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MEMBERSHIPUPDATEThe Membership Development Committee

strives to maintain interest andengagement of all our club members, includingour Satellite and Rotaract Club members. TheRotary Club of Baltimore along with the worldtransitioned to virtual interaction at the start ofthe pandemic in March 2020. Thanks to ourclub’s cohesion and commitment to service,weekly meetings have hosted strongattendance, averaging about 21 members permeeting since the end of March (attendance

report thanks to DACdb skills of Theron Russell). Through Zoom we had to good fortune to see members of our Satellite andRotaract Clubs, welcome guests of members and our local allies from Toastmasters, international Rotarian guests fromEngland, and guest speakers from all over the country.

Our club welcomes new members this Rotary year: Lt. Michael Chisolm of the Salvation Army, Bob Hall from theHarrisburg Club and PDG of 7390, and William Kimathi, resident of Essex and originally from Kenya. We hope, but not

hurriedly, to see all our fellow members in person soon, knowing we can still see each other’s smiling faces on the big screenfrom the safety of our own homes.

-Kelly Stickney, Chair

ONE OF OUR RECENT MEETINGS VIAZOOM

PAULHARRISCOMMITTEEThe Paul Harris Committee decided more than a

year ago to bestow a Paul Harris award toCongressman Cummings. The congressman becameseriously ill and passed away in October of 2019before the award could be presented to him. TheCommittee voted to make a posthumous award to himto be presented to his wife, Dr. Maya RockeymooreCummings. The Committee was able to present theaward to Dr.Cummings in September of 2020 at one ofour weekly meetings. The Committee has no plans tomake additional awards at this time.

DR. ROCKEYMOORE-CUMMINGS

AND THE LATEELIJAHCUMMINGS

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STUDENTSCHOLARSHIPFUND

DRIVE-THRU PICKUPS OFOYSTERROASTORDERS

The Student Scholarship Fund held their annualmeeting the first week in December and awarded

14 $1,500 scholarships to students at 6 privateBaltimore area universities. The scholarships arebased on a students’ community services, scholasticachievement and financial need. The SSF has afinance committee meets quarterly to review theportfolio of assets.

• Jeffrey Penza, President

• Scott Tate, Vice President

• Carl Hossfeld, Secretary

• Marcia Middleton, Treasurer

Trustees:

Tapendu Basu, Karen Blake, Walt Dent, DeloresEdwards, Peter Guattery, John Mitchell, TheronRussell, Sandy Short, Jake Slagle, Neale Smith,

David Vaughn

All proceedswill benefit theBaltimoreRotary Student ScholarshipFund

All proceedswill benefit theBaltimoreRotary Student ScholarshipFundOYSTERROASTCOMMITTE

The Annual Oyster Roast Committee was tasked this yearwith continuing the tradition of the Rotary Club of

Baltimore’s annual fundraiser. Due to Covid-19, the club wasnot able to hold its annual event in person. Thus, theCommittee planned a virtual celebration to keep the 100-yeartradition alive. Through the sale of oysters and bacon, theClub was able to raise funds for the Student ScholarshipFund, and keep the Club’s members engaged in this worthycause. In addition to selling products, the Club’s membersand friends donated generously to the cause. The Club raised$14,236 in gross profits, of which $11,851.23 will be allocatedto the Student Scholarship Fund. The Committee thanks all itsmembers and sponsors who made the 101 Annual OysterRoast possible. Special thanks go to Mr. Tommy Chagouris ofNick’s Grill and Crab House for his services and orderdistribution site. We look forward to seeing all of you in personin 2022 at the 102th Annual Oyster Roast!

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BOARDELECTIONS

YOUTHSERVICESYouth Services Committee (YSC) met on January26. Only one request has been received since ourprior meeting in December. The one request wediscussed was from The League for CampGreentop. The League has been a recipient ofRotary Club of Baltimore’s charity to fund youthprograms for 80 years. Discussion at the currentmeeting resulted in a favorable first vote with afinal vote due to be considered at the nextmeeting. Additional requests from prior recipientsare expected with the next several weeks.

