It’s June already, and time for Fairfax County’s annual salute to the Lords and Ladies Fairfax, volunteers selected by each member of the Board of Supervisors for their positive efforts to serve our large and diverse community. The Lords and Ladies moniker reflects the beginnings of the county, named for The Right Honorable Thomas, Sixth Lord Fairfax, Baron of Cameron, and Proprietor of the Northern Neck, who controlled shares of a land grant from King Charles II in 1719. Fairfax County was created in 1742 by action of the Virginia Assembly, which divided the existing Prince William County into two separate jurisdictions.

The Lords and Ladies will be honored at the opening of Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, and again at a luncheon on June 17, when Fairfax County’s 275th anniversary is celebrated at the historic courthouse in Fairfax. Another special guest will be Nicholas Fairfax, 14th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, who will visit from England. In addition, Celebrate Fairfax! the annual fair and festival, will be held next weekend, June 9, 10, and 11, at the Fairfax County Government Center in Fairfax.

Mason District’s 2017 Lord Fairfax is Daniel Aminoff, a mortgage finance expert, but whose civic and community service extends far beyond his career field. Dan was appointed to the Mason District Land Use Committee in 2004, and has chaired the group since 2013, deftly managing community land use applications fairly and respectfully. As a father of young students, Dan also represents Mason District on the schools’ Facilities Planning Advisory Committee, helping to solve long-term capacity issues, and serves as a lay representative to the Virginia State Bar’s Committee on Lawyer Discipline. Closer to home. Dan has served on his homeowners’ association board and the Holmes Middle School PTA. Congratulations, Dan!

Lady Fairfax for Mason District is Rose Chu, who emigrated from Taiwan as a toddler, and gives back to her adopted country every day. Rose has represented Mason District on the Health Care Advisory Board since 1987, and currently serves as vice-chair. She helps people enroll for health insurance as a Certified Application Counselor through Northern Virginia Family Services, and is a founder and current secretary of the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans of Virginia. On many Saturdays, you can find Rose assisting taxpayers as an AARP Tax-Aide volunteer, or working local community events to register voters and educate new Americans about their civic responsibilities. Rose is richly deserving as a Mason District honoree for 2017.

Dan and Rose join 42 other Mason District residents it has been my pleasure to select as Lords and Ladies since 1996. Since the inception of the Lords and Ladies designation by the Board of Supervisors in 1984, 68 men and women, exceptional volunteers all, have been Mason District honorees. The exceptional quality of life we enjoy in Fairfax County is enhanced greatly by the activities and leadership of our volunteers. Congratulations to all who truly make a difference in our community!

 Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor, in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be emailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov.