Speakers

Speaker program

About half of each Rotary meeting is devoted to a speaker on a wide variety of topics of interest to the Community.

Should you wish to suggest a speaker, or to be a speaker yourself, please contact this year's speaker coordinator Denis Chazelle.

Speaker Fact Sheet

Upcoming speakers and programs

7/5/06: Club Assembly

7/12/06: John Zakian - Montgomery Village Foundation

7/19/06: Interages - Barbara Newland

7/26/06: Bill Goldstein - The Torah at Auschwitz

8/2/06: Club Assembly

8/9/06: TBA

8/16/06: Jo Ann Grbach - Traffic Reporter for The Gazette

8/23/06: TBA

8/30/06: Governor's Visit: Pat Kasuda

9/6/06: Club Assembly - Shaker Festival

9/13/06: Club Assembly - Shaker Festival

9/20/06: Club Assembly - Shaker Festival

9/27/06: TBA

10/4/06: Club Assembly

10/11/06: Dominic Pulera - Italian-Americans over the last 100 years

10/18/06: TBA

10/25/06: TBA

11/1/06: Club Assembly

11/8/06: TBA

11/15/06: TBA

11/22/06: TBA

11/29/06: TBA

12/6/06: Club Assembly

12/13/06: TBA

12/20/06: TBA

12/27/06: TBA

1/3/07: Club Assembly

Past speakers and programs

3/28/05: Harold Williams: Splendor of the Universe

4/6/05: Meeting at a member's business: Tom Kozar

Tom Kozar received his B.S. of Science degree from Edinboro University, where he was chosen for the Delta Phi Delta Outstanding Art Student Award. His graduate studies included work at Carnegie Mellon University, Virginia Commonwealth University, La Salle University and American University.
Tom has illustrated many historical sites around the Washington, D.C. area. He has been Artist in Residence at the C&O canal, Antietam's battlefield and Rock Creek Park. Tom painted the Lewis and Clark journey: "Corps of Discovery," for the National Park Service, located at Fort Clatsop National Memorial, Oregon. In 1985, he was commissioned by AMVETS to create a painting to be given to the people of the Philippines in commemoration of the fortieth anniversary of the liberation of Manila.
Tom's work is recognized worldwide. His art has been chosen by the State Department to represent the United States in the Art for Embassies Program. In 1984 Tom was commissioned to create a bronze of President Harry S. Truman for the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, and in 1986 a bronze of John F. Kennedy for the Kennedy Library in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1990, he designed the Veteran's Monument for the city of Gaithersburg, Maryland. In 1993, Tom designed the outstanding "Democrat of the Year Award" to be given by Democrats 2000 for outstanding achievement in the Democratic Party. In 1994, Tom was commissioned to create a bronze of Clyde Aitchison, commissioner of the Interstate Commerce Commission for thirty-four years. In 1996, Tom was commissioned to create a mural for Waters Landing Elementary School showing the origins of the land which is now Germantown, Maryland.
Tom designed the AMVETS Arizona Memorial Room at AMVETS Headquarters in Lanham, Maryland in 1991. In 1992, Tom received Edinboro University of Pennsylvania's Hall of Fame Art Achievement Award. Tom was commissioned to paint the signing of the AMVETS Charter by President Truman for the Truman Library. In 1997 he was commissioned to create a nine foot bronze of Francis Asbury for the Asbury Methodist Home. In 1998 Tom was commissioned to create a bronze of Murray Bowen M.D. for the Georgetown Family Center. In 1999 Tom was commissioned to paint a portrait of Chief Justice William O. Douglas which is hanging in Great Falls C&O Canal museum for the C&O Canal and Association. Tom has created six Cancellation U.S. Postage Stamps and envelopes in commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Completion of the C&O Canal, on sale now. In 2002 Tom was commissioned to create the art for the Capitol 4th of July Celebration in Washington DC. which a copy will be a part of the Smithsonian Collection. Tom's work can be found in the C&0 Canal gift stores; Manhattan Centre, Cumberland; The Rehoboth Art League Gallery; The Wine Harvest, Kentlands; Sugarloaf Craft Festivals; Gaithersburg Art Barn Gallery, Kentlands; Frederick Festival of the Arts, Frederick, MD; at the Gaithersburg Train Station; Ledo's in Westminster and Mount. Airy, MD ; Cafe' Mileto, Germantown; or at his studio.

4/13/05: Club Assembly

5/11/05: Marty Zimmerman: Best Practices and Stories of Role Models

2/16/05: Dexter Manley: Second Genesis

Second Genesis is a nonprofit drug and alcohol rehabilitation program with residential and outpatient treatment centers in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Since 1969, the program has successfully treated thousands of men and women, including pregnant women, women with their children, and adolescents with their families.
All Second Genesis programs are designed to empower individuals to lead healthy, responsible lives free from alcohol and other drugs. Treatment is holistic in that the program incorporates interventions for addictions, vocational services, educational services, social skill building, relapse prevention, and the life skills essential to recovery.

