or new to Rotary, this is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen relationships and celebrate the impact we’re making together.

Come for the fellowship. Stay for the service-minded energy.
Tag a Rotarian you’re bringing with you and let’s pack Silver Branch! Register today at: https://www.ismyrotaryclub.org/Register/Index.cfm?EventID=77896923

02/11/2026

Storytown in Action!

Last Friday, the Rotary Club of Downtown Silver Spring shelved hundreds of books for students at Montgomery Knolls Elementary with even more on the way to Pine Crest Elementary!

Through our Storytown project, we’re building home libraries and supporting childhood literacy across our community, giving children the tools they need to dream, learn and grow.

A huge thank you to A Wider Circle for helping make this possible, we couldn’t do it without partners who share our mission!
Learn more about our work at silverspringrotary.org.

Address

Silver Spring, MD
20910

Website

http://www.silverspringrotary.org/

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