THIS IS SURRATTSVILLE FOUNDATION E-NOTICE 2003-2 OF FEBRUARY 1, 2003

Hello Hornets!

Here are some items that might be of interest:

1.  SURRATTSTOCK PERFORMERS FEATURED AT CHRISTMAS IN APRIL FUND-RAISER!  I received word from Mary Kucharski (76), the Executive Director of the Prince George's County Christmas in April Chapter (and 2002 Foundation Achievement Award recipient) of the organization's upcoming dinner dance fund raiser, featuring great Surrattstock performers "Old But Not Cold".  Here's the relevant information:  February 22, 2003, 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Clinton Moose Hall.  Tickets $15 per person.  Contact Mary at CINAPG@aol.com.  Here's a chance to support a great cause and hear a great Surratts band, all in one night.

2.  MANY THANKS TO ANNUAL CAMPAIGN DONORS!  Thanks to a "late surge", and some real selfless generosity from the donors listed below (many of whom are regular and generous donors to the Foundation), our little 2002 Annual Campaign raised $3,284.23 for the Foundation.  It is wonderful that we exceeded our goal to replace the funds spent as scholarships last year.  Many thanks to all of the 2002 Campaign donors!  (Perhaps most moving is that fact that this year's donors spanned the graduation years from 1952 to 2002 - a fifty year period!  Now that's Hornet spirit!)

3.  YEARBOOKS WANTED.  Dawn Frank Ramos (90) is looking for copies of yearbooks from 1982-1984 for her sister.  If anyone has an idea where Dawn might find these treasures, please send her an email at ddfrank@yahoo.com.

4.  TANGLEWOOD TEACHER AND BOYS' CLUB COACH UPDATE.  I received this neat email from proud son Mike Dendis (66) that I'm sure will be of interest to a number of you:  "Hi Henry:  I've noticed, over the past several e-Notices, the many references to the many talented people that have been associated with Surrattsville.  And I thought this might be a good opportunity to mention my mother, Geri Dendis.  My mom was an elementary teacher at Tanglewood Elementary, who many of the Surrattsville graduates may have had.  She is 74 years old as of the 22nd of December.  Along with my father Frank, who many of the more sports-inclined may have remembered from Clinton baseball and football, she lives in Pass Christian, Mississippi.  They are both doing great and very active.  My father runs a charter fishing boat ("Top Gun Two") from the Gulfport Marina (just in case anyone is thinking of visiting the gambling casinos along the Mississippi coast).  My mother has retired from teaching and is an artist, among many other things.   I thought I might give you the web address where people can look at some of her artwork.  It is "www.mississippiart.com" and you would want to click on "artists by name" and then her name "Geri Dendis."  She specializes in a lot of the local art, and seascapes, etc.  One of the more interesting things that she has done recently, was to have written an illustrated book about a local folk cat by the name of "Big‑boy."  Big‑boy was a displaced cat who lived in a tree at the marina where my dad has his boat moored.  The stories of Big‑boy are quite interesting and the book has been published and my mom has become somewhat of a TV celebrity.  Anyway, if you wouldn't mind passing this information on, I'd appreciate it.  Thank you for your time and dedication.  Mike, Mdendis@mabc.com"

5.  CLASS OF 67 REUNION PLANNING.  Shirley (Harrison) King, ORC for the Class of 67, is working to update her files with current information on her classmates, in connection with planning for a reunion.  Would all you 67 grads check-in with Shirley, and would anyone who has any information that might lead Shirley to a 67 grad, or to a relative of a 67 grad, check-in with Shirley, at saking50@yahoo.com?

6.  MORE COMPUTER AND EQUIPMENT DONATIONS.  Many thanks to current Surratts parent Michelle Wiggs for her kind donation of a scanner, zip drive and two computers to the Foundation for use at the School.  Thanks also go to Rix Mills (62) for his donation of a computer and a printer.  In addition, thanks to the continuing efforts of Darlene Dodson Bayne (75) and Dan Bayne (71), the Foundation acquired for the School 40 more top-end computers from the Department of Health and Human Services!  Thanks to the efforts of many of you, we've just reached our goal of acquiring for the School the basic computer capacity necessary to bring the School's computer technology into the 21^st century.  The Foundation's efforts have resulted in the placement of OVER $200,000 of desperately needed computer equipment at the School!!   Of course, the Foundation can always use gently used or new equipment of various kinds that you think might come in handy at the School.  (For example, we're still looking for those marching band instruments.)