1/12/05: Franziska Grieder: Viral Agents and Bioterrorism

Franziska Grieder is the Director of the Division of Comparative Medicine, National Research Resource Center (NCRR), NIH. Her responsibilities include the management and oversight of the eight national primate research centers, primate breeding and resource-related projects, development of mammalian and non-mammalian animal model resources, pre- and post-doctoral training, and a variety of research projects. She attended Veterinary School at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, and subsequently earned a PhD degree in viral pathogenesis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. At the Medical School of the Uniformed Service University in Bethesda, Maryland, she led a laboratory that conducted studies evaluating early immune and neuroimmunological responses to Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus, an encephalitic virus. Her teaching responsibilities covered areas of virology, immunology, neuroscience, and cell biology for both medical and graduate students. She holds an appointment at the Associate Professor level at USUHS, consulting on ongoing research projects in viral pathogenesis, teaching lectures in two courses, and participating in graduate student committees.

12/15/04: Joel Grossman: The Supreme Court in the Second Bush Administration

Joel Grossman is Professor of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University, and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Maryland Law School. He teaches American and Comparative Constitutional law, and other courses about courts, judges, and the legal system. Before coming to Hopkins in 1995 he was Professor of Political Science and Law at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

12/8/04: Bob Smith: The Future of Metro

Robert J. Smith has resided in Gaithersburg since 1985 and practices architecture with his firm, Smith Colen Architects. He has been active in community affairs and local politics and has appeared as a regular panelist on the Montgomery Cable show 21 This Week since 1994. In 2003, Governor Ehrlich appointed Mr. Smith to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board of Directors where he has served as Chairman of the Board since January of 2004.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority operates the second largest rail transit system and the fifth largest bus network in the United States. Safe, clean and reliable, “America’s Transit System” transports more than a third of the federal government to work and millions of tourists to the landmarks in the Nation’s Capital.

10/20/04: Roland Warren - National Fatherhood Initiative

The National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) was founded in 1994 to lead a society-wide movement to confront the problem of father absence.
NFI's mission is to improve the well-being of children by increasing the proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible, and committed fathers.
NFI works to accomplish this mission through:
• Educating and inspiring all people, especially fathers, through public awareness campaigns, research, and other resources.
• Equipping and developing leaders of national, state, and community fatherhood initiatives through curricula, training, and technical assistance.
• Engaging every sector of society through strategic alliances and partnerships.

10/27/04: Jon Gerson, Montgomery County Teacher's Union - Economic Development

Jon Gerson is a past Executive Vice President of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and will speak about the Teacher's Union and its impact on politics in Montgomery County.

9/1/04: Carl Linden, C&O Canal Association

The C&O Canal Association is a citizens’ association concerned with the conservation of the natural and historical environment of the C&O Canal and the Potomac River Basin. The Association supports the National Park Service in its efforts to preserve and promote the 184-mile towpath and the open spaces within the C&O Canal NHP. Membership is open to all.
Association activities include hikes, bike and canoe trips, a level walkers program and special projects to support park activities.
The C&O Canal Association sponsors a spring and fall hike, a continuing hike series on various Saturday and Sunday mornings throughout the year, bike trips on the towpath and canoe trips on the Potomac River.

8/25/04: The Shaker Festival

Held amid a canopy of trees and mulched pathways on the scenic grounds of Seneca Creek State Park, this event offers a respite from the rigors and stresses of daily life. Attendees feel as though they've taken a step back to yesteryear, to a time free of the hustles and bustles of everyday living. One experiences the simple life . . . the "Shaker life" . . . where craftspeople and artists dress in 18th Century- and Shaker-period attire, while demonstrating the skills of their crafts and offering their wares for sale.
Shaker Forest Festival was born in honor of the Shaker people, a devout, inventive and industrious group now virtually extinct, who invented and meticulously constructed many essentials still in use today: among them are the flat broom, clothespin, washing machine, circular saw, screw propeller, wire sieve, mangle, gardening tools, packaged seeds for planting, and of course, the beautifully simple, but exquisitely-crafted Shaker furniture and nesting boxes, for which they've become known.
Every imaginable, quality handcrafted item and artwork is demonstrated by the craftsperson or artist and offered for sale to you by basketmakers; woodworkers of Shaker furniture, nesting boxes, and variety woodcrafts; porcelain and pottery artists; quilt makers; toy makers; seasonal crafters; a Shaker-style broom maker; seamstresses of clothing and fiber arts such as dolls and bears, jewelry designers; candle makers; potpourri, herb and flower growers and designers; painters; woodcarvers; weavers; stained glass designers; folk artists; tole painters; metal crafters; gourd artists; musical instrument makers; a scherenschnitte artist; blacksmith; doll designers; mosaic artists; recycling artists; honey beekeepers; nostalgic items and many more.

8/11/04: Linda Morganstein, Character Counts and the Laws of Life contest

Friends Of Seneca Creek State Park is a volunteer organization dedicated to enhancing the visitor's experience by providing financial support and resources to the park.

