April 7 Post from Roger

Guys, 1) I would like to commend all the residents who went down to Annapolis last night to testify against the slots casino proposed for Arundel Mills Mall. They didn't start the testimony [Bill 10-09, Zoning Video Lottery Facilities] until around 8:15-8:30p.m. The Council wanted to knock out all the quicker bills first. Council Chairman Ed Reilly stated that 49 people testified last night. It was about midnight when the council proceedings ended. I am sure our group's presence really helped our cause. You all waited patiently and at the appointed time stood as a group to show our solidarity as a community. I must say I am quite proud of all the Harman Civic Association folks, residents, and members of neighboring associations who rode down on the bus or drove down in their cars. I am sure President Wayne Dixon and HCA Officers Rusty Bristow and Chip Woods, were also quite pleased, along with Senior Advisor Harry Matthews. Due to the absence of Councilman Edward Middlebrooks, the vote on the slots was postponed until the County Council meeting in 2 weeks on Monday, 20 April 09. Councilman Middlebrooks was recovering from surgery. FOX45 TV reporter Joy Lepola was at the County Council proceedings last night and interviewed a number of people prior to the Council meeting. You may see that reporting at 10:00p.m. tonight. We'll see. 2) One additional note today from Councilman Daryl Jone aide, Linda Harris: Holiday Schedule - Good Friday and Easter Sunday CURBSIDE COLLECTION PROVIDED RECYCLING AND TRASH FACILITIES CLOSED Annapolis (April 7, 2009) - The Department of Public Works, Waste Management Services, will provide curbside collection of recycling, yard waste, and trash on Friday, April 10, 2009. However, in observance of Good Friday and Easter Sunday, the Millersville Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility, the Glen Burnie Convenience Center and the Sudley Convenience Center will be closed on Friday, April 10, 2009. All facilities will be open on Saturday, April 11, 2009. Please visit the Department’s web page at www.aacounty.org/DPW/WasteManagement or the County’s web site at www.aacounty.org. Thank you to all of you who came out and exercised your rights as American citizens. We often take for granted our liberties, but we truly live in a great democracy. So many people around the world live their entire lives in lands of tyranny and political turmoil. We are indeed fortunate to be Americans! Roger

April 5 post from Roger Fox

Guys, We are on a roll! The only bad note for tomorrow is the possibility of rain storms. Come rain or shine, the bus will be at Frank Hebron-Harman Elementary School tomorrow. The bus will leave at 5:30p.m., so please try to arrive beforehand (by 5:15p.m.). Bring your umbrellas (Hopefully, the longest walk will be from the bus into the County Council building in Annapolis. We have close to 40 people signed up for the bus right now. If you already signed up for the bus, please make every effort to ride with us! We need to fill the bus (57 is capacity)! At this point, if you want to go, just come up to the school tomorrow night. We will get everybody to Annapolis that we need to, whether it is by bus or car. Please remember the slots casino developer, Cordish, will be well organized and bring a lot of their people. We have to show we can get the troops out when we need to! I apologize for not doing a full report, but this event tomorrow night has consumed all of our free time. I will try to get a full report out soon. One other item: The Western District PCRC (Police-Community Relations Council) meeting will be at the Western District Police Station on MD 170 at 7:30p.m., Wed, 8 April 09. All residents are welcome to attend. See Dave's newsletter below for details. Thank you for your support! Roger Fox Dave Daughters' April PCRC Newsletter (see below):

Western District View

Western District Police-Community Relations Council April 2009

8273 Telegraph Road, Odenton, Maryland 21113

Open Forum, April 8, 2009

At the next meeting of the Western District Police-Community Relations Council, we will have an open forum, with no guest speaker, to give Council members and community residents an opportunity to talk to the District Commander and address community concerns and problems.

The meeting will be on Wednesday, April 8^th, in the meeting room at the Western District Station, starting at 7:30 p.m.

If you are encountering problems in your community or neighborhood, this will be your opportunity to address these directly with the district commander. It will also provide the department time to bring us up to date on events and programs.

Shred-A-Rama III – May 16, 2009

On Saturday, May 16, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., all four district Police-Community Relations Councils will sponsor Shred-A-Rama III. On that day, four commercial shredding trucks will be positioned around the county so that county residents can bring up to four boxes of personal papers and have them safely shredded.

There is no charge for this service, but donations will be accepted.

This is an ideal and safe way to dispose of old bank statements, tax records and other documents that could otherwise be used for identity theft and fraud.