(Also, installing over $200,000 of computer equipment at a school really takes some logistical muscle on-site, and we're very grateful to Principal Bill Barnes, Media Center Director Anne Reck, I/S Director Dwight Benjamin, and Foundation Liaison Teresa Oliver for their great efforts in this regard.)

7.  FOUNDATION CRUISE UPDATE.  We've received a high level of interest to the idea of a Foundation Carnival cruise, but from a concentrated group many of whom are in the "around age 50" category.  (Must be that hitting that major milestone prompts us to start having some fun!)  We thought we'd ask for responses one more time in this e-Notice before deciding whether to go head with the cruise in November 2003 or delay it until November 2004.  If you'd like to weigh-in on this issue, please send me an email at hsmith@smithdowney.com.

8.  2003 ACHIEVEMENT AWARD NOMINEES SOUGHT.  It's that time of year when the Foundation seeks nominees for its annual Achievement Awards.  If you know of any members of the greater Surratts community who should be considered for this Award, please send me an email.  (The outstanding 2000, 2001 and 2002 recipients of the Achievement Awards are featured on the Foundation's web site at www.surrattsville.org.)

9.  MORE HORNET PUBLIC SERVANTS.  I received this nice email from a real Surratts pioneer and hero:   "Dear Henry:  Just thought I would add my name to list of Hornets in public service.  I was the first female volunteer firefighter/EMT at the Clinton Fire Station. I joined in March of 1974. From my volunteer work I moved into a position as a 911/Fire Dispatcher from 1977‑1987.  In 1987 at the age of 36 I decided I wanted to be a career paramedic and transferred to EMS.  After an injury in January of 1998 I was retired on disability.  I had to fight a little at first but eventually the guys realized I was there to do the job.  I received many awards over the years including a Bronze Medal of Valor and The Maryland Star of Life Award.  I am also very proud of my cousin Robert Small who is the Chief of the Clinton Fire Station.  He does an excellent job.  On a different note I would love to have your prayers and good thoughts as I recover from Renal Cell Carcinoma.  My left kidney was removed December 18 . Luckily all the cancer was contained in the kidney and hadn't spread but it will still be a tough recovery from the seven hour surgery. I'd love to get some e‑mails from some old friends.  My email address is roaddr23@yahoo.com   Thanks,   Laurie Taylor Gilman (68)"

I also received these emails from Hornets in public safety and military service:

" Hi Henry,  I have been a volunteer member of the Colonial Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad for 10 years.  I am an Emergency Medical Technician Cardiac Tech.  This is my unpaid second job, that I wouldn't give up for anything.  It is long hours and no pay, but well worth it when you save a life or help give birth to a new life.  Valerie Mann Shelar (77)"

"Henry:  I am a 1980 graduate.  My parents still live in Clinton, and most of my family lives in MD.  I was a Marine Corps Reservist living in Bisbee, AZ.  I am a Supervisory Border Patrol Agent working at the Douglas, AZ Station.  Last January I was recalled to active duty and I am serving until January 2004 (a total of two years) at Headquarters Marine Corps (Pentagon) in the Homeland Defense Branch.  I am living in Arlington, VA with my wife of 15 years and four children.   Major Colin Dawson USMC"

Our heartfelt expressions of gratitude go to these alum risking their necks to keep ours safe!

10.  20003 ANNUAL RIDE.  The Foundation's annual Motorcycle, Car and Dune Buggy Ride is scheduled for Sunday June 29, 2003, leaving the School at 10 a.m. sharp for Point Lookout, with a stop along the way for a casual lunch.  Please mark your calendars if you'd like to join us for this event which always is a lot of fun.

11.  1958 4-H WEEK PHOTO.  Thanks to Nancy Loweth Siehl (57), we've added a cool photo to the web site featuring many Hornets in attendance at the 1958 4-H Week gathering in College Park.  Some of you might want to take a look at the photo and see who you recognize.   There are also three new "mystery" photos on the web site, which relate to one of the items in this e-Notice.  Anyone want to test their long term memory banks and try to identify them to me at hsmith@smithdowney.com?   We owe a real debt of gratitude to the Foundation's fantastic webmaster, Mike Gifford (84), for the absolutely incredible (and speedy!) job he does at keeping the Foundation's web-site at www.surrattsville.org in such great shape.