8/4/04: Bill Larson, Friends of Seneca Creek State Park

Friends Of Seneca Creek State Park is a volunteer organization dedicated to enhancing the visitor's experience by providing financial support and resources to the park.

7/28/04: Ben Garber

In his Speaking of Working programs Ben helps businesses, government and associations meet their goals through his inspirational, action-oriented and humorous presentations on a wide range of “working” related topics.
Ben's character portrayal of Theodore Roosevelt is a unique opportunity to learn from the master of "Just Do It" by hearing from president "Teddy" - in person.
First-person stories of adversity, failure, high achievement and genius are brought to life with Theodore Roosevelt's own words. "Theodore Roosevelt - Working Lessons" offers a perfect blend of motivation, entertainment and history.

6/30/04: Ed Mattson: Wings of Hope Cancer Foundation

Nationally acclaimed and renowned medical research specialist Ed Mattson is President and Executive Director of the Linda Mattson Wings of Hope Cancer Foundation, Indianapolis, Indiana, and is registered with both Rotary and Kiwanis Speaker’s Bureaus. He has gained a reputation of delivering a poignant and informative program on the subject of medical research covering such subjects as:
s Stem cell research and targeted gene therapy…the ethics of it all.
s The latest cancer treatments and clinical studies utilizing chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radioisotopes, and stem cell transplantation.
s Newest application of stem cell transplantation for multiple sclerosis, lupus, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other life-threatening medical problems.
s The human genome project…where is it taking medical science?
s Umbilical cord blood banking…why is it the “new medicine” of the millennium?
Treating children with cancer is a global problem that can only be solved with the help of the United States. In the US 90% of the children with cancer are generally brought into remission within 60 days following the start of treatment. In underdeveloped countries, 80% of the children with cancer die within three years of being diagnosed.

6/23/04: Sam Raker: the Inter County Connector (ICC)

The proposed Intercounty Connector (ICC) project is intended to link existing and proposed development areas between I-270 and I-95/US 1 corridors within central and eastern Montgomery County and northwestern Prince George’s County with a state-of-the-art, multi-modal east-west highway that limits access and accommodates passenger and goods movement.
Sam Raker works for the Maryland Secretary of Transportation on community outreach for the ICC. The ICC Study has been underway for a year - and there are several key events coming in 2004/2005.

6/9/04: Denis Chazelle: The Alps on a mountain bike

Our own Denis Chazelle will speak about his 3-day trek from Valence to Gap in the French Alps on his mountain bike.

5/26/04: Tim Strachan: the Xs and Os of life

Tim Strachan is a born and raised Washingtonian, living in Kensington, Maryland, where his entire family resides. He attended DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, MD. There, Tim played both varsity Football and Basketball, but it was apparent Tim’s future was in college football. Unfortunately, before Tim’s senior season, he suffered an accident that rendered him paralyzed and confined him to a wheelchair. Even though the accident kept him from reaching his dream of playing football, it has not stopped him from attaining other goals.
Since then, Tim has moved on with his life and accomplished more than ever would have on a football field. He attended University of Maryland in 1996, where he was a student assistant football coach, a sideline correspondent during games on local radio and graduated in ’99 with a degree in Communication. Tim still broadcasts games along side the great Johnny Holliday; he has done numerous radio and television freelance broadcasting; he stays involved in the community and charitable endeavors; and just last week graduated with a law degree from Georgetown Law Center. For the past 6 years, Tim has passionately pursued a professional Motivational Speaking career.
He will share with us his story of overcoming adversity and being successful despite challenges and changed circumstances. Tim says he is not here to tell us how we should live our lives or to be like him, but as he puts it, “I am here to help you realize how to be the best you.”

5/19/04: Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Boyds

Montgomery County Correctional Facility is a new correctional facility that is expected to meet Montgomery County’s criminal justice needs for the next 25 years, following more than a decade of planning, community discussions and construction. The new $90.4 million Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Clarksburg will initially accommodate more than 650 prisoners, with space to house more than 900, if needed.
The facility is staffed around the clock by 266 correctional officers, security supervisors, correctional program specialists, dietary officers, and professional health care and administrative support personnel. Robert Green is the warden who manages the facility, which houses prisoners who have been in custody for at least 72 hours and have not made bail or been released by a court. In addition to full security services, the new jail offers a wide range of treatment and self development programs, along with specialty units for health care, serious mental illness, protective custody and other specialized correctional needs.
“Montgomery County correctional facilities have always maintained a high degree of security and program services, and have been among the few jails in America to receive ongoing national accreditation through the American Correctional Association and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care,” said Arthur M. Wallenstein, director of Montgomery County’s Department of Correction and Rehabilitation.