The Western District location will be in the parking lot at Cancun Cantina, 7501 Old Telegraph Road, Hanover, just south of Dorsey Road. Other locations will be at Brooklyn Park Middle School, the rear parking lot at Police Headquarters, Millersville, and South River High School.

A flyer on the event is being provided with this newsletter. If you have a community newsletter, or places that you can have the information posted on bulletin boards, please do so. At the April meeting, we will be looking for volunteers to assist on the day of the shredding. If you are available, we can use your help.

Is That Email Rumor or Threat True?

At our last meeting, there was a discussion about email rumors or threat reports, and whether some are valid or fall into the category of urban legends. There are three websites that you can use to check on the validity of any story you hear, ranging from threats of criminal activity to the latest rumor about your favorite politician or celebrity. These are: www.snopes.com, www.urbanlegends.about.com, and www.truthorfiction.com.

Membership Renewal

If you have not yet done so, please renew your PCRC membership so that we can keep our mailing list accurate. A renewal form is being distributed to email recipients with this newsletter. For those receiving it by mail, a form is being included for those who have not yet renewed.

Help Save Us Some Money

With postage going up again in May, we would like to switch distribution as much as possible to email. Each newsletter costs about 70 cents in copying, envelopes and postage. It costs nothing to send it by email. It’s faster and means we can use that money to benefit the community and the officers at Western District.

If you are now receiving this newsletter by mail, but have email access, please contact me with your email address and we’ll make the switch.

An added benefit is that you will be on the list for email information coming from the Western District’s Community Response Network and receive alerts on potential

Some Final Words

Please spread the word about Shred-A-Rama III, on May 16^th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the parking lot at Cancun Cantina.

Dave Daughters

President

410-672-5703

dldaugh@aol.com

April 4 News From Roger

Guys, I wanted to get another report out to you prior to Monday night's bus trip (April 6th) to Annapolis to show our opposition to the slots casino at Arundel Mills Mall. The bus continues to fill up, but we still have seats available. The bus holds 57 people. If we fill the bus, don't worry, we will arrange for folks to either ride in groups by car, or caravan to Annapolis. [Of course, you can also drive down to Annapolis. The key is for us to sit or be together as a group. That will be much more effective when we are sitting at the County Council meeting in Annapolis. Particularly, if you haven't been to a Harman Civic Association meeting, we may not recognize each other.] Please be advised that the slots casino developer, Cordish Company, is organizing bus rides for the slots casino supporters. They aren't rolling over and are very well organized. I understand not everyone is against slots--that's fine. However, if you are against slots YOU NEED TO HELP US FILL UP THE BUS. Tell your neighbors or friends. Bus riders don't have to be Harman Civic Association (HCA) members. As long as you live in the communities surrounding Arundel Mills Mall area, you are welcome to ride the bus to Annapolis on Monday night. The Villages of Dorchester Home Owners' Association (HOA) has contacted the HCA to let us know some of their folks may wish to ride our bus. At the April 6th meeting, the County Council is expected to vote on whether to change the zoning to permit a Slots Casino at Arundel Mills Mall. Since new people are continually joining the neighborhood watch reports, I will continue to repeat the information below with the specific information on this Monday night's meeting. Thank you to all of you who are getting the word out about the bus and the County Council meeting! Roger Fox Items: 1) 5:30p.m., Monday, April 6th-A Gunthers bus will leave from the Frank Hebron-Harman Elementary School parking lot to take folks to the County Council meeting in Annapolis. Please be there prior to departure time, so we can depart at precisely 5:30! We need to get to Annapolis in time for folks who wish to speak to sign in prior to the meeting start time (6:30p.m.). One of our residents (Ray) has kindly offered to schedule and pay for the bus. Ray has refused to accept any reimbursement, but rather, requests folks make donations to the Harman Civic Association. Donations can be mailed to: Harman Civic Association P.O. Box 711 Hanover, MD 21076 Please remember you don't have to speak at this County Council meeting! When HCA President Wayne Dixon speaks (or one of our other speakers), we want to have the group stand up to show the community supports our testimony. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT AT THIS MEETING!!!! 3) If you wish to speak at the hearing, you need to sign up to speak. They will start letting speakers sign in at 6:30p.m. on Monday, April 6th. Each speaker is allowed to speak for 2 minutes. Those of us who wish to speak will have to wait until it comes up on the agenda. This item is called "Bill 10-09, Zoning Video Lottery Facilities." I am hoping it will be early on the agenda because of its importance. If you have never been to a County Council meeting, the Council members sit at the front of the room facing the audience. There is a table for speakers set up at the front and middle of the room facing the Council members (with the audience to the speakers' backs). This set up makes it easier for folks who don't like to speak before a group; the audience sits behind you! Usually 3-6 speakers are called down to the table at one time. There are usually about 3 microphones on the speaker table. The speakers then have up to 2 minutes each to speak on the topic (they speak in the order they are called). After this group is done speaking, then another group of 3-6 speakers are called to come to the table to speak in the order they were called, 2 minutes for each speaker. If you sign up and everything you wanted to say has been said by earlier speakers, you don't have to go down. They will just fill your seat with another speaker on the list. After everyone is done speaking, we may expect the County Council to vote on whether to change the zoning to W1. The slots casino must have the change in zoning to W1 or it will not be permitted at Arundel Mills Mall. Thus, the zoning change is the key! 4) If you wish to drive down to the County Council meeting, the address is 44 Calvert Street in Annapolis. Directions: -Take I-97 to US 50 east -From US 50 exit off on to Rowe Blvd (MD 70) -On Rowe Blvd, you will pass the Naval Academy Stadium (on your right side) -Continue on Rowe Blvd over the bridge (you will see the Naval Academy on your left) -Stay on Rowe Blvd as it curves to the right (you will see a cemetery on the right) -From Rowe Blvd, turn right on to Calvert Street. -You will cross over Northwest Street -Then turn right almost immediately on to Clay Street -As you turn on to Clay Street, stay to the left side, you will almost immediately turn left into the parking ramp. Be sure to take your ramp parking ticket with you, so you can get it validated at the desk outside the Council Chambers. The County Council Chambers are across the street from the Clay Street parking ramp. From the ramp you cross Calvert Street to enter the building. There is also a parking ramp behind the Council Chambers, but you have to pay to park there. It isn't a huge cost, but they do charge you and you can't validate that ramp ticket. 5) I am attaching the information on the County Council members to send e-mails on how you feel about a slots Casino at Arundel Mills Mall. Please go to the following. This is very important to let all 7 County Council members know where you stand. Please paste the link below into your web browser. http://www.aacounty.org/CountyCouncil/index.cfm You will see all 7 members (Daryl Jones (District 1)) is our County Council member. The Council Chair is Ed Reilly (District 7). Just click on the contact link next to each County Council member to do an e-mail to each one of the members. If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an e-mail. Thank you for your support! Roger Fox

