Welcome to the Rotary Club of Washington, DC
Upcoming Lunch Programs
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Tonda Taylor Bean
They Can Walk at Graduation, But Can They Stand on Their Own?
Tonda Taylor Bean
What if our emerging adults could graduate from college and launch straight into a career they love—with clarity, confidence, and a plan?
Too many students leave high school with a diploma but no direction. According to Fortune magazine, over 4 million GenZ-ers are considered NEETs – Not in Education, Employment, or Training. That’s where today’s speaker comes in. Tonda Bean is on a mission to help families stop guessing and start guiding their kids toward real-world success—starting now.
Imagine having a roadmap that connects your teen’s strengths, interests, education, and experiences into one clear path forward. Tonda has created that system—and it's helped over 1,000 families do just that.
With Master’s degrees in Business and Organization Development, Tonda is the founder of Wisdom In Minutes, author of the Life Launch Prep workbook series, and a respected speaker and coach. Her proudest accomplishment? Using her own system, both of her children graduated from NYU and Harvard and stepped right into meaningful careers.
Get ready to take notes, because what Tonda shares today could change how you prepare your students for success.
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Jan Du Plain
Bridging Worlds: The Power of Cultural Diplomacy — From Boardrooms to Embassies, Red Carpets, and Beyond
Jan Du Plain: A Theatrical-Diplomatic Luminary
Jan Du Plain is a seasoned public relations executive, cultural strategist, and diplomatic liaison with decades of experience at the intersection of international affairs, media, and cultural
diplomacy. As President and CEO of Du Plain Global Enterprises, Inc., she leads a premier firm specializing in international public relations and special events, representing embassies, cultural
institutions, and global organizations. Her dynamic career spans work with CBS Cinema Center Films in New York, historic Ford’s Theatre, and WETA TV and Radio, where she served as Director of Public Relations for 15 years.
In Washington, D.C., Jan is renowned for her role as an Embassy Liaison, serving as a bridge between the diplomatic corps and the broader community.
She co-founded the Washington Education and Cultural Attaché Association (WECAA) and launched the city’s signature cultural event, Passport DC’s Around the World Embassy Tour,
over 15 years ago. It is now one of the city’s most popular cultural programs, featuring over 60 embassies and welcoming more than 40,000 visitors annually. Jan serves as a key advisor to the
World Trade Center DC, where she helped establish the award-winning Winternational marketplace.
Jan is also a co-founder of Diplomacy and Fashion, an Emmy-winning producer, and a tireless champion of global engagement through the arts. She serves on several boards, including the
American News Women’s Club and Theatre Washington, where she chairs the Helen Hayes Awards Gala. She is also a longtime member of the National Press Club, Protocol & Diplomacy
International – Protocol Officers Association (PDI-POA), and the Capital Speakers Club.
Her many accolades include receiving the 2025 Fashionista Award from Global Couture, the 2024 American University Alum of the Year, the 2023 Mayor’s Arts Award, and the National
Press Club’s highest honors. She is currently writing her memoir.
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Ambassador Noël Nelson Messone
Ambassador of Gabon
Ambassador Noël Nelson Messone
In July 2024, the Government of the Gabonese Republic officially nominated Dr. Noël Nelson Messone as its candidate for the next Director-General of UNESCO. A seasoned diplomat and distinguished public servant, Dr. Messone currently serves as Gabon’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America, a role he has held since August 2022.
Throughout his career, Ambassador Messone has held senior cabinet positions, including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Forests and Environment, and Minister of Relations with Constitutional Institutions. His leadership has extended to the multilateral arena as Chair of the United Nations Fourth Committee, the 11th UN Forum on Forests, and the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment.
Dr. Messone’s diplomatic service includes appointments as Gabon’s Ambassador to the BENELUX and the ACP/EU in Brussels, and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, where he chaired the UN Security Council in June 2011 and served as Chief Negotiator in climate change conferences. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles at the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie and the U.S. Peace Corps in Gabon.
Educated in Gabon, France, Japan, and the United States, Ambassador Messone holds a PhD in Political Economy from the University of Kentucky, where he was a Fulbright Scholar. He is fluent in French and English, with working knowledge of Spanish, Japanese, and Korean.
Ambassador Messone’s candidacy reflects his lifelong commitment to education, culture, science, and environmental stewardship values that align deeply with UNESCO’s mission to build peace through international cooperation.
Our Upcoming Events
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Tonda Taylor Bean
Topic: They Can Walk at Graduation, But Can They Stand on Their Own?
More info
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Jan Du Plain
Topic: Bridging Worlds: The Power of Cultural Diplomacy — From Boardrooms to Embassies, Red Carpets, and Beyond
More info
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Ambassador Noël Nelson Messone
Topic: Ambassador of Gabon
More info
Interested in the Rotary Club of Washington DC?
ATTEND LUNCH
Visitors are warmly invited to attend a weekly luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club of Washington, D.C. to experience our culture of service, leadership, and fellowship. The Club meets every Wednesday from 12:30–1:30 p.m. at the University Club of Washington, D.C. (1135 16th Street NW), with informal fellowship beginning at approximately 12:15 p.m. Guests are encouraged to register in advance using the link below and to introduce themselves at the registration table upon arrival. The cost of lunch is $42.
MEMBERSHIP INFO
We would also like to invite you to attend a New & Prospective Membership Orientation, which takes place on the 3rd Monday of every month from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Please register HERE.
It’s the best opportunity to meet Club leaders and learn more firsthand about why joining us is so rewarding personally and professionally.
APPLY TODAY
If you are looking for a place to serve, lead, and connect with others who care about making a difference, we invite you to apply for membership in the Rotary Club of Washington, D.C. Our members come from many professions and backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to “Service Above Self” and to building community in the nation’s capital. Simply complete the application using the link below, and a member of our team will reach out to welcome you and guide you through the next steps.
Impacting the Community
Our members take action to create lasting change in Washington, D.C. and around the world. Through service projects, partnerships, grants, and hands-on volunteerism, we work to address real needs in our community while building meaningful relationships with those we serve and with one another.
Rotary is where people come together to turn commitment into impact.
Our Impact
