THE BLADE
Rotary Club of Bladensburg, Maryland
Vol. 50, No. 37 March 13, 2008
THIS WEEK'S MEETING: Recruitment Woes
Local businesspeople Charlene Wade and Mario Maya will talk to us about the mistakes job applicants make and other problems faced in recruiting employees. This will be a regular meeting - at Woodmore, at the usual time. Our only evening meeting this month will be Charter Night.
Next Week (3/20): Jeffrey Swilley, Deputy Director of the Workforce Investment Board for Prince George's County, will speak. Did you know we had a Workforce Investment Board? Come find out what it does.
LAST WEEK'S MEETING
President Eolia opened the meeting by asking Russ Maske to lead the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a prayer from Chaplain Jeff Allen. March High Sheriff John Wilkerson turned over his job to Wallis Sibila, who promptly fined Scott Stanger a dollar for being our JCL, noting that Dr. Bill DuBoyce had barely beat Scott through the door but refraining from fining Dr. Bill this time. Peggy Magee was excused from fines as a reward for having brought so many guests, though Wallis collected dollars from other Club members not planning to attend the literacy summit, along with happy dollars - including one from Floyd Holmgrain, whose 55th wedding anniversary is March 8th. Joe Slert auctioned off a Rotary flamingo pin (to Wallis) and a Rotary bookmark (to Peggy Magee), both gracefully displayed to members at tables by Beyhan "Vanna" Trock, who only dropped them once. Proceeds will go to the Capital Area Food Bank.
Judy Cappuccilli began the program by telling us that 160 students attended RYLA this year, most from District 7620, but including two busloads from the Eastern Shore and Delaware. She again thanked all the Rotarians who helped - Peggy Magee in particular - and introduced Cheryl Evans-Hinton, guidance secretary at DuVal High School, who in turn introduced the seven students we sent to RYLA (five funded by the Club, and two on scholarships from the RYLA committee). Each student talked about his or her RYLA experiences, with common themes the shock of finding they were to be separated from their DuVal friends and placed in groups with absolute strangers and the closeness that then developed with members of their new groups, with much praise also for the leadership skills they acquired. (RYLA always separates students from the same school - with no two assigned to the same cabin or the same group.)
Each student had a special story - Joanna Montoya, the Salvadorean immigrant who appreciates how hard her parents have worked and wants to reward them; Sean Hardy, the son of a military family who looks forward to joining the Air Force on July 1st, after four years in ROTC; Emilyn Davis, the young lady who was moved to tears as she told us she doesn't really have a family, so the closeness of her RYLA group meant something special to her; Michael Jones, captain of the DHS baseball team, who had trouble explaining to his coach why he was going to miss weekend practice when he wasn't really sure what RYLA was - but found it an "awesome" experience; Kaoney Davis, a sweet and shy student originally from Jamaica; Jean-Yves Akane, originally from West Africa (by way of Europe) - who was shocked to find himself at a table of "all white people" but had a great time - even if his team did lose every single competition and finish with no prizes at all; and Brittney Franklin, who said RYLA taught her to be comfortable in a room of complete strangers - as she demonstrated in the ease with which she spoke. After their presentations, the students performed their "RYLA Rumble" for us.
GUESTS
Peggy Magee brought four guests - Debora Jones, her administrative assistant; Debby Cooke, new deputy clerk of the circuit court, Barbara Patterson, manager of the Criminal Division, Juvenile Division, and Jury Office; and Mary Crawford, deputy county attorney for Prince George's County, whom Peggy introduced as her mentor. Seven RYLA students were also in attendance (see above), and the secretary (Cheryl Evans-Hinton) and chair (Twana Warrick-Bell) of the Duval High School Guidance Department.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Club celebrates its 50th Charter Night on March 29th at 6 PM (for cocktails, with dinner to follow at 6:45 PM) at The Courses at Andrews Air Force Base Officers Club - a new location, with arrangements made by Peggy Magee and President Eolia. Look for directions in a future Blade. As we mark the beginning of our 50th year, let's invite past members to celebrate with us and help us gather memories of the past 49 years. Ask Eolia for an invitation if you're in touch with a past Club member you' like to invite.
The District Literacy Summit, coordinated by President Eolia, will be held the morning of March 29th at the Rockville Library is the Literacy Summit - contact Eolia for more info.
REMEMBER: May 15, 2008 is the date of the 31st Annual Bladensburg Rotary Golf Tournament.
Mike Ahearn's in charge - and anyone not playing will be needed to help with the event. Be sure to mark your calendar, and get in touch with Mike (301-623-3323) to volunteer.March is Rotary Literacy and Understanding Month. Celebrate by bringing in some more books for our elementary school libraries. Any new or gently used books (fiction or non-fiction) from pre-K to fifth grade are welcome. Children need access to good collections of books to develop good reading skills and a love of reading, and our schools need our help in giving them what they need. Eolia was to deliver books to Rogers Heights the day after our last meeting - leaving only one more school, of the five with which we normally work, still waiting for books from us.
The deadline for submissions for our Four-Way Test Poster contest was the day after our last meeting. Three schools - Bladensburg, Rogers Heights, and St. Matthias - will be participating. The first prize winner will receive a $100 Borders Books gift certificate, with a $75 certificate as second prize, a $50 certificate as third prize, a $25 certificate as fourth prize, and $10 certificates for prizes 5-10. Teams of judges will be assembled soon to evaluate the submissions.
The next Feed the Homeless Night is Mar 20, 2008. Can you volunteer to help? Let Ann Swann or President Eolia know.
Note cards
can be ordered from Jim Miller, for $18 a box, with $9 going to the Foundation. He will print cards with any picture you choose - your own, or one of those available from Jim.Today in [Rotary International] History: World Rotaract Week! The first Rotaract club was chartered at the University of North Carolina - Charlotte on March 13, 1968, so our meeting falls on the 40th anniversary of Rotaract.
50:50 Scott Stanger
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
March 15 College Park Rotary Lobster Feast. Contact Anna-Mae Kobbe, ( Amkobbe@aol.com , 301-474-3420) to get tickets ($50 each - they must be purchased in advance).
March 20 Board Meeting at 11 AM, before our regular Club meeting
March 20 Feed the Homeless - Elizabeth House in Laurel - talk to Ann S. Or President Eolia to volunteer
March 29 OUR 50TH CHARTER NIGHT - 6 PM (dinner at 6:45) - The Courses, Andrews Air Force Base
Respectfully submitted,