News

We are sad to report that long time FCDC stalwart Sally Ormsby has passed away after a valiant battle with cancer.  Sally has been one of FCDC’s most reliable volunteers over several decades and currently served on the Fairfax County Soil and Water Board.  Ben Tribbett has a really nice guest column up at Not Larry Sabato talking about her.  To see it, click here.
The family will also identify an organization to make a contribution to in her name in lieu of flowers.  Sally fought until the very end.  She will be missed by all at FCDC.
The service information is below:

Saturday, October 18, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.
Providence Presbyterian Church
9019 Little River Turnpike
Fairfax, VA
Her wishes were that in lieu of flowers a tax-deductible donation to the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District be made.  A Sally B. Ormsby Memorial Fund has been established for conservation programs. Donations may be sent to the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 905, Fairfax, VA 22035. The district may be contacted at 703-324-1460 or The Fairfax Connection ran a story today and said they said a more complete one will be run tomorrow.
Below is an article that was written about Sally in 2006 when she won the Citizen of the Year Award.

2006 Citizen of the Year
Sally B. Ormsby
As best stated in one of the numerous letters supporting Sally Ormsby for Citizen of the Year, “it is hard to remember a time when Sally wasn’t deeply involved in helping shape Fairfax County public policy… we are indeed blessed to have a dedicated, intelligent citizen who can constructively approach issues within a deep and broad context of understanding.”
For well over three decades, Sally Ormsby has personified the word ‘dedication’, serving as an effective and efficient citizen leader.  During that time, she has been involved in countless projects resulting in major, positive impacts on county government and in the lives of all Fairfax County residents.  Her organizational skills, grasp of state and local government, her environmental knowledge, and her amazing ability to remember facts have served us all well.
Whether through her extensive work with PTAs from Mantua Elementary through Woodson High School, the Mantua Citizens’ Association, Providence District Council of Civic Associations, Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations, League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area, Fairfax Committee of 100, Community Appearance Alliance of Northern Virginia, Park Partners, Citizens Committee on Land Use and Transportation, New Millennium Occoquan Watershed Task Force, Northern Virginia Regional Commission, or Fairfax County Virginia 2007 Committee, to name some, or as a Director of the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, Sally has served as the role model for effective community service.  While many of these organizations are overlapping in nature, she understands the important differences of each, and the vital part each plays in the growth of Fairfax County and the Northern Virginia region as a whole.
Sally is a true civic leader: she doesn’t wait to be asked, but identifies a need and moves forward to take on the task.  Her committed leadership, coupled with an ability to inspire others to get involved and seek positive change, is a permanent fixture in countless organizations, resulting in small efforts turning into large accomplishments that significantly improve the quality of life for all Fairfax County residents.  Her historical memory and hours and years of public service are legendary.  Another letter of support notes, “It’s amazing that Sally’s schedule somehow accommodates so many meetings and events.”
One of Sally’s greatest traits is her unselfish tenacity; she has always taken every available opportunity to contribute back the knowledge she gains in each endeavor to enhance efforts to undertake the next public policy challenge.  Her persistence is best encountered when called to rise to a challenge.  She was instrumental in leading the Mantua Citizens’ Association through the aftermath of the disastrous tank farm fuel spill, resulting in action by the Environmental Protection Agency and Commonwealth that focused on protection and remediation efforts.
Sally’s knowledge of the General Assembly and the legislative process adds a valuable component to many of the organizations on which she has served.  She accomplishes a tremendous amount of behind- the-scenes research and writing, is superb at clearly defining issues, researching and developing options, and drafting resolutions.  Her focus on detail is well known, and she can always be counted on to be thorough and accurate.  Her capacity for pursuing goals until positive solutions are achieved is unlimited.
Although her expertise in land use, transportation, and legislative matters is invaluable, Sally is best known for championing measures to preserve and improve our environment.  She is an outstanding leader, innovator, and cheerleader on issues impacting the Potomac Watershed.  Whether as an active member of both the Citizens Task Force on the Occoquan Basin or its successor, the New Millennium Occoquan Watershed Task Force, or in her many hours of detailed, respected, and varied testimonies on behalf of the environment, she has served as a vocal and consistent advocate for the environment.  Her role on the Potomac Watershed Roundtable has resulted in the group being the most active group in statewide watershed efforts to improve water quality.  Always paramount in her mind and actions is her unwavering dedication to reducing pollution and protecting local, regional, and state waterways.  Environmental preservation is a true passion for her, and her dedication to this passion is infectious.  Fairfax County is cleaner, greener, and more caring because she has been an integral part of county life.
She is the also the well-known, unrelenting champion of the parks bond referendum drives through her leadership of Park Partners, the advocacy “green team.”  Her efforts have resulted in the overwhelming passage of each of the last four park bond referenda.  Current and future residents will enjoy the parks and open space funded by these bonds.
Sally is the epitome of citizen responsibility; her boundless energy and wellspring of solutions make her one of our county’s most valuable citizens.  Fairfax County is very fortunate to have benefited from her many contributions.  This honor is extremely well deserved, and for her lifetime of outstanding dedicated commitment to Fairfax County, the Federation is proud to recognize Sall Ormsby as the 2006 Citizen of the Year.
2006 Citizen of the Year
Sally B. Ormsby
As best stated in one of the numerous letters supporting Sally Ormsby for Citizen of the Year, “it is hard to remember a time when Sally wasn’t deeply involved in helping shape Fairfax County public policy… we are indeed blessed to have a dedicated, intelligent citizen who can constructively approach issues within a deep and broad context of understanding.”

