Washington County Commission for Women
Washington County Administration Building, 100 W.Washington St. Hagerstown, MD 21740

Minutes from May 14, 2008
The meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m.

Present: Rose Wolters-Campher; Bonnie Errico; Mary Jane Koontz; Joan Erdesky; Sharon Hawkins; Vijay Kumar-Solanki; Ladetra Robinson; Dori Nipps; Kathy Boyce; Erin Minifield
Absent: Brandi Koontz (excused); Ruth Anne Callaham (excused); Ellen Maddock; Marie Guedenet; Barbara Downey; Natasha Arnall
Guest Speaker: Carolyn Brooks, coordinator, C-SAFE, office at HeadStart bldg. 301-739-3290, cbrooks@headstartwashco.org
Dori Nipps introduced Carolyn Brooks: Ms. Brooks spoke about Hot Spot Communities, which she started in 1997, a statewide crime prevention effort that reclaims space in high crime neighborhoods such as areas around Mulberry, Prospect, Burhans, and Memorial Blvd. Focus is on 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Maximum 20 kids allowed to participate and sessions are routinely full. Started community policing on Jonathan Street as well as gang prevention efforts. All are community-based efforts aimed at reducing criminal activity and encouraging action in the high crime areas of Hagerstown.
President’s Report:
Rose praised Carolyn Brooks for her years of work and effort on behalf of the community. The WCCW endorses Senator Donald Munson’s nomination of Carolyn Brooks to the Maryland Hall of Fame.
There was discussion about quorum and who can and can't vote. It was determined that according to the Bylaws there must be 8 members present. Dori is the deciding vote in case there is a tie. However, Rose stated that she had spoken to Erin after last month’s meeting and Erin agreed about how the money was to be used, thereby quorum was made in order to allocate spending as we did (see Treasurer’s Report).
Girls Inc is celebrating their 60th anniversary this year, so Rose proposed that WCCW run a 1/4 page ad in their program. Sharon made the motion and all agreed.
The June planning meeting will be held at Dori Nipps’ home. Dori will email directions to all members. She will be ordering meats and everyone agreed to bring various other items.
W House — Clothing drive has started at this meeting. Rose is point of contact on this project. Next Life Skills training is on Tuesday, May 20 (Rose, Erin). The WCCW is committing to running Life Skills Groups. We chose Tuesdays from
5 to 6 p.m. Rose suggested that we could use the Storybook Project at W House. We agreed to re-purpose the Storybook Project — possibly through incentivizing attendance at the Life Skills training sessions.
WCPS — There is a Pre-engineering grant from Gateway Academy, trying to court girls to enter the math and science track. Group of 20 girls to be chosen some week in June.
Blossom School of Etiquette — Ladetra Robinson announced that they are seeking donations for the yard sale to be held on Saturday, May 24th. On Saturday, May 17th, eight girls are going with Ladetra to the Baltimore Aquarium! The blog is up and updated. Ladetra is getting interest from high schoolers and parents re the etiquette class. It was suggested that Ruth Ann might help announce opportunities (required volunteer hours) with the Blossom School throughout the county school system.
Treasurer’s Report:
Balance in report is $724.51. Mary Jane and Ladetra both submitted bills for the Blossom School in a combined total of $69.51, with a balance of $30.49 still to be given to the Blossom School for class expenses.
Safe Place sent an invoice to Sharon for $100.00 to pay for 5 tickets to the circus.
All invoices will be submitted and paid as laid out in last month’s minutes having met quorum this meeting.
Old Business:
Essay Contest information is on the web site. Vijay must follow-up with the Herald-mail to be certain that the information ran there too.
New Business:
Review of Bylaws:
Rose and Dori will work to develop language to revise Articles III – Membership, and V – Meetings.

Motion was made and the meeting was adjourned at 8:19 p.m.
Next meeting: Wednesday, June 11th @ 6:00 p.m. at Dori’s home.