Julie Rasmussen
MCLEAN, VA – Julie Rasmussen, executive director of the McLean Community Center, said Thursday afternoon that increasing family responsibilities led her to resign her high-paying post.
She gave the board no advance warning before her public announcement Wednesday night, she said, because, “Several board members were aware of the family situation. I thought it most appropriate to try to tell everyone of my decision at one time, so the full monthly board meeting seemed the logical choice. ”
At that meeting, Rasmussen gave no reason for the surprise resignation from her $115,000- a-year post. David Sanders, the board chair, adjourned the meeting. The board then met with Rasmussen in executive session.
It is highly unusual for an executive director to announce their resignation in public and surprise their board.
“I knew that Julie had been going through some family issues. I did not know that it had reached the point that she wanted to resign,” Sanders said Thursday morning. “Family always comes first.”
Some board members have been critical of the staff that Rasmussen directs at recent board and committee meetings. They have raised questions about filling positions, why the recent center catalog was late, and why minutes were not given to members before meetings.
The McLean Ear 