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Club Meeting
April 9
ROTARY CLUB MINUTES,
Catonsville Sunrise – April
9, 2008
Eric Lamb was greeter;
George Brookhart provided
inspiration.
President George Brookhart
opened the meeting.
New Business:
-
Bruce VanderVort spoke
about plans for the
upcoming Book Festival.
-
George Brookhart
announced the Victim’s
Rights Seminar on April
15 at CCBC, 6-10 p.m.
-
Cal Oren talked about
the mock interviews
scheduled at Mt. De
Sales School on April
22-23.
-
George Brookhart
announced the Taste of
Catonsville event at
Rolling Road Golf Club
on April 21.
Happy Dollars:
-
Brent Tolbert-Smith gave
dollars for finishing
his inside farmhouse
renovation last weekend
and for the start of
spring plowing on his
farm in Cumberland.
-
Karen Paris gave dollars
in honor of her
daughter’s coming
attendance of the
national Model U.N. to
be held in Washington.
-
Cal Oren gave dollars in
honor of the Oriole’s
unaccustomed first place
standing.
-
Richard Hiteshew gave
dollars for his grandson
Ethan writing his name
at 3-1/2; the contract
for a new web site to be
donated to the Food
Ministry (CEAN); the
check of $225,000 for
the county grant to CEAN
has been received; the
negotiation for the Food
Ministry to provide food
for the Homeless
Shelter; and the start
of the grant process to
apply for some $400,000
for the Food Ministry.
-
Joe Loverde gave dollars
for his nephew’s web
site donation; the
celebrities signed up to
speak at his Sept. 14
event; the Las Vegas
vacation of his daughter
-
Bruce VanderVort gave
dollars for the coming
workshop on funding of
the international
programs consortium at
which Steve Arum will
set the agenda. Both
enjoyed a recent meeting
of the consortium.
Speaker: Matt
Scultz of Kids for Peace
Kids for Peace promotes
global education in the form
of geographic and cultural
knowledge.
It sponsors scholarships for
study abroad.
Kids for Peace Academy is a
3 week summer residential
camp for high school
students.
The Peacemaker Youth
Leadership Program is
available for both middle
and high school students.
Kids for Peace is looking
for partnerships with Rotary
Clubs to sponsor student
leaders known as Peacemakers
at $800 each.
The Kids for Peace
foundation was begun in
2007.
50-50 Drawing: Tom
Medicus won the drawing .
The meeting was closed by
President George Brookhart.
Submitted by Brent
Tolbert-Smith, Assistant
Scribe,4-10-08
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Board
Meeting April 15
ROTARY CLUB MINUTES,
Catonsville Sunrise –
April 16, 2008
Larry Aaronson provided
inspiration.
President George
Brookhart opened the
meeting.
16 members were present,
including guest Jonathan
Blakey of Hands On
Painters
New Business:
-
Bruce VanderVort
discussed next
week’s Book
Festival, running
from events from
Thursday to
Saturday. $200 buys
a sponsorship,
including tickets
and publicity for
the buyer.
-
Cal Oren discussed
Mock Interviews at
Mount De Sales
School on Tuesday
and Wednesday.
Happy Dollars:
-
Richard Hiteshew
gave dollars for his
appearance on
Channel 11 News
attending the Great
Chefs Dinner ($350 a
plate, chump change
for Richard, of
course) with wife
Toni.
-
Brent Tolbert-Smith
gave dollars in
appreciation for
Rosemary Wright’s
return to the Club
after some tough
weeks because of a
great loss in her
family and for
surviving tax week
with some to the
good.
-
Susan Souder gave
dollars for the
useful Victim’s
Rights Seminar she
attended.
-
George Brookhart
gave dollars for the
Taste of Catonsville
event.
-
Cal Oren gave
dollars on behalf of
the PETS seminar for
Rotary
Presidents-elect.
-
Richard Hiteshew
gave dollars in
commemoration of
losing a child as a
dependent on his
taxes.
-
Larry Aaronson gave
dollars for his
recent tour of the
national
Constitutional
Center Museum when
he was on yet
another taxpayer
paid junket in
Philadelphia
recently.
Speaker:
Walter Gonzales, Policy
Director of the
Congressional Office of
U.S. Rep. “Dutch”
Ruppersberger
Mr. Gonzales has 12
years of experience on
Capitol Hill in
Washington. He is
Senior Policy Advisor to
Mr. Ruppersberger, who
represents the 2nd
District of Maryland
(much of Ann Arundel
County).
Priorities for Mr.
Ruppersberger include
softening the polarized
positions of politicians
in Washington
currently: There is a
need for more
bipartisanship and
consensus building to
address the country’s
problems.
The Congressman
represents the areas of
the Port of Baltimore,
National Security
Agency, BWI airport and
Aberdeen Proving
Grounds.
The Congressman is also
working to accommodate
the 60,000 jobs coming
to Maryland in the area
of defense as part of
the recent BRAC
reorganization.
Mr. Ruppersberger serves
on the powerful House
Appropriations Committee
and on the Intelligence
committee that overseas
the FBI, CIA and
military intelligence.