5/12/04: Les Janka: the War on Terrorism

Les Janka currently holds the positions of President of the Council on American-Saudi Dialogue and Vice President of the National Council on US-Arab Relations. Mr. Janka has more than 25 years experience as a senior international affairs expert and has held several key positions in the US government, including Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan and Deputy Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs. In addition, Mr. Janka also served as Special Assistant to Dr. Henry Kissinger on the National Security Council (NSC) at the White House, and also as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Near Eastern, African and South Asian Affairs.
He will discuss the latest hot-button issues that dominate the relationship between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to include the War on Terrorism, oil price stability and the potential for peace in the Middle East.

5/5/04: Don Brown: Purpose and Paradoxes of Success

Don Brown is an author of a self-help book called "Practical Miracles." The book is an example of how consciously constructing a "model of belief" can offer an opportunity to live an examined life. Without changing anything else, deliberately choosing our experience can open up opportunities to feel alive that dormant in many people's life. He is also a hypnotist and Master Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming.
"The Purpose and Paradoxes of Success" -- As a Christian, Don Brown has had the experience of feeling wonderful when he "came to faith". That experience had a lot of elements that he initiated which put him in the loop of having control of his emotional life. But from his experience, that wonderful grounded feeling didn't last as long as he would have liked.
Much of what we accept as "reality" is made up of what we believe to be true, but to a great extent is unexamined. The benefit of living an examined life, especially a life of faith, would be to make the experiences that are most desirable become part of what we can re-experience over and over, nourishing and growing our spirit each time we do.

4/28/04: Doug Duncan, Montgomery County Executive

Douglas M. Duncan is currently serving his third term as County Executive of Montgomery County, Maryland's largest jurisdiction. Since his election in 1994, Duncan has provided hands-on leadership to improve educational excellence, address the County's severe traffic congestion problems and position Montgomery as an international biotechnology leader. The Washington Post -- which has called Duncan the "Mayor of Montgomery" -- describes his governing style as "county leadership that knows when to quit mulling and start moving."
Duncan has led Montgomery through its transformation from a suburban bedroom community into an international urban center recognized for visionary land planning, a premier high technology industry and vast green space and parks.

4/7/04: Charles Anderson: United Way of the National Capital Area

For almost 30 years, UWNCA has been a recognized leader in community building in the Washington area. UWNCA was founded in 1974 when the United Givers Fund, the Health and Welfare Council, and the United Black Fund merged, creating the 23rd largest United Way in the nation. By 1980, UWNCA became the first United Way to include nationally known nonprofits, such as the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society, in its annual fundraising campaign.
Today, UWNCA coordinates one of the largest annual fundraising campaigns in the country. The campaign disperses millions in monies to more than 1,000 nonprofit partners that provide health and human programs to Washington area residents. The campaign also includes nine Community Services Funds, which work to solve complex social issues by directing funds to the most critical areas of need.
Chuck Anderson comes to UWNCA with a 25-year track record of decisive management and successful fundraising. Since 1977, he has served in top-level executive positions with United Way offices in Connecticut, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Most recently, Chuck was President and Chief Professional Officer of United Way of Delaware (UWD), where his eight-year mission to streamline operations increased annual giving by 72% and lowered overhead costs by nearly one-third.
Chuck’s diligent work to revitalize fundraising also earned outstanding results for UWD and its nonprofit partners. In 1995, his leadership helped secure $18.7 million in gifts – a 10.6% increase over the previous year and the largest UWD campaign increase in 49 years. That same year, the organization saw a record 13% increase in agency allocations. In addition, his ongoing efforts over a five-year period created a 29.3% total increase in funding to community-based programs.
A native of Milford, Connecticut, Chuck earned an undergraduate degree in Social Work from the University of Southern Connecticut and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Connecticut. He holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Delaware. He is an active member of several professional and community organizations, including the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of America National Professional Council, and others. Chuck also serves on the Board of Directors for the Delaware Museum of Natural History, the National Conference for Community and Justice, and the Delaware Community Foundation.

3/31/04: Catherine Matthews: Upcounty Regional Services Center

The Upcounty Regional Services Center (URSC) is one of five full-service MontgomeryCounty outreach offices. The Upcounty Center is the largest of the five centers with 100,000 sq. ft. of space, and 16 agencies. The URSC provides services for citizens and businesses of northern Montgomery County.
The Center's service area is the largest of the five centers with 250 sq. miles or one-half of the County's land area. The Center's service population is 280,000 people in several communities, including, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Clarksburg, Damascus, Goshen, Laytonsville, Derwood, North Potomac, Darnestown, Boyds, Montgomery Village, Barnesville, Dickerson, Poolesville, Washington Grove, Beallsville, Hyattstown and Tobytown.
The Upcounty Regional Services Center is a full-service center with something for everyone in the community, including the Germantown Community Library, recreation and parks offices, health and human service agencies, a day care center, and regional offices of the Montgomery County Public Schools. In order to promote tourism, the Montgomery County Conference and Visitors Bureau is strategically located in the Center, along with the Germantown Chamber of Commerce. Over 3,500 people a day visit the Center, which translates to over 1,000,000 people a year. The Center also averages 150 meetings per month in its four meeting rooms that are available for public use. The Center is open six days a week,

3/24/04: Meeting at a member's business: Edco's Shady Grove Hospital

Our own Edco Bailey will welcome us at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. When it opened its doors in 1979, the hospital stood alone among the undeveloped rolling pastures and farm fields of western Montgomery County. Since then, the community has rapidly grown up around it, with new residential developments appearing throughout the area. Today, this 274-bed acute care hospital serves as a primary health care resource for more than 250,000 local residents.
The hospital employs nearly 2,000 people and has a medical staff of over 1,000 physicians. The hospital delivers over 4,500 babies and treats more than 80,000 emergency patients a year.

