Sunday, Nov. 8 rocked at the Fairview Marriott as five Northern Virginia Rotary Clubs sponsored their 12th Annual Rotary Monte Carlo Night. Good food, silent and live auctions, dancing to The Loudoun Jazz Ensemble and “gambling” at Blackjack, Roulette, Craps and Poker. Burt Heacock, chairman of the event, called this “the best ever Monte Carlo night these clubs have sponsored.”

Five Rotary Clubs joined together to host the event — Tysons Corner, McLean, Herndon, Burke and Dunn Loring. The idea is to have fun raising money for the various local charities helped by the clubs. Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self” and to that end the Rotary Clubs assist the youth and elderly of the county. They also sponsor community events, such as Fairfax County’s Arts in the Park.

Over 400 Rotarians and their guests attended the black-tie optional event. It was the place to meet and greet guests included Rotary District Governor Elect for 2011-12 Jon Allen; Assistant District Governor, Tom “Obie” O’Bryon; Supervisor John Foust (R-Dranesville); and Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Gero Schachthoefer of the German Armed Forces Command USA and Canada.

Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographic areas.

Members of a Rotary club are part of a diverse group of professional leaders working to address various community and international service needs and to promote peace and understanding throughout the world.