He is also on the
Technical and
Telecommunications
subcommittee. He serves
on the Commerce,
Justice, Science and
Legislative Branch
subcommittees.
Mr. Gonzales spoke of
the problem of terrorism
coming out of Yemen.
Priorities are BRAC,
gang violence, energy
independence and
programs like the
Science, Technology and
Math program in the
schools (STM).
Washington really has
only $1 trillion in
discretionary spending
in total budget and
entitlement spending of
$4 trillion.
Questions for Mr.
Gonzales focused on:
1. Social Security - he
said that $50 billion
now would keep it
solvent for 100 years,
2. immigration - the
need for more border
agents,
3. CSPAN (it may
increase partisanship
somewhat in Congress),
4. the need for more
transparency in earmarks
- CSPAN helps, earmarks
are not bad if their
source is identified
50-50 Drawing:
Sherry Welch won the
drawing, returning her
winnings to the club .
The meeting was closed
by President George
Brookhart.
Submitted by Brent
Tolbert-Smith, Assistant
Scribe,4-23-08
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Club Meeting
April 16
Minutes
forthcoming...
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Club Meeting
April 23
ROTARY CLUB MINUTES, Catonsville
Sunrise – April 23, 2008
Brent Tolbert-Smith provided
inspiration.
President George Brookhart
opened the meeting.
17 members were present, plus
guest Jonathan Zacki of Hands On
Painters, John Slater of the
Columbia Township Center Rotary,
Barbara Greene (charter member
of the Club and George’s
sister), George’s daughter
Chris and two grand-daughters.
Old Business:
Happy Dollars:
-
Brent Tolbert-Smith gave
dollars to commemorate
passing his classroom
observation at Howard
Community College, in spite
of his antique technological
skills, and for his contract
for teaching more courses in
the Fall.
-
George Brookhart gave
dollars for Monday’s
successful Chamber of
Commerce Taste of Baltimore
dining event. And for the
Victim’s Rights Crime
Seminar at CCBC.
-
Russ Witzke gave dollars in
honor of his 45th
wedding anniversary.
-
Jonathan Zacki gave dollars
for his friend Eric Lamb’s
invitation to the Rotary
Club.
-
Cal Oren gave dollars for
his brother’s visit and his
rehabilitation from the
serious auto accident he
suffered over a year ago and
the honest person whose
bumper he brushed with no
damage with his car
recently.
-
Jonathan Zacki gave more
dollars for the glossy grade
magazine write up his
historic house painting has
won.
Business Meeting:
-
Bruce VanderVort gave a
report about the 5K Race to
which the St. Agnes
Committee has committed to
raise $26,000.
-
Cal Oren reported on new
club officers due to assume
duties in July. Some empty
committee chair positions
were filled. Operations and
plans have been reviewed.
The old lane system is being
superseded in favor of
committees concerning each
discrete function the Club
presently undertakes.
-
Joe Loverde recognized the
contributions to the Club of
outgoing President George
Brookhart (I thought he was
gonna’ be President
forever!). The Club
listened to a commemorative
CD produced in George’s
honor and composed from the
comments of family and
friends.
The meeting was closed by
President George Brookhart.
Submitted by Brent
Tolbert-Smith, Assistant
Scribe,4-29-08
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Book Festival Report
Report to the Rotary Club of
Catonsville-Sunrise
Bruce VanDervort – Rotary
Liaison
We have just concluded the Fifth
Annual Catonsville Book
Festival. Though the posters
said it was the “third” book
festival, it was actually the
“fifth.” We started in the
Meeting Room of the Library with
a used book sale. The event
then moved to CCBC-Catonsville
for an Authors’ Night. We came
back to the Library for the past
two years with the Authors’
Night and Used Book Sale. This
year we expanded to three events
with the Writers’ Symposium on
Thursday night, Authors’ Night
on Friday, and the Used Book
Sale – moved to Sam’s Club – on
Saturday.
Another major change this year
was turning over the leadership
role of the Festival to the
Friends of the Catonsville
Library with the Rotary Club as
a partner. The transition was
generally smooth. There was a
realization and learning
experience on the part of the
Friends on the effort needed to
conduct these events. Some
last-minute anxiety was felt
that would be eliminated with
earlier planning. There is also
the realization that sponsors do
not automatically flock to your
event, they must be sold.
Sponsorships are where we have
the most potential for growth.
For the Writers’ Symposium we
had an excellent panel of six
including publishers and writers
who gave the audience advice on
their writing careers. The
crowd was a modest 23, but
everyone seemed genuinely
interested in the topic.
The Friends of the Catonsville
Library did an excellent job in
recruiting authors for the
Reception. There were some
local favorites along with many
new participants to keep the
event fresh. The group also did
an excellent job with the food
(great cheeses, veggie trays,
desserts, etc.). I heard only
good comments about the food.
The ability to self-cater saved
a lot of money. Thank you to
Len Johnson, Maggie Schorr, and
all the Friends Board Members!