3/17/04: Joe Decker: World's Fittest Man

Joe Decker is recognized as "The Worlds Fittest Man," an ultra-endurance power athlete, renowned fitness trainer, and syndicated columnist who has helped thousands of women, men, kids and seniors get into shape and lose weight.
Joe believes in leading by example and is a personal testament to overcoming addictions and obstacles. Once overweight and out of shape, Joe transformed his body and his life through an amazing journey from fat to fittest. In 2000 Joe broke the Guinness World Records® Twenty-four-hour Physical Fitness Challenge to help inspire and motivate people to get fit.
Joe has appeared on The Today Show, Discovery Health, The Early Show, The O'Reilly Factor, and Fox News and has been featured in The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Baltimore Sun, Men's Fitness, Muscle and Fitness, Men's Health, and GQ. To his surprise, People Magazine named him one of America's 50 Most Eligible Bachelors in 2001.
In addition to breaking the world fitness record, Joe has competed in many of the world's toughest endurance and adventure fitness events. Some of these include the Raid Gauloises, the Badwater 135, the Marathon des Sables ("The World's Toughest Footrace"), The Grand Slam of Ultra Running, and The Tough Guy Challenge in England.

3/10/04: Breakfast with Interact at Watkins Mill High School

2/25/04: Luis San Sebastian - Forest Oak Middle School: Character Counts

Character Counts! is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian coalition of schools, communities and nonprofit organizations working to advance character education by teaching the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

2/18/04: Dr. Stanley J. Kramer, Regional Medical Director of Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is America's largest not-for-profit health care organization, serving 8.1 million members in 9 states and the District of Columbia. An integrated health delivery system, Kaiser Permanente organizes and provides or coordinates members' care, including preventive care such as well-baby and prenatal care, immunizations, and screening diagnostics; hospital and medical services; and pharmacy services.

2/11/04: Michael Aronin: Overcoming Handicaps and Humor in Our Lives

Michael Aronin is an nationally acclaimed speaker who teaches his audiences how to get past personal shortcomings and move forward productively in their careers. Being both a comedian and motivational speaker, he is able to make this difficult topic both entertaining and enlightening.
His outstanding efforts have been recognized by such prominent media sources as ABC TV, CBS TV, NBC TV, Fox Television, The Baltimore Sun, and The Baltimore Business Journal. Michael will captivate your audience and provide them with a new positive outlook on setting and obtaining goals.
Michael Aronin knows two things: he's got a killer sense of humor, and he's got cerebral palsy. But Michael never let his disability get him down - in fact it hardly even phased him. While an undergraduate at Towson State University, he was elected President of the Student Government Association. He went on to be one of the hardest working comics in the country.
Today he spends much of his time lending that considerable wit, and a surprising dose of wisdom, to motivational speaking. Michael feels that his presentations benefit those who are disabled as well as those who are not.
Michael speaks about what it was like growing up disabled in an able bodied world - of the importance of believing in ourselves, of building and maintaining a support system, and of the crucial role humor and attitude can play in our lives. As Michael will tell you, his only disability is losing his hair at an early age.
He offers humor as a way to break down barriers and prove that someone who is disabled can have the same outlook on life as one who is not. Because disabled or not, we can be our own best friend or our own worst enemy. Michael believes that we all face challenges one way or another. You will see in his program that it is not the disability stopping you from achieving, but your attitude towards your own situation.

2/4/04: Kylen Johnson: Vanished Voices: Missing persons

The Maryland Missing Person Network is comprised of families of missing persons, law enforcement across the state, forensic specialists, missing person agencies, and Doenetwork volunteers. This network was created to promote public awareness of Maryland's missing and unidentified persons, assist in finding missing persons and identities of unknown homicide victims, and to provide support and resources for those dealing with missing person situations. It maintains a web site, www.marylandmissing.com which lists missing and unidentified person cases in Maryland.
Kylen Johnson, the network’s coordinator, was born in Washington, DC. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Maryland, and currently is working toward a position in forensic investigation. She is the Maryland Area Director for the Doenetwork, www.doenetwork.org, a volunteer organization which assists police in identifying unidentified homicide victims. She is also closely affiliated with the Missing and Exploited Children’s Association of Maryland, and the Roots Foundation, www.rootfoundation.org, which is committed to advocacy, education and intervention on behalf of individuals and families who have been victimized by homicide. Partnering with Johnson in the Maryland Missing Person Network is Dr. Warren Tewes, DDS, MS, who is on the faculty of the University of Maryland Dental School and is lead forensic dentist for the Maryland State Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. He is also a member of the Homeland Security's Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team. Dr. Tewes developed the Maryland Dental Database for Missing and Unidentified Persons.