OFFICERS• President Kelly Stickney• President Elect Catalina Keilhauer• Vice President Deborah Burgess• Secretary Scott Tate• Treasurer Mark Dent• Assisstant Walt DentTreasurer• Immediate Past Jack HuskinPresident

• Assistant Peter GuatterySecretary

DIRECTORS• Ramesh Bhatta

last year of a two-year term• David Greenberg

last year of a two-year term• Theron Russell

last year of a two-year term• Troy Wilson

last year of two-year term

The Nominating Committee has developed a slate of proposed officers and directors for the2021/2022 Rotary year. The club will have a club vote at the business meeting to take place the first

week of February.

NEXTYEAR’SROTARYTHEME

RI President-elect Shekhar Mehta is urgingmembers to become more involved inservice projects, saying that caring for andserving other is the best way to livebecause it changes not only other people’slives, but also our own.

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RECENTSPEAKERS FROMOURMEETINGS

PROGRAMCOMMITTEE

The Program Committee is tasked withproviding speakers for each of the club’s

weekly meetings. For the 2020/2021 Rotaryyear, the Program Committee is using RotaryInternational’s monthly themes to help guidespeaker invitations. January’s theme ofVocational Service was supported by speakersfrom a non-profit farm that gives volunteers theopportunity to develop agricultural skills whileproviding free fresh produce to local food banksand a non-profit technology organization thatprovides seniors with digital access to health careproviders. March’s Rotary International theme isWater and Sanitation. A speaker from theWaterfront Partnership of Baltimore is invited tospeak at a meeting that month.

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MEETINGSUMMARIES12/8/20 Speaker : Samuel Moore-Sobel

Topic: Can You see my scars ?

Samuel ,who is now 27 years old discussed how he survivedthe emotional and physical scars from an accident at age 16when a container of sulfuric acid exploded in his face. Hehas faced years of loneliness, loss of sleep, many surgeries,and thoughts of suicide. With much help and internal strengthhe went to college, got a job and married. No, we could notsee his scars. A real survivor.

Announcements: Jeff Penza stated that the Scholarship fundapproved 14 scholarships @$1,500. Each. Kelly Stickneygave an update on the Dominican Republic Water Project. Lt.Chisolm is asking for volunteers as bell Ringers and TheronRussell, who is on the Board of Meals on Wheels stated thatthat organization also is looking for volunteers.

12/15/20 Speaker : Dr. William BlairTopic: Space Telescopes

Dr. Blair is an Astrophysicist at the Department of Astrophysicsand Astronomy at Hopkins University, where he is liaisonscientist at the Space Science Institute. Dr. Blair discussedthe capabilities of the Hubble Space Telescope and the JamesWebb Telescope which can explore even deeper into theuniverse. We learned how light is converted to digital data andthe effect of gravitational waves on light. He also explainedthat Black Holes are created when Gravity pulls in so muchmatter resulting in density of matter that then allows no light toescape. It is amazing how much scientists have learned aboutour Universe in a short time.

Announcements: Lt. Chisolm can still use more bell ringers.Catalina Keilhauer gave us information concerning ourupcoming fundraiser (1/23/21) for the benefit of the rotaryscholarship fund. Sandy Short recently received rotarymemorabilia from the estate of our longtime member DickHolland.

1/5/21 Speaker : Richard BernsteinTopic: Farm Accomplishments

Mr. Bernstein is a John Hopkins graduate and former AlexBrown employee. He now manages First Fruits Farm, a 501c3charity located in Freeland , Maryland where in the last 20years on 203 acres a total of 3 million pounds of potatoes,corn, cabbage ,tomatoes ,pumpkins and green beans havebeen produced for the benefit of the Maryland Food Bank,Catholic Charities and various other organizations. The farm isalso used to educate youth in farming and various retreats.

Announcements: Jason Sandoval, of City Seeds is looking forvolunteers to help in the distribution of food boxes. GuestCynthia Williams, director of three State Toastmaster Clubstalked about their activities and benefits of Toastmaster clubswhose goal it is to produce better leaders andcommunicators.

1/12/21 Speaker : Isuru HerathTopic : Tele Access for Seniors

Isuru is a student at Cornell University and one of a group ofcollege students that started a charity organized to providetelemedicine access for low income seniors. The group buysand collects smart devices with cameras for distribution toseniors to access medical services. They also provide freetech support for their use. To date they have donated 3200devices with 425 volunteers in 26 states. They also supportseveral clinics.

Announcements: City Seeds is offering virtual cookingclasses. Members are asked to support our 1/23 fundraiser.January is Vocational Service month.