When I joined the Dupont Circle Citizens Association, I was surprised to find this venerable institution struggling with low membership, dormant activities and board burnout. After a year of board service, my opinion is that there is nothing wrong with DCCA that cannot be righted by throwing open the doors and inviting everyone to lend a hand.
As President of DCCA, I would prioritize basics: new member campaign, increased communication, survey of members for new initiatives, committee rebuilding, administrative housekeeping, and a benefits program with Dupont area businesses to promote them directly to our members.
I have lived and worked in DC for 35 years. I am this year’s DCCA House Tour Chair. I am pro-business: I founded and operated Chapters Bookstore downtown for 14 years. I bring knowledge of volunteer manag ement, fundraising and non-profit governance, having served as Board President and Executive Director of the Washington Literacy Council for 10 years. Currently, I direct the Library Renaissance Project, where I work with civic groups throughout the city to support the DC Public Library. I assisted with the land-marking of the MLK Library and organized public pressure to rescind the West End Library giveaway.
I have the experience -- business, non-profit, volunteer and preservation -- to lead a renewal of DCCA. I pledge to continue its legacy and recommit to the mission that has long preserved and enhanced Dupont Circle, and made it one of the most desirable places to live in the world.
About me:
- DC resident since 1973, Dupont Circle since 1992
- Founder and owner, Chapters Literary Bookstore (1985-1998)
- CEO, local non-profit Washington Literacy Council (1998-2004)
- CEO, Library Renaissance Project -- public interest advocacy group (2005- )
- Secretary, Federation of Friends of the DC Public Library (2007- )
- Board, Dupont Circle Citizens Association (2008- )
- House Tour Monitor, DCCA (2007)
- Block Captain, DCCA (2008)
- Chair, Volunteer Committee, House Tour, DCCA (2008)
- Chair, House Tour, DCCA (2009)
- Executive experience, 24 years in private business and non profit management;
- Business friendly, former small business owner;
- Volunteer management, trained and supported 300 volunteers per year at Washington Literacy Council;
- Board experience, President, Washington Literacy Council (1996-98);
- Strategic Planning, planned for change with board, staff and volunteers of Washington Literacy Council, implemented transition to new teaching methodology; assisted Foggy Bottom Association with West End neighborhood visioning project;
- Event and fundraising experience, created “Love Letters for Literacy,” a nationally recognized fundraising event; conceived Weekend in the City to expand 2009 DCCA House Tour
- Historic Preservation, saved MLK Library, successfully pursued landmark status with Committee of 100
- Community organizing, successfully organized to rescind West End Library giveaway
Brief Bio
Robin Diener was educated at the School of Languages and Linguistics at Georgetown University in Washington, DC and at the University of Nice, France.
In 1985, Robin co-founded Chapters Literary Bookstore in downtown Washington DC, which she operated for 14 years, developing a renowned international reading series featuring authors such as Nadine Gordimer, Gunter Grass, A.S. Byatt, and Umberto Eco.
In 1999, Robin was hired as Executive Director of the Washington Literacy Council, where she pioneered the implementation of professionalized language training for volunteer literacy tutors, becoming the first nationally accredited volunteer tutoring organization in the US to do so.
In 2005, Robin became Executive Director of the DC Library Renaissance Project, founded by Ralph Nader to protect and promote the public interest in the DC Public Library system.
