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A Letter from Gwen Lehman

While as a culture we often claim to be child-centric, our actions strongly indicate that we are not. Children have far too many reasons to believe that a commitment to their growth, well-being, education, and safety is wholly contingent upon the political, social, and economic whims of adults, who say they care about the future, about keeping kids safe, fed, and well-educated, but fail to follow through when personal ideologies, political expediencey, social pressures, or petty disputes gets in the way. Kids don't have a vote, after all, and taxpayers do, including those who do not believe in taxation at all.

Through the years that I have lived and taught in Worcester County, I have gratefully witnessed a drive toward improving education, enhancing social service resources, bringing in health care providers, and increasing the number of public-private partnerships designed to improve the lives of all Worcester residents. Not that there have not been bumps in the road, certainly in education; but it feels now as if the bumps have turned into boulders, at least for Worcester County's public schools.

At the heart of every educational system is students -- now at ages ranging from 3 to 18. When you limit education funding to appease pedagogical differences, appeal to a political ideology, settle personal scores, or address invented grievances, you are forgetting that at the heart of our schools is a child looking to you, depending on you not to let them down, hoping you will smash the current boulders into bits and bumps that will not derail the hard-won progress of a school system that our state refers to as its "hidden gem."

It has been said that "Every teacher effects eternity, and so do the people who decide how many teachers we're going to have."

Recap of Democratic Women's Club General Meeting April 15, 2024

Submitted by Dana Barney, Recording Secretary

DWC President Debra Fisher-Reynolds welcomed attendees. Vice President Susan Buyer noted it was a week before Earth Day and introduced our speaker, Dave Wilson, Maryland development manager of US Wind. He distributed fact sheets and presented a Power Point of the proposed offshore wind project off Ocean City. He said the project has undergone extensive permitting through numerous agencies including NOAA and DNR, resulting in the over 80,000 acre, 114 turbine configuration outside shipping lanes and migratory wildlife patterns. At completion, he said the closest rig would be 12.5 miles from shore and would be visible on dry winter days, he said. A simulation can be seen at https://uswindinc.com. The energy output from the project would cleanly power an equivalent of 26 percent of homes in Maryland. Boating and fishing safety issues have been addressed, Wilson said, with precautions to protect birds and sea life, including whales. He said that Worc-Wic Community College recently structured its trade curriculum around offshore wind to ensure proficient labor for the additional jobs this technology will require.

Business Meeting: Minutes from the March 2024 meeting have been posted and were included in the DWC Newsletter.

The Treasurer's Report was given by Maggie Miller, accepted as posted and reported.

Everyone was reminded about the upcoming June 10 luncheon at Micky Fins and that the deadline for payment ($40) is due by May 30.

Debbie Goucha asked people to sign up for the Democrats information table outside the early voting location at the Ocean City Convention Center.

Cherie McNett thanked everyone for promoting and attending a successful Kennedy-King Dinner.

Pat Tarr reminded members that the Geranium Sale/Fundraiser is still taking orders for pickup May 9.

Committee Reports: Susan Buyer reported that 12 organizations have confirmed attendance at the May 20 Volunteer Fair.

Debra Fisher-Reynolds announced that even though the DWC usually doesn't meeting in July and August, the Board has decided that it's important in this election year to keep our momentum going. We plan to meet at DWC member Carol Pauley's home in Snow Hill in July and are planning a potential meeting at the Ocean Pines Library in August with postcard writing and other activities,

Political Action Committee Report: Joan Roache talked about an Action Alert she is preparing called "Do More - Worry Less", with resources members can access to help them figure out how to get involved in this election year. PAC meetings will continue in June and July. Watch your email for Action Alerts. There will be a voter information/registration event at Wor-Wic College on April 17. The new Outreach Group is working on strategies to reach younger voters and to expand our reach to other Democratic organizations on the Eastern Shore. Postcard writing sessions are being arranged for August, Wednesdays at 2 p.m. at the Ocean Pines Library. Candidate support for Board of Education candidates needed after the primary. Joan reminded members that there will be an important County Commissioners meeting May 7 on the budget, including Buckingham School re-build.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m. The next meeting will by the Volunteer Fair, Monday, May 20, 10 a.m. to noon (doors open 9:30 a.m.) at the Ocean Pines Community Center, Assateague Room.