1/21/04: Gayley Knight: Women Business Owners of Montgomery County

Women Business Owners of Montgomery County represents a wide variety of women-owned corporations, independent businesses, and for-profit service organizations. Their common purpose is to explore the challenges, risks, and opportunities associated with developing and expanding a business. Since 1980, WBO has provided access to the combined knowledge and experience that women business owners can offer to one another.

1/7/04: Marie Bertin: Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital

The Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital had a combined girl and adult membership of 72,425 in Fiscal Year 2003. That membership consisted of 49,768 girls and 22,657 adults. GSCNC serves girls through wide-ranging activities in 4,038 troops with the help of 22,500 dedicated volunteers--women and men who gave of their time, talent and energy to Girl Scouts. The full-time staff numbers 87, and 400 women and men are employed on a part-time basis.

12/17/03: Meeting at Member's business: Charles Graham of Legg-Mason

Legg Mason, Inc. is a fully diversified, independent financial services provider, providing securities brokerage, financial planning, asset allocation services, investment advisory, management and consulting, corporate and public finance, and commercial mortgage banking services to individuals, corporations and municipalities. Over the past decade, Legg-Mason has grown from a respected regional brokerage firm to one of the few super-regional firms capable of competing on a national and international scale.
Our own Charles N. Graham Jr. has over 30 years experience in the securities industry. He joined Legg Mason in 1977 as the Branch Manager of the newly opened Gaithersburg, Maryland office. Charlie graduated from Duke University in 1963 and received an MBA in Finance from American University in 1978. He spent seven years on active duty as a Naval Flight Officer, and completed his 20-year service as an active reservist, retiring as a Captain in the U.S. Navy. Charlie is also widely known for his active involvement in the community. He is a founding member and past president of the Montgomery Village Rotary Club. Charlie is also a past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Asbury Services Inc., and a trustee of Hospice Caring. He spent many years sponsoring and coaching youth baseball. Charlie is a member of Legg Mason's Advisory Council, based on superior sales performance and assets acquired. He has been named "Branch Manager of the Year" several times during his tenure. Charlie specializes in equity investments, tax-free municipal bonds, financial, retirement, and estate planning.

12/10/03: Woody Woodroof: The Red Wiggler Community Farm

Red Wiggler is a community farm that cultivates meaningful employment for adults with developmental disabilities, educational and service opportunities for area youth and environmental stewardship.

11/26/03: Phil Rivera: Compass Power: Working with 20 somethings

Compass Power provides a personal coach/mentor to young adults, and helps them find a spiritual direction.
Phil Rivera is a retired teacher, supervisor, and assistant principal of Baltimore County Public Schools.

11/19/03: Diego Uriburu of Identity: Preparing the Next Generation of Latino Leaders

Identity’s mission is to prepare the next generation of Latino leaders through strategic, sustainable and culturally appropriate youth development initiatives and through outreach programs dealing with education, healthcare and empowerment. Strengthening leadership and increasing awareness and personal involvement create opportunities for self-reliance and define Identity’s success. Identity believes that health-care challenges provide opportunities for leadership development.
Diego Uriburu, Identity’s co-founder and current Program Director, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He completed six years of Clinical Psychology at Belgrano University. He also underwent four years of Psychoanalytical Studies at the Buenos Aires Psychoanalytical Association and independent studies on death and dying at Fairfield University, in Fairfield, Connecticut. Diego designs and implements youth development programs, including Identity’s after-school programs. He received a five-year Mayoral appointment to D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams’ Commission on Latino Community Development. He also serves on the Steering Committee of the Montgomery County Latino Health Initiative.

11/12/03: Holly Parker of IdeaFlight: CreateAThon

The brainchild of a South Carolina ad agency named Riggs, CreateAThon has become a national event during which agencies provide pro-bono work to local non-profits during a 24-hour work blitz.
Holly Parker is the president of IdeaFlight, the only Baltimore-Washington area agency to have participated in CreateAThon 2003.
Holly is a 1989 graduate of the renowned Creative Sequence in the school of advertising at the University of Texas at Austin. An accomplished pilot, Holly was the senior copywriter for many of the world's biggest aviation brands, along with divisions of Westinghouse and IBM, before striking out on her own to found Idea Flight in 1997. Today Idea Flight is a national and award-winning firm in a couple of niche industries, and is rapidly expanding their regional business with recent client wins in the technology and service industries. Holly sits on the board of the Montgomery County Chamber and the recipient of the 2003 Small Business Leader of the Year award. Besides flying, Holly also enjoys horse sports, competing in both dressage and eventing on an enormous Clydesdale - Thoroughbred cross named McLendon, affectionately known as Big Mac.