April post from Roger- Slots at Mall

Guys, If you are against the slots casino at Arundel Mills Mall, this is your CHANCE TO BE HEARD. We still have seats available on the bus and we need to fill the bus! Let's show the County Council that we can get the people out for an important event. I often hear, "someone should do something about it." That someone is YOU, me, and everyone in our communities. At the April 6th meeting, the County Council is expected to vote on whether to change the zoning to permit a Slots Casino at Arundel Mills Mall [Bill 10-09, Zoning Video Lottery Facilities]. Items: 1) 5:30p.m., Monday, April 6th-A Gunthers bus will leave from the Frank Hebron-Harman Elementary School parking lot to take folks to the County Council meeting in Annapolis. Please be there prior to departure time, so we can depart at precisely 5:30! We need to get to Annapolis in time for folks who wish to speak to sign in prior to the meeting start time (6:30p.m.). One of our residents (Ray) has kindly offered to schedule and pay for the bus. Ray has refused to accept any reimbursement, but rather, requests folks make donations to the Harman Civic Association. Donations can be mailed to: Harman Civic Association P.O. Box 711 Hanover, MD 21076 Please remember you don't have to speak at this County Council meeting! When HCA President Wayne Dixon speaks (or one of our other speakers), we want to have the group stand up to show the community supports our testimony. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT AT THIS MEETING!!!! 3) If you wish to speak at the hearing, you need to sign up to speak. They will start letting speakers sign in at 6:30p.m. on Monday, April 6th. Each speaker is allowed to speak for 2 minutes. Those of us who wish to speak will have to wait until it comes up on the agenda. This item is called "Bill 10-09, Zoning Video Lottery Facilities." I am hoping it will be early on the agenda because of its importance. If you have never been to a County Council meeting, the Council members sit at the front of the room facing the audience. There is a table for speakers set up at the front and middle of the room facing the Council members (with the audience to the speakers' backs). This set up makes it easier for folks who don't like to speak before a group; the audience sits behind you! Usually 3-6 speakers are called down to the table at one time. There are usually about 3 microphones on the speaker table. The speakers then have up to 2 minutes each to speak on the topic (they speak in the order they are called). After this group is done speaking, then another group of 3-6 speakers are called to come to the table to speak in the order they were called, 2 minutes for each speaker. If you sign up and everything you wanted to say has been said by earlier speakers, you don't have to go down. They will just fill your seat with another speaker on the list. After everyone is done speaking, we may expect the County Council to vote on whether to change the zoning to W1. The slots casino must have the change in zoning to W1 or it will not be permitted at Arundel Mills Mall. Thus, the zoning change is the key! 4) If you wish to drive down to the County Council meeting, the address is 44 Calvert Street in Annapolis. Directions: -Take I-97 to US 50 east -From US 50 exit off on to Rowe Blvd (MD 70) -On Rowe Blvd, you will pass the Naval Academy Stadium (on your right side) -Continue on Rowe Blvd over the bridge (you will see the Naval Academy on your left) -Stay on Rowe Blvd as it curves to the right (you will see a cemetery on the right) -From Rowe Blvd, turn right on to Calvert Street. -You will cross over Northwest Street -Then turn right almost immediately on to Clay Street -As you turn on to Clay Street, stay to the left side, you will almost immediately turn left into the parking ramp. Be sure to take your ramp parking ticket with you, so you can get it validated at the desk outside the Council Chambers. The County Council Chambers are across the street from the Clay Street parking ramp. From the ramp you cross Calvert Street to enter the building. There is also a parking ramp behind the Council Chambers, but you have to pay to park there. It isn't a huge cost, but they do charge you and you can't validate that ramp ticket. 5) I am attaching the information on the County Council members to send e-mails on how you feel about a slots Casino at Arundel Mills Mall. Please go to the following. This is very important to let all 7 County Council members know where you stand. Please paste the link below into your web browser. http://www.aacounty.org/CountyCouncil/index.cfm You will see all 7 members (Daryl Jones (District 1)) is our County Council member. The Council Chair is Ed Reilly (District 7). Just click on the contact link next to each County Council member to do an e-mail to each one of the members. If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an e-mail. Thank you for your support! Roger Fox

