Officers

President
Mick Hickman

Pres Elect
Eric Gatrell

Vice President
David Schmitt

Secretary
Terry Proescholdt

Treasurer
Debbi Matthews

Immediate Past
President
Bill Muffi

Directors

2009-2011
Brenda Edwards
Jim Wiggins

2010-2012
Phil Pople
Frank Parker
Charlie Mertz

Committee Chairs

Community Service
Debbi Matthews

Young Children: Priority One
Ed Crawford

Sponsored Youth
Christine Semon

Public Relations
Dave Maloney

Fund Raising
Joe Vitanza

Membership Growth & Education
Frank Parker

Club Meeting Admin.
Charlie Mertz

Human & Spiritual Values
Mick Hickman

Apr 5 Board meeting

Apr 12 TBA

Apr 19 YBA

Apr 29 TBA

Mick's Corner by Pres. Mick Hickman

Before I start my little “blurb” for the Chatter, I usually make a list of upcoming events we need to be aware of and/or partake in.  We’ve got a busy month ahead.  Here’s a list (and I’ll double check at the meeting to see if we have to add any other date(s)):

April 9 – Hope Alive Fix-It-Up Visit. 
April 9 --Opening Day for the Little League, 10:00 a.m. at Baker Park.
April 27 – At Mt. Airy,  the Division 9 Council Meeting
April 30 – Children’s Day in the Park

I hope we all can some how be a part of at least one of the activities.  Don’t forget to either wear your baseball cap or Kiwanis shirt whenever possible and appropriate to any of our events.  You just never know when someone is looking for a club to join that makes a difference!

At the regular meeting this week I will finally be passing out the list of committees. (Sorry it took so long.)  Use this list to help your committee when planning activities and don’t be afraid to ask other committees for help when needed.  We will take a 10-15 minute break between the regular and board meetings for the committees to meet (there’s not excuse now) and plan their activities.   If you’ve misplaced your club roster go to http://suburganfrederickkiwanis.org/roster/ and it has all sorts of info. 

Okay?  See you at the club meeting!

Distinguished Club Officers!

We are pleased to announced that the Kiwanis Club of Suburban Frederick 2009-2010 President, Bill Muffi (right), as well as 2009-2010 Secretary Terry Proescholdt (left), were recently honored with the Distinguished Club President and Distinguished Club Secretary awards, respectively, for their outstanding performances during the 2009-2010 administrative year. Congratulations!

Community Service for Hope Alive Set for April 9

by Peter Brehm

The Kiwanis Club of Suburban Frederick is confirmed to undertake a community service project for Hope Alive in Sabillasville on Saturday, April 9 (rain date April 16).  To reconfirm the specifics:

Come to the Elks Lodge parking lot between 7:00 and 7:15 am. We will car pool / caravan from there. We’ll have some MapQuest directions on getting to Hope Alive. The address is:

Hope Alive, Inc.
P.O. Box 140
17645 Harbaugh Valley Road
Sabillasville, MD 21780
301-241-4005, ext. 314

Hope Alive Resident Assistant Terri Rowe will be the staff person on-site that day.

Our plan is to arrive to Hope Alive around 8:00 am and conclude around noon, priorities being:
1.      Weeding the flower gardens (we’ll bring tools)
2.      Mulching the playground (we will bring rototillers)
3.      Sweeping the patios and porches (we’ll bring brooms)

And as time after this allows:
4.      Cleaning the storage racks (I have asked Hope Alive if they have rags / paper towels and 409 / cleaner)
5.      Cleaning kitchen windows and sills (ditto)
6.      Wiping down baseboard trim (ditto)

Please remember to bring:
1.      Work gloves
2.      Shovel for edging
3.      Spade
4.      Trowel
5.      Hoes / forks
6.      Rototiller if you offered one
7.      Paper or plastic bags into which the weeds we remove can be placed

Please label your tools with tape to avoid confusion.

Our rain date is April 16. So that I can email everyone the morning of April 9 in case we do have a rain date, please send me an email confirming your plans to participate in this community service project at pbrehm@comcast.net.

Middle School Appreciation Dinner Set for May 17 at the Elk’s Lodge

by Peter Brehm

With thanks to Debbi, Brenda, Aaron, and Dave for their planning and preparation support, the Kiwanis Club of Suburban Frederick is holding its annual Middle School Appreciation Banquet on Tuesday, May 17, 2011, at the Elk’s Lodge, 289 Willowdale Drive, Frederick, Maryland  21702. This year’s event continues our tradition of recognizing deserving students from each of the Frederick County Middle Schools.  We ask that everyone arrive to the Elk’s Lodge between 6:00 pm - 6:15 pm. Dinner will be served beginning at 6:30 pm.