We must heap praise on Sam’s
Club, and their leader – Bruce
Siddens, for making the Used
Book Sale easy, enjoyable, and
profitable. For us old people
that remember last year -
hauling the books from basements
to the Library and back out of
the Library – the change was
remarkable. Bruce S. also sold
food and water to boost our
profits. The Sam’s Club
employees were extremely helpful
throughout the day. Clean up at
the end of the afternoon took
only 15 minutes! This type of
corporate – charity cooperation
should be an example for all to
follow.
I especially want to recognize
the members of Sunrise Rotary
for again coming through in so
many ways to make the Festival a
success. We provided workers,
wine, books, sponsors, tickets
sellers, and attendees. There
was Steve opening all the wine
bottles for expert bartender
Tom. There was Ed, Russ, and
John M. selling books in the hot
April sun. (Note for next year –
sunscreen is a good idea even in
April) Karen, Brent, and
Rosemary helping with and
attending the new Writers’
Symposium. And, finally, there
were many Rotary members
enjoying the Friday night
Reception.
We will soon have the numbers on
the success of the Festival.
The Friends will start their
regular monthly meeting on May 5th
at 7:30pm for a postmortem. It
would be beneficial if Eric and
Rick could attend.
As an experienced foster parent
of pets, I know how difficult it
is to give up a cat or dog that
has been a part of the family to
an adopter. Those experiences
have also taught me how
important it is to let go. It
is with both pride and a small
touch of saddest that I turn
over the Festival to the capable
hands of Eric and Rick. You
will find there is still much to
do, but you will enjoy the
experience.
Recommendations for next
year:
1. The events are growing, which
will necessitate more people
helping. I suggest a
sub-committee system, comprised
of Friends, Rotary, and CHS, for
the following duties:
2. Set up an area for the poetry
reading in the Children’s
Section with chairs and a sound
system. When there is a break
in the music, invite people to
come to the Children’s Section
to listen to the poems.
3. We hope the connection with
Sam’s Club will continue next
year for the Used Book Sale. An
item we could use is a large
banner for the Used Book Sale
that can be displayed at the
sale and indoors at Sam’s Club
prior to the sale.
4. Conduct another writers’
symposium with a different
topic.
5. We had our banner and a flyer
about Rotary at each event. We
could use a publicity table at
each event with materials from
Rotary, the Friends, and CHS.
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Club Meeting
April 30
ROTARY CLUB MINUTES, Catonsville
Sunrise – April 30, 2008
Rosemary Wright brightly greeted
all.
Steve Arum provided inspiration.
President George Brookhart
opened the meeting.
17 members were present, plus
Mary Tote, who engages in
non-profit consulting and speech
writing.
Happy Dollars:
-
Tom Medicus gave dollars for
the Orioles being in 1st
place in baseball.
-
Cal Oren gave dollars for
the Catonsville Fire
Department saving the house
from his wife’s overheated
soup on the stove.
-
Joe Loverde gave dollars for
his daughter’s coming
marriage Saturday, with a
reception to follow at the
Elkridge Furnace Inn.
-
George Brookhart gave
dollars in appreciation for
Dawn Olenski’s presence, his
son’s participation in a
triathlon and for the club’s
presentation in honor of his
service as President the
past two years.
-
Russ Witzke gave dollars in
appreciation of his lengthy
friendship with Al Parrott
and Joe Loverde and for
Bruce Siddons’ help from
Sam’s club with the used
book drive and for Bruce’s
enthusiasm.
-
Ed Tolzman gave dollars for
the used books sold by Sam’s
club and for Bruce
Vandervort’s enthusiasm in
putting over the author’s
night book signing
(congrats, Bruce!)
-
Richard Hiteshew gave
dollars for Jason & Kim
Myerson, who had a baby girl
born named Kathleen and
discussed problems he has
encountered recently with
medical system costs and
insurance.
-
John Monck gave dollars in
appreciation of Bruce
Siddons’ help in the
author’s night and Bruce
Vandervort’s efforts (kudos
to all).
-
Mary Tote gave dollars to
commemorate recent weddings.
Speaker: Al Parrott of
the Elkridge Rotary Club
Mr. Parrott was a pilot in World
War II, attended the University
of Maryland after the war in
finance, and founded the A.G.
Parrott Paving & Excavating Co.,
which he has operated from 1949
until the present. His son and
grandson are also involved in
the business. Mr. Parrott also
enjoys golfing at Rolling Road
Golf Club.
Mr. Parrott emphasized the
importance of new Rotary members
getting started on the right
foot. Rotary really depends on
the philosophy, organization and
dedication of members. He
emphasized what he thought
Rotary members should do. The
object of Rotary is service,
based on worthy enterprise.
Rotary acts as a conduit for the
service to individuals who
cannot do everything for
themselves, like providing
scholarships and medical
equipment (such as wheelchairs).
Eric Lamb won the 50-50 drawing.
The meeting was closed by
President George Brookhart.
Submitted by Brent
Tolbert-Smith, Assistant
Scribe,5-6-08
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