Health Seminar

Time to be Healthy - Saturday March 21 209 from 9-3. Centennial-Caroline Street United Methodist Church 1029 E, Monument Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 Contact 410-276-3079 A Journey Toward Wholeness. FOR THE SPIRIT Strengthening Your Faith Walk Merging Spirituality and Medicine FOR THE MIND Depression Stress FOR THE BODY Cancer Diabetes HIV AIDS Hypertension Smoking Stress A Healthy Lunch Much much more Rev Barbara J. Whiple, Coordinator

Upcoming Lyme Events

Doctors from the Howard County Health Department will present “Lyme Disease, Focus on Howard County”, 7 PM March 24, 2009 at the Howard County Central Library, register online or call 410-313-7850

A showing of Under Our Skin, a film about Chronic Lyme, will be shown at the Howard County Central Library, 7 PM Thursday, April 2, 2009. Register online (The library says this registration option will work after 3/19/2009) or call 410-313-7850

National Capitol Lyme Disease Association will host a legislative forum on Saturday, March 28th 2009, at George Mason University Arlington Campus.

Roger's latest Mar 10 2009

Upcoming Dates: 7:30p.m., Tomorrow night (Wed), 11 Mar 09-PCRC (Police-Community Relations Council) meeting at the Western District Police Station. The PCRC will be honoring some of our police officers for outstanding work in the past year. In addition, the Homicide Unit will give a presentation to attendees. Please see PCRC President Dave Daughters newsletter at the end of this report for the great work these officers have done. All residents are welcome at these meetings! 7:00p.m., Thursday, 26 Mar 09-The Harman Civic Association will continue discussion and planned actions on the Slots Casino proposed at Arundel Mills Mall. We will again meet in the gymnasium at Frank Hebron-Harman Elementary School. Please enter the school through the front doors. The Slots Casino (Video Lottery Facilities) Public Hearing (Bill 10-09) will be brought before the County Council at 7:00p.m, Thursday, 2 April 09 in the Council Chambers (located at 44 Calvert St Annapolis, Md.). 5:30-7:30p.m., Tues, 31 Mar 09-Improvements for BRAC (Base Realignment & Closure) at 6 intersections on MD 175 will be available for viewing at Meade Middle School. This is your chance to offer your comments. You can stop by to view at any time during the 5:30-7:30p.m. period. Please see Delegate Pam Beidle's recent newsletter for details at the end of this report & other Maryland House of Delegates items. Events: 1) 10:00p.m., Friday, 6 February 09-A house was egged multiple times in the Ridge Chapel area. Sun morning, 8 Feb 09-2 large empty egg cartons were found in the middle of the street in the Baggins Road/Aragorn Court area. Please do not hesitate to call police at 911 or 410-222-8610 to report. Thank you for your support and keep the info coming! Roger