10/29/03: Warden Robert L. Green: Montgomery County Correctional Facility

10/22/03: Friendship Caravan: Opening Ceremonies

Gaithersburg and nearby communities are in the forefront of The Friendship Caravan, welcoming the “pilot’ Caravan from Tuesday Oct. 21 through Sunday Oct. 26.
The key players will be Rotary Clubs and other organizations, school districts, city officials, corporate sponsors, interfaith groups, local media, and the nations participating. Gaithersburg has already agreed to host many programs of the pilot Caravan, including the Friendship Tent on the grounds of City Hall. Other institutions in Montgomery County have also endorsed the project.
Among Arab nations the Kingdom of Bahrain is taking the lead by sending a large delegation of musicians, artists, intellectuals, business leaders, women leaders, artists, and educators. Morocco, UAE, Egypt and the Sudan will also be sending participants.
The key words about the Pilot Caravan are “positive” and “optimistic”. At a time when misconceptions and fear are blurring understanding, the Caravan will provide an opportunity to create non-confrontational dialogue and experience those things that can bring us together.
The people on the Pilot Caravan will be Americans who have lived for long periods of time in the Arab world, together with Arabs from outside America.

10/15/03: Leslie Dawkins: NASD Market Regulations

As the world's leading private-sector provider of financial regulatory services, NASD has helped bring integrity to the markets – and confidence to investors – for more than 60 years.
Under federal law, virtually every securities firm doing business with the US public is a member of this private, not-for-profit organization. Roughly 5,300 brokerage firms, over 94,000 branch offices and more than 660,000 registered securities representatives come under our jurisdiction.
NASD registers member firms, writes rules to govern their behavior, examines them for compliance and disciplines those that fail to comply. They provide education to industry professionals and investors, and support member firms in their self-compliance activities. With a staff of 2,000 and an annual budget of some $400 million, they touch virtually every aspect of the securities industry. They also monitor all trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market and other selected markets worldwide.
Until recently, NASD was perhaps best known as the owner of Nasdaq. In 2000 they decided to sell Nasdaq, in order to concentrate solely on their core mission - ensuring market integrity and investor confidence.

10/1/03: Susan Chamberlin of CATO Institute: Social Security

The Cato Institute was founded in 1977 by Edward H. Crane. It is a non-profit public policy research foundation headquartered in Washington, D.C. The Institute is named for Cato's Letters, a series of libertarian pamphlets that helped lay the philosophical foundation for the American Revolution.
The Cato Institute seeks to broaden the parameters of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional American principles of limited government, individual liberty, free markets and peace. Toward that goal, the Institute strives to achieve greater involvement of the intelligent, concerned lay public in questions of policy and the proper role of government.
The Cato Institute has a long history of seeking alternatives to the current Social Security system. Since 1979 the Cato Institute has published more than 40 books, articles, and reports outlining the program's problems and crafting innovative policy solutions.
On August 14, 1995, the Cato Institute launched its Project on Social Security Choice, the largest undertaking in the organization's history. The objective of the project is to formulate a viable blueprint allowing individuals the opportunity of owning their own retirement account.

9/24/03: District Governor James McDiarmid 's visit

District Governor James McDiarmid holds dual US and Turkish citizenship, and was born in Istanbul. He grew up in North Carolina. After a stint in the Army, he graduated from Columbia University, and then received his MS in management from Columbia University.
Jim was Charter Secretary of the Columbia Rotary Club, and then progressed through Director, Treasurer, Golf Chair, Lane Chairs, Membership Chair and President.
As Area representative for District 7620, Jim handled 19 Rotary clubs in mid-Maryland. He was District Conference Chair in 1989 and again in 1990. Jim received the District Humanitarian Citizen Award in 2000.
Jim and Norma, his wife of 48 years, live in Columbia, MD. His 3 children reside in Maryland and he has 2 grandchildren.

9/17/03: Dave Paulovich: The Shaker Festival

Shaker Forest Festival was born in honor of the Shaker people, a devout, inventive and industrious group now virtually extinct, who invented and meticulously constructed many essentials still in use today: among them are the flat broom, clothespin, washing machine, circular saw, screw propeller, wire sieve, mangle, gardening tools, packaged seeds for planting, and of course, the beautifully simple, but exquisitely-crafted Shaker furniture and nesting boxes, for which they've become known.
Held amid a canopy of trees and mulched pathways on the scenic grounds of Seneca Creek State Park, this event offers a respite from the rigors and stresses of daily life. Attendees feel as though they've taken a step back to yesteryear, to a time free of the hustles and bustles of everyday living. One experiences the simple life . . . the "Shaker life" . . . where craftspeople and artists dress in 18th Century- and Shaker-period attire, while demonstrating the skills of their crafts and offering their wares for sale.
In addition to an opportunity to purchase a variety of unique crafts brought by artists from a number of states, one can view demonstrations of their assembly, many in the Shaker tradition.

