2026 SCWDC Election

SCWDC's upcoming election of officers and presentation of awards to volunteers will take place at the Annual Meeting on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 7:00 PM.  Location:  the Auld Shebeen restaurant in Fairfax, 3971 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax.  More information including parking directions and a map are now posted in the meeting event for April 30 and advance registration is required. If you wish to navigate to the meeting registration page, click this link:  April 30 Meeting

How to Vote Overview: 

- Electronic voting will be enabled on April 20 and will continue until April 30.  SCWDC will send electronic ballots to all active SCWDC members via email on April 20.  In order to submit an electronic ballot, members must use the voting button enclosed in the email.  If you do not receive such an email, your SCWDC membership may have expired.

- Votes may also be cast in person during the Annual Meeting. 

- Voting results will be announced at the Annual Meeting. 

Voting Rules:

Only Active SCWDC members may vote.  Expired members are not allowed to vote, so please ensure that your membership is up to date if you plan to vote. Early votes may be cast electronically, or in person at the Election meeting.  Members may only submit one ballot.  For Family memberships, if two or more members share the same email address, only one member may submit an electronic ballot.  This is because the membership database uses the email address as the Member ID.  Other family members may update their profile to include a unique email address or vote in person at the Election Meeting..

Candidates:  

Any Active Club member who has been a member for one year or more may run for the position of Director. Any Active Club member who has been a member for three years or more may run for the office of President. Candidates must agree to serve if elected.  The President and Vice President must be skiers,  and at least two other Directors must be skiers. Members may run by petition, and nominations may also be made from attendees at the Election Meeting.  For more detailed information about the Club's Bylaws, Rules of Procedure and/or Policies regarding Club Elections please refer to the SCWDC Policy Manual. 

The Club's Nominating Committee has approved the following slate of candidates:

For the office of President, for a term of one year: William "Max" Maxwell and Gary Rubens 
For the position of Director, for a term of for two years:   Karen Gallagher, Todd Leibbrand, Morton Posner, Songcha Putz, and Mark Raby. 

Thu Ogburn is running by petition. 

Write-in candidates may be entered in the "Write-in" category.

NOTE ABOUT WHICH CANDIDATES ARE A SKIER OR NOT A SKIER:  THIS IS REQUIRED ELECTION INFORMATION.
All candidates satisfy the SCWDC skiing/snowboarding skills standard except for Songcha Putz and Thu Ogburn. Our Bylaws allow up to four non-skiers to serve on the Board of Directors, a change made to recognize  multi-sport nature of our club.

Candidates for President:

William "Max" Maxwell 

I was honored to be elected to the SCWDC Board at last year’s election and remain deeply grateful for the trust our members place in those who serve the Club. Earlier this year, following the unexpected resignation of our longtime President, Ruth D’Alessandro, the Board asked me to step in as Interim President to provide continuity until the membership could select the next President. I am thankful for Ruth’s years of service to the Club.

Over the past few months, the Board and a dedicated group of volunteers have been working together to modernize the Club’s operations. We are moving from a model centered on a physical office to a more flexible virtual way of working that better reflects how our volunteers and members live today. While there is more to do, we have already made solid progress, including retiring outdated computers and strengthening cybersecurity protections. The Board remains focused on the optimal use of our members’ fees, eliminating non‑essential expenses so we can devote more resources to meaningful activities and experiences for our members.

If the membership chooses to place its trust in me for the upcoming Club year, I would be honored to support the Board’s continuing efforts to revitalize the Club and ensure it thrives for many years to come. My priorities would include:

• Re‑invigorating Club membership by identifying new and creative ways to attract and engage active people in our area who are looking for fun, community, and lasting friendships.
• Continuing back‑office modernization to better support members wherever they live.
• Work with the Flights Committee to develop a written set of standards for our trips to avoid risks such as substantial financial impact in the event of trip cancellations, as we experienced this year in Colorado.
• Reviewing and updating Club policies to provide a smoother transition in the event of officer vacancies.

I have been an SCWDC member and skied with the Club since moving to the DMV in 1997, and I have led trips to Zermatt, Kitzbühel, and Snowmass and Canaan Valley. As a trip leader, I have used cloud technology to share trip documents and manage RSVPs, as well as WhatsApp groups for pre-trip, travel and on-mountain communication. The WhatsApp group allowed one of our travelers to find another ride when his driver fell ill mid-trip on the way to Canaan Valley.

Professionally, I work in finance in the government contracting industry. My family includes a William & Mary freshman daughter (Go Tribe!) who still skis, a husky mix, a foster pit bull, and a cat that loves them all. In my spare time, I enjoy beach and indoor volleyball on the Washington Mall and in Arlington.