For well over three decades, Sally Ormsby has personified the word ‘dedication’, serving as an effective and efficient citizen leader.  During that time, she has been involved in countless projects resulting in major, positive impacts on county government and in the lives of all Fairfax County residents.  Her organizational skills, grasp of state and local government, her environmental knowledge, and her amazing ability to remember facts have served us all well.

Whether through her extensive work with PTAs from Mantua Elementary through Woodson High School, the Mantua Citizens’ Association, Providence District Council of Civic Associations, Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Associations, League of Women Voters of the Fairfax Area, Fairfax Committee of 100, Community Appearance Alliance of Northern Virginia, Park Partners, Citizens Committee on Land Use and Transportation, New Millennium Occoquan Watershed Task Force, Northern Virginia Regional Commission, or Fairfax County Virginia 2007 Committee, to name some, or as a Director of the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, Sally has served as the role model for effective community service.  While many of these organizations are overlapping in nature, she understands the important differences of each, and the vital part each plays in the growth of Fairfax County and the Northern Virginia region as a whole.

Sally is a true civic leader: she doesn’t wait to be asked, but identifies a need and moves forward to take on the task.  Her committed leadership, coupled with an ability to inspire others to get involved and seek positive change, is a permanent fixture in countless organizations, resulting in small efforts turning into large accomplishments that significantly improve the quality of life for all Fairfax County residents.  Her historical memory and hours and years of public service are legendary.  Another letter of support notes, “It’s amazing that Sally‘s schedule somehow accommodates so many meetings and events.”

One of Sally‘s greatest traits is her unselfish tenacity; she has always taken every available opportunity to contribute back the knowledge she gains in each endeavor to enhance efforts to undertake the next public policy challenge.  Her persistence is best encountered when called to rise to a challenge.  She was instrumental in leading the Mantua Citizens’ Association through the aftermath of the disastrous tank farm fuel spill, resulting in action by the Environmental Protection Agency and Commonwealth that focused on protection and remediation efforts.

Sally‘s knowledge of the General Assembly and the legislative process adds a valuable component to many of the organizations on which she has served.  She accomplishes a tremendous amount of behind- the-scenes research and writing, is superb at clearly defining issues, researching and developing options, and drafting resolutions.  Her focus on detail is well known, and she can always be counted on to be thorough and accurate.  Her capacity for pursuing goals until positive solutions are achieved is unlimited.

Although her expertise in land use, transportation, and legislative matters is invaluable, Sally is best known for championing measures to preserve and improve our environment.  She is an outstanding leader, innovator, and cheerleader on issues impacting the Potomac Watershed.  Whether as an active member of both the Citizens Task Force on the Occoquan Basin or its successor, the New Millennium Occoquan Watershed Task Force, or in her many hours of detailed, respected, and varied testimonies on behalf of the environment, she has served as a vocal and consistent advocate for the environment.  Her role on the Potomac Watershed Roundtable has resulted in the group being the most active group in statewide watershed efforts to improve water quality.  Always paramount in her mind and actions is her unwavering dedication to reducing pollution and protecting local, regional, and state waterways.  Environmental preservation is a true passion for her, and her dedication to this passion is infectious.  Fairfax County is cleaner, greener, and more caring because she has been an integral part of county life.

She is the also the well-known, unrelenting champion of the parks bond referendum drives through her leadership of Park Partners, the advocacy “green team.”  Her efforts have resulted in the overwhelming passage of each of the last four park bond referenda.  Current and future residents will enjoy the parks and open space funded by these bonds.

Sally is the epitome of citizen responsibility; her boundless energy and wellspring of solutions make her one of our county’s most valuable citizens.  Fairfax County is very fortunate to have benefited from her many contributions.  This honor is extremely well deserved, and for her lifetime of outstanding dedicated commitment to Fairfax County, the Federation is proud to recognize Sall Ormsby as the 2006 Citizen of the Year.