9/10/03: Bill Offutt of Montgomery Co. Historical Society: Montgomery County's History

This slide lecture provides an overview of the county's past and its people from the era of Indian settlements to today's urban-suburban development. The lecture is illustrated with slides which evoke the past and indicate the vast changes in the county.
A native of Montgomery County, William Offutt is a retired public school and Montgomery College teacher. He is the author of Bethesda: A Social History and A History of Montgomery County as well as numerous articles for local newspapers and the Montgomery County Historical Society. He and his wife live in Bethesda.

9/3/03: Meeting at member's business: Dick Hottel (Harvey W. Hottel, Inc)

In 1945, as WWII was drawing to a close, Harvey W. Hottel realized that things were about to change. Sent to Washington, D.C. by the Carrier Corp. to design and install food storage plants to support the war effort, he realized that much of the rationing Americans endured throughout the war was about to end. Comfort cooling, up to that time, simply was not available for civilian use. Mr. Hottel thought that people would eagerly accept this new concept once given a chance to use it in their theaters, restaurants, and offices. History now confirms that Harvey Hottel was onto something.

8/27/03: Linda Smythe: Desert's Beads

8/20/03: Pat Huson: Visiting France through Elder Hostels

Elder Hostel is a program for individuals that are a minimum of 55 years of age. The program is designed to provide life-long learning experiences. It was established in 1975. The trips last from four days to three weeks. The available programs vary widely. There is everything from a normal visit to a foreign country, to bird watching. Subjects cover a wide range of opportunities. There have been over 200,000 participants in 10,000 programs, in 100 countries.

8/13/03: Luis San Sebastian - Character Counts

7/30/03: Ken Nicholls, Montgomery Parks Foundation

The Montgomery Parks Foundation is a public, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization founded in 1992 to help fund unmet park and open space needs in Montgomery County, Maryland. The Foundation works in cooperation with private citizens, businesses, foundations, The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and the Montgomery County Department of Park and Planning.
The Foundation facilitates efforts to improve park properties and facilities, acquire new park and open space sites, promote favorite programs, or purchase equipment and other amenities. The Foundation staff can assist you or your organization with all the necessary arrangements, including coordination with the appropriate officials in the Department of Park and Planning.

7/23/03: Meeting at member's business: YMCA of Montgomery Village (Ed Fones)

Our own Ed Fones is director of the YMCA Upper Montgomery County, a branch of the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington, and has recently been afforded the opportunity to acquire the former movie theatre building in Montgomery Village Shopping Center – over 8,000 square feet – and rehabilitate the structure for use as a YMCA program center. The Shopping Center is conveniently located directly behind YMCA Upper Montgomery County, a short walk away that does not require crossing any major roads or intersections. the purposes of the Family Health and Fitness Center are:
? To enhance and expand programs to our members and the surrounding community.
? To meet the growing needs of youth and families in Montgomery County as a leader in wellness and family programs.
? To provide constructive activities and a safe location for teens to learn, discuss issues, and have recreational fun.
? To improve the overall health and wellness of the children, youth, adults, and seniors in our community.

7/16/03: Mike Knapp: Montgomery County Councilmember

Mike Knapp was elected to the County Council on November 5, 2002, to represent the Upcounty and western areas of Montgomery County, including the communities of Olney, Germantown, Montgomery Village, and Poolesville.
He is a member of the Council's Education Committee and also serves on the Public Safety Committee as lead Councilmember for Fire and Rescue Services.
A Democrat, Knapp comes to the Council from a distinguished career in public service and in the private sector. As a high schooler, he interned for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York. After his internship, he attended the College of William and Mary in Virginia, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Government.
Upon graduation, Knapp was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserves. He trained at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, as an Engineer, and spent 10 years in the Reserves as an Engineer and Infantry officer.
Knapp worked as a legislative assistant to Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico for five years starting in 1990. He advised the Senator on issues related to biotechnology, especially the Human Genome Project, as well as on health care and social issues. Knapp focused on increasing awareness and funding for biotechnology and worked with the Senator to ensure that those who suffer from mental illness have access to the same health insurance coverage as those who suffer from other illnesses. Knapp also helped to create the "Character Counts" legislation that has helped Maryland to lead the nation in laying a strong foundation for character education in our schools.
After moving to New Mexico to help start two biotechnology companies, Knapp returned to settle in Germantown. He began to work for Dr. J. Craig Venter as Vice President for External Affairs at the Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR), developing and expanding programs designed to improve public understanding and awareness of the biotechnology industry. After a year at TIGR, Knapp became one of the founding employees of Celera Genomics, one of the fastest-growing biotech companies in history, where he is still employed as Director of Business Development.
Knapp serves on the Board of Directors of the Germantown Alliance, Black Rock Center for the Arts, and the Committee for Montgomery. In addition, he is a leader in Germantown HELP, the food bank that serves local families in need. Knapp also is an avid sports fan, a member of the Montgomery County Road Runners Club, and has coached youth basketball.
Knapp and his wife Cassie reside in Germantown with their two daughters Lindsay, 5 years old, and Sydney, 3 years old.

7/9/03: Anatoly Preygel, The Intel Science Talent Search