Western District View

Western District Police-Community Relations Council March 2009

8273 Telegraph Road, Odenton, Maryland 21113

Officer of Merit Awards – Well-Deserved Recognition

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, starting at 7:30 p.m., in the meeting room at Western District. At this meeting, we will recognize four officers and a reserve officer who have served the citizens well during 2008. Please join us in thanking these five individuals who have done much for the citizens of the Western District. Those recognized will be:

Corporal Charles Jones Corporal Jones, an eight-year veteran of the Anne Arundel County Police Department, is dedicated to his profession and takes great pride in his work. His work ethic and the results he achieves are superior in both quantity and quality.

His alertness and instincts have paid off on numerous occasions in Meade Village, Crofton and Davidsonville. After he and another officer arrested two individuals in Crofton following a citizen’s complaint of drug activity in the area, Corporal Jones searched one suspect’s vehicle and found a hidden compartment containing a loaded handgun and 16 baggies of cocaine.

On December 30, 2008, Corporal Jones took the initiative between calls of surveilling a house in Crofton where an individual was reportedly selling marijuana. Following a suspicious person who left the house, he observed the driver running a stop sign, prompting a traffic stop. After several minutes of conversation, the driver admitted that he had just purchased a large quantity of marijuana from the house in question. The driver was arrested and the drugs seized. Corporal Jones than prepared a search warrant for the house, which was then searched. The search disclosed more drugs and drug paraphernalia and resulted in the arrest of two drug dealers.

Corporal Daniel Long Corporal Long joined Western District in March 2008, and serves as a Field Training Officer and often as acting sergeant for Platoon Three. He is proactive in his assigned area, demonstrating creative abilities, investigative expertise and keen problem solving techniques. In an eight-month period, he made 593 traffic stops and 101 arrests. He has developed an excellent record of service.

During April 2008, Corporal Long conducted a thorough investigation of the theft of a credit card at Arundel Mills Mall, obtaining a confession and the arrest of two individuals, one an employee of the store where the card was stolen; the other an employee of the jewelry store where it was used. During July, he successfully investigated and arrested a store manager for viewing child pornography in the back room of a Hanover store. In August, he obtained a confession from an individual who stole several firearms, in the process identifying locations where the suspect had traded the guns for drugs. Also in August, he observed a suspicious individual in a car at Arundel Mills Mall. As he watched, the suspect became unconscious after “huffing” on a can of compressed air. Corporal Long called for paramedics and treated the individual, returning him to consciousness, then arranged for an emergency psychiatric evaluation. During November, investigating a reported robbery, he developed information that resulted in first degree attempted murder charges against the victim’s girlfriend.

PFC Charles Crawford PFC Crawford’s patrol area includes Meade Village and Still Meadows, where he has attended community meetings and established rapport with community leaders and county officials, providing advice on residential crime prevention, identifying problems and recommending solutions that have a positive impact on the community. Additionally, his hard work and dedication resulted in 643 traffic stops and 158 arrests during 2008.

During May 2008, while enroute to work, he responded to a call for assistance to an on-duty officer who had located two stolen trucks in Lions Gate, occupied by uncooperative suspects. Upon arrival, a foot pursuit of one suspect ensued through the apartment community and back to one of the trucks, where an apprehension and arrest was made. It was later determined that the trucks were valued at $75,000. A trailer and bobcat attached to one of the trucks had been stolen earlier in Prince George’s County and were valued at $16,800. During a routine traffic stop during November, PFC Crawford observed the driver acting suspiciously and detected an odor of marijuana. With backup in place, the driver was removed and a vehicle search disclosed 204.4 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and $164 in currency, leading to an arrest. The vehicle was seized because of its use in drug distribution.

PFC Crawford displays his dedication and his strong work ethic on a daily basis.

Officer Ryan Holliday Officer Holliday is primarily assigned to the Pioneer City, Still Meadows and Meade Village communities with the Police and Community Together Unit and is the lead coordinator for a crime prevention program funded by a state grant. He attends bi-weekly meetings with the goal of pulling several entities together to find ways of fostering a better way of life for residents of the Western District, approaching this task with the utmost optimism.