We’ve sent letters to all 14 middle schools in Frederick County asking that each select its own Most Improved Student.  As in previous years, each school uses its own criteria in the selection of its Most Improved Student. We’ve asked to get the student names by not later than by Friday, April 15, 2011. We’ve already received a response from the Montessori School of Monocacy Valley

Because we need to give the Elk’s Club a guarantee for the count of dinners (the cost remains $15.00 per person payable in advance or at the door), please tell me or email me at pbrehm@comcast.net with your plans to join the students, parents, and teachers at this celebration on May 17.

(Frederick News Post 4-3-2011)

Club Donates to Camp Jamie

Camp Jamie, a special weekend camp for grieving children was the recipient of a $400 grant from the Kiwanis Club of Suburban Frederick. Began many years ago by now-deceased Kiwanian and past Capital District Governor, Dana Cable, Camp Jamie is under the auspices of Hospice of Frederick County and provides participants with typical camp activities such as fishing, canoeing, team games, arts and crafts, and hiking in an attempt to give children an opportunity to talk about death while giving them appropriate outlets for their feelings. Pictured, Aaron Valentino looks on as Frank Parker presents Denise Watterson, Hospice of Frederick County Bereavement Coord., a check for $400.

Club Gives Hope Alive $1000 Grant

Hope Alive, Inc., a nonprofit, non-denominational Christian ministry serving homeless women and children in Frederick County recently received a $1000 grant from The Kiwanis Club of Suburban Frederick Fund held by The Community Foundation of Frederick County.

Founded in 2002, and located on 13 acres in rural Sabillasville, Maryland, Hope Alive offers a four-phase program and comprehensive support services to address the issues at the root of each family’s homelessness.

Hope Alive can accommodate up to 25 individuals in its three-story home, which includes 12 furnished bedrooms. Resident families can stay for up to two years while learning new skills and working toward self-sufficiency, said Sue Oehmig, Executive Director.

The Kiwanis Club of Suburban Frederick turned to the Community Foundation to establish a donor-advised fund to provide grant funding to area nonprofits compatible with the Kiwanis mission of changing the world one child and one community at a time. The recent grant to Hope Alive was made at the Kiwanis’ recommendation and the Community Foundation’s approval.

“The grant awarded Hope Alive from The Kiwanis Club of Suburban Frederick Fund represents much more than a financial contribution” said Oehmig. “It truly represents our partnership with this incredible organization to serve and meet the needs of the growing number of homeless families in our community. This $1,000 grant will provide two months of transitional shelter for a resident mother or child. We are very grateful for their commitment to make a difference in each precious life we serve.” 

Mick Hickman, President of the Kiwanis Club of Suburban Frederick, and Andy Carpel, Community Foundation Trustee, jointly presented the check to Oehmig during a Kiwanis meeting recently. “We are proud that through our fund we are able to support such a worth-while organization as Hope Alive,” said Hickman. 

Pictured, L to R, Andy Carpel, Sue Oehmig, Mick Hickman.

History of Brunswick Fascinates Club Members

Rebecca O'Leary, Director of the Brunswick Railroad Museum, kept members' attention with highlights of the over 150 years of Brunswick (formerly Berlin), MD history. Members learned about what life was like for railroad workers and their families at the turn of the 20th century. Rebecca encouraged members to visit the museum, now housed in the former Redmen's Lodge building in downtown Brunswick. Pictured, VP David Schmitt accepts a club-supplied child's book personalized by Rebecca. As part of our club's Read Around the World program, the book will be donated to the C. Burr Artz library in the name of Rebecca and the Brunswick Railroad Museum.

USAMRID Explained

Col. John P. Skvorak, DVM, Ph.D, Director of USAMRID (United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease) visited the Kiwanis Club of Suburban Frederick recently to explain the role of USAMRID. "Since its inception in 1969, USAMRIID has spearheaded research to develop medical solutions—vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, and information—to protect our military service members from biological threats.  USAMRID's specialized capabilities include Biosafety Level 3 and Level 4 laboratories, world-class expertise in the generation of biological aerosols for testing candidate vaccines and therapeutics, and fully accredited animal research facilities." Pictured, club member Patrick Long accepts a club-supplied child's book personalized by Col. Skvorak. As part of our club's Read Around the World program, the book will be donated to the C. Burr Artz library in the name of Col. Skvorak and USAMRID.