Gary Rubens

I am honored to be nominated for election as SCWDC President for a fifth term of office. I have been a Club member for over 50 years, and have previously held many different leadership positions (President, Director, Ski Trips Chair, Membership & Communications Chair, Travel Chair, Webmaster, Budget & Finance Chair, and more). I am a lifelong skier and racer, and I have led many ski trips and travel events, including a ski trip to Taos last year, and an upcoming Club Med trip later this month. I also recently served for two years as the Blue Ridge Ski Council Treasurer

In recent weeks, the Club has experienced a leadership crisis, with all four of our officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer) resigning within a period of days. The Club is also facing new challenges as we adapt to a more digital world, move away from paper records, and streamline our business and financial practices. Luckily, the Club is very sound financially, and I am confident that we are on the right path going forward. 

I have one goal, and that is to ensure that SCWDC continues to be the most successful ski club on the planet!  The Club must continue to grow, and to prosper. During my time as Membership Chair, we grew our membership by over 30%, and I will work hard to maintain that growth. To celebrate the Club's 90th Anniversary, I proposed that we add a free year of membership to all Active members. That initiative was approved, but I have more ideas for future growth. 

Our future is bright! But we are a 100% volunteer organization, and we will need the enthusiastic support from all our members to succeed. I'm counting on you!

NOTE ABOUT VACANCIES:

The number of vacancies is as follows: The club elects eight directors. The terms of four expire every year, with each set of four serving two years. Due to changes in the 2026 Board of Directors in January 2026 and a possible bylaws change, there may be one or two additional vacancies.

Candidates for Director: 

Karen Gallagher

I joined SCWDC about 25 years ago when a good friend talked me into joining the Canaan Valley Ski lesson weekend. The weather was warm, the snow was wet and slushy, but the lesson was great and I am so glad I joined as I’ve enjoyed being a member ever since…and become a much better skier as a result. That weekend re-ignited the joy I found in skiing and led to many more club trips locally, out west and overseas.

Since you can’t ski around here in the summer, I started cycling again and joined the club’s weekend cycling groups initially as a participant and later as a leader.

After returning from the club trip to Thailand last fall, my dad said to me “you really get a lot out of that club”.  I must agree with him. This got me thinking about the great experiences I’ve had and the friends I made and what I could contribute to supporting the Club to keep it active and growing. I have many years of experience with my professional organization, the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners, at both the regional and state level. Within the club I have leadership experience with the summer cycling. If elected, I will support the Club and its board in any way I can to keep it healthy well into the future.

Todd Leibbrand

I am interested in joining the Board of Directors of the Ski Club of Washington, DC.    Following is a summary of skills I would bring to the Board.

While working full time, in 1993, I started volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and mentor to children in the Abuse & Neglect system in Washington, DC.  While still working full time in 2001, I started a non-profit which provides mentors for children in the Abuse & Neglect system in Washington, DC. This year is the 25^th anniversary of its incorporation as a 501(c)3. This non-profit currently has ten full-time staff as well as several part-time staff.

I retired from the federal government this past January 1^st and retired from my non-profit volunteer organization about 10 years ago. My retirement mantra is community, health, and purpose. I believe being on Ski Club of Washington DC Board of Directors significantly contributes to all three of these retirement goals, building community, maintaining healthy activities and purpose.

My hobbies not only include skiing but also tennis, golf, hiking, traveling and creating meaningful friendships.  I have and continue to captain a competitive NVTL tennis team.

If selected to the Board of Directors, my goals for the Club would include:

• ·Grow membership, primarily by marketing to younger members.
• Focus on succession planning and legacy.
• Help facilitate its financial and legal integrity.

My background and qualifications:

• I started a non-profit from scratch which fortunately continues today.
• Recruited Board talent including CPAs, Attorneys as well as Advisory Board members.
• Recruited many volunteer mentors for children in the Abuse & Neglect System in Washington, DC.  The organization is currently serving about 145 children and has served over 1,000.
• Raised funds and hired staff.
• Performed Chairman, President (Executive Director), and Board of Director member responsibilities to ensure its ability to operate independently.
• Earned CPA and worked both in public accounting and ran large accounting departments responsible for safeguarding hundreds of millions in revenue and assets.
• Since Covid, my wife and I have been on one or two SCWDC ski trips a year.
• I wholeheartedly believe in the mission of the club. Our club’s mission aligns with my interests of building community, health, and purpose.

Additional Beliefs

• Strong fiscal integrity
• Collaborative: learn more by listening
• Efficient:  Keep length of meetings to a minimum, an hour to an hour and a half by preparing for the meetings.
• Identifying meeting goals and set boundaries before and during meetings.
• Have fun, enjoy the journey.

 One of my first dates with my wife-to-be in 1989 was her taking me to a SCWDC meeting.  I grew up falling in love with skiing while skiing in groups in Michigan.  If elected to the SCWDC board I suspect it will be a labor of love for me.