In October 2008, following some intense moments between the police department and the community, Officer Holliday organized an evening meeting to address concerns in the neighborhood. He went into the meeting with residents and used his calm demeanor to facilitate a positive meeting that produced favorable results. In November, after participating in a warrant service on a Still Meadows residence that had been the source of over 100 calls for service, he met with the homeowner, who was unaware of the situation at the house. After several meetings, he was able to assist the homeowner in evicting the tenants who were the source of parties and drug dealing. Later in the month, he was able to do that same thing for another residence in the community. He also met with community leaders in Still Meadows and was able to assist in the establishment of a banning list, to keep non-productive individuals out of the community.

Officer Holliday epitomizes the department’s vision of community policing and is an outstanding asset to his unit, the Police Department and the community.

Reserve Officer Howard Dillard Reserve Officer Dillard has spent nearly three decades volunteering his time to Western District and will mark his 27^th year of reserve service in November 2009. During this time, he has represented the police department at funerals and public events, assisted patrol officers in road closures in all types of weather, and performed numerous other public service details. In 2008 alone, he has volunteered over 600 hours of his time, more than three times the minimum expected of reserve officers.

He is perhaps best known publicly for operating the civilian fingerprint program at Western District, serving the public in a very professional, enthusiastic and friendly manner, treating every person with respect as he guides them through the process. His performance of this duty twice a week has resulted in numerous compliments.

Reserve Officer Dillard has consistently contributed his expertise, service and selflessness to the successful execution of the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s mission.

Special Unit Recognitions

On November 16, 2008, a multiple shooting occurred outside an Odenton bar, leaving two men dead and two others wounded. For the next seven days, members of the Homicide Unit and the Special Enforcement Team worked tirelessly, despite less than full cooperation by the two surviving victims, resulting in first degree murder charges being brought against three individuals, with a fourth being charged as an accessory.

In view of their efforts, we will also be presenting special unit awards to the members of both of these organizations.

Meeting Presentation

Following the presentations, a representative of the homicide unit will brief Council members on the organization, functions and activities of the unit.

Charitable Solicitations

At our February meeting, we discussed various scams and the need to be careful about various charitable solicitations; particularly those involving police support groups and veteran groups. Coincidentally, the following day, I received two from alleged veteran groups, one by phone and one in the mail.

The phone call came from the Veterans Assistance League, seeking a donation to help veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. With a son recently returned from a National Guard deployment to Iraq, I had never heard of this organization. An Internet search disclosed nothing and the organization is not listed with either the Better Business Bureau or charitynavigator.org. It has, however, registered with the Maryland Secretary of State. It registered on July 21, 2008, and has not reported receiving any money.

The one in the mail was from the National Veterans Services Fund, based in Connecticut. While they are listed with BBB, the website provides no substantive evaluation. According to charitynavigator.org, the organization spends 22.2% of its revenue on program expenses and 70.7% on fundraising, about opposite the preferred standard split of 85-15. Its president, Phil Kraft, receives a salary of $78,000. It gave the organization 0 stars out of 5 and an overall score of 22.50. In a separate report in January 2006, Charity Navigator said that NVSF collected $4.4 million in 2004, but gave only $6,416 in direct aid to veterans. In 2004, Kraft received a salary of $60,000, so that’s a 30% salary increase in five years.

Police Protective Fund

This organization is also conducting their apparent annual statewide fund drive in Maryland, with residents getting call for donations. They did the same thing in February 2008, which prompted a special notice from the Western District PCRC. Since they are at it again, we are repeating that notice. You need to know who is asking for your money.

In late February (2008), I received a telephone solicitation from the Police Protective Fund, claiming that they provide financial support to families of police officers who die in the line of duty. When I declined to make a pledge, but asked that they send me information, the caller claimed (falsely) that “IRS regulations” require that they only mail information to people to make pledges.

Faced with that falsehood, I did some research. The Police Protective Fund, and its administrative arm, the American Association of Police Officers, are both located in Hollywood, California, but were incorporated in North Carolina in 1998.

The Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving report for the organization says that it fails to meet eight of the 20 standards for charity accountability. The organization spends only 25% of its expenses on program services, while standards require that at least 65% go to services. Its fund-raising costs were 63% of its expenses, while standards call for no more than 35%. (charityreports.bbb.org)

Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org) gives the Police Protective Fund zero stars, with an overall rating of 22.50. Similar groups had scores of 60-62. With revenue of nearly $6 million in 2006, only 28.3% went for program expenses, mostly to paid fund raisers. Its director receives $172,900 in compensation, its two managers each receive $149,500, and the administrator receives $89,900.

