Dear Friends,

This was a big month for our clients who have become citizens because many were able to vote for the first time.  Several clients called or emailed to let us know their excitement.

“I am extremely happy, after 12 years waiting I became a US Citizen!!!!!!!
 Please let me know which Saturday you will be at Floris Ministry, I have too come and Thank You.”

“YOU WAS RIGHT...

WE ARE EXTREMELY HAPPY    MY SISTER GOT HER OATH CEREMONY TODAY... EVERYBODY IN THE FAMILY IS HAPPY.
 
WE WILL SEE YOU SOME DAY SOON TO THANK YOU AND ALL STAFF FOR THE GREAT HELP FOR REFUGEES.”

Our attorney had assisted a client with his naturalization interviews in September.  The blind client passed the civics test with flying colors.  The first question the interviewer asked was, “Who elects the President of the United States?”  The client’s prompt response was “the electoral college.”  He answered ten out of ten questions correctly, although answering six correctly is a passing score.  His spoken English was fine, but the writing and reading of English were rather problematic.  Although we had a medical certification of disability signed by a physician that stated that the client is legally blind, the interviewer pushed the issue.  In the end, the interviewer read a short sentence aloud and the client laborious wrote it, in very large letters, and passed the test on his own, without the medical waiver being used. 

The client happened to be in our new waiting room in mid-November, wanting to file petitions for his children to join him here.  When the attorney saw him, she exclaimed in greeting, “Congratulations!  Did you vote?”

He nodded his head eagerly, and answered, “of course!”

Around the Office

We are receiving a generous donation of furniture from Merrill Lynch on Thursday, December 11^th, including desks and cabinets.  If anyone is available in either DC or Falls Church after work that day, we would very much appreciate your help in moving the furniture!  Please contact Rob at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

We are grateful for a generous donation from United Christian Parish in Reston and for those of you who have already given in response to our letter two weeks ago.  Remember you can also donate online at www.justneighbors.org or through United Way (#8574) or the CFC campaign (#98417).  Thank you!

Volunteer of the Month

We would like to honor Ashley Wilson as our Volunteer of the Month.  Ashley has been coming in 1-2 mornings per week for the past two months and helping out however we need her.  She’s been a fantastic interpreter for our clients and has helped with our Temporary Protected Status (TPS) renewals this month.  Thank you Ashley!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rob Rutland-Brown

Executive Director