What does RCA do?
The Rollingwood Citizens Association has been operating continuously for 40 years since its founding in September, 1982. RCA is 100% volunteer organization that advocates for the needs of our Rollingwood community. There is no paid staff or facilities. Additional volunteers are always welcomed!! RCA’s mission is to serve the 840+ homes in the Rollingwood area of Chevy Chase, MD as a community liaison to County, State and Federal governments and other civic organizations. RCA also organizes special events that endeavor to promote a sense community.
While volunteers donate their time, expenses are regularly incurred, especially as situations arise confronting our community. Your dues enable RCA to provide effective community services. RCA needs and welcomes your support. Some examples of RCA activities:
> Listserv: RCA maintains a vibrant listserv (https://groups.google.com/g/rollingwoodrca) and associated website (http://rollingwoodchevychase.org). The listserv was very active supplying information during the recent vehicle break-ins. These platforms cannot be maintained without your financial support.
> Signs: RCA created and maintains signs at major entry points to the Rollingwood area – the most prominent being on the “Leland Triangle” at Beach Drive. Your dues made these possible.
> Maintenance: RCA pays, with your dues, for professional landscaping maintenance at the Leland Triangle as well as other areas as needed to create attractive entry points to the Rollingwood area.
> Annual Halloween Party: Each year RCA hosts a community Halloween Party. It is a great opportunity to meet neighbors and is much enjoyed by neighborhood kids. RCA volunteers assist, but expenses are incurred. Your RCA dues help make the Party possible.
> Other annual events: RCA sponsors other community events such as Block Parties, Pot-Luck picnics at Rock Creek Park, and La Ferme events. These have been reduced in Covid times but hopefully will be re-started as conditions allow.
> Police communications: RCA serves as a liaison to the 2nd District of the Montgomery County Police. This is essential as recent events have confirmed. Your RCA dues help defray any costs related to this vital service.
> 2008 - Restoring our streets: In 2008, RCA scored a major victory by getting the County to agree to repair the sub-standard 2007 resurfacing of our neighborhood roads. RCA’s efforts led to an investigation that uncovered significant deficiencies in the County’s quality control program. The County agreed to a comprehensive remediation plan that restored our neighborhood streets. RCA volunteers and your dues contributed to this victory.
> 2006 Bus route Change: In May 2006, the MTA proposed moving the Leland Street bus Route to Brookville Road. This would have disrupted Brookville Road traffic and transportation in the community. RCA attended hearings to get this proposal reversed. Your dues contributed to this victory.
> 2005 Trash Bin removal from Rock Creek Park: In 2005, Montgomery County proposed saving money by removing ALL trash bins from local parks, trusting that residents would carry out their own garbage. MoCo and the Park Service failed to consider that many would leave their trash behind in the Park, that the Park would be liberally littered with trash which would attract rats/vermin which would spread to the community. RCA attended hearings and testified which led to this decision being reversed. Your dues contributed to this victory.
> 2002 Redistricting: A large portion of our community was redistricted into Silver Spring/White Oak in 2002. This redistricting was approved by the legislature and the Governor. This meant that our voting and possibly our schools could have been moved to Silver Spring. RCA had to litigate for a reversal. RCA led the fight against this redistricting and ultimately won the fight in Maryland’s highest court when it declared the re-districting invalid. Although all legal work was volunteered by a Rollingwood attorney, other costs were incurred. RCA won and. Your RCA dues contributed to this victory.
> Closure of Community Polling Place: In 2002, The Board of Elections attempted to close Rollingwood (French) School as our community voting place and move voting to an inferior structure in an area demonstrably less safe and convenient. Your RCA dues helped fund the hiring of experts, planners and architects with the result that the plan was overturned.
> Pin Hole Leaks: Many homes built in the ‘60s have been plagued by pin hole leaks that occur in the horizontal water pipes. This has caused some homes to incur extensive water damage and difficulties in obtaining insurance. RCA has served as a central clearing house for information and news regarding pin-hole leaks.
RCA welcomes your contributions – whether of your time or dues or both!
Thank you!. Your RCA Board of Directors