In August 2006, then-Montgomery County Executive Douglas Duncan issued a press release warning that the group was a “police charity scam,” which was then operating in Montgomery County. Duncan accused the fund of deceptive practices by representing a mail drop address as an actual office in the county.

In July 2007, Missouri’s Attorney General filed suit against both the Police Protective Fund and the American Association of Police Officers, saying that the fund made false claims in its calls and used harassing and intimidating tactics to solicit donations in the state. According to the suit, donors are not told that the $10,000 death benefits only go to the first four officers who die in the line of duty in a calendar year, and are capped at $40,000 annually. People complained that the solicitors implied that unless they contributed, police might not respond to a call for help. In September, the St. Louis Circuit Court issued a restraining order, prohibiting the fund from continuing to violate Missouri consumer protection laws and requiring it to stop calling residents on the state No-Call list. The court also froze the fund’s local bank account, with a balance of $344,102.

Based on this information, any area residents called by this group should refuse to make a donation, or to provide them any information. If they continue to call, or use any threatening or harassing tactics, report them to the Maryland Secretary of State.

Volunteers in Police Service

We are still seeking volunteers to help out at the Western District station through the Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program. If you can provide at least 16 hours a month in performing administrative and station greeting duties, please pick up an application at the station, obtain the application on line at (http://www.aacounty.org/police/), or call Lt. Tim Zywiolek at 410-222-6155.

Some Final Words

Our next meeting, on March 11^th, will be an opportunity to again say thank you for the efforts of the Anne Arundel County Police Department by recognizing some outstanding members of that organization, sworn and volunteer.

Please come out and join us in honoring these officers.

Also, please remember to renew your annual membership.

Dave Daughters

President

410-672-5703

dldaugh@aol.com

General Assembly Update - February 27, 2009

[Delegate Pam Beidle Newsletter]

As I write this, we are about halfway through our 90 Day session, with six weeks left and a great deal of work to be done.

The Structural Deficit Continues to Loom

The Recovery Act (The Stimulus Package), passed by Congress, is not going to fix the structural deficit for Maryland. While we stand to received $3.75 Billion over a period of three fiscal years, much of this money does not flow through state budget and does not provide the flexibility to erase our operating budget shortfall. Much of the funding is based on current federal formulas or block grants that are not part of the state's general fund budget.

The Maryland State Transportation budget will benefit by some of the money from the stimulus funds, $141.8 million will go to "Phase One" projects. That is projects that are shovel ready. Anne Arundel will benefit with a $3 million restoration of the BWI Marc Station and nearby Laurel will see a $2.9 Laurel Station Rehab. Overall this stimulus money will represent 10,000 jobs. Considering that the State's transportation fund revenues are down nearly $350 million a year, this stimulus money is important to our infrastructure and our economy. More information is on the MDOT website:

http://www.mdot.state.md.us/Planning/Economic_Recovery/Economic_Recovery_Powerpoint_02-18-09.pdf

The current FY 09 budget shortfall is approximately $340 million and March revenues are sure to show additional declines. Our state revenues are income from income tax, sales tax, the transfer tax from home sales and capital gains from the sale of stocks or mutual funds that have experienced a gain. Needless to say, the entire country is in a downward spiral and our revenues are a reflection of what is happening around the country. We are actually in better fiscal conditions than most states. Kansas cannot afford to give State tax refunds and California is laying off 20,000 workers. Our five day furlough is minor compared to these layoffs.

However, Maryland will continue to experience a structural deficit unless we make changes in our mandates and formulas. The legislature thought we passed changes in the 2007 Special Session that would erase the structural deficit, little did we know that the entire country would be in recession and our budget changes would not be as effective as planned. So we are again looking at a 1.9 billion dollar structural deficit. Our chairman of appropriations, Delegate Norman Conway, stated at a recent meeting, "We must get a grip on our baseline budget and review mandates and formulas that are driving our increases in our budget." He gave us one example of a "Disparity Grant" that was initiated in 1998 for $8 million and has now grown to $121 million 2009 as the result of a formula.

So, while we all want great schools, community colleges, four year universities, libraries, well maintained roads, health care, as well as our own personal agendas, it is time to make tough decisions. Everyone, every organization, every agenda, will feel some pain as we trim this budget to address the structural deficit.