Thu Ogburn

The Club has become a meaningful part of my life since I joined in 2018. I still remember how welcomed I felt at my first indoor tennis party, chatting courtside and quickly feeling like I belonged. Since then, I've attended almost 40 tennis parties and led 5 of them, so I've learned the Club website's registration and financial reporting processes.  Whether it’s sharing laughs during bowling, or helping to set up or clean up after events, I’ve enjoyed being part of a volunteer community. I will bring a leader’s perspective to the Board if elected.

I have 30 years of experience in tax accounting and 15 years of Federal budgeting service.  I earned a Masters degree in Accounting and Finance from University of Maryland. 

I lived overseas in a U.S. Embassy environment for many years.  I’ve served as an officer and volunteer in Embassy organizations that served U.S. personnel and also provided local community outreach. I also have served as Treasurer for several nonprofit organizations.  

Those experiences, and the friendships they’ve brought are why I would be honored to serve on the Club's Board of Directors. With decades of experience in accounting, budgeting, and leadership, I am committed to giving back and helping SCWDC continue to thrive as a warm, inclusive community. I respectfully ask for your vote.

Morton Posner

I joined the club in 2019 to find a community of skiers.  There were no ski trips for a while during the pandemic, but there was cycling.  I became a devoted member of the cycling group and now I am one of the leaders of its weekly rides.  Last year, I led eight different rides.  Maybe you’ve ridden with me!  My wife and I have skied with the club too, and we have enjoyed meeting other members. 

I was a career senior executive at a federal agency, where I was General Counsel of the management division.  In that role, I advised agency leadership and the professionals responsible for finance, budget, human resources, information technology, procurement, and general administration.  I took early retirement last summer.  I have a B.A. in international relations from Stanford and a J.D. from American University.  Prior to government service, I worked in telecommunications law, and I have been an adjunct professor at two law schools.  I held many volunteer leadership roles over the years with the D.C. bar association, and participated with social service agencies to provide pro bono legal representation to their clients.  In recognition of my service to Stanford, it inducted me into the honor society of its top alumni volunteers.  

I believe the club is a great place for members of all ages to pursue social, sports, and volunteer activities.  As a director, I will work to make the club welcoming to you in whatever role you wish to pursue as the club enters its second 90 years of existence.  

Songcha Putz

My reason for seeking a position on the SCWDC Board is to contribute and share my knowledge and experience in supporting the Club community.  I am a good listener and results-driven (a "doer" vs a "talker").

In April 2022, I retired from the federal government after serving over 30 years as a DHS Certified Program Manager, PMI-certified Project Manager and CPA. My field of study and areas of experience were Business Administration and Accounting; Program/Project Management, IT Acquisition, Financial Management, Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative, Quality Assurance Reviewer, Operations Inspector, and Auditing.

I worked as an auditor at the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA); Auditor/Management Inspection Officer at U.S. Customs Internal Affairs; and Branch Manager at CBP Office of Information and Technology as the last position before my retirement.

I’ve been living in the area since 1989 and have two grown children – my son Alex lives in Falls Church, VA and my daughter Sabrina lives in Atlanta, Georgia. I am very fond of this area, especially the many cultural activities DMV offers.

Playing tennis has been one of my life's passions. I played USTA matches (3.5/4.0 level) for 15 years until 2018. I continue playing tennis at the club level. 

Mark Raby

Perhaps the first thing you’d like to know is the reason I’m running for the SCWDC Board of Directors.  We’ve all enjoyed the skiing and other activities the Club has to offer, and the friends we’ve made in the Club while participating in them.  From the day I joined the Club, I’ve been acutely aware that all this is possible because of the dedicated volunteers who make this club run – the board, officers, trip leaders, and others who give selflessly of their time.  From my first ski trip with the Club, to Taos, I’ve wanted to do something to give back.  That’s why I became a trip leader, and that’s why I am running for the board.

I hope to use my experience in management, technology, and recreation to help the club grow and continue providing the great recreational and social opportunities for which it is known.  I retired a couple of years ago from my position as Senior Trial Counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice after 33 years of service, the last 16 of which were spent in operations and technology management.  I’ve learned the arts of persuasion and compromise as an experienced trial lawyer (and as president of my condo board, as those of you who have been on condo boards can attest).  In addition to my law degree, I hold a degree in Business Administration.  My training and my experience helping to run a large organization are a solid foundation from which I can help the club continue to thrive.  My forays into leading trips for the club have helped me better understand its operations and accounting methods.

My dedication to the Club also reflects my strong interest in sports and outdoor recreation.  In addition to being an active skier (12 trips in the last three years), I’m an avid hiker and backpacker, bicyclist, and an experienced sailor and private pilot.  I’ve also enjoyed leading and teaching sports, having led ski trips for the Club and worked as a PADI SCUBA Divemaster and SSI Dive Control Specialist, and have been a black-belt Judo instructor for 38 years.

In closing, I’d like to express my gratitude to all those who reached out to me and encouraged me to run for the board.  I’m looking forward to the opportunity to apply my background and skills as part of a team dedicated to the continued growth and success of our club.