BCV co-founders Eric Cohen and Jonathan Blumenthal on the cover of Metro Weekly.

Current BCV Board (Russell Foster, Rebecca Roose, Eric Cohen, Janie DeVries, Jonathan Blumenthal, Jennifer Bohn, Laurel Lea, and Steven Rentz):

Current BCV Social Committee photo (coming soon)

BCV Board circa 2004 (Carol Dopp, Ned Read, Jonathan Blumenthal, Nikki DiPalma, Sharon Marshall, Russell Foster, and Eric Cohen):

The Board includes Jonathan Blumenthal, Eric Cohen, Jennifer Bohn, Janie DeVries, Russell Foster, Laurel Lea, Steven Rentz, and Rebecca Roose. In addition, we have a Social Committee (Eric Cohen, Laurel Lea, Co-Chairs).

Biographies for the Board members follow:

• Jonathan Blumenthal is co-founder and President of the Board of BCV. He lives in Silver Spring with his partner.
• Eric Cohen is Vice President and co-founder of BCV, and currently is a co-chair of the Social Committee. He is also the partner of Jonathan Blumenthal. As much as he gives to the organization, he feels he gets it all back, and then some - in the great volunteer experiences and the wonderful people he meets. By day, Eric works as an Information Technology manager for the Federal Government.
• Jennifer Bohn is the Secretary of BCV.  Born in Cheverly, MD, Jennifer is on her third tour of duty in Washington, recruited to work at a new health policy think tank formed by Deloitte. Jennifer appreciates BCV's understanding of individuals desire to volunteer, while needing flexibility to offer service in a variety of ways. "I hear from people often, 'I don't have time to volunteer,' but that usually means they haven't found the right connection.  BCV helps people find ways to help people."
• Janie DeVries is the Treasurer of BCV. A native Washingtonian and now living in Silver Spring, Janie is retired from a wonderful and satisfying career in the federal civil service in the fields of social justice and IT budget and contract oversight. In addition to golf, dancing, and travel, she also enjoys volunteering with BCV which gives her more opportunities to have fun, contribute to the community, and spend time with like-minded people.
• Russell Foster is a federal contractor who also holds a Virginia real estate license. He's an Army brat who considers his hometown to be Augusta, GA, where his mother is from. He lived in Richmond from 1983 until 1992 when he moved to Northern Virginia and currently resides in Arlington. In Russell's own words, "I started volunteering with BCV in March of 2003 and have found it to be a great way to meet new people and make new friends. You'll find me acting as the BCV Coordinator at DC Central Kitchen every second Sunday of the month. I enjoy my role as Coordinator in that it allows me to walk around making sure that everyone is having fun and is comfortable, which lets me avoid any real work. Kidding, kidding......."
• Laurel Lea brings a great deal of energy to the Board. In her relatively short time in DC, she has already volunteered at the Cherry Blossom Parade, Food & Friends, National Park Service, and PFLAG. Laurel is currently on the BCV Social Committee and recently represented BCV at the GWU Allied in Pride Info Fair. She is an attorney who specializes in estate planning. Originally from the Nashville area, Laurel lives in Columbia Heights. And in her own words, "I enjoy volunteering because it is a great way to be involved in and be a part of the community. BCV's work in connecting its members with a wide variety of area organizations helps build community in the best sense. I am delighted to be a part of BCV's Board."
• Steven Rentz is known as the BCV Coordinator to many of you who have been volunteering for the PFLAG mailings and Thursday evening men's shift at Food & Friends for the past few years. Steven and his partner David recently represented BCV at the HRC “GLBT Back to College Expo.” In Steven’s own words, "As an appointed board member I'm excited to help out Burgundy Crescent in a new way. I've been involved with Burgundy Crescent for the past five years and I really have a passion for volunteering. I love DC and am growing to love West Hyattsville, MD my new home of one year and two months. Living in my own house with my partner and two dogs is the best. I work for that Washington National Cathedral School for Girls in educational technology and I really enjoy it. I'm sure I have met many of you over the years at different BCV volunteer events, I look forward to seeing you again or meeting you for the first time. Check out some of my favorite volunteer opportunities: Food and Friends, Equality Maryland, PFLAG, animal adoptions, Miss Adams Morgan, Pride, One in Ten Reel Affirmations, Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Washington, Gay Men's Chorus, Ganymede Arts (Actors Theater of Washington), Pride of PetsDC, and HRC."
• Rebecca Roose is an attorney and environmental protection specialist at the U.S. EPA. She is originally from a small town in northern Indiana and has been living in the DC area for over three years following law school in Albuquerque, NM. She now lives in College Park with her partner, Jackie. Her hobbies include hiking and karaoke. She believes that volunteerism is one of the easiest ways to direct our own energy toward making others' lives better. Rebecca appreciates the diverse volunteer opportunities provided by BCV to meet the needs of our community and is very excited to be joining the Board of Directors.

If you have any questions or would like to make a contribution, please contact our Board President or Treasurer.