12.  SEEKING LOST HORNET.  Mike Pinkerton (Crossland '71) is attempting to track down Terry Michelle Howe from Surratts '71.  If anyone has any clues about her whereabouts, Mike would love to hear from you at mwp.home@erols.com or 703-241‑7787.

13.   '75 GRAD CHAIRS DANCE EVENT.   I received this notice from Bill Duckett (75):  "Hi Henry:  I'm chairing a 21-and-over "pre-Valentine's Day Dance" event at the Clinton American Legion, on Saturday February 8 from 8 p.m. until midnight.  Tickets are $12 for one, $20 for two, and $90 for a table of ten, and only may be sold in advance.  The Southern Rock band "Hawkeye," who have been playing together for 20 years, will perform.  Questions and ticket requests can be directed to me at H: 301-782-1027, Cell: 240-475-0702.  Thanks, Bill"     

14.  INSIGHTS FOR WE AGING CHILDREN.  I got this too-true little ditty in an email from Joyce Harrison Shaw (61):  "Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft;  today, it's called golf.  Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.  The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.  Some people try to turn back their odometers.  Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved.  How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?  When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.  You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.  One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it is such a nice change from being young.  One must wait until evening to see how splendid the day has been.  Ah, being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.  Old age is when former classmates are so gray and wrinkled and bald, they don't recognize you.  If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you are old.  First you forget names, then you forget faces.  Then you forget to pull up your zipper, then .... Oh my goodness you forgot to pull your zipper down!  If you jog in a jogging suit, lounge in lounging pajamas, and smoke in a smoking jacket, why would anyone want to wear a windbreaker??  And best of all.... I don't know how I got over the hill without getting to the top."

 

I hope this e-Notice finds you well, and that your 2003 has gotten off to a fantastic start!

Best regards,   Henry Smith (71), hsmith@smithdowney.com

 

IN MEMORIAM

LARRY BLUME (62), a great supporter of the Foundation, died on January 11, 2003.  Memorial contributions may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, 1400 I St., NW., Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005.  I received this note from Rix Mills (62), which was typical of the comments I received in memory of Larry:   "The Class of 62 has lost a dear friend and brave fighter in the game of life.  He faced every imaginable challenge and remain the most positive when every possible illness tried to take him down.  I spent some most memorable moments with him in the last few years and will treasure them forever.  Larry was a brave man who fought the good fight to the end. I will miss him and hope that he finds peace.  God bless you, Larry Blume.  Rix Mills (Please visit the Notice for Lawrence Alan "Larry" Blume at  http://www.legacy.com/Link.asp?Id=LS00717099X)"

 

MANY THANKS TO THESE GENEROUS 2002 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTORS!

Nancy Oursler Maynard (65), In Memory Of Billy Wasson (65) and Karen Bitterman (65)

Deborah Williams Largent (79)

Janet Goddard Sullivan (54)

Vicky Simontacchi Young (57), In Memory of Margie Jones Green (57)

Ellen Talbert-Miller (61, and faculty), In Memory of Judy Lord (Business Teacher)

Michelle Wilson Block (68), In Memory of Danny Vaughan (68, K.I.A Viet Nam 1969)

Donna Rae Sturtevant Smith (70)

Henry Smith (71)

Denise Hope (72)

Rosa England Bolen (45), In Memory of Donald Edwin England (51)

Robert Kane (68)

Joan Penn Revis (61)

Homer Revis (56)

Helen Bovbjerg Niedung (54)

Vicki Forsht Williams (65, and faculty)

Peter Williams (64)

Sherri Koch Gay (71)

Ed Jaffe (65)

Melissa Gilcrest (69)

Coral Ann Kupfer (65), In Memory of Anne Marie Schmalfuss (65)

Anne S. Noyes (Faculty)

Betty O'Clair (73), In Memory of Col. Francis R. O'Clair

Fred Keeney (73)

Suzanne Meilert Fields (71)

David Weber (65)

Scott McWhirt (71)

Jane Edwards Robinson (54)

Steve Profilet (71)

Brenda Karnes (Faculty)

Anonymous (63)

Norman Myers (66)

Laurie Summers Miller (76)

Paul Monaghan (59)

Diane Wain Hayes (74)

Jim "Butch" Spradling (71)

Jeanine Carroll Maclary (73)