On a very positive note, Nancy Kopp, State Treasurer, just wrote: "the bond rating agencies have affirmed the State's strong Triple AAA bond rating in preparation for the upcoming sale of $515 million of Maryland General Obligation bonds." Maryland residents will have first priority in a retail sale of bonds that begins Friday, February 27 and continues on March 2 and March 3. All three rating agencies, Standard & Poors, Fitch, and Moody's recognized the extent to which Maryland has addressed the severe budget problems and the economic downturn. They all noted the tough decisions made by the Legislature in the 2007 Special Session and commended our efforts and prudent oversight.

Update on my three bills.

House Bill 287 addresses issues with condominium law and the condominium Master policy deductible. It was heard in the Environmental Matters Committee on Thursday, February 26. I am continuing to work with condo unit owners, the insurance industry and the consumer agencies for a bill that all can agree upon.

House Bill 1214 which proposes a change to the lyrics, but not the melody, of the State Song, Maryland my Maryland, will be heard on March 11. The students from Glen Burnie Park Elementary plan to join us that day for a press conference and testimony, if possible. The bill can be found at: http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/bills/hb/hb1241f.pdf. The Capital Newspaper on February 23^rd published an editorial regarding HB 1214. It stated:

"WORDS AND MUSIC - We suppose Del. Pamela Beidle of Linthicum will take the usual shots from wiseacres for offering legislation to change the words of the state song, "Maryland, My Maryland." With all the important matters waiting to be settled, why should she be wasting her taxpayer-subsidized time on this trivia? And so forth and so on.

This issue is a perennial, and there are always lots of things that are more important. But what her bill proposes is so sensible that it ought to be approved by the General Assembly after about five minutes of thought. There is, indeed, no reason to waste a lot of time on it.

Most Marylanders can hum their state song, because it uses the same traditional melody used for "O Christmas Tree." Most state residents don't know the words - for good reason.

The words, written in 1861 by James Ryder Randall, are an overwrought nine-stanza hymn to the glory of taking up arms for the Confederacy. Randall starts with a reference to "the despot's heel" - the despot was Abraham Lincoln - and climaxes by urging Marylanders to proudly spurn "the Northern scum."

Isn't it a trifle odd to have a state anthem that virtually glows with out-and-out hatred - and not of foreign enemies, but of other Americans?

Beidle's legislation would replace Randall's words with a four-stanza poem of the same rhyme scheme written by Maryland educator John T. White in 1894. It's not great poetry either, but it's intelligible, expresses vast pride in the state - and is not an embarrassment. You could actually teach schoolchildren to sing it.

Couldn't we at least have a state song with words that don't make today's Marylanders cringe?"

House Bill 1386 will not allow piers to be built over State Wetlands. This means State designated Wetlands. This bill does not have a hearing scheduled at this time.

My Committee Work

The Environmental Matters Committee continues to hear about a dozen bills a day on environmental issues, land use local government issues, and motor vehicle issues. Bills like "Smart, Green and Growing," House Bills, 294 and 295 are all part of the administrations bills. Read more at: http://www.green.maryland.gov. We will also share the Global Warming bill with the Economic Matters Committee. House Bill 297 addresses the Terrapin Run law suit and requires counties to be consistent with the General Development Plan that is approved by the citizens.

Improvements for BRAC on Route 175

Please watch for information about a public workshop concerning the upgrades to six intersections around Fort Meade. The workshop will be held at Meade Middle School on March 31. You can stop by anytime between 5:30 and 7:30. The six intersections are:

MD 175 and Blobs Park/Clark Road

MD 175 and MD 713

MD 175 and Disney Road

MD 175 and Mapes Road

MD 175 and MD 174 (Reece Road)

MD 174 and Severn Road

$31.6 million in funds are available for these improvements, but it is not enough money to do all six intersections. Your comments are important to establish the priority of this road work to improve the intersections.

Delegate Scholarships

Delegate Scholarships are available subject to funds allocated in the State Budget. I have formed a Scholarship Committee to review and consider all applications. The applicant's scholastic performance and the family's financial situation are heavily weighted. The application is available at my website: www.pambeidle.com. The House of Delegates Scholarship Application must be completed in its entirety and returned along with an original full transcript from your current educational institution and the mandatory written essay. The application, essay and transcript must be received no later than March 31, 2009.

Please continue to stay in touch, email me, call me, and let me know your position on bills and issues. Thank you for allowing me to serve you in the House of Delegates.

Pam Beidle Maryland House of Delegates, District 32 410-841-3370 410-841-3347 (fax) pamela.beidle@house.state.md.us Environmental Matters Committee Subcommittees: Environment Housing and Real Property Local Government and BiCounty